Governance

Fishponds CE Academy is part of the Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust (DBAT), a multi-academy trust that is responsible for a number of academies across Bristol and Wiltshire. Governance for a multi-academy trust operates at two levels.

1. Trust level

At Trust level there is a Board of Directors. DBAT directors are accountable to the Department for Education and external government agencies for the quality of the education the trust provides and the effective use of the associated academy funding. They are required to have systems in place through which provide assurance of high quality, financial probity, safety and good practice.

2. Local Level

At a local level, each academy has an Academy Council. Similar to a Governing Body, the role of the Academy Council is primarily to support and scrutinise the activities of the Academy to ensure the highest standards are achieved for both students and staff.

Academy Councils are responsible for holding Headteachers and Senior Leadership to account for the quality and effectiveness of the academic experience for all pupils at the Academy with the aim of securing continuous school improvement. The Council do this through monitoring performance against the Academy’s annual school improvement plan, through monitoring risk and response, and by overseeing systems and processes for the safeguarding of children and the health, safety and wellbeing of academy staff.

At Fishponds CE Academy we are privileged to have a dedicated team of experienced colleagues on our Academy Council, they bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience from a wide range of backgrounds and are passionate about supporting our school.

Our Academy Council members are: 

• Trish Dodds - Chair with responsibility for safeguarding and health and safety
• Michelle Omoboni - Headteacher
• Eric Blencow - Community Councillor with responsibility for staff and pupil wellbeing
• Phillipa Knowles - Staff Councillor
• Rachael Isley - Parent Councillor with responsibility for pupil premium
• Lizzie Kesteven - Ex offico (Vicar)
• Steve Douglas - Foundation Councillor with responsibility for curriculum
• Sue Godfrey Foundation Councillor with responsibility for finance and health and safety
• Barbara Ray - Foundation Councillor with responsibility for special educational needs (SEND) and english as and additional language (EAL)
• Alison Wren - Foundation Councillor 
• Louisa Aldred - Clerk
• VACANCY - Parent Councillor
• VACANCY - Foundation Councillor 

To get in touch with our Academy Council please email academycouncil.fishponds@dbat.org.uk. 

No special qualifications are needed!

The most important thing is to have a keen interest in the school and be prepared to play an active part in the work of the academy council

We would particularly welcome nominations from parents and guardians who represent the wonderful diversity of our families. Would you consider applying?

You will be required to sign the code of practice, and to apply for a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) enhanced disclosure. Please also refer to the attached ‘Qualifications and Disqualifications to serve as an Academy Council member’

If you would like to stand for election, please complete the nomination form and return it to the school. Please also include a short personal statement to support your nomination, this should be no longer than 100 words.

The closing dates for nominations is Friday 20th October 2023 at midday.

If there are more nominations than vacancies, then the school will hold an election which will be by secret ballot. If that is necessary, voting papers will be sent to all parents and carers together with details of the ballot procedure.