Local Governance

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

Membership is as follows:

• The Principals of Abbey Hill Academy and Abbey Hill Academy Sixth Form, and The Woodlands Academy attend meetings in an advisory capacity
• The Chair of the Academy Council is to be confirmed.

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.  Julie Sheppard (Co-opted governor) resigned wef 31.08.25 (term of office 21.10.24-20.10.27).  Julie had declared the following business and pecuniary interests: Plant + Products Services Ltd, supplier, husband owns business; Elevate MAT, employed as Deputy CEO.  David Penny (Challenge Governor) resigned wef 31.08.25 (term of office 10.05.25-09.05.26).  David had declared no business or pecunary interests.

Academy Council (Primary SEMH/Neurodiversity) - 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 (Secondary SEMH/Neurodiversity) - Hollis Academy, The Meadows Academy & Westlands Academy

Membership is as follows:

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

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

Academy Council (Secondary SEMH/AP Redcar) - Archway Academy and Mo Mowlam Academy secondary

Membership is as follows:

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

• The Principals of Archway Academy and Mo Mowlam Academy (secondary provision) attend 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.  Andrew Parsons, Co-opted Governor, resigned wef 31.08.25 (term of office 01.09.23-31.08.25).  Andrew had declared no business or pecuniary interests.

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.