Governance and REAch2 Academy Trust

Garden City Academy is part of REAch2 Academy Trust, a primary-only multi‑academy trust serving over 60 primary schools across England. The Trust is organised into 10 regional clusters, which support collaboration, challenge, and shared improvement.
Garden City Academy is part of Cluster 4.

Further information about REAch2, including a full list of schools and clusters, can be found on the Trust website:
 www.reach2.org

 

REAch2 Governance Structure

REAch2 operates a clear and transparent governance structure with three layers of governance, ensuring strong accountability and support:

  1. Local Governing Bodies (LGBs) – support and challenge individual schools
  2. Cluster Boards – oversee schools within each cluster
  3. REAch2 Board of Trustees – ultimately accountable to the Department for Education for the strategic direction and performance of the Trust

 

All REAch2 schools share the same governance framework.

The Board of Trustees holds overall responsibility for:

  • educational performance
  • financial probity
  • compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements

The Trust’s Governance page provides further details, including:

  • Articles of Association
  • Master Funding Agreement
  • Scheme of Delegation
  • Terms of reference for all governance layers
  • Details of current Trustees

These documents explain how REAch2 is organised and how responsibility and accountability are managed across the Trust.

 

Governance at Garden City Academy

Garden City Academy has a Local Governing Body (LGB) which works in line with the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation and Terms of Reference.

The LGB meets regularly during the academic year and plays a key role in:

  • supporting and challenging school leadership
  • monitoring pupil progress, wellbeing and behaviour
  • overseeing safeguarding, inclusion and SEND
  • ensuring high standards of teaching and learning

While the LGB does not manage the day‑to‑day running of the school, it provides strategic oversight and acts as a critical friend to the school leadership team.

 

Governors at Garden City Academy

The Chair of Governors at Garden City Academy is Elena Pascanu. If you wish to contact the Chair of Governors, please email:
COG@gardencityacademy.org

 

Our Governors:

  • Elena Pascanu – Chair of Governors
  • Lucy Hopkinson – Staff Governor
  • Karen Rodford – Staff Governor
  • Ms Simone Payne – Co‑opted Governor
  • Miss Wendy Frankson – Parent Governor
  • Mr Richard Fordham – Co‑opted Governor
  • Mrs Katie Barr – Parent Governor
  • Miss Sandra Treacher – Co-opted Governor