SWAN Trust

We are proud and excited to be part of The SWAN Trust, a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), consisting of ten local schools who believe that school to school support and collaboration will bring about improvements in the quality of learning for children in our area. For The SWAN Trusts statutory documents please visit The SWAN Trust website https://swantrust.co.uk/.

The SWAN Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales with company number 08622047. The registered office is Beaufort Primary School, Kirkland Avenue, Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom, GU21 3RG 01483 485299.

Our vision is to develop a successful partnership of schools that work together to celebrate success and to create opportunities for our children and staff that raise aspirations and inspire excellence for all. 

Who are our partner schools in the Trust?

Please click on the logo to see the website for each school.

We continue to work closely together as part of the wider Woking Schools Learning Partnership (WSLP) of 33 schools. We have worked more closely as a smaller group of five schools since 2012 and became an Umbrella Trust in 2013.  We chose to formalise this relationship on 1st September 2019 as part of our long-term commitment to work together and, most importantly, our shared values and ethos. This has also enabled us to expand, we welcomed the sixth school, Kingfield Primary School, into our Trust on 1st October 2020 and on 1st March 2024 Goldsworth Primary School, The Knaphill Federations of Schools and St Johns Primary School joined the Trust.

How does it work?

The SWAN Trust (MAT) was registered formally with the Department for Education (DfE) on 1st September 2019. Our aim is that our ten schools, who share a child centred ethos, will continue to work effectively together to enhance the education of all the children in our care.

At the beginning of each school year, we share our school data, when available, and develop a shared improvement plan, which links to each of our School Development Plans. This action plan highlights the priorities for the Trust for the academic year and shows how we plan to using each school’s strength to support one another. 

Each year, we will engage in a range of activities to bring about school improvement linked to the annual priorities. These may include:

• Shared training and INSET days

• Sharing of best practice using each schools’ strengths

• Action research in other schools investigating practice and impact for pupils

• Peer coaching and support for staff at all levels

• Leadership training including development of good governance practice

• Initiatives which raise the quality of teaching and learning

• Moderation of teacher judgements for pupil attainment and progress

• Early Years development

• Support for actioning of new government initiatives

• Investigation into commissioning of a range of services, contracts and purchases as a group to provide better value for money

We will keep you updated of further developments through our newsletters. Over time, we hope to develop the range of activities we participate in, if you have any ideas for shared community events, please do let us know!

The SWAN Trust Members

The NGA (National Governance Association) describe Members as the ‘guardians’ of the governance of the trust. They are tasked with the role of ensuring the purpose of the trust is being met.

• Ian Girdler (also Chair of Trust)

• Michael Wood (Chair of Members)

• Tina Nowell

• Beryl Hunwicks

• David Pugh

The SWAN Trust Trustees

The role of the Trustee is to be legally responsible and accountable for the performance of all academies within the Trust, to follow company and charity law.

• Ian Girdler (Chair of Trust)

• Helen Smith (Vice Chair)

• Carol Cheesman

• Jo Green

• Margaret Garner

• Dermot Main

• Alistair Smith

• Bruce Penson

• Carl Bowler

• Elaine Cooper (CEO)

The SWAN Trust Office Team

While the company address currently remains at The Horsell Village School the offices are based at Beaufort Primary School.

The SWAN Trustee Board 

The Constitution and Membership of the Trust Board 

Governance is regulated by law, in particular the “School Governance (Roles, Procedures and Allowance) (England) Regulations” of 2013. Trustees are required to publish information about their board and Trustees, and also to declare any financial or other interest that could potentially lead to a conflict of interest. 

Our Trust Board consists of nine Trustees. Trustees are appointed to provide a broad and balanced group who have a wide range of skills. Whenever possible Trustees are recruited for the skills and commitment they can bring that enhance the role of Trust Board. 

The attendance record in the table below covers the twelve-month period September 2022 to August 2023, so this shows last years attendance. It includes those whose term of office has expired or who have resigned and left in the last twelve months, all are listed in the table below. 

The table provides the following information:

• Trustee name

• Start and finish date of the Trustee’s term of office

• Attendance at Trustee meetings over the last twelve months and attendance record expressed as a percentage (%)

*Due to pre-agreed work arrangements, it was recognised that Alistair Smiths attendance would be low this year.

 **Helen Smith, Jo Green and Carl Bowler all joined The SWAN Trust on 1^st March 2024 and therefore are not included in the above table.

Trustee Day, 13^th June 2023, was not a minuted day and so does not count towards attendance.