Governance Structure
Our school is part of Pontefract Academies Trust.
The Trust was created under the provisions of the Academies Act 2010, as amended by the Education Act 2011. Its structure of governance is constituted under the Articles of Association. The Trust is an exempt charity by virtue of the Charities Act 2011.
The Funding Agreement between the Department for Education (DfE) and the Trust sets out the terms and conditions on which grant is made. The Trust Board is responsible for ensuring that the conditions of grant are met. As part of this process the Trust is required to have in place appropriate arrangements for sound governance, financial management, securing value for money and accounting, and for using public funds for the purposes for which they were intended by Parliament.
This Trust Board is accountable in law for all decisions about its schools. This does not mean that the Trust Board is required to make all of the decisions itself. Some decisions can be, and are delegated, including to SPRB, delegated officers, and other Trust Board established committees. The Scheme of Delegation sets out the framework which the Trust Board has approved.
All governance documentation for the Trust, including the Funding Agreement, Scheme of Delegation and Articles of Association can be found here.

The Rookeries J, I & N and Carleton Park J & I Schools Performance Review Board (SPRB)
The Rookeries and Carleton Park Schools SPRB is a sub-committee of the Trust Board and has various responsibilities delegated to it through the Pontefract Academies Trust Governance Policy and Scheme of Delegation.
The SPRB of The Rookeries and Carleton Park is currently made up of:
Name | Role | From | To | Appointed by |
---|---|---|---|---|
J Kneafsey | Chair | 03/10/2022 | 03/10/2026 | Trust Board |
J Ayre | Headteacher at Carleton Park J & I School | 01/06/2018 | N/A | Ex-officio |
D Dunn | Headteacher (acting) at The Rookeries J, I & N School | 01/09/2023 | N/A | Ex-officio |
M Farrell | SPRB Member | 01/09/2016 | 31/08/2024 | Trust Board |
L Hatton | SPRB Member | 13/05/2019 | 12/05/2023 | Trust Board |
A Sharp | Vice Chair | 31/10/2016 | 30/10/2024 | Parent Elected |
A Worsnop | SPRB Member | 10/12/2019 | 09/12/2023 | Trust Board |
H Norman | SPRB Member | 03/10/2022 | 03/10/2026 | Trust Board |
The Chair can be contacted at the following address:
The Rookeries Carleton Junior, Infant & Nursery School
Carleton Road
Pontefract
West Yorkshire
WF8 3NP
or by email at jkneafsey@patrust.org.uk
Our SPRB
Coming soon
I have a background in construction and when I retired, I was employed as a project manager. During my working life I worked on a number of educational buildings and leisure facilities. One of my contracts involved spending 18 months in Dubai.
I started volunteering at The Rookeries many years ago in the Reception class where I helped children with their reading. At this point, I was invited to join the SPRB. I was Chair of The Rookeries when it was rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted in March 2015.
I have been instrumental in appointing a strong SPRB and interviewing and appointing a great number of staff, including the current Head of School. I have attended numerous courses on behalf of the school and the Trust. I take my role very seriously and am totally committed to raising the standard of education for all pupils and keeping them safe at all times. I take part in lots of school activities including activity days in school, trips and generally volunteering in classes.
I grew up in Pontefract and returned to live here and bring up my family, following 4 years in Manchester to complete my degree. Both of my children attend Carleton Park J & I School and I am proud to support Mr Ayre and his team, both as a parent and through involvement with the SPRB.
I am an Educational Psychologist by profession and have spent 10 years working for a neighbouring Local Authority, supporting schools to develop inclusive practices, develop the skills of teachers and identifying Special Educational Needs for young people aged 0 to 25. I am passionate about inclusion and firmly believe that every child and family should be supported to achieve their aspirations.
Carleton Park provides a nurturing environment to children at every stage of primary education, whilst also setting high expectations and attaining positive outcomes. I value the opportunity to support the school to continue to grow and shine.
