Governors

We’re 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, 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 responsibilities 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 standalone local authority school has, instead we have the Trust’s scheme of delegation. 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, and 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.

Trust Governance

Find out more about our Co-op Academies Trust governance.

Our Governors

Full NameMark Adams
Date of appointment01/04/2023
Term of office4 years
Category of GovernorCommunity 
Appointed byAppointed by College Governing Council
Subcommittee membership (2021-2022)N/A
Declarations of InterestManchester City FC – Employee
Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2021-2022)6/7
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2021-2022)N/A

Full NameChris Bishop
Date of appointment01/04/2023
Term of office2 years
Category of GovernorCommunity 
Appointed byAppointed by College Governing Council
Subcommittee membership (2021-2022)Finance Committee
Declarations of InterestNothing to declare
Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2021-2022)6/7
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2021-2022)Finance Committee: 2/3

Full NameCatherine Elliot
Date of appointment16/05/2022
Term of office4 years
Category of GovernorCommunity
Appointed byAppointed by College Governing Council
Subcommittee membership (2021-2022)N/A
Declarations of InterestNothing to declare
Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2021-2022)0/1
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2021-2022)N/A

Full NameEmma Soper
Date of appointment23/08/2021
Term of officeN/A
Category of GovernorEx-officio
Appointed byBy virtue of appointment as Head of College
Subcommittee membership (2021-2022)Finance Committee Pay Committee
Declarations of InterestNothing to declare
Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2021 -2022)7/7
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2021-2022)Finance Committee: 2/2
Pay Committee: 1/1

Full NameLutumba Mbala
Date of appointmentParent
Term of office4 years
Category of Governor15/10/2021
Appointed byElected by parents/carers
Subcommittee membership (2021-2022)N/A
Declarations of InterestNothing to declare
Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2021-2022)4/6
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2021-2022)N/A

Full NameNicola Pulford
Date of appointment21/01/2022
Term of office4 years
Category of GovernorSponsor 
Appointed byAn employee of the Co-op appointed by the sponsor
Subcommittee membership (2021-2022)N/A
Declarations of InterestNothing to declare
Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2021-2022)2/4
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2021-2022)N/A

Full NameLloyd Thomas
Date of appointment01/04/2023
Term of office4 years
Category of GovernorSponsor (Chair)
Appointed byAn employee of the Co-op appointed by the sponsor
Subcommittee membership (2021-2022)Pay Committee
Declarations of InterestNothing to declare
Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2021-2022)5/7
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2021-2022)1/1

Full NameAdam Woodley
Date of appointment01/04/2023
Term of office4 years
Category of GovernorStaff
Appointed byElected by staff
Subcommittee membership (2021-2022)Finance Committee
Declarations of InterestNothing to declare
Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2021-2022)7/7
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2021-2022)Finance Committee: 3/3

Full NameEmma Boswell 
Date of appointment01/12/2022
Term of office4 years
Category of GovernorStaff
Appointed byElected by staff
Subcommittee membership (2021-2022)N/A
Declarations of InterestTBC
Attendance at College Governing Council meetings (2021-2022)N/A
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2021-2022)N/A

Resignations in the past year: 

  • Aaron Booth, 4 April 2023
  • Andy Phelps, 31 March 2023
  • Richard Price, 6 February 2023
  • James Wilson, 16 May 2022
  • Donna Lee, 24 January 2022
  • Alasdair Fowle, 11 October 2021
  • Aaron Stapleton, 26 September 2022

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

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