Decision

RESOLVED:

Cabinet approved the following nomination as set out below:

Governing Body

Name

Date nomination decision effective

Learning, Education and Arts Partnership (LEAP) Federation

Lizzie Thorne

3 November 2026 Full Governing Body appointment expected in Autumn 2026

Cabinet’s approval constitutes the Local Authority’s nomination only. Appointment as Local Authority Governor will take effect upon formal appointment by the LEAP Federation Governing Body, subject to confirmation of the applicable eligibility and safeguarding requirements.

Reasons for decision

The School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012 set out the process for the appointment of Local Authority Governors to maintained schools. The Regulations allow for the local authority to nominate a person to fill the position of Local Authority Governor. It is for the Governing Body to appoint that person if the Governing Body considers the person meets any eligibility criteria that it has set.

The proposed nomination represents a change of governor category. Lizzie Thorne has previously served as a Parent Governor and currently serves as a Co-opted Governor of the LEAP Federation. Subject to the Local Authority’s nomination and the Governing Body’s subsequent appointment, she would become the federation’s Local Authority Governor.

The Governing Body supports this nomination as minuted at their meeting on 9 June 2026.

Lizzie Thorne is a former institutional equity sales professional with ten years of experience in the City of London and now an independent business owner. At the LEAP Federation she has taken on the role of Chair of the Finance, Personnel, and Premises Committee as well as being Link Governor for Writing. She also has longstanding involvement with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of one of the schools within the federation.

Lizzie Thorne’s knowledge, skills and experience make a significant contribution to the effectiveness of the Governing Board of the LEAP= Federation.

The Governing Body will be responsible for confirming that the nominee meets all mandatory eligibility criteria, including the absence of any disqualifying factors under Schedule 4 of the 2012 Regulations.