Our Governors
Local Academy Board (LAB)
The Diocese of Worcester Multi Academy Trust (DoWMAT) has overall responsibility for the school and the Local Academy Board (LAB) acts at a local level to have an oversight and hold the Headteacher and senior leaders to account. The LAB relaces what was previously known as the Governing Body of the school.
What does the LAB do?
The responsibilities of the LAB are to:
- Support strategic management and operational oversight
- Represent any local views and issues
- Ensure that the pupils are part of a successful academy with provides them with a good education and supports their holistic well-being
- Promote high standards and uphold the Christian distinctiveness
The DoWMAT Scheme of Delegation states the specific role of the LAB (see below).
Who are the members of the LAB?
The LAB members are a group of like-minded people with an interest in education. The Board members work hard to support staff and pupils of the school and act as a critical friend.
The current members of the board are:
| Name | Type of Member | End of Term |
| Ms. A Hickman-Smith | Co-opted Governor | 14/06/2027 |
| Mrs. L Guest | Co-opted Governor - Joint Chair | 25/05/2027 |
| Mrs. K Davies | Co-opted Governor | 09/02/2030 |
| Vacancy | Ex-Officio | - |
| Mrs. K Harvey | Headteacher | N/A |
| Mrs. K Bavington | Staff Governor | 01/09/2029 |
| Mrs. S Ridley | Foundation Govenor | 07/12/2029 |
| Mr. L Hamblett | Parent Governor - Joint Chair | 08/10/2027 |
| Vacancy | Parent Governor | - |
Governor Meeting Attendance 2025-2026
| Governor | 20.10.25 | 10.12.25 | 10.02.26 | 15.06.26 |
| Ms. A Hickman-Smith | Attended | Attended | Apologies | Apologies |
| Mrs. L Guest | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended |
| Mrs. S Ridley | Apologies | Apologies | Attended | Attended |
| Mrs. K Harvey | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended |
| Mr. L Hamblett | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended |
| Mrs. K Bavington | Attended | Attended | Attended | Attended |
| Mrs. K Davies | Not elected | Not elected | Not elected | Attended |
Relevant business, financial and other interests
| Governor | Relevant Interests |
| Ms. A Hickman-Smith | No other interests stated |
| Mrs. L Guest | Child employed at the school |
| Mrs. K Davies | No other interests stated |
| Mrs. S Ridley | No other interests stated |
| Mrs. K Harvey | No other interests stated |
| Mr. L Hamblett | Child attends the school |
| Mrs. K Bavington | No other interests stated |
Contacting the LAB
If you have an issue that you need to discuss, then please contact your child’s teacher in the first instance. The Headteacher can also be contacted through the school office.
If you have been in contact with the school and need to raise a matter with the LAB. Please contact Miss Hickman Smith – (Chair) at info@netherton.dowmat.education
Becoming a Governor
The Diocese of Worcester Multi Academy Trust is looking for interested parties to train as Governors to lead its academies through the next stage of development. Our vision is to create and sustain a family of academies which provide children of all faiths and none with excellent educational provision within a distinctively caring and supportive Christian ethos.
This is an exciting opportunity to encourage best practice within an expanding and exciting, diverse Christian school family. We are currently twelve academies with a further three academy orders in place which will increase our academies to fifteen. Our current academies are in Evesham, Pershore, Malvern, Dudley and Kidderminster.
This is a fascinating opportunity to lead church schools and develop their influence across the region. You will work with the executive leadership team and the board of directors to deliver the Trust’s vision of excellent learning and outcomes achieved through strong leadership, professional collaboration and innovation in teaching and learning. Full training is available for this important role.
Further details of DoWMAT and its academies can be found on the website www.dowmat.education.
This role requires an enhanced DBS check.
The start date for this role will be agreed with the successful candidate.
Interviews
Applicants will be contacted to discuss their application and the current positions available within the Trust.
References and eligibility
All appointments are subject to satisfactory references, eligibility to work in the UK and a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.
To find out more about the Trust’s data regarding, financial information, important Trust documents and Pay Gap reports, please click here
To find out more about the Trust’s governance, please click here
Governor Compliance Information
The supplied compliance report records declarations and checks for governors, including registration on the governing body database, DBS checks where applicable, declarations of interest and agreement to the relevant code of conduct.
The school keeps the register of interests under review and updates it when a relevant interest changes or when a governor joins or leaves the governing board
Governance Board Structure, Committees and Remit
The governing board currently operates as a full governing board and does not have any standing committees or LAB committees. The governing board has overall responsibility for the strategic leadership, oversight and accountability of the school. Where a specific committee or panel is required for a particular matter, it will be arranged by the governing board at the time. For example, a pay committee may be convened when required. The membership, remit and chair of any committee or panel will be confirmed at the time it is established and recorded in the relevant governance documentation.