I am a member of the SPRB, supporting SEND. I have three children and my youngest daughter attends the school. I had 10 years experience as a Governor prior to joining The Rookeries SPRB. I was Governor at 2 schools and my responsibilities were within Finance, HR and SEND support. During this time we amalgamated the infant and junior schools into one new school - it was a very exciting project.
I work full-time as a Financial Accountant with the manufacturing industry. I have also worked in manufacturing retail construction and public services for the last 28 years. I am FMAAT qualified and part ACCA qualified.
I have more than 10 years’ personal experience living with a child with disabilities. I am a parent trustee for the Wakefield & District Down Syndrome Group, where I organised and successfully won £50,000 for The Peoples Project in 2016 for the charity. I currently manage 3 qualified therapists and run speech and language therapy sessions for 25 children with Down’s syndrome once a month. I am a Director of T21 Educational Care & Support Ltd, a Director of T21 Case Management Ltd and Managing & Financial Director of T21 Accounting and Business Consultancy Ltd.
I have been a teacher at Carleton Park Junior & Infant School since September 2015. Throughout my time here, I have experienced many positive and successful changes in enhancing the curriculum we offer our children. I thoroughly enjoy being at the heart of children's education and supporting their academic and personal growth.
As the PE lead in school, my role is to provide opportunities for children to be physically active and enjoy a rich physical curriculum, as well as collaborating across the Trust to broaden and strengthen the curriculum we teach as a whole.
I am proud to be a teaching representative on the School Performance Review Board and look forward to positively impacting upon both Carleton Park & The Rookeries through this role.
Coming soon
SPRB Current Register of Business Interests
Role | Name of business or organisation/educational organisation | Nature of business or organisation | Nature of interest | Date of appointment of acquisition | Date of cessation of interest | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J Kneafsey | Chair of SPRB | None declared | ||||
J Ayre | Headteacher at Carleton Park, J & I School | None declared | ||||
D Dunn | Headteacher (acting) at The Rookeries J, I & N School | None declared | ||||
M Farrell | SPRB Member | None declared | ||||
L Hatton | SPRB Member | Local Authority - WMDC | Educational Psychologist | Currently fulfilling delivery of Educational Psychology services to PAT on behalf of WMDC (Service Level Agreement in place) | 10/11/2019 | N/A |
A Sharp | Vice Chair | Wakefield Parent Carer Forum | Advice/support to parents, LA, CCG regarding SEND at Board level | Co-Founder/Treasurer | 01/04/2020 | N/A |
A Worsnop | SPRB Member | Carleton Park J & I School | Education provider | Teacher | 01/09/2015 | N/A |
H Norman | SPRB Member | Carleton High School | Education provider | Teacher | 01/09/2007 | N/A |
SPRB Membership & Attendance Summary 2022/23
From | To | Appointed by | Meetings attended | Out of a possible | |
J Ayre (Ex-Officio: Head of CPS) | 01/06/18 | N/A | Ex-Officio | 4 | 5 |
J Kneafsey (Chair) | 03/10/22 | 03/10/26 | Trust Board | 4 | 4 |
H Norman | 03/10/22 | 03/10/26 | Trust Board | 3 | 5 |
R Grogan (Ex-Officio: Head of OHS) | 01/09/20 | N/A | Ex-Officio | 5 | 5 |
L Hatton | 19/01/16 | 18/01/24 | Trust Board | 4 | 5 |
A Sharp (Vice Chair) | 20/01/16 | 19/01/24 | Parent Elected | 2 | 5 |
C Waite | 1 | 1 | |||
J Cross (Chair) | 13/03/19 | 11/03/23 | Trust Board | 1 | 1 |
D Leigh | 04/02/14 | 31/08/22 | Trust Board | 0 | 1 |
M Farrell | 31/10/16 | 19/01/24 | Trust Board | 2 | 3 |