Governance


Baxter College is a member of the Severn Academies Educational Trust and appoints its own local board of Governors. Members of this board hold elections in order to appoint their own Chair and Vice Chair. These appointments are subject to the approval of the Severn Academies Educational Trust Board of Directors. The appointment of Directors to the Severn Academies Educational Trust Board is the responsibility of the SAET Members. Click here to view our Governance Statement.

To contact any of the governors, please email Mrs T Barnes, Clerk to the LGB on tbarnes@saet.co.uk

Our Vision Statement
Baxter College is a values-driven school that:

  • celebrates diversity through child-centred school experience and seeks success for all
  • develops skills and character traits in students with the practical wisdom to apply them
  • delivers excellence through care and kindness to all in our community.

Our Academy Governance


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Charlotte Bloor

Chair of Governors (Safeguarding Governor)
I’m Charlotte Bloor, and I am the Chair of Governors (also behaviour and attendance link governor) at Baxter College.  I’m passionate about education and learning, and believe that all students should have access to the best education they can.  Being a parent governor gives me a different insight to the school and helps me understand how the strategic decisions that are made by the governing body impact on the students.  I work in the education sector, and have seen 1st hand the impact a poor secondary education can have on a young person’s aspirations and goals – I became a governor to hopefully make a difference to our local school.  I am also the link governor for English – as part of this role I need to ensure that the plans put in place to improve student progression and attainment are working – I do this through questioning and challenging, and reviewing data to see the impact.  I am always impressed at the range of interventions provided to students to support them to make the best progress they can.

David Smales

Vice Chair of Governors & Parent Governor (Curriculum & Quality of Education Link Governor)
I am passionate about training and education and have for the last fifteen years worked for the Education and Skills Agency (ESFA), which is an executive agency of the Department for Education.  In various roles. I have had responsibility for managing further education colleges and private training providers as well as monitoring performance against targets and budgets.  I currently have counter fraud and investigation responsibilities as well as wider assurance across the training and education sector. I am an ex-steelworker and graduated from University with a BA (Hons) Politics as a mature student following redundancy from heavy industry.  I then worked for Trade Unions and Training Providers before moving on to the ESFA.  I have two sons at Baxter College in year 10 and sixth form.  I enjoy most sports as well as cooking adventurous meals for friends and family.
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Matthew Carpenter

Principal

It is an honour to be the Principal at Baxter College, a fantastic school with a supportive community. The governing board provides the school with excellent strategic direction and challenge, and provides an active voice for our local community. Our Governing board are proud of our school and our students and value success for all our students. 

Jacqui Elwis

Trust Governor (Teaching & Learning Link Governor)

Throughout my career I have been involved in school governance, both as a staff representative and later as a Head Teacher.

I was Acting Head, at Burlish Middle School, from 2005 before taking up the Headship at Stourport Primary in 2007, during the Wyre Forest review.

When we converted to an academy in September 2016 I became Primary Director for Severn Academies Educational Trust which has six primary schools associated with it. As a director I am an advisor to the Board of Trustees.

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Dan Collington

Parent Governor (Behaviour & Attendance Link Governor)

I’ve spent the past 20+ years working in regulated financial services mainly in senior governance or compliance roles. I see my role as parent governor as being able to bring insight from parents/carers and students perspectives, to help make the school the best it can be, and be the destination learning centre in the area. 

 I was born in Brighton and lived on the south coast until 2016, when I moved to Kidderminster. I’m married and have two stepsons, the eldest of which is at Baxter College. Outside of work I’m passionate about sports, helping out with both kids football teams where I can, and watching Brighton whenever possible. 

 

Luca Capuano

Staff Governor

I am bi-lingual, having been born in Sorrento, in southern Italy, where I lived until I was 13 when I came to England. As a consequence. I have a flair for languages and studied Business and Languages at the University of Central Lancashire.

After graduating, I used my languages working in export sales for seven years, in the manufacturing and service sectors, before making a career change into teaching in 2002.  My first teaching post was at Pensnett High School in Brierley Hill, where I became Head of Department for MFL. and moved to Baxter College in 2010.  I have enjoyed 10 happy years working here as Faculty Area Leader for MFL, as well as taking on additional responsibilities such as Faculty Area Leader for Humanities, Trust Improvement Leader, member of the Staff Council and now as Staff Governor.

I hope I can make a difference to the LGB and bring the perspective from “the coal face” to our deliberations.

Happily married to Ali for 19 years, I am the proud father of three boys aged 16, 13 and nine.  In my spare time, I enjoy gardening, DIY, fishing and playing golf, as well as watching my boys or Tottenham Hotspur playing football.

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Polly McMeeking

Trust Governor & Community Governor (Pupil Premium & SEND Link Governor)

Polly McMeeking is a retired executive head teacher and director of education within the independent special school sector. She has long experience of school governance and a particular interest in SEND provision. She is the parent of a young man who has special needs. Voluntary activities have included parent advisory work. She is a director within her family brewing and pub business where she fulfils health and safety and social marketing roles. In her spare time she helps run her local village cinema and is an artisan cheesemaker.