Governance

The governance of the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) reflects the new approach we have taken to leadership & management. A board of 11 trustees oversee the Federation. The trustees represent the co-sponsors Rolls Royce PLC and the University of the West of England (UWE). In addition the Academies are represented on the Board by the chairs of the Academy Councils together with the Executive Principal and an elected parent councillor representative.

 

The Rolls-Royce PLC appointed Board members are:

  • - Peter Price, Director of Engineering & Technology – Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce PLC.  Peter Price is Chair of the Board
  • - Chris Sims,  a chartered accountant and former parent governor at John Cabot Academy. Chris Sims has been the chair of the Project Steering Groups on each of our Academy projects
  • - Rob Sirs, Chief Operating Officer of RM PLC and a former John Cabot Academy governor

 

 The University of the West of England appointed Board members are:

  • - Professor Ron Ritchie, Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of the West of England.  Ron Ritchie is Vice-Chair of the Board
  • - Keith Elliott, Principal of City of Bristol College
  • - Heather Wright, Executive Producer Aardman Animations and Chair of the Kingswood Foundation

 

The remaining Board members are:

  • David Carter, Executive Principal, Cabot Learning Federation
  • Jon Rhymes, Chair of John Cabot Academy Council
  • Guy Keith-Miller, Chair of Bristol Brunel Academy Council
  • Jon Gould, Chair of Bristol Metropolitan Academy Council
  • A Parent Councillor yet to be elected  

 

 Outline Core Purpose of the CLF Board

  • - To provide strategic direction for the CLF including the addition of further new Academies
  • - To provide strategic vision and support for School Improvement across the CLF
  • - To monitor the effectiveness of the CLF support programme and to assure that the Academies are satisfied with the support and that they are getting value for money
  • - To appoint and performance manage the Executive Principal
  • - To receive reports from the Academy Principal on the effectiveness of their provision for the students in their care
  • - To ensure that the vision or enabling the Academies to be autonomous organisations is maintained
  • - To direct support through the Executive Principal when a case for need is made
  • - To ensure financial accountability to the DCSF and within the Academies is secure

 At the Academy level, each school has its own Academy Council. Each Council has 13 members, 7 appointed by the board and 6 who represent the Academy community. The councillor roles are:

  • 5 Councillors appointed by the sponsors, one of whom is the chair PLUS
    • The Executive Principal who is appointed by the Board
    • A Student Advocate who represents the interests of the students who is appointed by the Board from the staff at the Academy

 

  • 6 Councillors who represent the Academy community:
    • The Principal
    • A member of the Teaching Staff
    • A member of Support Staff
    • 2 Parents
    • A Local Authority representative

 The roles of the Academy Council and the responsibilities of each Academy Councillor have been outlined in the attached documents. The summary of the structure therefore looks like this:

  CLF

Academy council roles and responsibilities
(PDF)