Governance

Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising standards in schools.

At our academy, governors include representatives of staff, parents, our sponsor The Co-op and members of the community.

Could you join us as a parent or community governor?

Please complete the expression of interest form here and our Governance Team will contact you to talk more about the role.

Introduction to our Academy Governing Council

Governors are volunteers who give up their time to help the academy be the best it can be. Their role is to work together with academy leaders to set the strategic direction of the academy.

The academy is a member of a trust which delegates certain decision-making powers to our Academy Governing Council.

Co-op Academies Trust is a multi-academy trust which runs a number of academies. Please visit the Trust website to find out about the Trust Board and also to view the Trust’s Annual Report, Policies and Financial Statements.

The Trust operate within an established Scheme of Delegation detailing those matters that are reserved for the Board and those delegated to governors and Headteacher:

Decisions reserved for the Trust Board include providing strategic direction to the Trust, ensuring financial viability, establishing an Audit Committee and compliance with Department for Education requirements.
The governors at each academy are responsible for ensuring a high-quality student experience that meets the needs of the local community. This will include remaining informed about what children are learning and the progress they are making, making sure children are safe, ensuring resources are used effectively and engaging the stakeholders.

How our Academy Governing Council is organised

The Academy Governing Council consists of 8 to 12 governors, of which between 2 to 5 governors are appointed by the sponsor. In addition, the local governing body includes 1 staff governor, 2 parent governors and the Headteacher. The Academy Governing Council can then appoint a number of community governors to be representative of the local community, provide insight into local partnership links, or bring a particular skillset.

Contacting governors

Governors can be contacted by writing to the regional governance manager using the contact details below.

Katie Whitmore (smgovernance@coopacademies.co.uk)

Co-op Academy of Stoke-on-Trent
Westport Road
Tunstall
Stoke-on-Trent
ST6 4LD

Current Governors

Helen Oakley (Chair)

Having joined the Co-op Group in August 2020, I currently work as Financial Controller of Nisa, the Co-op’s Wholesale business. After completing a Modern Language degree, I trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant and have since pursued a career in business, mostly in the retail sector, leading teams across finance, warehousing, and logistics.

I have always been passionate about helping young people fulfill their potential. I volunteer as a mentor and trustee of ‘The Gettalife Project’, a small charity enabling high-quality apprenticeship opportunities across the North West, and in 2017 was a founder trustee of a charity supporting looked after children and foster families.

I have served as a high school governor for the past 11 years; first as finance link governor in a newly created academy and then as a member of the school improvement board of an inner-city academy in Greater Manchester. I hope to draw on that experience to lead the Governing Council at the Academy and to support and challenge the Senior Leadership team at this already highly successful school.

Full Name	Helen Oakley
Date of appointment	17/03/2022
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Sponsor; Chair of Governors
Appointed by	Appointed by the sponsor
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	n/a
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	6/6
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	n/a

Andy Greenhough

I’m the Director of Employer Engagement at Stoke-on-Trent College and I’ve been a Governor at the Academy since May 2014. I’ve lived in the north of the City all my life and I’m passionate about the impact that the Academy can have on our community. I’m eager to use the knowledge I’ve gained from 17 years working in employment, education and training to help the Academy to be innovative whilst maintaining the highest standards. Like everyone involved in the Academy I want our students to achieve in a safe, aspirational and supportive environment.

Full Name	Andy Greenough
Date of appointment	01/09/2022
Term of office	2 years
Category of Governor	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Governing Council
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	Pay Committee
Declarations of interest	> Member, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce >Self-employed consultant – Greenhough Education, Training and Skills Consultancy Ltd > Contractor for Staffordshire Partnership for Employment and Skills >Contractor for Colleges West Midlands (CWM) > Contractor for West Midlands Provider Network (WMPN) > Greater Birmingham and Solihull Training Provider Network
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	5/6
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	Pay Committee: 1/1

Jayne Crowe

Full Name	Jayne Crowe
Date of appointment	22/10/2022
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Sponsor
Appointed by	Appointed by the sponsor
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	n/a
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	3/6
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	n/a

Adrian Rowley

Full Name	Adrian Rowley
Date of appointment	09/03/2020
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Sponsor
Appointed by	Appointed by the sponsor
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	Pay Committee
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	5/6
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	Pay Committee: 1/1

Shane Richardson

Full Name	Shane Richardson
Date of appointment	22/06/2020
Term of office	n/a
Category of Governor	Ex-officio
Appointed by	By virtue of appointment as Headteacher
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	n/a
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	6/6
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	n/a

Tom Hutchinson

Full Name	Tom Hutchinson
Date of appointment	27/01/2022
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Governing Council
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	n/a
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	3/6
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	n/a

James Eagney

Full Name	James Eagney
Date of appointment	21/06/2022
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Governing Council
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	n/a
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	4/6
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	n/a

Michelle Aitken

Full Name	Michelle Aitken
Date of appointment	01/12/2022
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Staff
Appointed by	Elected by staff
Subcommittee membership (2022-23)	n/a
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Governing Council meetings (2022-23)	4/5
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2022-23)	n/a

Nkita Weldon

Full Name	Nkita Weldon
Date of appointment	02/11/2023
Term of office	4 years
Category of Governor	Community
Appointed by	Appointment by the academy governing council
Declarations of interest	1. Partner is currently the Member of Parliament for Stoke on Trent North. (commenced in 2019, and ongoing). 2. Governor is employed by Teach First, an education charity. The role involves mentoring ITT trainees in the North West and Stoke area. (commenced in 2022, and ongoing)

Retired Governors

Name	Date Appointed	Date Resigned	Attendance at AGC Meetings 2022-23
Andrew Koropisz	17/03/2023	12/09/2023	1/3
Dale Upton	29/11/2019	03/03/2023	4/6
Alice Firth	13/11/2020	05/09/2022	2/6
David Spall	01/09/2018	31/08/2022	6/6
Ian Jennings	01/03/2019	30/08/2022	3/6
Mohammed Nazakit	29/03/2023	27/02/2024	2/2

Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent