Academies are schools funded by the government with the freedom to govern independently but all are accountable to the Secretary of State for Education. To share resources and best practice, many are part of multi-academy trusts – a network of schools under one legal body. Ark Kings Academy is part of Ark - a leading education charity and one of the country’s top-performing academy operators. Ark is non-denominational and does not make any profit from running its schools.

The Ark Schools Articles of Association, Master Funding Agreement and Decision Making Framework can be found on the . Ark's audited accounts information can be found here. Ark’s relationship with the Secretary of State is set out in the master funding agreement. There are also supplemental funding agreements for each individual school in the network, including Ark Kings.

Every school in the Ark network is the legal responsibility of the Ark Schools Board. This board focuses on statutory duties and delegates most day-to-day responsibilities to each school’s individual Local Governing Body (LGB). This means that, unlike in most non-academy governing bodies, Ark Kings’ governors are able to concentrate on the things that really matter – educational strategy, school outcomes and aspiration.

PDF iconARK Kings Supplemental Funding Agreement
PDF iconArk Schools Master Funding Agreement.pdf

 

The Ark Schools Articles of Association, Master Funding Agreement and Decision Making Framework can be found on the Ark Schools website here: www.arkonline.org/uk-schools/admissions-and-policies

 

Our Local Governing Body

Ark Kings Academy’s LGB is made up as follows:

  • Six to ten members appointed by Ark, to include the Chair – usually people with a local connection or interest who are committed to supporting educational opportunity in the area,
  • Ark Kings Academy Executive Principal.

Ark Schools aims to create a balanced group that will have the right skills, connections and dynamic for the LGB to work well and support the school in achieving exceptional performance:

  • Good insight into the specific challenges at the school and the general challenges of operating top-quality schools,
  • Excellent community links,
  • Specific skills as needed by/relevant to the school,
  • A link to the senior executive team of Ark,
  • There are vacancies for two Parent Governors and a Staff Governor.

The LGB meets four times a year.

If you are interested in becoming a governor please visit www.arkonline.org/uk-schools/become-governor for further details about the role and information on how to apply.

 

Contacting the Governors

The current Clerk to Governors is Fleur Sifford (fleur.sifford@arkonline.org). Governors can be contacted through the clerk.

If you have any governance-related queries, please contact governance.team@arkonline.org

For more information please contact Ark Central:

The Yellow Building
1 Nicholas Road
London W11 4AN
Phone: 020 3116 0800

 

Current Governors

Alastair Willcox | Chair

Alastair is a qualified solicitor and works for the Solicitors Regulation Authority (based in Birmingham) in their in-house Legal Department, specialising in regulatory law. His work is concerned with disciplinary proceedings against solicitors and prosecuting solicitors at the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Before moving to the SRA he worked as an employment solicitor in private practice representing both businesses and individuals.

Alastair studied French and Spanish at The University of Liverpool and spent the third year of his degree teaching English in a school in Avignon. Whilst working as a Legal Assistant at Birmingham City Council, Alastair became involved with projects run by Education Business Links and BXL in local schools and colleges. He remained committed to the project when he left Birmingham City Council to continue his career and continued to mentor students at "Practice Interview Days" and "Skill Days" at an Academy in Birmingham.

 

Pardeep Jagpal | Ark-Nominated Governor

Pardeep is currently a solicitor working in commercial law in technology, media and telecommunications. Being from a legal background, Pardeep is able to quickly understand educational policies, analyse data to conclude actions points for improvement and share here professional skills in planning and management. Pardeep questions things that may not seem right and makes suggestions for alternative approaches, working alongside the school to achieve the best outcome for the children.

 

Arthur Reeves | SEND Link Governor

Arthur is Assistant Vice Principal at the University of Birmingham School, with specific responsibility for securing outcomes for pupils with SEND and those who attract Pupil Premium funding. Prior to this, Arthur was part of the successful Leadership Team at Ark St Alban's. A history teacher by training, Arthur studied History and Politics at the University of York and has a Masters in Education.

 

Kiran Vithal | Vice-Chair and Finance Link Governor

Kiran works for the Department for Education. Prior to this role Kiran worked for Ark schools, one the UK’s leading multi-academy trusts for nine years. He is a former Vice-Principal, working as part of the leadership team at Ark St Alban’s in securing outstanding outcomes. As a Future Leaders participant, he has also supported other schools nationally in improving outcomes and ensuring curriculum structures align cohesively for achievement. Kiran studied Computer Science & Software Engineering at the University of Birmingham and has a Masters in Educational Leadership.

 

Prina Solanki | Pathways & Enrichment Link Governor

Prina brings 10+ years experience in HR, problem solving and continuous improvement to the role of governor. Her aim is to help ensure that all the children at Ark Kings receive the best possible start to their education.

 

Jessica Hazlewood | Safeguarding Link Governor

As of January 2023, Jessica will be the Vice Principal at Ninestiles, an Academy in East Birmingham with responsibility for all things pastoral. Jessica has worked at a range of schools in both the Midlands and London having trained as a geography teacher through the Teach First graduate school back in 2012. Jessica studied Geography at King's College London and has a Masters in Cities from the same university.

 

Mubarak Tairu | Ark Nominated Governor

Mubarak is a recent graduate from the University of Manchester, where he studied Economics and Philosophy. He works for KPMG in their Deal Advisory business stream, specialising in advising corporations on integrating and separating business assets. He’s also working towards his ACCA qualifications, to become a chartered accountant. As an Ark School Alumni, Mubarak is passionate about paying things forward and ensuring young voices and opinions are heard at the board level, by bringing in fresh perspectives from his lived experiences, but creating the space for the lived experiences of others as well.

 

Caz Brasenell | Executive Principal

 

All appointments are made by the Director of Governance for Ark and the term of a governor is three years, except for the Principal, who remains a governor for the duration of their time in post.

 

To view the Governors Attendance Record please follow the link here: AKA 2021 - 2022 LGB Attendance.pdf

To view the Governors' Declarations of Interest: Declarations of Interest Ark Kings 2022 - 2023.pdf

 

If you wish to access a hard copy of any policy please contact the school's office on 01214594451 or email: info@arkkingsacademy.org.