Governance & Scheme of Delegation (Academies)

 

The Role of Governor

Within England, there are over 300,000 School/Academy Governors, who form the largest volunteer force in the country.

The roles of individual Governors, and subsequently members of a Governing Body, work collectively to perform a strategic role and carry out key functions such as:

• Discuss and set the aims and objectives for the Academy.
• Set the required policies for achieving those aims and objectives.
• Set the required targets for achieving those aims and objectives
• Monitor and evaluate the progress that the Academy is making towards it’s set aims and objectives.

Finally the role of the Academy Governor is to be a source of challenge and support to the Principal, i.e. a 'critical friend.'

The Governing Body of Harris Primary Academy Merton

The Academy is a member of the Harris Federation. Ultimate responsibility for the Academy rests with the Board of Trustees of the Federation, (Federation governance details and scheme of delegation can be found here), but much of the work of the Board is delegated to the Local Governing Body (the Governors of the Academy). Some Governors are appointed by the Federation whilst others are elected by parents or guardians of students at the Academy or by staff. The details of the Governors at Harris Primary Academy Merton are shown below.

The Chair of the Academy Governing Body is Mr Alan Palmer

The Governor responsible for Safeguarding is Mr Alan Palmer

The Clerk to the Governing Body is Mr Callum Clements

Name	Date of appointment	Term of office	Appointed as	Business and pecuniary interests	Total Attended 2024-25	Total Attended 2025-26
Sir Dan Moynihan	01/09/2014 reappointed 30/08/2022	4 years	Sponsor Governor	CEO, Harris Federation	0	0
Sabeena Hasan	01/09/2014 reappointed 30/08/2022	4 years	Sponsor Governor	Director of Primary Education, Harris Federation	0	0
Sam French	01/09/2025	4 years	Sponsor Governor	None	0	0
Alan Palmer	1 September 2022	4 years	Chair of Governors	None	3	0
Emma Catley	1 September 2023	4 years	Ex-officio	None	3	0
Sajini Sajufirst	1 September 2022	4 years	Staff Governor	None	2	0
Henry Swash	3 June 2024	4 years	Sponsor Governor	None	3	0
Sharah Mufti	1 September 2025	4 years	Sponsor Governor	None	2	0
Devyani Patel	7 May 2024	4 years	Sponsor Governor	None	3	0
Kazden Farruggio	4 October 2024	4 years	Parent Governor	None	2	0
Lorna Wright	10 March 2025	4 years	Sponsor Governor	None	1	0
Raphaelle Lewis	7 July 2025	4 years	Sponsor Governor	None	0	0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Governors who have resigned in the last twelve months

Name	Date of appointment	Date of resignation	Term of office	Appointed as	Business and pecuniary interests	Total Attended 2023-24	Total Attended 2024 - 25
Victoria Forbes	01/09/23	31/08/2025	2 Years	Local Governor	None	2	2
Christiana Dujardin	15/05/25	26/01/2026	8 months	Sponsor Governor	None	0	1

Please see the link to the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) website for our school page: https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/141143#school-governance

 

To contact the Chair of Governors/Safeguarding Governor or clerk to the governors, please write to Harris Primary Academy Merton, Abbotts Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 1JW, or telephone 0208 679 3707, or send an email via info@harrisprimarymerton.org.uk

Should you wish to contact the Governing Body regarding a complaint please use the above email address.