Directors and Academy Councils
An Academy Trust is a particular type of company, officially called a ‘charitable company limited by guarantee’.
The Trust is registed at Companies’ House with the company number 7542114. Unlike other companies an Academy Trust has no share capital and is required to direct all funds received to achieving the objectives of the Trust.
In the case of the Pegasus Academy Trust, the primary objective – as stated in its articles of association – is ‘to advance for the public benefit education in the United Kingdom’.
Directors of the Trust, like Directors of other companies, are registered at Companies House. Their main duties are:
- The daily running of the Academy Trust and the management of the Trust’s business affairs;
- Ensuring the standard of education at schools within the Trust:
- Entering into contracts on the Trust’s behalf;
- Ensuring that relevant statutory documents are delivered to Companies House;
- Managing the Academy Trust’s finances and property;
- Taking part in board meetings of the Directors.
You can see minutes and agendas of the Board of Directors on our ‘Statutory Information’ pages here
Directors of the Trust
-
Richard Hill
Chair of Directors: Chair WHINF and WHJUN MACs -
Ian Patterson
Co-opted Director Chair of PAT Finance Committee -
Gary Griffin
Co-opted Director -
Lynne Sampson
Board Representative: Executive Headteacher, Ex-Officio -
Jolyon Roberts
Board Representative: Executive Principal, Ex-Officio -
Jo Ridge
Chief Financial Officer,Business Strategic Lead & Company Secretary -
Nina Pogossova
Co-opted Director -
Shelley Davies
Co-opted Director (LA) -
Emma Whapham
Co-opted Director -
Fiona Fearon
Academy Council Chair for Beulah Infant School Safeguarding and Children Looked After

Richard Hill
Term of Service ends:
March 2021
Responsibilities:
Chair of Directors: Chair WHINF and WHJUN MACs
Send EmailI graduated from Sheffield University in 1969 with a maths degree and gained a masters degree in computer science from London University in 1972.
I spent most of my career working for BT in their computer system development department retiring in 1996. On leaving BT I worked for the London Borough of Croydon in the Governor Services Team before retiring for the final time in July 2010.
I first became a governor at the Whitehorse Manor Schools in 1994 and was elected as chair of the governing body in 1996. I have been chair of the governing bodies of the schools since that time.
In 2011 I was involved in setting up the Pegasus Academy Trust became a director and was elected as the chair of the board of directors.
Since 2011 I have been chair of the academy councils of Whitehorse Manor Infant School and Whitehorse Manor Junior School. Between February 2011 and August 2014 I served on the academy council of Ecclesbourne Primary School and since September 2014 I have been a member of the academy council of Beulah Infant School.

Ian Patterson
Responsibilities:
Co-opted Director Chair of PAT Finance Committee

Gary Griffin
Responsibilities:
Co-opted Director

Lynne Sampson
Responsibilities:
Board Representative: Executive Headteacher, Ex-Officio

Jolyon Roberts
Responsibilities:
Board Representative: Executive Principal, Ex-Officio

Jo Ridge
Responsibilities:
Chief Financial Officer,Business Strategic Lead & Company Secretary
Send Email
Nina Pogossova
Responsibilities:
Co-opted Director

Shelley Davies
Responsibilities:
Co-opted Director (LA)

Emma Whapham
Term of Service ends:
January 2024
Responsibilities:
Co-opted Director

Fiona Fearon
Responsibilities:
Academy Council Chair for Beulah Infant School Safeguarding and Children Looked After
Directors and MACs Pecuniary Interests and Attendance at meetings
There are currently no downloads available. Please try again later.
Company information
We are legally required to file certain documents, including full annual accounts, at Companies House and members of the public may check the information held there by going to their search page and entering our company number – 07542114.
Academy Councils
Each school in the Trust has its own Academy Council. The Academy Council is responsible for monitoring key aspects of each school’s performance namely:
- Outcomes for children and learners;
- Quality of teaching, learning and assessment;
- Behaviour and welfare (including safeguarding);
- Ethos and values (and how they match the Trust’s overall values statements)
Members of the Academy Councils (MACs) are expected to establish for themselves what is happening in their schools and to ensure that they receive evidence on these key aspects from a variety of sources. A budget is set aside by Directors so that, when required, Academy Councils may commission their own consultants to give an independent view on areas of concern.
Academy Councils (sometimes known as ‘Local Governing Bodies’) are vital to Directors in ensuring that local voices are properly heard and the have the right to escalate matters to Directors if they vote to do so. Since the formation of the Trust at least one Director has attended each Academy Council so that a quick response can be given where required.