Academy Council (Governing Body)

The Ferrers School officially joined the Trust family in February 2019. The Trust was formed with a simple and clear vision: ‘to ensure high quality education at the heart of the community.’ Following successful growth CMAT became the Meridian Trust in March 2022.

Details of the Trust Members and Directors can be found here: Trustees

Each academy within the Trust family retains their own Academy Council (formally local Governing Body), identity and individuality.

While the Trust is the employer of all staff, it has delegated powers to the Academy Councils to exercise governance arrangements for the Academy within the Trust.

The Academy Council is focused upon the individual school context, monitoring standards and achievement, and their local community needs and aspirations.

• Setting strategic priorities and plans
• Monitoring standards and achievement within the school
• Ensuring Trust policies are implemented
• Engaging with all stakeholders to improve outcomes
• Supporting and positively challenging practices within the Academy, through the School Leadership Team.

Each Academy Councillor takes on the role of ‘Champion‘ for a particular area, in which he/she holds the Academy leadership to account by providing challenge from their local knowledge and support from their own wider experiences.  The Champions link with the Trust leadership and directors to represent the interests of the Academy.  The Academy Council meets as a full body six times in the year.  

Governance structure and the scheme of delegation of the Trust can be found on Legal Documents

If you would like a copy of any approved Academy Council minutes, please contact governance

Academy Council Members

Please click to view the Academy Council Membership and Attendance Document, including pecuniary interests and responsibilities, on the link below:

Mark Foster – Chair of the Academy Council, Resources Champion. Parent Elected. Term of Office ends 18th July 2029.

Should you wish to contact the Chair please use the following correspondence: For the attention of The Chair of the Academy Council Governance@meridiantrust.co.uk

Clare Raku: Principal of The Ferrers School. Ex-Officio. No end date for Term of Office

Deborah Haldane: Vice Chair, Curriculum and Standards Champion. Trust Appointed. Term of Office ends 31st August 2026

James Birch: Safeguarding and Welfare Champion and Post 16 Champion. Trust Appointed. Term of Office ends 15th March 2026

Nicola Garley: Parent Elected. Term of Office ends 21/11/2028.

Charlene Bent: Parent Elected. Term of Office ends 19/12/2028.

Also in attendance:

Meridian Trust Executive Principal, Ex-Officio – Richard Spencer- No end date for Term of Office

Our Trust Appointed Link Trustee for the school is David Ruddy – No end date for term of office

Senior Trust Colleague – Charmayne Leggett

(Declarations of interest: Our Trustees)

Meetings

Minutes of meetings are available on request from: Clerk1@theferrers.org