The Role of the Academy Council

The role of an Academy Council is an important one. It is to provide focused governance for the Academy at a local level and it is the intention of the Shaw Education Trust Board to ensure that the responsibility to govern the Academy is vested in those closest to the impact of decision-making. The Academy Council monitors the Academy's key performance indicators and acts as a critical friend to the Principal and the Academy's senior leadership team, providing challenge where appropriate.

The Academy Councils carry out their functions in relation to their respective Academy on behalf of the Shaw Education Trust Board and in accordance with policies determined by the Trust Board. The act of delegation from the Shaw Education Trust Board to the Academy Council is a delegation of powers and duties, and not a delegation or shedding of responsibilities. The scheme of delegation can be viewed here.

Diversity Statement

We aim to develop a culture of diversity, equality and inclusion in which all those connected to Shaw Education Trust feel proud of their identity and ability to participate fully in school life. Across our multi-academy trust, our governance roles are composed of approximately 85% white British, 5% minority ethnic background* and 10% wishing not to share their information.

*Similar to pupil data, any individual who is of any origin other than white British, is defined as being of minority ethnic background.

Commitment of Academy Council members

  • Academy Councillors are asked to:
  • prepare for and make an active contribution at meetings of the Academy Council;
  • champion the Academy in the local community;
  • familiarise themselves with the Academy's policies;
  • visit the Academy both during school hours (with prior arrangement with the Principal) and for evening events to get to know the Academy and to be visible to the Academy community

Accountability is a key part of our values and, as such, our local governance model is vital to this. We have two models operating across our schools as follows:

1.        Academy Councils (ACs)

2.        Interim Executive Boards (IEBs)

Academy Councils offer a more traditional model of local governance, with an appointed membership board working regularly with schools under our scheme of delegation.  Academy Councils work to a standardised agenda produced by SET, which covers a wide range of school business to ensure the school is meeting the needs of its pupils and the local community.  As such, the Academy Council will have 2 parents as members.

IEBs are an interim measure put in place when SET judges a school to require rapid impact.  IEBs are made up of education and support services professionals from within the Trust who have the expertise to challenge and support the school to succeed.  Once the school has achieved improvement expectations, the IEB will transition into an Academy Council. 

Within Shaw Education Trust our function of governance at local level is:

“To be responsible for supporting and challenging our Academy and Trust leaders, ensuring that decisions made at a local level are for the benefit of pupils, and directly linked to the strategic vision of the Academy and Trust. To ensure these decisions consider the views of our other stakeholders (parents, staff and local community) and effective communication exists between all. These decisions centre mainly around areas of educational standards & provision, and operational functions, as detailed in the Scheme of Delegation.”

The Meadows Primary School currently works with an Academy Council.

Matters related to education, standards and performance are undertaken through the Progress Board, in addition to the Academy Council. The Progress Board meets once every half term.

Matters related to operational issues are undertaken through the Team Around the School Meeting, in addition to the Academy Council. The Team Around the School meets termly.

We meet our duty to engage and consult with parents through local governance through our Academy Council, our Local Advisory Board. Our board meets once every half term.

The Chair of the Progress Board and Team Around the School is Rachel King, National Director for Primary, who can be contacted via Beth Barlow at Governance@shaw-education.org.uk

The Chair of the Academy Council is Gillian Taylor. She can be contact via the school office.

Updated: 11/04/2024 156 KB

A member of The Shaw Education Trust's Leadership Team attends each of the termly Academy Council meetings.

Dates of Meetings 2024-2025

Autumn FAC1 16/10/23

Autumn FAC2     4/12/23

Spring FAC1 29/1/25

Spring FAC2 19/3/25

Summer FAC1 7/5/25

Summer FAC2 25/6/25

Academy Council Record of Attendance 

Attendance 2022 - 2023

Terms of Reference

Annual Reports and Accounts

All Academies and free schools should publish the following financial information:

  • annual report
  • annual audited accounts
  • memorandum of association
  • articles of association
  • names of charity trustees and members
  • funding agreement

All of the above information for The Meadows Primary School is held by the Shaw Education Trust and is available from them by request. More information can be found here: Key Information | Shaw Education Trust (shaw-education.org.uk)