Governing Body
High Street and Marlborough Primary Academies Local Governing Body
As of 1 September 2025, the local governing bodies of High Street Primary Academy and Marlborough Primary Academy transitioned into a single governing body. This is a positive move and a way of building on the partnerships being developed between the schools. This will provide an opportunity for the strengths of each governing body to come together for the benefit of all the pupils. The joint Local Governing Body hold 3 full governor meetings a year where each governor can contribute to all areas of governance.
A local governing body within a Reach South Academy Trust consists of:
4 Trust appointed members
2 Elected parent members
2 Elected staff members
Executive Headteacher
Additionally, there can be up to 3 Co-opted members.
- Interim Chair: Nick Buckland OBE
- Executive Headteacher: Steph Macdonald
| Category of Governor | Number of governors | Name |
|---|---|---|
|
Executive Headteacher |
1 |
Steph Macdonald |
|
Trust Appointed |
2 |
Nick Buckland OBE and Adam White |
|
Parent |
1 |
(Pending standard safeguarding checks) |
|
Staff |
1 |
Leea Jolley |
Clerk to Governors: Mrs. L. Johnson
The Chair of the Local Governing Body can be contacted via the schools offices or by email: lindsey.johnson@reachsouth.org If you require a copy of any of the meeting minutes please contact the clerk to the governors, Mrs. L. Johnson.
What we do:
High Street and Marlborough governors provide support and advice to the Senior Leadership Teams as well as monitoring the school's achievements and challenging decisions.
We provide:
- Overview and scrutiny of the management of the academies;
- Policy development for the academies where this has been delegated to us from the Trust; scrutiny of policy compliance by the academies where policy is set by the Trustees;
- Championship of the academies and its leaders;
- Engagement with the parents of pupils and the wider community.
We do this by:
- Holding termly meetings to discuss the schools, their achievements and areas of need, the policies and
- Visiting the schools and observing lessons and the schools in action.
- Talking to the pupils, parents, and staff to find out their views.
- Attending training to extend our skills and knowledge.
Who are your Governors?
Nick Buckland OBE - Interim Chair of Governors
Trust Appointed Governor
Term: 01.09.25 – 01.09.29
Responsibility: Interim Safeguarding Governor
Attendance 2025-26: 0/0
Registered Interests: Joint owner of Ditchen Farm ( 1989), Chair of Parnall Group (2019), Trelonk Ltd (2020), Parnall Aircraft Company (2020), Riverford Organic Trust (2018), Plymouth Waterfront Partnership (2018), St Petroc’s School Trust (2017), SA Certification (2016), HRC College (2021), Shebbear College (2010) and Director of TWSW Ltd. Trustee of PML (2016), Karst (2014) and Future First (2023). Interim Chair of Governors of High Street Primary & Marlborough Primary LGB (2025) and Thomas Hall (2023). Fellow of IMA, RSA, IET, BCS and CMI. Member of IoD and RI.
Eur Ing Nick Buckland OBE is a very experienced Governor and is currently the Chair of the Local Governing Body for Thomas Hall School as well as a Trustee for Reach South Academy Trust. In these roles he provides leadership, expertise, challenge, mentoring of new Governor colleagues, and a wealth of Governor knowledge.
Originally a mathematician, he spent many years in the IT industry working on high performance computers, the early years of virtual reality and the internet. From the mid 1990’s he has had a portfolio career as a Chair and Director of organisations in private, public and voluntary sectors. Nick has been a strong advocate of STEM and its importance for the UK economy and is passionate about ensuring young people are given the opportunities to gain a good education that will ensure they can take up exciting, well paid jobs and careers. He was appointed OBE for services to Innovation and Technology in the 2009 New Year Honours List and is a Chartered Engineer, Information Technology Practitioner and Manager. He is also a Fellow of a number of professional bodies.
Leea Jolley
Staff Governor
Term: 01.09.25 - 01.09.29
Responsibilities: Tbc
Attendance 2025-26: 0/0
Registered Interests: Tbc
Leea has been teaching primary pupils for over 10 years across various year groups. She is currently strategic DSL and EYFS and KS1 lead at High Street Academy, and she is also the Induction Lead for Early Career Teachers at Marlborough Academy.
Leea has a passion ensuring every pupil receives a high-quality education and she adores watching pupils have their light bulb moments. Leea looks forward in supporting both schools in their visions moving forward.
Steph Macdonald - Executive Headteacher
Executive Headteacher
Term: 01.09.25 – 01.09.29
Responsibility: Whole School
Attendance 2025-26: 0/0
Adam White
Trust Appointed Governor
Term: 01.09.25 - 01.09.29
Responsibilities: Tbc
Attendance 2025-26: 0/0
Registered Interests: Tbc
I was born in Freedom Fields, Plymouth in 1982. At turning 16 I got my first job in my local Plymco and Normans – now known as a Co-op supermarket. I have now worked for the Co-op for a total of 24 years, with 14 years as a store manager in multiple stores located around the city of Plymouth. My position as store manager has allowed me to interact and support multiple charities across the city. In 2018, I was offered the opportunity to complete a Degree Apprenticeship with the Co-op. In October 2021 I gained an honours degree in Management and Leadership as well as obtaining my chartered management status. In 2021, I started a secondment in another area of the business and have spent the last 12 months working within Supply Chain, as a Portfolio Analyst. A summary of this role was to make informed decisions by the analysis and interpretation of data. It was my job to support the majority of Co-ops located in tourist locations across Cornwall and Devon.
In my personal life, I have been married for over 13 years and I have two children. My hobbies include spending quality time with my family, exploring outdoor areas, visiting national trust areas and a keen interest in technology. I have been a Parent Governor up until the time my child left Marlborough and now I am pleased to continue a Governor role as a Trust Appointed Governor. I hope that all my past experiences and skillset will add value to my ongoing role of governor within the Trust.
High Street Primary Academy and Marlborough Primary Local Governing Board Meeting dates 2025-26
- Tuesday 30 September 2025
- Tuesday 10 February 2026
- Tuesday 23 June 2026
To learn about gender pay gap equality and reporting from Reach South follow this link: https://www.reachsouth.org/governance.
Contact:
If you wish to contact the Chair of Governors you can do so either via the school office or by contacting the Clerk to the Board, Lindsey Johnson: lindsey.johnson@reachsouth.org
To find out more about Reach South Academy governance click on the following link-www.reachsouth.org/governance
To find out more about Reach South Academy financial statements click on the following link- https://www.reachsouth.org/financial-statements