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Governors

What is the governing body?

The Governing Body is a group of unpaid volunteers from various parts of the community. They are required by law to help the school provide the best possible education for its pupils.

They play a critical role in setting the strategic priorities for the school, and ensuring that the school is effectively run by the Executive Principal.

The role of the Governing Body is to:

  • set the strategic aims and objectives of the school;
  • ratify the policies for achieving those aims and objectives;
  • approve and monitor the Academy's annual budget;
  • approve and sign the annual report and financial statements; and
  • be a source of challenge and support to the Executive Pricipal, acting as a critical friend.

The Governing Body is organised into sub-committees which undertake delegated work on behalf of the full board.  The sub-committees are:

  • Finance and Premises / Audit 
  • Strategic Management
  • HR
  • Pay Appeals 
  • Fund Raising and Engagement Working Party

As and when required, additional sub-committees are convened on a temporary basis to help formulate policy and provide strategic guidance in addressing particular issues that the Academy is facing.

A full list of governors, along with details of which sub-committee they serve on, can be found below.

How do I contact the governing body?

Please write to the Chair of Governors at [email protected]

Name of Director

Director Type

Term of Office

Sally Brooks

Executive Principal (FCAT)

01/09/2018 - 31/08/2026

Terry Barrett

Staff (1) (Support, FCAT)

01/09/2013 - 31/08/2029

Josephine Medina

Staff (2) (Teacher, FCA)

01/09/2013 - 31/08/2029

Thomas Kelly

Staff (3) (Teacher, FCGS)

16/10/2019 - 15/10/2027

Michael Burcham

Staff (4) (Teacher, FCA)

07/10/2025 - 06/10/2029

Briony Mackie

Community (1)

06/12/2022 - 05/12/2026

Shahzad Ahmed

Community (2)

22/03/2017 - 2103/2029

Louise Beanland

Community (3)

13/03/2024 -12/03/ 2028

Emma Porter

Community (4)

04/07/2018 - 03/07/2026

Prof Denis Wright

Partnership (1)

07/12/2016 - 07/12/2028

Elli Makrydaki

Partnership (2)

11/10/2022 - 10/10/2026

Natasha Ahmed

Partnership (3)

03/06/2025 - 02/06/2029

Rupert Bondy

Partnership (4)

07/10/2025 - 06/10/2029

Laura Martin

Parent (1)

30/06/2021 - 29/06/2029

Philip Barton

Co-opted (1)

11/10/2021 - 11/10/2026

Timothy Polglase

Co-opted (2)

10/10/2018 - 10/12/2026

Susan English

Co-opted (3)

16/10/2019 - 15/10/2027


Name of adviser/Non-Director Member

Voting Rights?

Victoria Tully, Head of School, FCGS

No

Cathy Johnson, Head of School, FCA

No

 

Chair of the Committee

Susan English

Clerk to the Committee

Robert Hawker

Members

Date Appointed

Susan English

25/06/2024

Denise Fox

24/05/2025

Cllr Sharon Holder

16/10/2019

Dave Mcnamara

16/10/2019

Fr Ross Gunderson

26/6/2024

Name of Director

Director Type

Date Appointed to the Committee

Sally Brooks

Executive Principal (FCAT)

01/09/2018

Terry Barrett

Staff (Support, FCAT)

01/10/2014

Thomas Kelly

Staff (Teacher, FCGS)

16/10/2019

Shahzad Ahmed

Co-opted

07/03/2018

Timothy Polglase

Co-opted 

10/10/2018

Sue English

Co-opted

16/10/2019

Louise Beanland

Community 

08/10/2024


Name of adviser/Non-Director Member

Voting Rights?

Tina Aryee, Finance Director, FCAT

No


Chair of the Finance Committee

Tim Polglase

Chair of the Audit Committee

Louise Beanland

Clerk to the Committee

Robert Hawker

Name of Director

Director Type

Term of Office

Sally Brooks

Executive Principal (FCAT)

16/10/2019

Prof Denis Wright

Partnership (2)

01/10/2014

Tim Polglase

Co-Opted

08/10/2024

Philip Barton

Co-opted (1)

01/10/2014

Victoria Tully

Head of School, FCGS

01/09/2021

Alan Jones

Head of School, FCA

01/09/2020


Name of adviser/Non-Director Member

Voting Rights?

