Academy Council - Evergreen Primary Academy

Governance within a multi-academy trust

Evergreen Primary Academy is part of the Cabot Learning Federation, a multi-academy trust that is responsible for a number of academies across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Gloucester and Somerset. Governance for a multi-academy trust operates at two levels. At trust level, there is a Board of Directors. The directors are accountable to the Department for Education and external government agencies, including the Charity Commission, 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 they can assure themselves of quality, financial probity, safety and good practice. The Board is provided assurance on a number of these areas through various sub-committees, as shown in the diagram below. Visit the CLF website for more information about the board.

Academy Council

At a local level, each academy has an Academy Council comprising of up to 9 Academy Councillors. Academy Councils are responsible for holding Principals and their leadership teams to account for the quality and effectiveness of the academic experience of the students under their care with the aim of securing effective school improvement. They do this through monitoring performance against an annual academy improvement plan, through monitoring risks and responses to risks, and by overseeing systems and processes for the safeguarding of children and the health, safety and wellbeing of academy staff.

Academy Council Members

Vacancy – Chair of the Academy Council

Stacy Yelland – Sponsor Councillor

Stacy Yelland has been CEO of Eastside Community Trust since it formed in 2020. Previously she was Director of Up Our Street and before that Communications Officer for Community at Heart since 2007. In all these roles she has focused on an asset based approach to working in communities. She has 20 years experience in the voluntary community sector and has collaborated with numerous statutory and private sector partners over these years. She firmly believes in the power of communities in tackling the challenges we face and the importance of play in children’s live to help them thrive. Eastside Community Trust runs two open access spaces, a community centre and an adventure playground, as well as a number of projects out in the neighbourhoods of Easton and Lawrence Hill. In her spare time she runs a toy library and has two children age 5 and 9.

Tim Morris – Sponsor Councillor

Tim is Senior Research Fellow at University College London and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Bristol. He has worked in Higher Education for 12 years, gaining extensive teaching experience and leading research into educational outcomes and inequalities in the UK. Tim is passionate about fair and equitable education, ensuring that all children are given the support and education that they need regardless of their wider life circumstances or background.

Julie Vincent – PSA and DSL

I am the Parent Support Advisor, Attendance Lead and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead at Evergreen Primary Academy and have worked at the school for nearly 10 years. My role is to provide emotional and practical help and advice to families who are experiencing long or short-term difficulties. My role is to also assist in tackling underachievement by working in partnership with families, parents, carers and pupils in school to enable pupils to have full access to educational opportunities and overcome barriers to learning and participation. I have worked in primary schools in Bristol and South Gloucestershire for over 18 years.

Shirley McCogg – Parent Governor

I am involved with Evergreen Primary Academy as a Parent/Carer whose child currently attends the Academy.

My past and present work experiences include: Housing Co–ordinator – Supporting young mothers and their families, providing project management with assistance of a voluntary management committee. Transport Development Officer – a transport service supported by local volunteers. Housing Officer – housing homeless women 16-30 with varying status i.e. leave to remain, refugees, young people leaving Local authority care. Support/Rehabilitation/Carer – Supporting vulnerable adults who are disabled and or elderly. WATCH Group member volunteer looking at health issues within the community.

I am involved in a netball team, and I attend a Zumba dance group

Laura Batrinu – Parent Governor

The reason I became a Parent Governor at Evergreen Primary Academy is to support the community and the school that both my children attend and are thriving under the care of the staff.

I currently work within the school as the Kitchen Manager. I bring a lot of experience. In the first part of my career, I studied to be an art teacher at a Fine Arts University. For my teaching apprenticeship I’ve practiced art therapy with SEN children. I also studied for a Business Management and Leadership degree.

I will apply the skills I’ve built up through my career to ensure that children achieve the best possible outcome and the school deliver an excellent teaching and learning environment. I am very passionate about children’s education and their safety.

As a Parent Governor I want also to empower parents with a voice, thus narrowing the gap between the parents and the school. I believe that every child is able to achieve their very best academically and socially with the encouragement and support of their parents and teachers.

“Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.” Aristotle