Academy Council
Governance within a multi-academy trust
Uphill Village 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.
Uphill Village Academy Council
Mr Shane Hawkings – Chair of Academy Council
Shane previously served as Vice Chair of the Governing Body for Uphill Primary School. He is now the Chair of the Academy Council and is the Councillor with responsibility for safeguarding. He works as an operations manager at a local primary school within the CLF family and both his children previously attended Uphill Village Academy.
Declaration of interests: Shane works within CLF.
Samantha Hodder – Principal
Susie Weaver – Executive Director of Education
Toby Blackburn – Parent Councillor
Toby is a full-time parent to three children, two of which attend Uphill Village Academy, with the third following along in a few years. He previously worked in IT for over 10 years as a Technology Manager. He is the Link Councillor for Health & Safety; and is currently holds the voluntary position of PTFA Secretary.
Declaration of interests: Toby has two children at Uphill Village Academy and is a member of the PTFA committee.
Stewart Castle – Sponsored Councillor
Stewart lives in Uphill Village and was elected as a parent Governor for Uphill Primary School over 25 years ago and previously served as Chair of the Governing Board until July 2016. Stewart has previously served on the governing bodies of both Westhaven School and Broadoak School.
He is currently the Chair of the Uphill Village Society and Trustee of the Village Hall. He has a grandchild at Uphill Village Academy.
Declaration of interests: Nil declared.
Becky Frise – Support Staff Councillor
Becky has worked at Uphill Village Academy since 2011 as part of the administration team. Becky is also a Governor at a local secondary school within the CLF family. She has previously had three children attend Uphill Village Academy.
Declaration of interests: Becky works within the Academy.
Sarah Goode – Teacher Staff Councillor
Sarah was a staff Governor at Uphill Primary School since 2014. Sarah teaches at the school and has responsibility for mathematics. She currently is the Teaching Staff Councillor.
Declaration of interests: Sarah teaches within the Academy.
Vacancy – Parent Councillor
Anita Beal – Student Advocate
Anita works currently as a Teaching Assistant in Uphill Village Academy and has newly joined the Council. She lives in the village and has one child who attended Uphill Village Academy and now attends the local secondary school within the CLF family.
Declaration of interests: Anita works within the Academy.
Sue Burns – Clerk to the Academy Council