Diane Lawson

No


Chair of the Committee

Philip Barton

Clerk to the Committee

Diane Lawson

Name of Director

Director Type

Date appointed to the committee

Sally Brooks

Executive Principal

01/09/2018

Prof Denis Wright

Partnership

01/10/2014

Philip Barton

Co-opted

01/10/2014

Timothy Polglase

Co-opted 

30/09/2023

Susan English

Co-opted 

01/09/2022


Name of adviser/Non-Director Member

Voting Rights?

Victoria Tully, Head of School, FCGS

No

Cathy Johnson, Head of School, FCA

No


Chair of the Committee

Susan English

Clerk to the Committee

Angela O’Leary

Name of Director

Director type

Date appointed to the committee

Shahzad Ahmed

Co-opted

05/07/2017

Emma Porter

Community 

16/10/2019


Chair of the Committee

Shahzad Ahmed

Name of Director

Date appointed to the committee

Denis Wright

 

Briony Mackie

08/10/2024

External advisor Howard Freed

01/09/2020


Chair of the Committee

Denis Wright

Name of Director

Date appointed to the committee

Sally Brooks

01/09/2018

Victoria Tully

01/09/2021

Sue English

16/10/2019

Shahzad Ahmed

10/10/2018

Emma Porter

10/10/2018


Chair of the working party

 

Area of Responsibility

Name of Director

Child Protection, Safeguarding and E-safety

Denis Wright

Legionella

Terry Barrett

Health and Safety

Shahzad Ahmed

Risk Assessments

Philip Barton

Pupil Premium

Philip Barton

Equality/Diversity

Briony Mackie

Careers, Employment and WEX

Natasha Ahmed

SEN

Louise Beanland

Training and development

Shahzad Ahmed

RSE

Laura Martin

Whistleblowing (& DBS checks)

Denis Wright 

Mental Health

Denis Wright

Marketing Support

Laura Martin

GDPR

Philip Barton

Name of Director

Director Type

Term of Office

Paul Clutterbuck

Parent (1)

15/11/2024 - 10/09/2025

Anya Zeitlin (resigned)

Partnership

26/06/2024 - 26/05/2025

Christian Malissard (resigned)

Partnership

16/10/2019 - 27/09/2024

Juliet Niang (resigned)

Partnership

01/12/2021 - 26/06/2024

Nicola Yates (resigned)

Partnership 

14/10/2020 - 04/01/2024

Aliyah Sapsard (resigned)

Partnership 

01/12/2021 - 30/05/2023

Beverley Beason (resigned)

Staff (FCGS)

14/10/2020 - 31/03/2023

Sanmeet Kaur (resigned)

Community

30/06/2021 -  8/11/2022

Rachel Leighton (resigned)

Partnership

04/07/2018 - 10/05/2022

Sharanya Maheswaran (resigned)

Partnership

01/07/2020 - 01/12/2021

Naima Said (resigned)

Partnership

17/03/2021 - 12/10/2021

Carole Easton (resigned)

Partnership

16/03/2019 - 16/09/2021

Denise Fox (resigned)

Head of School

31/08/2021

Sam Hannaford (resigned)

Community

04/07/2018 - 05/05/2021

Gordon Barlow (resigned)

Partnership

07/12/2016 - 07/12/2020

Allison McCracken (resigned)

Parent

09/07/2014 - 13/10/2020

Moria aller (term of office ended)

Staff (FCGS)

19/01/2015 - 31/08/2019

Cllr Sharon Holder (move to members Board)

Partnership

07/12/2017 - 16/10/2019

Dave McNamara (moved to members Board

Partnership

10/12/2018 - 16/10/2019

Courtney Hosp (resigned)

Staff (FCGS)

19/01/2015 - 18/01/2019

Alex Openshaw (resigned)

Co-opted 

04/07/2018 - 31/08/2019

Peter Haylock (resigned)

EP

20/04/2015 - 31/08/2018

Sarju Patel (resigned)

Partnership

07/12/2016 - 21/03/2018

Frederick Harris (removed)

Co-Opted

10/12/2014 - 09/12/2017

Tammy McFeggan (resigned)

Partnership

13/10/2013 - 30/09/2016

Margaret Peploe (resigned)

Executive Principal

11/12/2013 - 19/04/2015