Home » Key Information » Academy Council

Academy Council

Governance within a multi-academy trust

Summerhill 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.

Academy Council

At a local level, each academy has an Academy Council comprising of up to 13 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.

Summerhill Academy Council

The Academy Council at Summerhill Academy is made up of:

Kerry Francis – Chair of Academy Council and Link Councillor for Safeguarding

Kerry is a commercial executive for MBDA UK in Defence Engineering, board Trustee of the Wardrobe Theatre and mother of one. She initially wanted to get into a role in governance as it was a good way to volunteer her transferrable skills into a different environment and be able to get involved in the local community living nearby.

Miss Kate Richardson – Executive Director of Education & Link Councillor RSHE

Kate is an Executive Principal with the CLF. Most recently, Kate has been working within the Bristol cluster and across the primary phase as part of the Executive team, supporting the school improvement across the trust.

Prior to Kate’s appointment as Executive Principal, she was the headteacher at Hareclive E-ACT Academy in Hartcliffe, Bristol and prior to that was headteacher at Greenfield E-ACT Academy in Knowle West. Kate was part of the leadership team at Headey Park Primary in South Bristol and, before moving to Bristol, Kate worked in Hackney in London taking on roles in a range of contexts which included leading specialist SEND support and the need to undertake SENCO training. Kate has always worked in schools with high levels of deprivation.

Kate leads on Big Events across the trust, which serve to enable our pupils to feel they are a part of something bigger- our wider CLF family. Kate leads our Mental Health network and our approach to wellbeing. Kate also takes the lead on attendance and exclusions across the trust.

Mike Eatwell – Sponsor Councillor

Lydia Mantle – Sponsor Councillor

Mr Chris Barratt – Principal

Academy Council

Chris Barratt is Principal at Summerhill Academy. Previously, Chris was Vice Principal at Evergreen Primary Academy and a teacher and SLT member at Begbrook Primary Academy, all part of the Cabot Learning Federation. Chris believes in the power of education to make a real difference to children’s lives. He has been a teacher for fourteen years, having taught not only in Bristol but also in international schools in Latin America. Chris is married and has two young children.

Zuwena Reid-Bailey – Link Councillor for Pupil Premium, LAC and EDI

Zuwena was born in Bristol and attended Colston’s Girls School, she then undertook a Drama and Education Studies degree at Bath Spa University, before completing her PGCE at Cardiff Metropolitan University. She lives with her daughter and is a member of a local church, where she has helped run the youth department, supported with a community toddler group and is now currently a minister in training.

Since qualifying as an educator, she has worked as a drama and performing arts teacher in a diverse range of school environments and now works as the Second in Faculty, Head of Drama and the Lead Teacher of Oracy at the Orchard school Bristol.

By working in various school environments Zuwena has learnt that parents, pupils, and a school are not separate entities but, rather a triangulation of progression, education, and support, so all pupils have the best opportunity to grow, flourish and excel. She is also interested in supporting a primary school setting to widen her own knowledge of early years, but also to use her current skill set to help to support and strengthen academy life at Summerhill.

Vacancy – Parent Councillor
Kirsty McLeod-Hughes – Student Advocate Councillor

I am the Vice Principal at Summerhill Academy. As part of that role, I support our Pupil Council to ensure that all the children of Summerhill have a voice in how to make our school the best it can be. In my role as Pupil Premium lead, I co-ordinate the school’s approach to raising the achievement of disadvantaged pupils who are in receipt of pupil premium funding and others who are vulnerable.

Luke Wilson-Reid – Teaching Staff Councillor

I am a class teacher and science lead at Summerhill Academy. As class teacher, I am passionate about fostering a sense of community within the classroom to create an environment in which children feel valued, heard and respected; a safe environment in which they can reach their potential. My perspective on teaching is influenced by my previous work supporting vulnerable NEET individuals across Bristol.

Lily Lowther –  Support Staff Councillor

I am a Teaching Assistant at Summerhill Academy, currently in training to become a HLTA. I am a former pupil of the school and have now worked here for 6 years. During my time as a teaching assistant, I have worked across every year group particularly supporting pupils with SEND. I am also the Forest School leader for the academy, running sessions that provide learners with a hands-on experience in a natural environment.

Vacancy – Parent Councillor

Wendy Hellin – Clerk

Should you have any queries or questions for our Academy Council please contact Wendy Hellin Wendy.Hellin@clf.uk

Previous Minutes

Minutes – 12.07.2022

Register of Pecuniary Interests