Academy Council
The Academy Council plays a key role in helping oversee the strategic direction of the school and works in partnership with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team. The main aim of the Academy Council is to ensure the delivery of a high standard of education for all pupils in its care.
The Academy Council has three main roles:
Strategic
The Academy Council sets the general direction of the school, looking at how it should best develop and improve. This is done by reviewing and agreeing policies, setting targets and priorities and monitoring and reviewing aims and objectives. Strategic thinking is not always linked with the curriculum and it does not mean just responding to weakness.
Critical Friend
The Academy Council works with the Headteacher and creates a clear understanding of the challenges faced in managing the school. The Academy Council is able to question and challenge. A good working relationship is essential as a real critical friendship is only achieved where there is trust and mutual respect.
Accountability
The school is a business and its stakeholders are the learners. The Academy Council has a professional attitude and uses its collective skills to benefit the learners. It gathers views, ask questions and decides what is best for the school and the children. The governing body is answerable to the parents and the wider community.
|
Name |
Type |
Committee Chair |
Term of Office Start Date |
Term of Office End Date |
Attendance at Full Academy Council meetings for the previous academic year 01/09/2019 - 31/08/2020 |
Declaration of Interests including Business & Financial Interests |
|
Mrs Christine Freeman |
Co-opted Academy Councillor |
23.04.2021 (originally started 2.5.2000) |
22.04.2025 |
7/7 |
Yes, None Stated |
|
|
Miss Helen Taylor |
Head Teacher |
|
01.09.2021 |
N/a |
N/A |
Yes, None Stated |
|
Mrs Diane Swift |
Co-opted Academy Councillor |
23.04.2021 (originally started 19.5.15) |
22.04.2025 |
5/7 |
Declared Business Interests: Director of Keele & North Staffs Primary SCITT which comes under the governance of the Shaw Education Trust. Other School Governor Posts: Associate Academy Council Member at Seabridge Primary School |
|
|
Mr Tony Mathews (Vice Chair) |
Co-opted Academy Councillor |
Finance Committee Chair |
05.12.2019 (originally started 05.12.2016) |
04.12.2023 | 5/7 |
Yes, Lay Member of North Staffs GP Practice. Wife is School Business Manager at Merit PRU. Finance & Commercial Director of MLCSU until 1.6.20 |
|
Mr Stuart Shickell (Chair) |
Co-opted Academy Councillor |
29.11.2018 | 28.11.2021 | 6/7 | Yes, child attends school, in relationship with a member of staff | |
|
Mrs Charlotte Woodall |
Parent Academy Councillor |
25.11.2019 | 24.11.2022 | 4/4 | Yes, married to a member of staff | |
|
Mrs Donna Copley |
Co-opted Academy Councillor |
17.08.2021 | 16.08.2025 | N/A | Yes, None Stated | |
|
Mr Karl McCormack |
Co-opted Academy Councillor |
23.09.2021 | 22.09.2025 | N/A | Yes, None Stated | |
|
Mrs Jill Walton |
Staff Academy Councillor |
11.10.2021 | 10.10.2025 | N/A | Yes, None Stated | |
|
Governors from the previous 12 months Mrs Miranda Burgess - Staff Academy Councillor Mr Kevin Williams - Parent Academy Councillor |
||||||
Miss Amy James and Mrs Lindsay Armstrong also attend meetings in the capacity of Associate Members.
Associate Members do not have any voting rights.
|
Link Governors |
|
|
Safeguarding Link Academy Councillor |
Stuart Shickell |
|
Health & Safety Link Academy Councillor |
Chris Freeman |
|
SEN and Inclusion Link Academy Councillor |
Charlotte Woodall |
|
Statutory Grants Link Academy Councillor |
Di Swift |
|
Finance Link Academy Coucillor |
Tony Matthews |
How to contact the Chair of Governors:
Mr Stuart Shickell (Care of the School)
The Meadows Primary Academy,
Poplar Drive,
Blurton
ST3 3AZ
Email Address – office@themeadowsprimaryacademy.org.uk
