The Academy Council

Our Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards. The role of the Academy Council is absolutely key to the effectiveness of a school.

School Academy Council members provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools. It is Governors who hold the main responsibility for finance in schools, and it is Governors who work with the Principal to make the tough decisions about balancing resources.

Each individual Governor is a member of the Academy Council, which is established in law as a corporate body. Individual Governors may not act independently of the rest of the Academy Council and decisions are the joint responsibility of the Academy Council.

The role of the Academy Council is a strategic one with three key functions:

• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

• Holding the Principal to account for the educational performance of the school and its students.

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.