Local Governance

Academy Council (Complex Needs) - Abbey Hill Academy & Sixth Form

Membership is as follows:

• The Principals of Abbey Hill Academy and Abbey Hill Academy Sixth Form attend meetings in an advisory capacity
• The Chair of the Academy Council is Chris Aitkin.

Governor resignations over the past 12 months -  Dawn Dacombe, Parent governor, resigned wef 03.09.24 (term of office 07.11.22-06.11.25).  Dawn had declared the following business and pecuniary interest - employee of Learning with Parents, Educational Resources from 02.01.24.

Academy Council (Archway) - Archway Academy

Membership is as follows:

There is currently a vacancy for one parent governor and one co-opted governor.

• The Principal of Archway Academy attends meetings in an advisory capacity
• Chair of the Academy Council - Andrew Woolf

Governor resignations over the past 12 months -  Sophie Ascough, Co-opted Governor, resigned wef 20.03.25 (term of office 21.03.23-20.03.25).  Sophie had declared the following business and pecuniary interests: MIMA, University, Assistant Learning Curator; National Saturday Club, registered charity, Tutor's Advisory Board Member; Daughter of Governance Operations Manager.

Academy Council (SEMH - Primary) - Green Gates Academy & Mo Mowlam Academy (Primary)

Membership is as follows:

There is currently one co-opted governor vacancy and one parent governor vacancy.

• The Principals of Green Gates Academy and Mo Mowlam Academy (primary) attend meetings in an advisory capacity
• Chair of the Academy Council - Helen Dyson 

Governor resignations over the past 12 months - Jane Beatie, Parent Governor resigned wef 30.01.25 (term of office 25.04.24-24.04.27).  Jane had declared no business or pecuniary interests.

Academy Council (SEMH - Secondary) - Hollis Academy, Mo Mowlam Academy (Secondary) & Westlands Academy

Membership is as follows:

There is currently a vacancy for one co-opted governor.

• The Executive Principal and Principals of Hollis, Mo Mowlam (secondary) and Westlands Academies attend meetings in an advisory capacity
• Chair of the Academy Council - Alexa Lang

Academy Council (Woodlands) - The Woodlands Academy 

There are currently two vacancies - 1 x co-opted governor and 1 x parent governor.

• The Principal of The Woodlands Academy attends meetings in an advisory capacity
• Chair of the Academy Council - Julie Sheppard

Governor resignations over the past 12 months -  Al Thompson (Co-opted Governor) resigned wef 30.09.24 (term of office (01.05.23-30.09.24)).  Al had declared the following business and pecuniary interests - Impower Consulting Ltd, employer, October 2010; Kipawa Trust International, charity, independent examiner, April 2014.

Academy Council (Meadows) - The Meadows Academy 

Information to follow

Governance Professional - local governance

Amanda Porteous Mockler, Governance Officer.  Contact: 01642 677113 / Abbey Hill Academy, Ketton Road, Stockton on Tees, TS19 8BU

Academy Council Terms of Reference  

As detailed in the Board of Trustees' Terms of Reference, the remit of the Academy Councils is as follows:

1. An obligation to ensure high standards in all academies.
2. Through Link Governor visits, and supported by the Trust’s Safeguarding Lead / Deputy, review individual academy safeguarding audits on an annual basis and report back to relevant Academy Council.
3. Contribute to ensuring systems are in place to ensure quality, safety and good practice.
4. To evaluate, monitor and challenge academy standards and outcomes.
5. To evaluate, monitor and challenge Academy Improvement Plans.
6. To evaluate, monitor and challenge the SEFs.
7. To receive Link Governor updates.
8. To evaluate, monitor and challenge outcomes at each Academy level – this includes KPI updates in relation to safeguarding, ie attendance, suspension/exclusion, racial incidents, SHOSASV, severe absenteeism; parent/student questionnaires and progress data.
9. To evaluate and monitor quality assurance information.
10. To evaluate, monitor and challenge implementation of the curriculum.
11. To evaluate, monitor and challenge learners’ experience in one or more academies.
12. To receive verbal updates on School Development Partner visits for one or more academies.
13. To ensure academy website compliance.
14. To review the Pupil Premium Strategy Statements and make recommendation to the Standards Committee for approval
15. Monitor and ensure effective use of/impact of specific targeted resources, eg Pupil Premium.
16. To attend training as appropriate.