Who runs the school
Emmanuel Christian School is owned and governed by the Leicestershire Christian Education Trust, a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. The trustees of the charity are also the school’s governors.
| Proprietor body | Leicestershire Christian Education Trust |
| Charity number | 1212742 |
| Company number | 14640635 |
| Registered office | Emmanuel Christian School, in the grounds of Braunstone Evangelical Free Church, Didsbury Street, Leicester LE3 1QP |
| Chair of Trustees | Mr Julian Mercik · cog@ecsleicester.org.uk |
| Head Teacher | Mr Andy Harris |
The trustees
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Mr Julian Mercik | Chair of Trustees |
| Mrs Caroline Vickers | Safeguarding Governor |
| Mr Pete Allen | Trustee |
| Mr Neil Seeds | Trustee |
| Dr Samuel Olutuase | Trustee |
| Mr Andy Harris | Head Teacher, and a trustee |
Trustees are unpaid volunteers. The Head Teacher sits on the board as a trustee but takes no part in decisions concerning his own position, pay or performance, which are matters for the other trustees.
What trustees do
- Set the direction of the school and hold the Head Teacher to account for it.
- Approve the budget and oversee the school’s finances.
- Ensure the school meets the Independent School Standards.
- Oversee safeguarding, including an annual review of policy and practice.
- Appoint the Head Teacher and approve senior appointments.
- Agree the School Development Plan and monitor progress against it.
How they work
The full board meets every half term. Between those meetings, sub-committees take particular areas in more detail and report back.
| Committee | |
|---|---|
| Safeguarding | Oversees safeguarding policy and practice, and reviews the safeguarding record with the Designated Safeguarding Lead. |
| Finance | Oversees the budget, the school’s financial position, and applications for means-tested fee reduction. |
| Appraisal | Oversees the appraisal of the Head Teacher and the school’s approach to staff appraisal. |
Trustees also visit during the working day, meet staff, and see the school running rather than only reading about it in a report. In a school this size that matters: a governing body that only ever sees paperwork is not in a position to challenge it.
Safeguarding governance
Mrs Caroline Vickers is the trustee with specific responsibility for safeguarding. She meets the Designated Safeguarding Lead termly, reviews the safeguarding record, and reports to the full board. Safeguarding is a standing item at formal trustee meetings.
Safeguarding concerns about a member of staff, including the Head Teacher, should be raised with the Chair of Trustees at cog@ecsleicester.org.uk.
If you believe a child is at immediate risk, telephone the police on 999.
School development
The trustees agree the School Development Plan and review progress against it through the year. The current plan runs from 2026 to 2029 and follows the three parts of our vision, with priorities covering regulatory compliance and safeguarding, quality of education, and Christian distinctiveness.
Contacting the trustees
Write to the Chair of Trustees at cog@ecsleicester.org.uk, or by post care of the school address marked for his attention.
Most matters are better raised with the school first — the Head Teacher or your child’s class teacher will usually be able to deal with them more quickly. But if your concern is about the Head Teacher, or you have been through the complaints procedure and are not satisfied, the Chair is the right person.
