Governance within a multi-academy trust

Castle Primary 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 13 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.

Castle Primary Academy Council

Governance at Castle Primary

Traditionally, schools have ‘governing bodies’, but as Castle Primary is part of the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF), we have a slightly different structure. The CLF Board has overall responsibility for the management of all its academies (finances, staffing etc.), but each Academy has its own Council. The Council is made up of teacher and support staff reps, sponsored councillors (appointed by CLF), a local authority representative, 2 parent representatives (elected by parents) and a student advocate.

Academy Councils are responsible for holding Principals and their leadership teams to account for the quality and effectiveness of the academy for their students. Their focus is school improvement, and they monitor performance through the annual Academy Improvement Plan (AIP), through monitoring risks and responses to risks, and through overseeing systems and processes for the safeguarding, health, safety and wellbeing of academy staff and pupils.

Academy Councillors are expected to both support and challenge the Principal and academy leadership team, and work with them to make the academy one that everyone can be proud of.

Academy Council Meetings will be held this year on:

AC1	Wednesday 25-Sep-2024	5-8pm
AC2	Tuesday 22-Oct-2024	6-8pm
AC3	Tuesday 21-Jan-2025	6-8pm
AC4	Tuesday 01-Apr-2025	6-8pm
AC5	Tuesday 20-May-2025	6-8pm
AC6	Tuesday 30-Jun-2025	6-8pm

 

If you would like to contact the Chair of the Academy Council please send your email via the school info@cps.clf.uk

 

Academy Council  members

David Edwards (Sponsored Chair & Safeguarding Councillor)

Lee Churchill (Parent & Health & Safety Councillor)

Carolyn Tayler-Webb (Parent & SEND Councillor)

Fran Abbott (Staff Teacher Councillor)

Gemma Whitehead (Staff Support Councillor)

Rebecca Hendry (Sponsored and Pupil Premium Councillor)

Michelle Harris  - (Sponsored Councillor)