Governance
Oak Lodge School is a converter special academy managed by Barnet Special Education Trust (BSET). Companies House holds and publishes certain information about the Trust and its officers. Available on this link. BSET is a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). As of September 2023, BSET controls both Oak Lodge School and The Windmill School.
Members:
The three founder members established Barnet Special Education Trust as a company limited by guarantee. The members meet annually and at other times as required with a role to ensure the Trust fulfils its founding principles and to receive the company’s annual report and accounts. They also have responsibility for the appointment of trustees.
Members |
Appointed |
Stepped Down |
Relevant business or pecuniary interests |
Judith Charlesworth (Chair) Founder Member |
March 2016 | Education Consultant | |
Anne Etherington Founder Member |
March 2016 | Education Consultant | |
Desirée Lodge-Patch Founder Member |
March 2016 | Retired Principal, Woodfield Special Academy, Brent; Company Secretary, LP Construction London Ltd; Trustee, The Avenue Free School | |
Steve Palmer | July 2019 | Communications Manager, Social Care Institute of Excellence. |
Trustees:
The Board of Trustees steer the strategic aims of the Trust. They appoint the Chair and community governors of each Local Governing Body, whilst ensuring the election of staff and parent representation for each to keep a general overview of the work of the Trust and its schools. They hold the Executive Headteacher to account and be accountable in turn to the Members, DfE and ESFA for results, finances and management.
Trustees |
Appointed |
Stepped Down |
Relevant business or pecuniary interests |
Judith Charlesworth (Chair) | March 2016 | Education Consultant | |
Lynda Walker (Accounting Officer) | November 2016 | Headteacher, Oak Lodge School | |
Ola Ajadi | December 2020 | Financial Sevices Executive, London Stock Exchange Group | |
Tom Burns | December 2020 | Chartered Accountant, Pearson plc | |
Dr. Laura Crane | July 2018 | Associate Professor; Deputy Director, Centre for Research in Autism Education (CRAE), UCL Institute of Education. | |
Janet Dobney | November 2016 | Retired SENCO and Manager of Specialist Autism Resource Provision, Broadfields School, Edgware | |
Richard Weisfeld | July 2019 | Financial Consultant | |
Val White | July 2018 | Retired senior local government officer |
Local Governing Bodies:
The Trustees establish a Local Governing Body (LGB) for each school in the MAT. A scheme of delegation will afford each member school control of internal budgets, following agreement with Trustees as to the level of commitment to centrally shared resources. The LGB reports to the Trustees and takes a strategic role in the governance of their school to hold the Headteacher and other senior leaders to account in respect of safety and wellbeing, educational standards and achievement of agreed plans and objectives. Click here for Oak Lodge Local Governing Body
Local Governing Body
Oak Lodge School is a Special Academy managed by Barnet Special Education Trust, who have appointed a Local Governing Body (LGB) to the School, as a sub-committee of the Academy Trust Board. The main purpose of the LGB is to ensure that student progress and outcomes are the best they can be, to promote the safeguarding and wellbeing of the school community and to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations including equality, health and safety matters.
Members |
Term Expires |
Other Committees |
Notes |
Julian Cole Appointed by GB/Board |
February 2025 | ||
Janet Dobney Appointed by Board of Trustees |
August 2026 | BSET Board of Trustees | |
Emmet Giltrap (Chair) Appointed by GB/Board |
December 2025 | BSET Finance, Audit & Risk Committee | |
Dr. Ella Rachamim |
June 2025 | ||
Bridget Rudder Elected Staff Governor |
November 2026 | ||
Grace Stogdon Appointed by GB/Board |
February 2025 | ||
Anita Talwar Elected Parent Governor |
October 2025 | ||
Lynda Walker |
BSET Board of Trustees |
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Deepti Bal |