How Ark's governance works
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 our Academy's governors are able to concentrate on the things that really matter – educational strategy, school outcomes and aspiration.
The Ark Schools Decision Making Framework outlines where responsibility and accountability sits for the key functional areas within Ark Schools between the ‘tiers’ of governance.
Our Local Governing Body
Our Local Governing Body (LGB) is made up of 6-10 members – usually people with a local connection or interest who are committed to supporting educational opportunity in the area. The board generally includes:
- Academy Principal
- Up to two Parent Governors
- One Teaching Staff Governor
- One Non-teaching Staff Governor
- One Local Authority representative
We aim 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. Attributes we look for include:
- 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 Schools
All appointments are made by the Director of Governance for Ark Schools. The term of a governor is three years, except for the Principal, who remains a governor for the duration of his or her time in post. Governors may be reappointed for further terms.
The LGB meets four times a year.
Becoming a governor
If you have an interest and commitment to improving education, and would like to make a difference within your community, please register your interest in becoming a governor by completing our online Governor Application Form. If you have any questions about a governor’s role or responsibilities please contact us at governance.team@arkonline.org
A full programme of induction, training and support is provided. You can see more information, including role specifications here.
Contacting the governors
The current Clerk to Governors is Charles Shaw at charles.shaw@arkonline.org. Please contact them if you have any governance-related queries, or would like to contact one of the governors.
Our Governors
Natasha Tewkesbury
I live in Hastings and have two daughters, both of whom attend Ark schools. I currently work as a Corporate Customer Services Manager for Hastings Borough Council, and previously worked as a Senior HR Partner. I have over 15 years’ experience as a Human Resources professional in the public sector. I have a keen interest in the area and the primary academies, and believe that as a governor who offers both support and challenge, I can aid the improvement and development of the academies for all pupils.
Amie Barr
Since 2017 Amie has been Network Vice-Principal for Mathematics at Ark, leading a School Improvement Fund project across 12 schools in Hastings to improve the quality of teaching and learning of mathematics in Key Stags 2 and 3. Prior to this she was the Ark Network Lead in maths for a year. Before joining Ark she worked in a variety of Maths related roles for Harris Academies as well as being a Maths Teacher and Head of Post-16 Maths at Lord Williams School in Thame. Amie has a first degree in Mathematics and Physics from the University of Bristol and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from Oxford University.
Chris Connor
I am passionate about both education and Hastings. I have lived in Hastings all my life and have taught in the area since 2006. I am currently Vice Principal at Ark Alexandra and a member of the school's Senior Leadership Team. Education plays a vital part in social mobility and the Ark Primary schools are the starting point for many journeys.
Holly Woods
I have taught in a special needs school in Hastings for the last 15 years. As part of my role, I work closely with many mainstream schools across the county to ensure appropriate provision is required for children with behavioural difficulties or a diagnosed SEN. I have 3 children who all have been educated in Ark schools, primary and secondary. I have witnessed and been part of the change to an academy and understands the strengths and areas of development needed in his process.
Fiona McKenzie-Johnston
Fiona is a freelance features journalist and a Contributing Editor to House & Garden, writing on the arts and sustainable lifestyle and hosting conversations and live interviews. She is also an ambassador for parliamentary advisory group Fashion Roundtable, and on the board of Art, Action, Change, a UK-based charitable foundation devoted to creating positive change in society through the arts with a focus on education and the empowerment of children. is passionate about the importance of children being given equal opportunity to succeed and has two children at Ark schools.
Satchi Mahendran
Satchi is a public policy expert, having held a number of roles in local and national government. This has included positions in the Department for Education, Ofsted, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and 10 Downing Street. He is passionate about contributing to the community in Hastings and believes that our children deserve the best possible education, which he will seek to support the academies to deliver as a governor.
Guy Walker
Guy is a local managing director, who has built and expanded a successful retail and wholesale business. He is also a business partner and advisor to entrepreneurs and investors, brokering distribution deals, appraising investments and troubleshooting, often in other sectors and geographies. Having successfully sold on his own businesses he now works with likeminded people to assist them to develop and prosper. He has a son at an Ark primary academy.
Natalie Rankin
Natalie Rankin began working at Ark Blacklands Primary Academy as an interim Head of School in January 2016, having demonstrated a successful track record as Vice Principal at Ark Blacklands since September 2014. Before joining Blacklands, Natalie was Leader of Learning for Mathematics at a junior school in Hastings. She was a pivotal member of the leadership team responsible for having Special Measures removed from the school in January 2014. The school improved its Quality of Teaching and Leadership to Good in the time Natalie was there.
Natalie graduated from the University of Exeter in 1998 with a degree in Primary Education. Her specialism is Mathematics and she believes that every child can achieve high standards and enjoy the subject if taught creatively. She is passionate about providing children with the chance to learn the skills required to achieve excellence both academically and beyond the curriculum.
Prior to working for the Ark Network, Natalie provided support to a number of schools in East Sussex to develop Curriculum and Quality of Teaching. As Instructional Lead Teacher at Ark Blacklands, Natalie continues to improve the quality of teaching and has implemented a coaching cycle with opportunities for teacher-led reflection and research. This ensures teachers share best practice and work together to improve.
Mark Rankin
Mark is a Governor by virtue of his role within the Hastings Primaries Hub
Kate Woolley
Kate is a Governor by virtue of her role at Little Ridge.
Sarah Kowitz
Sarah is a Founding Partner and although she does not attend meetings she continues to support Hastings Primaries as an Associate. She moved with her family to Hastings from New York in 2004 and has been involved with a number of community issues ever since. Born and educated in London, she graduated from the faculty of English and American Studies at the University of East Anglia in 1984 and then trained as a reporter at the Kent and Sussex Courier. She later worked in Hong Kong as the Education Editor of the Hong Kong Standard before becoming a freelance writer and photographer based in Kuala Lumpur. She cares deeply about the importance of primary education and believes passionately in the educational and therapeutic qualities of the natural environment.