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Academy Council

Harpfield Primary Academy is one of a growing number of schools in the Creative Education Trust family. Creative Education Trust is a non-profit educational charity recognised by the Department for Education as one of the leading multi-academy chains.

The Trust Board

The CET Board is the overall governing body of the Trust and all its Academies. It is charged with the strategic direction of the Trust and is responsible to the Secretary of State for Education for executing its statutory duties.

Its main functions are:

  • setting annual performance targets
  • determining all statutory and other policies
  • ensuring that curriculum requirements are met
  • setting the budget for the Trust and each academy
  • being the employer of all staff
  • being the ultimate body of appeal within the Trust
  • agreeing all major building work with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

Creative Education Trust can be contacted at: 67-68 Long Acre, London, WC2E 9JD and through telephone 020 39109200. The following link also contains further information around governance, schemes of delegation and accounts, Creative Education Trust Statutory Information.

Academy Council

The Academy Council (AC) is a sub-committee of the Creative Education Trust Board of Directors. It is accountable to the Board of Directors and is its local presence. It may include representatives from such groups as the school community, the local community and other local organisations and businesses as appropriate.

The main functions of the AC are:

  • Supporting CET’s plans for the school as set out in the ADIP, SEF and annual budget
  • Providing understanding of the local context and the challenge that the local environment presents
  • Acting as a sounding board for senior leaders, especially the Principal or Head Teacher
  • Providing regular monitoring of health and safety matters, safeguarding provision, the welfare of looked after children, and provision for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
  • Providing hearing panels for pupil behaviour matters
  • Building and maintaining positive local perceptions of the school
  • Building and maintaining relationships with the local and regional business community
  • Building and maintaining relationships with community partners (e.g., health services, police, social services)
  • Undertaking local fundraising
  • The Chair of AC assisting in the recruitment process for Head Teachers and Principals

If you have any questions about the governance of our school, please contact the Academy Council by email via the Headteacher at the following email address enquiries@harpfieldprimaryacademy.org.uk

Any written correspondence should be addressed to The Chair Elizabeth Bryne Academy Council
c/o Harpfield Primary Academy, Palmers Green, Hartshill Road, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire.
ST4 6AP

Academy Council Current Membership
Academy Council Member Name Member Role Date First Appointed Term Start date Term End Date
Mrs Elizabeth Byrne Chair
Community Councillor
23 Apr 2019 3 Apr 2025 2 Apr 2028
Mrs Jemma Adlington Principal 1 Jan 2021 1 Jan 2021 Ex-officio
Mrs Heather O'Driscoll Staff Councillor 3 Nov 2025 3 Nov 2025 2 Nov 2028
Ms Nicola Tunstall Community Councillor 22 Sept 2025 22 Sept 2025 21 Sept 2028
Ms Laura Barlow Parent Councillor 28 Mar 2025 28 Mar 2025 27 Mar 2028
Mrs Sam Shaw Parent Councillor 12 Feb 2025 12 Feb 2025 11 Feb 2028
Mrs Lorrice Mawson Community Councillor 14 Oct 2022 14 Oct 2025 13 Oct 2028
Mrs Rebecca Davies Parent Councillor 22 Nov 2021 1 Jan 2025 31 Dec 2028
Mr Shaun Pender Community Councillor 1 Sept 2023 1 Sept 2023 31 Aug 2026