Academy Council - St John Fisher Catholic High School
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Academy Council

The Academy Council at St John Fishers currently comprises 10 members, including the Headteacher, foundation, staff and parent Governors. The Academy Council meets six times a year and the admissions committee meets annually.

The Headteacher provides the Academy Council with regular updates concerning Progress towards Whole School targets, which are linked to the School Development Plan.

The Academy Councils of The Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust schools work closely with the Trust Board, through Mr Beardsley, Trust Chief Executive Officer and Mr Nightingale, Trust Chief Operating Officer to ensure good communication, maintain high standards of teaching and learning, and ensure implementation of statutory requirements and good financial management.
 

 


 

Governors

The Academy Council at St. John Fisher comprises of 10 members:

  • At least 6 Foundation Governors
  • 2 Parent Governors
  • 1 Staff Governor
  • Headteacher

Governors-Declaration-of-Interests.docx

Governor attendance 2022-2023-SJF

The Admissions Committee

The Admissions Committee

The Admissions Committee reports to the Academy Council.

Admissions Committee Membership 2021-22

  • Mr Steve Mort
  • Mrs Angela Wicken (Chair of Committee)
  • Mrs Celia Coote

In attendance: All members

Clerk: Mrs Paula Deacon

Lead Governors

Lead Governors 

  • Standards (to include attainment and progress data):
    • Mrs Emma Higgins
  • Catholic Life and Enrichment (the day to day life and activities in school, community engagement):
    • Mrs Alicia Player
  • Resources (to include pupil numbers, staff leavers and starters, budget on track or not, capital bids, H&S action plan progress):
    • Mrs Celia Coote
  • Pastoral (to include pupil numbers, staff leavers and starters, budget on track or not, capital bids, H&S Action plan progress):
    • All Governors
  • Training, Performance Management, Staff Welfare
    • All Governors
  • Special Educational Needs
    • All Governors
  • Safeguarding and Child Protection:
    • Mr Michael Hopwood
  • Children who are looked after:
    • Mr Michael Hopwood
  • Careers:
    • Mrs Emma Higgins
  • Appraisal:
    • All Governors 
  • Disciplinary Board:
    • All Governors
  • Interviews:
    • All Governors

How Governors are Appointed

How Governors are Appointed

  • Foundation Governors are appointed by the Diocese of Leeds, following recommendation from the parish priests.
  • Staff Governors are appointed through a process of election by the whole staff of the academy.
  • Parent Governors are appointed through a process of election by the parents of students at the academy.
  • The Headteacher maintains their post for as long as they are in role.

Code of Conduct for the Academy Council

All members of the Academy Council sign the code of conduct at the first meeting of each school year.

Academy Council Code of Conduct

Former Members of the Academy Council who have served within the last 12 months

Mrs Jane O'Gara
Term of Office: 17/10/17 – December 2021 (resigned)
Declared business interests: None

Mr James Brennan
Term of Office: 01/09/16 – August 2020 (resigned)
Declared business interests: None

Mr Neil McKenzie
Term of Office: 04/05/16 – 01/05/20 (resigned)
Declared business interests: None

Relationship between St. John Fisher and the Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust

The Directors of the Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust are drawn from all our schools and include foundation governors, parent governors and staff governors.

One of the founding principles of our trust is subsidiarity; that all decisions are made at the most appropriate level, rather than being imposed from above. In practice, therefore key to the work of the Trust is our Headteachers Group.

The Heads of all 13 Trust schools meet on a regular basis. As well as sharing good practice, they offer mutual support and development, peer review and develop and oversee the implementation of Trust wide policies.

Each school has an Academy Council with governors appointed by the Diocese or elected by parents and staff. They oversee the strategic direction of each school and scrutinise standards, finance and admissions. Governors work with staff to continually monitor and develop the school’s achievements and direction as outlined in the School’s Development Plans.

The Trust Directors meet as a Board supported by Trust Resources Committee and the Audit  and Risk committee. They receive regular updates on progress within all the schools and have overall legal responsibility for standards, finance and admissions. They work closely with the Headteachers Group.

Everyone who works in our schools are employees of the Bishop Wheeler Trust and the Directors are responsible for developing and ensuring implementation of policies across all our schools to support this.

The work of the whole Trust is underpinned by and focused on our values which are based on the Beatitudes and are reflected in the promises made by each school at our Inaugural Mass. First and foremost we are a Catholic Trust and our role is to provide and safeguard the future of a World Class Catholic education to all the young people within our area. The Directors are responsible for the strategic direction which drives this forward.

Articles of Association

Trust Scheme of Delegation

St. John Fisher Supplemental Funding Agreement

Trust Contact Details

The Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust

Bradford Road

Menston

West Yorkshire

LS29 6AE

Telephone: 01943 883012