Governance

Our governors are responsible for the management of the academy.

They must ensure that resources and finances are used with maximum efficiency and strong value for money. Find out more about our Co-op Academies Trust governance on our Trust website.

Governors are volunteers who give up their time to help the academy be the best it can be. Their role is to work together with academy leaders to set the strategic direction of the academy.

The academy is a member of a trust which delegates certain decision-making powers to our Academy Governing Council.

Introduction to our Academy Governing Council

Co-op Academies Trust is a multi-academy trust which runs a number of academies. Please visit the Trust website to find out about the Trust Board and also to view the Trust’s Annual Report, Policies and Financial Statements.

The Trust operate within an established Scheme of Delegation detailing those matters that are reserved for the Board and those delegated to governors and Headteacher:

Decisions reserved for the Trust Board include providing strategic direction to the Trust, ensuring financial viability, establishing an Audit Committee and compliance with Department for Education requirements.
The governors at each academy are responsible for ensuring a high-quality student experience that meets the needs of the local community. This will include remaining informed about what children are learning and the progress they are making, making sure children are safe, ensuring resources are used effectively and engaging the stakeholders.

How our Academy Governing Council is organised

The Academy Governing Council consists of 8 to 12 governors, of which between 2 to 5 governors are appointed by the sponsor. In addition, the local governing body includes 1 staff governor, 2 parent governors and the Headteacher. The Academy Governing Council can then appoint a number of community governors to be representative of the local community, provide insight into local partnership links, or bring a particular skillset.

Contacting governors

Governors can be contacted by writing to the regional governance manager. Contact details below.

Katie Whitmore (smgovernance@coopacademies.co.uk)

Co-op Academy Glebe
Park Place
Fenton
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 3HZ

Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising standards in schools. Find out more about them by clicking their names.

Our Academy Governing Council

Kay Price (Chair of Governors)

Full Name	Kay Price
Date of appointment	04/10/2022
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Community: Chair of Governors
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Governing Council
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	Pay Committee
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	6/6
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	1/1

Chris Brady

Full Name	Christopher Brady
Date of appointment	04/10/2022
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Governing Council
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	n/a
Declarations of Interest	Managing Director of PlaySmart UK, April 2021- present
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	2/6
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	n/a

Tim Griffin

Full Name	Tim Griffin
Date of appointment	04/10/2022
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Governing Council
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	n/a
Declarations of Interest	Entity	Nature	Dates
	GB recruitment (Staffs) Ltd	Owner/MD	29 Sep 2022-present
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	4/6
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	n/a

Daniel Jones

Full Name	Daniel Jones
Date Appointment	04.10.2022
Category of Governor	Community
Appointed by	Academy Governing Council
Declarations of Interest	Employee Sandford Hill Primary school 2nd September 2019- Present
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	5/6
Subcommittee membership (2022/23)	Pay Committee
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022/23)	1/1
Date of Resignation	N/A

Kate Rushen

Full Name	Kate Rushen
Date Appointment	01.10.2022
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Sponsor
Appointed by	An employee of the Co-op appointed by the Sponsor
Declarations of Interest	Husband owns Digital Advantage
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	6/6
Subcommittee Membership (2022/23)	Pay Committee
Attendance at sub-committee meetings (2022/23)	1/1

Johnny Anderson

Full Name	Johnny Anderson
Date of appointment	18/05/2023
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Governing Council
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	n/a
Declarations of Interest	Chair of Trustees at St.Barts Multi Academy Trust (ongoing)
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	2/2
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	n/a

Katherine Martin

Full Name	Katherine Martin
Date of appointment	20/10/2023
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Parent
Appointed by	Elected by parents
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	n/a
Declarations of Interest	TBC
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	n/a
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	n/a

Anthony Stott

Full Name	Anthony Stott
Date of appointment	20/10/2023
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Parent
Appointed by	Elected by parents
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	n/a
Declarations of Interest	TBC
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	n/a
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	n/a

Kirsty Suleman

Full Name	Kirsty Suleman
Date of appointment	17/07/2023
Term of office	n/a
Category of Governor	Ex-officio
Appointed by	By virtue of appointment as Headteacher
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	n/a
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	2/2
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	n/a

Vicki England

Full Name	Vicki England
Date of appointment	04/10/2022
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Governing Council
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	n/a
Declarations of Interest	Entity	Nature	Additional info	Dates
	Co-op Academies Trust	Employee	Project Manager	23 Aug 2021- present
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	2/6
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	n/a

Lara Wilkinson

Full Name	Lara Wilksinson
Date of appointment	01/10/2022
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Sponsor Governor
Appointed by	Sponsor
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	n/a
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	6/6
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	n/a

Historical Governors

Name

Date Appointed

Date Resigned

Attendance at AGC Meetings 2022-23

Luke Jenkinson

01/10/2022

29/03/2024

6/6