DAPH & DASH Updates Newsletter: Special Edition - Devon Education Forum (DEF): Appointment of Schools members (Academy and L/A Maintained) and named Substitutes effective from 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2022

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Special Edition -  Summer term  |  24 June 2020


For the attention of:

  • Headteachers/Principals of all LA Maintained Schools within Devon Local Authority
  • The Board of Directors of all Academy Schools within Devon Local Authority

Devon Education Forum (DEF):
Appointment of Schools members (Academy and L/A Maintained) and named Substitutes effective from
1 September 2020 to 31 August 2022

Dear colleagues

In accordance with Schools Forums (England) Regulations 2012 and further ESFA Guidance: Schools Forums Operational and Good Practice Guide (May 2020), the membership of Devon Education Forum (DEF) must include both Schools members (L/A Maintained) and Academy members.

Additionally, arrangements must also include named Substitutes for each category of membership who will attend and vote (where appropriate) at meetings of Devon Education Forum when necessary i.e. if a full member is unable to attend.

Details of the current DEF membership can be viewed H E R E.

DEF Proportionality from 1 September 2020

Following a review of pupil numbers across the phases, it was agreed and communicated last autumn that the primary headteacher membership would change to 2 x Academy and 2 x L/A Maintained Schools at the earliest opportunity. Following the resignation of Martyn Boxall as one of the L/A Maintained Schools primary members, this is now possible. There is no change to secondary membership ratio, however a number of vacancies have arisen.

From 1 September, DEF membership across both phases will therefore be as follows:

Primary: Academy x 2 and Schools (L/A Maintained) x 2

Secondary: Academy x 3 and Schools (L/A Maintained) x 1

Nominations for Primary and Secondary Membership at DEF

On behalf of the DAPH and DASH Executive Committees,, it is proposed that the following candidates will be put forward to fill the following vacancies on Devon Education Forum from 1 September for the remainder of the current term i.e. 31 August 2022:

Primary Academy Member

  • Rachel Shaw | CEO, Exeter Learning Academy Trust (existing Substitute)

Primary Academy Substitute

  • David Perkins | Headteacher, Littletown Primary Academy

Secondary Academy Member

  • Graham Hill | Headteacher, Pilton Community College, Ventrus MAT

Secondary Academy Substitute

  • Andrew Davis | Principal, Exmouth Community College

Secondary (LA Maintained) Schools Member

  • Sammy Crook | Executive Headteacher, Federation of Tiverton Schools (existing Substitute)

Secondary (LA Maintained) Substitute

  • Phil Randall | Headteacher, St Peter's CofE Aided School, Exeter

All primary and secondary schools (Academy & L/A Maintained) are invited to submit additional nominations in respect of the above vacancies via the online nomination form  to be received no later than noon on Friday 10 July 2020. Details of any election process if necessary, will follow shortly thereafter.

In the absence of any additional nominations being received by the closing date, the above primary and secondary nominees proposed above will be put forward and appointed on DEF from 1 September 2020 until 31 August 2022.

What is Expected of DEF Members

Schools forum members will need the skills and competencies to manage Forum business (as detailed in schools forum powers and responsibilities and to take a strategic view across the whole education estate whilst acting as representative of the group that has elected them. Furthermore, they should be easily contactable and pro-active in raising the profile of issues and communicating decisions, and the reasons behind them, effectively.

Further information on Devon Education Forum to include the Constitution, minutes of meetings etc. is available on the Devon County Council website.

To provide for effective representation on Devon Education Forum, it is recommended any Schools or Academy member would engage with the new DSLS CIO Schools Executive Committee in order to understand fully the wider context of representing the schools community in Devon on DEF and the work undertaken by its constituent sub-groups.

Confirmation of DEF Membership will be communicated before the end of the summer term.

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank Julie Phelan, Aimee Mitchell, Matthew Shanks and Martyn Boxall as outgoing members for their time and contribution representing schools at DEF over a number of years.

Clare Coates | Business Manager
(sent on behalf of the DAPH & DASH Executive Committees)


COVID-19 - Support for Devon School Leaders

Devon Association of Primary Headteachers (DAPH) & 

Devon Association of Secondary Headteachers (DASH)

Contact us:  01392 380518  |  daph@devon.gov.uk  |  daph.org.uk

DAPH Office
Venture House, One Capital Court
Bittern Road, Sowton Industrial Estate
Exeter EX2 7FW