Academy Committees
The Academy Committees (ACs) support the Trustees to fulfil their responsibility for oversight of each school within the Trust, acting as the eyes and ears of the Board at local level. Their role is more focused than that of a traditional school governing body. The SAST central team manages – finance, HR, Estates, IT, and others.
The ACs responsibility is to monitor and scrutinise teaching and learning, welfare, and safeguarding issues. The ACs provide challenge and support to the Headteachers and senior leadership team, and represent the Trust to local stakeholders – parents, students, staff and the community. Two representatives of each AC are elected from among that school’s parents, while a further representative will be elected by the staff. The Headteacher is ex officio. The remaining representatives are appointed by the Trustees following recommendation from the AC and Headteacher, based on skills and experience, or in our Church of England academies, the Diocese of Salisbury and the Diocese of Bath & Wells receive and consider nominations and appoint. Ex ‘VA’ schools must have a majority of foundation representatives and ex ‘VC’ 25% of representatives must be foundation. Each AR is appointed for a term of four years, after which time, AC representatives, with agreement from the Diocese or Trustees, may agree to renewal of further term(s).
The AC will meet at the beginning of each full term (three times a year), plus an additional meeting to review published exam performance. Typically, this additional meeting will take place during the summer term for primary schools, once the SATS results have been published.
Thornford School Academy Committee as of 13th November 2025
Jocelyn Popinchalk (Foundation Academy Representative, Chair) c/o Thornford CE Primary School, Boot Lane, Thornford, Sherborne, DT9 6QY
Kirsty Blencowe (Head of School Academy Representative)
Rachel Saunders (Staff Academy Representative)
Tanya Burnham (Trust Appointed Academy Representative)
Rachel Love (Foundation Academy Representative)
Elizabeth Winter (Trust Appointed Academy Representative)
Patricia Wilding (Foundation Academy Representative)
Samantha Swatridge (Parent Governor)
The clerk to the Academy Committee is Louise Heath and correspondence for the Academy Committee can be sent to the school marked for her attention.
Register of Attendance – ACR Meetings 2025-2026
Summary of Business Interests Register Thornford AC 2025-2026 (including dates of appointment and term of office).
How do you become an Academy Committee Representative at Thornford?
If you are interested in becoming an Academy Committee Representative, please speak to the headteacher to find out if any vacancies exist. Parents can be considered for other categories as well as parent Academy Committee Representatives. Academy Committee Representatives usually serve for a minimum of four years.
If you would like to view Thornford CE Primary School and SAST policies, please see our Policies Page.
Please contact the school office is you require a copy of the latest Academy Committee Minutes.