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
For any enquiries regarding the Academy Council at Uphill Primary Academy please contact Sue Burns, Clerk to the Council – [email protected]
Toby Blackburn – Chair of Academy Council
Toby has had three children go to Uphill Village Academy, two of which still attend the academy. He previously worked in IT for over 10 years as a Technology Manager and now works as a Data Engineer with a major defence contractor. He is Chair of the Academy Council and Link Councillor for Health & Safety and Safeguarding. Toby is also a Trustee and Secretary for the PTFA.
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.
Declaration of interests: Nil declared.
Rosemary Dyke – Parent Councillor
Caroline Jamieson – Parent Councillor
Carina Ridge – Sponsored Councillor
Sasha Allsopp – Teacher Councillor
Anita Beal – Support Staff Councillor
Anita has worked as a Teaching Partner at Uphill for many years and she is also a member of the ELSA team, supporting many pupils. She lives in the village and her son was a pupil at the school.
Declaration of interests: Anita works within the Academy.
Useful Documents
Academy Councillor Pecuniary Interest Register 2024-25
