Academy Council
Governance within a multi-academy trust
Summerhill Academy is part of the Cabot Learning Federation, a multi-academy trust that is responsible for a number of academies across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Gloucester and Somerset. Governance for a multi-academy trust operates at two levels. At trust level, there is a Board of Directors. The directors are accountable to the Department for Education and external government agencies, including the Charity Commission, for the quality of the education the trust provides and the effective use of the associated academy funding. They are required to have systems in place through which they can assure themselves of quality, financial probity, safety and good practice. The Board is provided assurance on a number of these areas through various sub-committees, as shown in the diagram below. Visit the CLF website for more information about the board.
At a local level, each academy has an Academy Council comprising of up to 9 Academy Councillors. Academy Councils are responsible for holding Principals and their leadership teams to account for the quality and effectiveness of the academic experience of the students under their care with the aim of securing effective school improvement. They do this through monitoring performance against an annual academy improvement plan, through monitoring risks and responses to risks, and by overseeing systems and processes for the safeguarding of children and the health, safety and wellbeing of academy staff.
Summerhill Academy Council
The Academy Council at Summerhill Academy is made up of:
Kerry is a commercial executive for MBDA UK in Defence Engineering, board Trustee of the Wardrobe Theatre and mother of one. She initially wanted to get into a role in governance as it was a good way to volunteer her transferrable skills into a different environment and be able to get involved in the local community living nearby.
Lydia is a secondary school teacher of Modern Foreign Languages and serves as Assistant Head (Equity and Pupil Wellbeing) and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) at QEH Bristol. Her role centres on pastoral care and promoting inclusion for all pupils, with a particular emphasis on pupil voice and agency. She joined the Academy Council at Summerhill to gain a deeper understanding of the primary education sector and to contribute her safeguarding expertise in support of both the Designated Safeguarding Lead and the wider pupil community.
Mike is the Deputy Director of the CLF Institute and is one of the leads of the Five Counties Teaching School Hubs Alliance. Mike has been in education for more than 30 years and has a breadth of experience in urban and rural schools, trusts and Local Authorities. Mike has held Senior Leadership and Headteacher roles in Bristol for a number of years, is an experienced coach and facilitator of NPQH and NPQEL programmes. Mike is the link councillor for SEND.
Dom is a father of two children and has lived in the area for 14 years. Dom works for a specialist NHS CAMHS team as a Family Therapist and also runs a private practice. Dom is proud to be part of the school community and genuinely cares about helping children and families engage in education and building safe communities of care. I am very interested in the schools work in celebrating diversity and supporting young people to become active citizens that uphold and reflect the schools core values – kind / safe / respectful / learning. In his spare time Dom attempts to keep active and enjoys spending time in nature – but most of all he enjoys spending time with his family, witnessing his children grow in confidence and enjoy discovering new things.
Kate is an enthusiastic member of the local community and mother to one of the children in school.
I am the Vice Principal at Summerhill Academy. As part of that role, I support our Pupil Council to ensure that all the children of Summerhill have a voice in how to make our school the best it can be. In my role as Pupil Premium lead, I co-ordinate the school’s approach to raising the achievement of disadvantaged pupils who are in receipt of pupil premium funding and others who are vulnerable.
I am a class teacher and science lead at Summerhill Academy. As class teacher, I am passionate about fostering a sense of community within the classroom to create an environment in which children feel valued, heard and respected; a safe environment in which they can reach their potential. My perspective on teaching is influenced by my previous work supporting vulnerable NEET individuals across Bristol.
I am a Teaching Assistant at Summerhill Academy, currently in training to become a HLTA. I am a former pupil of the school and have now worked here for 6 years. During my time as a teaching assistant, I have worked across every year group particularly supporting pupils with SEND. I am also the Forest School leader for the academy, running sessions that provide learners with a hands-on experience in a natural environment.
Should you have any queries or questions for our Academy Council please contact Wendy Hellin Wendy.Hellin@clf.uk
In attendance at Academy Council by virtue of position:
Kate is an Education Director with the CLF. Kate works across the trust as part of the Executive team, supporting school improvement. Kate knows our school well and joins our council meetings as part of our Executive Governance structure.
Chris Barratt is Principal at Summerhill Academy. Previously, Chris was Vice Principal at Evergreen Primary Academy and a teacher and SLT member at Begbrook Primary Academy, all part of the Cabot Learning Federation. Chris believes in the power of education to make a real difference to children’s lives. He has been a teacher for nineteen years, having taught not only in Bristol but also in international schools in Latin America.
