Governance – Academy Council

NCA Academy Council (formerly known as the Local Governing Body)

NCA Academy Council monitors standards and achievement in line with local community needs and aspirations.  The main functions of the Academy Council are to:

• Set strategic priorities and plans.
• Monitor standards and achievement within the school.
• Ensure Trust policies are implemented.
• Engage with all stakeholders to improve outcomes.
• Support and positively challenging practices within the Academy, through the School Leadership Team.

North Cambridge Academy Council consist of:

Alison Taylor – Trust Appointed Member, Chair of Academy Council, Champion for: Finance; Estates.

Lesley Daniel – Trust appointed Member, Deputy Chair of Academy Council, Champion for: Safeguarding & Welfare 

Jane Driver – Principal

Louisa Meynell – Trust-appointed Member, Champion for: SEND & Vulnerable Students

Amanda Cooper – Senior Trust Colleague, Champion for: Safeguarding & Welfare

Sarah Schechter- Trust appointed Member, Champion for: SEND and Vulnerable Groups 

Rachel Hawkes- Trust appointed Member, Champion for: Achievement & Curriculum 

Joanna Thomson – Parent Elected Academy Council Member

Phillipa Towlson-Mulbregt – Trust Appointed Member, Champion for: Finance

North Cambridge Academy’s Academy Chair is Alison Taylor who can be contacted through the Academy Reception: 01223 491 500 or reception@northcambridgeacademy.org

Academy Council Pecuniary Interests and Attendance Registers can be found here:

Each academy within the Meridian 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.

Some Academy Councillors 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.

Any correspondence to the Chair of Academy Council should be addressed via Academy Reception: 01223 491 500 or reception@northcambridgeacademy.org

Copies of approved minutes of Academy Council meetings can be obtained by contacting governance@meridiantrust.co.uk

For Meridian Trust governance structure and Scheme of Delegation, please visit the Meridian Trust website.

For names of Meridian Trust Members, Trustees, and Policy & Scrutiny Committee members, please see the Meridian Trust Website.