Governance
The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has a Governing Body which sets the Group’s strategy, culture and values. The Governing Body is called the Group Board. This Board works with the Executive Team and managers across the three College operations in Castleford, Selby and Wakefield to focus on the strategic priorities for the Group. It has a dual responsibility to both hold the Senior Managers to account whilst also having a key support role.
The Board has oversight of financial performance and College activities and results but is not involved in the day to day operations of the Group, which are the responsibility of the Principal and her Executive Team.
The Board operates within the legislative framework of the Further and Higher Education Act and the Education (Government of Further Education Colleges) Regulations 1992. It also has requirements placed on it by the Department for Education (DfE) and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
Following an open and transparent public consultation process, I’m delighted to say that learners, staff, employers, partners and other stakeholders of both Colleges have responded extremely positively to all of our plan to merge as time has moved on!
The Board’s Responsibilities
The Board comprises up to 20 members and includes students, staff and independent governors recruited for their skills, expertise, community and business links. The majority of its members live, work, or have links within the varied communities that the Group’s Colleges serve.
As an inclusive Board, applications are welcomed from individuals of all ages, cultural backgrounds and beliefs. Governors may have experience in business, community or social work with charities, financial or legal practice, or even be an entrepreneur. What is important is that all Governors must be committed to making the Group a place to improve the lives of all people in the communities we serve. The Board determines its membership within the restraints which are clearly set out in the Instrument and Articles of Government.
The responsibilities of the Board are laid out in the Articles and cover key areas of the Group’s activity including:
- the determination of the educational character and mission of the institution and the oversight of its activities;
- publishing arrangements for obtaining the views of staff and students on the determination and periodic review of the educational character and mission of the institution and the oversight of its activities;
- approving the Quality Strategy of the organisation;
- the effective and efficient use of resources, the solvency of the institution and the Corporation and for safeguarding their assets;
- approving annual estimates of income and expenditure;
- the appointment, grading, pay and conditions of service of the holders of senior posts;
- setting a framework for the pay and conditions of service of all other staff.
As a Board of Governors, we take great pride in the Group’s ethos of treating every student as an individual and striving to meet their needs not just academically, but personally and socially; regardless of their starting point in life. The education landscape is constantly changing and we support the Group in adapting to those changes for the benefit of its students, staff and the communities we serve.
The Group Board is supported by three Local College Boards at Castleford, Selby and Wakefield. The Local Board’s key role is to focus on stakeholders, including students, staff, employers, regional bodies and the needs of each local community. Membership of each board will reflect this priority.
Andrew McConnell
Chair of Governors
The support of our stakeholders is crucial as we progress with our exciting plans to become one organisation. Together, we are able to combine our strengths, share best practices and enhance our offering, helping to meet the education and skills demands of our local communities and the wider region at what is a critical time, as we work to rebuild the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Downloads
Instrument of Government
155KB · Adobe Acrobat
Standing Orders
97KB · Adobe Acrobat
The Governing Body

