John Cabot 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 9 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.
Chair of Academy Council
Linda Tanner, Chair of Academy Council
Linda Tanner is the Chair of Council. Linda is a journalist and a communications consultant. She was education correspondent for the Bristol Post from 2005 – 2012 and covered the early years of the formation of the CLF. She became founding chair of Wallscourt Farm Academy Council in 2013 and continues to serve on the council. She was also a local authority primary school governor from 1997 – 2009. Linda provides advice and support to schools and other education clients both independently and through Local Voice Network as well as reporting and editing for the Voice series of news magazines in Bristol and writing and commenting on education issues. She is married with three adult daughters.
Academy Council Members
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Nigel Eaton, Sponsor Councillor
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King Egwu, Sponsor Councillor
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James Hackett, Sponsor Councillor
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Angela Long, Associate Councillor
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Matthew Fincher, LA Representative
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Andrea Duignan, Parent Councillor
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Isabelle Cantel, Teacher Councillor
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Oonagh Weisner Walsh, Support Staff Councillor
