School Governance
Supporting and Challenging Our School
At Market Field School, governance plays an important role in helping us provide the very best education and support for our pupils.
Our Local Advisory Committee (LAC) works closely with school leaders and the Hope Learning Community to provide strategic oversight, support and constructive challenge. Members bring a wide range of professional skills, experiences and perspectives, helping to ensure that the needs of our pupils, families and wider community remain at the heart of decision-making.
Working alongside the Trust Board, our Local Advisory Committee helps to:
✅ Promote high standards of education and wellbeing
✅ Support the school's vision, values and strategic priorities
✅ Ensure accountability for pupil outcomes and school improvement
✅ Champion the voices of pupils, families and staff
✅ Monitor safeguarding, finance and statutory responsibilities
✅ Help ensure that every child receives the opportunities and support they deserve
Our Governance Structure
Market Field School is part of the Hope Learning Community Academy Trust. The Trust Board holds overall responsibility for the strategic direction and accountability of all schools within the Trust, while delegating certain responsibilities to the Market Field School Local Advisory Committee. This ensures that decisions are both strategically informed and responsive to the needs of our local school community.
Governance at a glance
🏫 Market Field School
⬇️
🤝 Local Advisory Committee (LAC)
Provides local support, monitoring and challenge.
⬇️
🌟 Hope Learning Community Trust Board
Provides strategic oversight and accountability across all schools within the Trust.
Living Our Values
The work of our trustees and ambassadors is guided by the same values that underpin every aspect of school life:
🤝 Respect
Ensuring every voice is heard and valued.
⭐ Excellence
Maintaining high expectations and continually striving for improvement.
💙 Friendship
Building strong partnerships between school, families, the Trust and the wider community.
Meet Our Trustees
Our committee members bring experience from education, business, public service, parent representation and community leadership. Together they help to support, challenge and champion the work of the school, ensuring that our pupils remain at the centre of every decision.
Governance provides strategic oversight and accountability in schools. The Hope Learning Community Academy Trust holds ultimate responsibility for all decisions regarding the running of the individual academies. However, though it remains legally responsible for standards across all academies within the Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), it delegates some decisions to the Local Advisory Committee (formerly Local Governing Body) to enable a more focused local control.
If you would like more information on our funding agreements, gender pay gap reports or any other financial information, please visit our academy website via the link below.
www.hopelearningcommunity.org.uk/key-information
HOPE LEARNING COMMUNITY ACCOUNTS
CONTACTS:
Chair of the LAC : clerktothegovernors@marketfield.essex.sch.uk
Chair of Trustees: governance@hopelearningcommunity.org.uk
Trust Safeguarding: governance@hopelearningcommunity.org.uk
CEO/Executive Head Gary Smith.
Meet our Local Advisory Committee Ambassadors
- Fran Driver Chair (co-opted by the trust board) 13.07.23– resigned 7.9.26 Head of Quality and Corporate Assurance at Essex Cares Ltd. from December 2013. Parent of pupil
- Yvonne Smart (Parent elected) 30.6.25-30.6.29 No relevant interests declared.
- Ruth Whitehead – Head of School. Member of NAHT from April 2021. Director of ESSET from Sept 2021 -Son employed as supply LSA/Smile Time support from Sept 2021-
- Jaymi-Leigh Pulumbarit - (Staff elected) 13.10.2023 - Resigned 12.05.26 Member of staff
- Lucy Little - (parent elected) 6.3.2026 -5.3.2030. No relevant interests declared.
- Jade Sanderson - (parent elected) 6.3.2026 - 5.3.2030 Related to members of staff from 23.3.26
- Wendy Brown - (Staff elected) 26.11.2024-26.11.2028 No relevant interests declared
- Elizabeth Cornish - (co-opted by trust board) 20.5.2026-20.5.2030. Trustee at Beacons Hill school from 20.5.26
Historical committee members in past 12 months
Chelsea Harmsworth - (co-opted) 16.05.2024-Resigned November 2025
- Yvonne Webb (Parent elected) 19.05.23 - Resigned 12.11.2025 No relevant interests declared
Meeting attendance 2025-26
| Ambassador | Meeting attendance |
|---|---|
| Wendy Brown | out of a possible 4 - 2 |
| Fran Driver | out of a possible 4 -4 |
| Chelsea Harmsworth resigned November 2025 | out of a possible 1 -0 |
| Lucy Littleelected by parents | out of a possible 1 -1 |
| Jaymi-Lee Pulumbarit resigned | out of a possible 3 -2 |
| Jade Sanderson elected by parents | out of a possible 1-0 |
| Yvonne Smart | out of a possible 4-2 |
| Yvonne Webbresigned | out of a possible 1-0 |
| Ruth Whitehead | out of a possible 4-4 |
Meeting attendance 2024/25
| Ambassador | Meeting attendance |
|---|---|
| Wendy Brown (staff elected Nov 2024) | 1 of possible 3 |
| Fran Driver | 3 of possible 4 |
| Dawod Haidary (co-opted May 2025) failed to complete appointment requirements | 1 of possible 1 |
| Chelsea Harmsworth | 4 of possible 4 |
| Michael Lucking (resigned March 2025 | 3 of possible 3 |
| Jaymi-Leigh Pulumbarit | 4 of possible 4 |
| Yvonne Webb | 2 of possible 4 |
| Ruth Whitehead | 4 of possible 4 |