Andrew McConnell OBE
Chair of Governors

Sam Wright
Principal & CEO

Richard Stiff
Chair of the Local College Board Selby

Dmitry Fedotov
Vice Chair

David Powell

Janet Waggott

Martyn Shaw

Julian Harrison

Vijay Teeluck
Independent Member

Claire Corneille
Independent Member

Nigel Brook
Independent Member

Jayne King
Independent Member

Yasmin Ayub
Staff Governor

Ben Porter
Staff Governor

Ruth Baxter
Staff Governor

Andrew McConnell OBE
Chair of Governors

Sam Wright
Principal & CEO

Richard Stiff
Chair of the Local College Board Selby

Dmitry Fedotov
Vice Chair

David Powell

Janet Waggott

Martyn Shaw

Julian Harrison

Vijay Teeluck
Independent Member

Claire Corneille
Independent Member

Nigel Brook
Independent Member

Jayne King
Independent Member

Yasmin Ayub
Staff Governor

Ben Porter
Staff Governor

Ruth Baxter
Staff Governor

Andrew McConnell OBE
Chair of Governors

Sam Wright
Principal & CEO

Richard Stiff
Chair of the Local College Board Selby

Dmitry Fedotov
Vice Chair

Richard Stiff
Chair of the Local College Board Selby

Dmitry Fedotov
Vice Chair

Martyn Shaw

Julian Harrison

Vijay Teeluck
Independent Member

Claire Corneille
Independent Member

Nigel Brook
Independent Member

Jayne King
Independent Member

Yasmin Ayub
Staff Governor

Ben Porter
Staff Governor

Ruth Baxter
Staff Governor
Governance Arrangements
The Governing Body conducts its work through full Board meetings which are held approximately six times a year and through the following committees.
Board Committees
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee shall advise the Corporation of the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group on the adequacy and effectiveness of the Group’s assurance framework. In particular, the Committee shall advise and support the Corporation in fulfilling its roles and responsibilities, including its responsibility for providing the assurances required in the Statement of Corporate Governance and Internal Control in the annual accounts.
Committee members
- Nigel Brook (Chair)
- Ian Parsons
- Martyn Shaw
- Richard Stiff
Downloads
Audit Committee Terms of Reference
211KB · Adobe Acrobat
Curriculum & Quality Committee
The Curriculum and Quality Committee has overall responsibility for assuring the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group’s quality improvement programmes deliver an exceptional quality of education and excellent learner experience for all students.
Committee members
- David Powell (Chair)
- Ruth Baxter
- Dmitry Fedotov
- Gordon McAlpine
- Julian Harrison
- Kayleigh Hampton
- Ben Porter
- Vijay Teeluck
Downloads
Curriculum & Quality Committee Terms of Reference
229KB · Adobe Acrobat
Finance, People & Resources Committee
The Finance & Resources Committee advises the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group on any matters relating to finance and assets/liabilities, including making recommendations to the Corporation.
Committee members
- Neil Warren (Chair)
- Andrew McConnell
- Claire Corneille
- Michael Clarke
Downloads
Finance & Resources Committee Terms of Reference
331KB · Adobe Acrobat
Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee reviews and determines the Corporation’s policy on the terms and conditions of employment of senior staff.
Committee members
- Claire Corneille (Chair)
- Dmitry Fedotov
- Andrew McConnell
- Janet Waggott
Downloads
Remuneration Committee Terms of Reference
435KB · Adobe Acrobat
Search & Governance Committee
The Remuneration Committee makes recommendations to the Corporation board on the structure, composition and balance of the Corporation group board, and its committees and the local governing boards at Castleford, Selby and Wakefield.
Committee members
- Andrew McConnell (Chair)
- Dmitry Fedotov (Vice Chair)
- Richard Stiff
- Sam Wright
Downloads
Search & Governance Committee Terms of Reference
372KB · Adobe Acrobat
Local College Board
Each college site has a Local College Board to oversee activities of the local college. It shall advise the Corporation of the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group. It is expected to act in accordance with the funding agreements and legal obligations of the Corporation, as well as its Terms of Reference and the Scheme of Delegation.
Downloads
Local College Board Terms of Reference
171KB · Adobe Acrobat
Board Meeting Minutes
Name | Filesize | Last Modified |
---|---|---|
2022.10.04 - Minutes - Group Board.pdf | 417.23 kb | Feb 14, 2023 |
2022.09.29 - Minutes - Group Board.pdf | 176.21 kb | Feb 14, 2023 |
2022.07.05 - Minutes - Group Board.pdf | 292.46 kb | Oct 26, 2022 |
2022.04.05 - Minutes - Group Board.pdf | 236.93 kb | Oct 26, 2022 |
2022.03.10 - Minutes - Group Board.pdf | 142.55 kb | Oct 26, 2022 |
Governors’ Declaration of Interests
Name of Governor | Date Joined | Nature of Interest | Declaration in Respect of Related Party |
---|---|---|---|
Yasmin Ayub | October 2020 |
Employment: Wakefield College 2014 |
Partners Owns Sports Coaching company |
Ruth Baxter | March 2022 |
Employment: Selby College Membership: National Education Union |
None |
Claire Corneille | October 2020 | None | None |
Dmitry Fedotov (Vice Chair) | July 2017 |
Employment: The Youth Association 2009 |
None |
Kayleigh Hampton | October 2021 | None | None |
Julian Harrison | October 2022 |
Employment: Delta Academies Trust 2018 Membership: Association of School & College Leaders |
None |
Samuel Marshall | March 2022 |
Employment: WS Bentley Growers 2021 |
None |
Andrew McConnell (Chair) | October 2006 |
Directorship: Higher Education Statistics Agency Ltd 2007 Directorship: Education and Training Foundation 2019 Directorship: Wakefield District Housing 2020 Membership: Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) 1978 Membership: Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA) 2014 Membership: Chartered Companion of the Chartered Management Institute (CCMI)2017 |
None |
Ben Porter | January 2021 |
Employment: Wakefield College 2017 |
None |
David Powell | October 2020 |
Employment: Huddersfield University 2009 Self Employment: David Powell Educational Consultant Limited 2021 |
None |
Nigel Brook | October 2022 | - | - |
Jayne King | October 2022 | - | - |
Richard Stiff | March 2022 |
Employment: Angus Council 2017 Employment: Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust Non-executive Director: Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust Director: NCER CIC Trustee & Director: TCV Director: Richard Stiff Consulting Membership: Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) Membership: Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) Member/Fellow: Royal Society of Arts Associate: Local Governemnt Information Unit (LGIU) Trustee: Old Burians Charitable Trust |
None |
Martyn Shaw | April 2020 |
Employment: Wakefield District Housing 2014 Non-executive Director: Nottingham City Homes 2021 Membership:Chartered Institute of Housing Membership:Chartered Institute of Building |
None |
Vijay Teeluck | March 2022 |
Employment: Sheffield Hallam University 2020 Membership: Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) Membership: Londdon Mathematical Soiety Membership: Royal Institute |
None |
Janet Waggott | March 2022 |
Employment: Selby District Council Employment: NYCC Membership: Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) |
None |
Neil Warren | July 2020 |
Employment: Wakefield Council 2017 Directorship: Bridge Homes Ltd 2019 Membership: Association of Chartered Certified Accountants 1997 |
None |
Sam Wright | March 2011 |
Employment: Wakefield College Director: West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges Other: Wakefield Enterprise Partnership Other: Local Services Board Other: Children, Young People & Families Board Other: West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges Other: Learning City & District Board |
None |
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