From 10 August 2026, we will begin making changes to this website in preparation for our upcoming merger with Ark Schools, which takes place on 1 September 2026.
Until 1 September 2026, all policies will continue to apply. Following the merger, please refer to the Ark website or individual school website.
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.
Carleton Park Primary School and The Rookeries Carleton Primary School Performance Review Board (SPRB)
The Carleton Park and The Rookeries Schools SPRB is a sub-committee of the Ark Schools Board.
The SPRB is currently made up of:
| Name | Role | From | To | Appointed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joanna Kneafsey | Chair (Safeguarding Link Rep) | 03/10/2022 | 02/10/2026 | Trust Board |
| Michelle Winter | Principal at Carleton Park Primary School | 01/09/2024 | N/A | Ex-officio |
| David Dunn | Principal at The Rookeries Primary School | 01/09/2023 | N/A | Ex-officio |
| Lucy Hatton | Vice Chair (SEND Link Rep) | 12/05/2023 | 11/05/2027 | Trust Board |
| Hannah Norman | SPRB Member | 03/10/2022 | 02/10/2026 | Trust Board |
| Sarah Keniwell | SPRB Member | 03/03/2025 | 02/03/2029 | Trust Board (parent) |
| Rebecca Caunce | SPRB Member | 18/07/2025 | 17/07/2029 | Trust Board (parent) |
The Chair can be contacted at the following address:
Carleton Park Primary School
Moxon Close
Pontefract
West Yorkshire
WF8 3PT
or by email at PHQ.clerk@arkonline.org
SPRB Register of Business Interests
| Name | Term start date | Term end date | Appointed by | Name of company or business interest | Nature of business | Nature of interest | Date interest started | Date interest ceased | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michelle Winter | 01/09/2024 | N/A | Ex-Officio | None declared | |||||
| David Dunn | 01/09/2023 | N/A | Ex-Officio | None declared | |||||
| Joanna Kneafsey | 03/10/2022 | 02/10/2026 | Trust Board | Pontefract Academies Trust | Multi Academy Trust - Education | Close relative - sister | 01/01/2021 | - | |
| Hannah Norman | 03/10/2022 | 02/10/2026 | Trust Board | None declared | |||||
| Lucy Hatton | 12/05/2023 | 11/05/2027 | Trust Board | Wakefield Council | Education Services | Employee | 30/11/2019 | - | |
| Sarah Keniwell | 03/03/2025 | 02/03/2029 | Trust Board | Dixons Academy Trust | Multi Academy Trust - Education | Relative of Trustee | 01/09/2023 | - | |
| Snapethorpe Primary School | Primary Education | Relative of Governor/Vice Chair | 02/09/2024 | - | |||||
| Rebecca Caunce | 14/07/2025 | 13/07/2029 | Trust Board | None declared | |||||
| Left within last 12 months | |||||||||
| Charlotte Waite | 01/07/2023 | 19/01/2026 | Trust Board | No declaration recieved | |||||
SPRB Membership & Attendance Summary 2025/26
| From | To | Appointed by | Meetings attended | Out of a possible | |
| Michelle Winter (Headteacher of Carleton Park) | 01/09/2024 | N/A | Ex-officio | 4 | 4 |
| David Dunn (Headteacher of The Rookeries) | 01/09/2023 | N/A | Ex-officio | 4 | 4 |
| Joanna Kneafsey (Chair) | 03/10/2022 | 02/10/2026 | Trust Board | 4 | 4 |
| Hannah Norman | 03/10/2022 | 02/10/2026 | Trust Board Appointed Staff | 3 | 4 |
| Lucy Hatton | 12/05/2023 | 11/05/2027 | Trust Board | 4 | 4 |
| Sarah Keniwell | 03/03/2025 | 02/03/2029 | Trust Board Appointed Parent | 3 | 4 |
| Rebecca Caunce | 18/07/2025 | 17/07/2029 | Trust Board Appointed Parent | 4 | 4 |
Resignations
| Name | From | To | Appointed By | Meetings attended | Out of a possible |
| Charlotte Waite | 01/07/2023 | 19/01/2026 | Trust Board | 0 | 2 |