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Academy Governing Council

Governance Scheme of Delegation and Trust Governance Arrangements.

We are part of the Co-op Academies Trust – a Multi Academy Trust. Our governance is delegated between:

  • Co-op Academies Trust Board

  • The Regional Director and Central Trust Teams 

  • College Governing Council

CO-OP ACADEMIES TRUST BOARD

Co-op Academies Trust is governed by a Trust Board made up of experienced professionals who make decisions about the strategic direction of the Trust. Some of the Trust Board members (‘Trustees’) work for the Co-op Group and some are external to make sure we have a range of different views and perspectives. 

The Trust Board has strategic oversight of:

  • The financial performance of its Academies and Trust
  • The educational outcomes of its Academies
  • New Schools and Academies applying to join the Trust
  • The future ambitions and goals of the Trust

The Trust Board delegates responsibility to six committees that handle more detailed discussions and also to an Academy/College governing council within each Academy/College. 

THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR AND CENTRAL TRUST TEAMS

Our Regional Director is Ian Burchett. 

The Trust’s central team includes members who have been successful school leaders, former Senior HMI and current Ofsted inspectors; as well as experts in finance, governance, human resources and communications and marketing. Find out more.

COLLEGE GOVERNING COUNCIL (CGC)

The CGC provides strategic level support to the operational leadership (our Principal and Senior Leadership Team). 

We don’t have statutory responsibilities in the way that a governing body in a stand-alone local authority school has. Instead, we have the Trust’s scheme of delegation, and we have the authority to develop many areas such as:

  • Summative and some formative assessments
  • Behaviour
  • Teaching and learning
  • Staffing structures
  • Recruitment
  • Structure of the school day
  • Enrichment
  • Directed time

We’re empowered with the flexibility to adopt a model that suits our College’s local contexts and challenges. Not having statutory responsibilities means we’re able to concentrate even more on the one absolute priority – enhancing the life chances of all the young people at our College. Our governors are dedicated to our college and the community it serves. They get to know our College in a way that the Trust Board is unable to, they act as a local sounding board and decision-making body. They support and challenge in the traditional way but spend less time on policies and paperwork, meaning they can spend more time understanding the specific needs of our College and the community it serves.

 OUR GOVERNORS

MARK ADAMS

Full Name

Mark Adams

Date of appointment

01/04/2019

Term of office

4 years

Category of Governor

Community 

Appointed by

Appointed by College Governing Council

Subcommittee membership (2022-2023)

N/A

Declarations of Interest

Manchester City FC – Employee

Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2022-2023)

6/6

Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-2023)

N/A

CHRIS BISHOP

Full Name

Chris Bishop

Date of appointment

01/04/2019

Term of office

6 years

Category of Governor

Community 

Appointed by

Appointed by College Governing Council

Subcommittee membership (2022-2023)

Finance Committee

Pay Committee

Declarations of Interest

Nothing to declare

Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2022-2023)

6/6

Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-2023)

Finance Committee: 2/2

Pay Committee: 1/1 

CATHERINE ELLIOTT

Full Name

Catherine Elliott

Date of appointment

16/05/2022

Term of office

4 years

Category of Governor

Community

Appointed by

Appointed by College Governing Council

Subcommittee membership (2022-2023)

N/A

Declarations of Interest

Nothing to declare

Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2022-2023)

5/6

Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-2023)

N/A

EMMA SOPER

Full Name

Emma Soper

Date of appointment

23/08/2021

Term of office

N/A

Category of Governor

Ex-officio

Appointed by

By virtue of appointment as Head of College

Subcommittee membership (2022-2023)

Finance Committee

Pay Committee

Declarations of Interest

Nothing to declare

Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2022-2023)

6/6

Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-2023)

Finance Committee 2/2

Pay Committee: 1/1

LUTUMBA MBALA

Full Name

Lutumba Mbala

Date of appointment

Parent

Term of office

4 years

Category of Governor

15/10/2021

Appointed by

Elected by parents/carers

Subcommittee membership (2022-2023)

N/A

Declarations of Interest

My sibling is a student at Connell College

Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2022-2023)

1/6

Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-2023)

N/A

LLOYD THOMAS

Full Name

Lloyd Thomas

Date of appointment

01/04/2019

Term of office

4 years

Category of Governor

Sponsor, (Chair) 

Appointed by

An employee of the Co-op appointed by the sponsor

Subcommittee membership (2022-2023)

Pay Committee

Declarations of Interest

Nothing to declare

Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2022-2023)

5/6

Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-2023)

1/1

ADAM WOODLEY

Full Name

Adam Woodley

Date of appointment

01/04/2019

Term of office

4 years

Category of Governor

Staff

Appointed by

Elected by staff

Subcommittee membership (2022-2023)

Finance Committee

Declarations of Interest

Connell Co-op Employee

Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2022-2023)

5/6

Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-2023)

Finance Committee: 2/2

EMMA BOSWELL

Full Name

Emma Boswell 

Date of appointment

01/12/2022

Term of office

4 years

Category of Governor

Staff

Appointed by

Elected by staff

Subcommittee membership (2022-2023)

N/A

Declarations of Interest

Nothing to declare

Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2022-2023)

4/5

Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-2023)

N/A 

OLUYEMISI AKINWUMI 

Full Name

Oluyemisi Akinwumi 

Date of appointment

01/07/2023

Term of office

4 years

Category of Governor

Parent 

Appointed by

Elected by Parents/Carers

Subcommittee membership (2022-2023)

N/A

Declarations of Interest

Nothing to declare 

Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2022-2023)

0/1 

Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-2023)

N/A

NIKKI TAYLOR

Full Name

Nikki Taylor 

Date of appointment

21/01/2022

Term of office

4 years

Category of Governor

Sponsor 

Appointed by

An employee of the Co-op appointed by the sponsor

Subcommittee membership (2022-2023)

N/A

Declarations of Interest

Nothing to declare

Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2022-2023)

0/4 

Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-2023)

N/A

SAM VICKERMAN

Full Name

Sam Vickerman 

Date of appointment

26/05/2023

Term of office

4 years

Category of Governor

Sponsor  

Appointed by

An employee of the Co-op appointed by the sponsor

Subcommittee membership (2022-2023)

N/A 

Declarations of Interest

Nothing to declare

Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2022-2023)

1/1

Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-2023)

N/A

DANIEL THOMPSON 

Full Name

Daniel Thompson

Date of appointment

18/10/2023

Term of office

4 years

Category of Governor

Sponsor

Appointed by

An employee of the Co-op appointed by the sponsor

Subcommittee membership (2022-2023)

N/A

Declarations of Interest

Nothing to declare

Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2022-2023)

N/A

Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-2023)

N/A

Resignations in the past year: 

  • Aaron Booth, 4 April 2023
  • Andy Phelps, 31 March 2023
  • Richard Price, 6 February 2023


Our sponsor – Co-op Academies Trust:

0161 692 4309 (Mon-Friday 9am-5pm)

admin@coopacademies.co.uk

Registered office in England:
1 Angel Square
Manchester
M60 0AG
Company registration number: 07747126