Academy Council
Governance within a multi-academy trust
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.
John Cabot Academy Council
Traditionally, schools have ‘governing bodies’, but as John Cabot Academy is part of the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF), we have a slightly different structure. The CLF Board has overall responsibility for the management of all its academies (finances, staffing etc.), but each Academy has its own Council. The Council is made up of teacher and support staff reps, sponsored councillors (appointed by CLF), a local authority representative, 2 parent representatives (elected by parents) and a student advocate.
Academy Councils are responsible for holding Principals and their leadership teams to account for the quality and effectiveness of the academy for their students. Their focus is school improvement, and they monitor performance through the annual Academy Improvement Plan (AIP), through monitoring risks and responses to risks, and through overseeing systems and processes for the safeguarding, health, safety and wellbeing of academy staff and pupils.
Academy Councillors are expected to both support and challenge the Principal and academy leadership team, and work with them to make the academy one that everyone can be proud of.
If you would like to contact the Chair of the Academy Council please send your email via the clerk on [email protected].
| Type | Appointing Body | Name | Term of Office starts | Term of Office ends |
| Chair of Council Councillor 1 | CLF Board | Linda Tanner | 10/10/2022 | 10/09/2026 |
| Sponsor Nominated Councillor 2 | Chairs of Academy Council (COAC) | Nigel Eaton | 01/09/2021 | 31/09/2025 |
| Sponsor Nominated Councillor 3 | COAC | Angela Long | 04/07/2021 | 03/07/2025 |
| Sponsor Nominated Councillor 4 | COAC | King Egwu | 03/12/2023 | 02/12/2027 |
| Sponsor Nominated Councillor 5/Vice Chair | COAC | Georgina Tankard | 14/09/2023 | 13/09/2027 |
| Principal | CLF Board | Kate Willis | Ex Officio | Ex Officio |
| Deputy CEO | CLF Board | Sally Apps | Ex Officio | Ex Officio |
| LA Representative | COAC / Local Authority | Matthew Fincher | 03/12/2023 | 02/12/2027 |
| Parent Councillor 1 | Elected by Parents | Andrea Duignan | 18/12/2019 | 19/06/2027 |
| Parent Councillor 2 | Elected by Parents | Samira Musse | 10/07/2024 | 09/07/2028 |
| Teacher Councillor | Elected by Teachers | Isabelle Cantel | 31/03/2025 | 30/03/2029 |
| Support Staff Councillor | Elected by Support Staff | Oonagh Weisner Walsh | ||
| Student Advocate | Principal | Vacancy |
Academy Councillor Pen Portraits …
| Chair of Academy Council: Linda Tanner | |
 | 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.
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Register of Academy Council Pecuniary and Business Interests 2023-24
