Academy Council
Governance within a multi-academy trust
Herons’ Moor 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 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.
Here are the names of our Academy Councillors at Herons’ Moor Academy :
Kathryn Volk – Chair of our Academy Council
I graduated from university in South Africa with a degree in Veterinary Science and work as an Associate Veterinarian at a local practice. I strongly believe that the greatest gift we can give a child is an education. I felt that by joining the academy council it would enable me to do my best to ensure that every child received the best possible education available to them.
Julie Fox – Principal
David Beesley – Student Advocate
Susie Weaver – Executive Director of Education
Tom Crabtree – Sponsor Councillor
Currently a Senior Business Development Manager at a tech start up in Bristol, Tom has spent the last decade or so in similar roles in the financial services, construction, utilities and logistics sectors. Before that, Tom spent his 20s managing pubs in Portsmouth before returning to his home city, Bristol. It was during this second stint in the city that he married and he & Emily are now parents to three small girls, living on the edge of the Mendips. Thanks to his professional training, Tom brings strong communication skills as well as the ability to interrogate data, think outside the box to find possible solutions to any challenges we may be faced with.
Stuart Harrington – Sponsor Councillor
Jillian Gorra – Sponsor Councillor
Jillian is currently the Director for Primary Curriculum at a multi-academy trust but has worked in various roles in Primary education over the last 12 years. She is really passionate about all children reaching their potential through a lifelong love of learning. By working with the academy council, she aims to celebrate the work the academy does and strive for even better wherever possible.
Fleur Kent – Sponsor Councillor
I have lived in North Somerset all of my life and was schooled here as were my children and now my grandchildren. I currently work as Head of Apprenticeships Accounts and Programmes for a global engineering company. My career has been in learning and development and leadership management in both criminal justice and education.
I have worked as a governor before in a different setting and look forward to putting my skills to use at Herons Moor. Positive input into children’s lives is paramount, they are our future.
Vacancy – Parent Councillor
Vicky Green – Teacher Councillor
I have been a class teacher at Herons’ Moor Academy since September 2014. I have taught in Years 3, 4 and 5. I also currently support SEN in Key Stage 2..
Wendy Stack – Support Staff Councillor
I am a Higher Learning Teaching Assistant currently working as the Herons’ Moor Academy Nursery Leader. I have worked at Herons’ Moor since 2009.
Documents
Pecuniary Interest Register 2023-24
Pecuniary Interest Register 2022-23
