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

The SWAN Trust central offices are based at Beaufort Primary School.

Elaine Cooper
CEO (5 days a week)
Chief Executive Officer
ceo@swantrust.co.uk
Gill Kozlowski
Director of Education (5 days a week)
gkoslowski@swantrust.co.uk
Shanna Hall
CFO (4 days a week)
Chief Financial Officer
cfo@swantrust.co.uk
Nicky Dicken
Admin Support
(3 days a week)
admin@swantrust.co.uk
Lindsay Evans
Governance Professional and Clerk to some LGCs
govprof@swantrust.co.uk
Barry Roland
premises@swantrust.co.uk
Sally Barber
Clerk to some LGCs
clerk@swantrust.co.uk
Nicky Oehl
HR Support
(3 days a week)
HR@swantrust.co.uk
Nazia Iqbal
HR Support
(5 days a week)
HR@swantrust.co.uk
Simon Attewell
Premise Support
sattewell@swantrust.co.uk

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 (%)
The SWAN Trust Board Meetings for the Academic Year 2022/2023
Name 19/10
2022
24/11
2022
19/01
2023
23/03
2023
11/05
2023
13/06
2023 Trustee Day
06/07
2023
% Start of term of office End of term of office
Ian Girdler (Chair) 100 10/07/2023 09/07/2027
Elaine Cooper 100 01/09/06 Ex officio
Kate Charles x x 67 10/07/2023 01/03/2024
Carol Cheesman 100 10/07/2023 09/07/2027
Margaret Garner 100 10/07/2023 09/07/2027
Joanne MacDonald n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 34 10/07/2019 31/12/2022
Dermot Main 100 12/03/2020 11/03/2024
Alistair Smith* x x x x 34 10/07/2023 09/07/2027
Bruce Penson

Co opted

100 01/10/2021 30/09/2025

*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 1st March 2024 and therefore are not included in the above table.

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