This page refers to the governance of the HMFA Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) only.
Each of the above schools also have a Local Committee and details of these can be found on their own websites.
For governance information of HMFA Associated Schools & Academies (Llangrove CE Academy, Marden Primary Academy & Pencombe CE Primary School), please visit their own sites listed in the bottom section of this page.
Judy Balderson and Steve Miles
Matt Ashcroft (Chair), Sarah Elwine
Matt Ashcroft (Chair), Rowena Williams (Vice chair), Alison Taylor (CEO & Accounting Officer), Sarah Elwine, James Manning, Tanya Everard, Charlotte Smith and Keith Lawton
Nicky Jones (CFO), Liz Orton (Interim CEO), Jan McColl & Zayla Beecham
Suki McGowan
Sarah Elwine (Chair), Matt Ashcroft, James Manning and Keith Lawton,
Alison Taylor (Ex-Officio), Nicky Jones (CFO)
Sarah Elwine, Alison Taylor (Ex-Officio), Matt Ashcroft, Tanya Everard
Tanya Everard (chair), Alison Taylor (Ex-Officio), Becky Wargen, Jan McColl, Sherry Morris-Davies, Zayla Beecham, Pat Rusher.
Keith Lawton (chair), Matt Ashcroft, Liz Orton (Ex-Officio), Zayla Beecham, Vickey Bloore, Samantha Lait
Sarah Elwine (chair), Alison Taylor (Ex-Officio), Matthew Fellows, Bruce Garrod, Kate Miller, Felicity Tickridge-Marshall
Rowena Williams (chair), Alison Taylor (Ex-Officio),
Hollie Preece-James (Acting HofS), Judy Balderson, Sally Talboys, Poppy Keep
Alison Taylor, Becky Wargen,
Jo Brace, Jan McColl, Nicky Jones, Zayla Beecham, Sherry Morris-Davies
Alison Taylor, Liz Orton, Vickey Bloore, Nicky Jones, Jan McColl, Zayla Beecham, Jo Brace
Alison Taylor, Nicky Jones, Jan McColl, Zayla Beecham, Jo Brace
Alison Taylor, Hollie Preece-James (Acting HofS) Nicky Jones, Jan McColl, Zayla Beecham,
Jo Brace
The Herefordshire Marches Federation of Academies (HMFA) is a charitable company and is accountable for the strategic direction of each of the Academies within the Multi Academy Trust (MAT). The Trust has 2 layers of governance as laid out in the Articles of Association – the Members of the Trust and the Board of Trustees.
Each of the 4 Academies (Lord Scudamore, Sutton, Kings Caple and St Weonards) within the Trust has a Local Committee (formerly Local Advisory Body) which is a Committee of the Board of Trustees, with delegated key function. They perform a crucial role in providing the Trust with the necessary tools to ensure that it can maintain the individual character of each of the Academies.
The HMFA MAT Scheme of Delegation (see pdf below under the documents section) defines the lines of responsibility and accountability within our Multi-Academy Trust. It is a systematic way of ensuring that Members, Trustees and Local Committee members are clear about their roles and responsibilities.
The governance structure is shown in the chart above.
The Herefordshire Marches Federation of Academies
Registered office – Lord Scudamore Academy, Friars Street, Hereford, Herefordshire. HR4 0AS
A company limited by guarantee
Registered in England and Wales
Company Reg. No. 7578861
c/o Lord Scudamore Academy, Friar Street, Hereford, HR4 0AS
Member Trustee & Chair of Trustees
Vice Chair & Parent Trustee
Trustee, Executive Headteacher, CEO & Accounting Officer
Member Trustee
Member
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Member
Member
| 25 Sept 2025 | 11 Dec 2025 | 26 Mar 2026 | 9 July 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Ashcroft (Member/Trustee) | Y | Y | Y | |
| Sarah Elwine (Member/Trustee) | N | N | Y | |
| Alison Taylor (CEO/Trustee) | Y | Y | Y | |
| Keith Lawton (Trustee) | Y | Y | Y | |
| Tanya Everard (Trustee) | N | Y | Y | |
| Charlotte Smith (Trustee) | Y | Y | Y | |
| Rowena Williams (Trustee) | Y | Y | Y | |
| James Manning (Trustee) | Y | Y | N |
| 12 Dec 2024 | 03 Apr 2025 | 10 Jul 2025 | Total Attended | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Ashcroft | Y | Y | Y | 3 of 3 |
| Sarah Elwine | Y | N | Y | 2 of 3 |
| Steve Miles | Y | Y | N | 2 of 3 |
| Alison Taylor | Y | Y | Y | 3 of 3 |
| Rowena Williams | N | N | Y | 1 of 3 |
| James Manning | Y | Y | Y | 3 of 3 |
| Tanya Everard | Y | Y | N | 2 of 3 |
| Charlotte Smith | N | N | Y | 1 of 3 |
| Keith Lawton | N/A | Y | Y | 2 of 3 |
| 25 Nov 2025 | 17 March 2026 | 30 June 20206 | Total Attended | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Ashcroft | Y | Y | 2 of 3 | |
| Sarah Elwine | Y | Y | 2 of 3 | |
| Alison Taylor | Y | Y | 2 of 3 | |
| Keith Lawton | Y | Y | 2 of 3 | |
| James Manning | Y | N | 1 of 3 |
