Academy Council (Governing Body)

Sawtry Village Academy officially joined the CMAT family in April 2015. The Trust was formed with a simple and clear vision: ‘to ensure high quality education at the heart of the community.’ Following successful growth, CMAT became the Meridian Trust in March 2022.

Details of the Trust Members and Directors can be found here: Trustees

Each Academy within the Trust family retains their own Academy Council (formally known as local Governing Body), identity and individuality.

While the Trust is the employer of all staff, it has delegated powers to the Academy Council 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 take 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 6 times in the year.

Governance structure and the scheme of delegation of the Trust can be found here: Legal Documents

Academy Council Members

Phillip Harker: Chair of Academy Council and Resources Champion

Term of office ends: 31st August 2026

The Chair of the Academy Council can be contacted via the following email: Governance@Meridiantrust.co.uk

Simon Parsons: Principal of Sawtry Village Academy

Ex-Officio, no end date for term of office

Andy Daly: Executive Principal

No end date for term of office

Jane Handy: Trust

No end date for term of office

Samantha England: Trust Appointed Councillor, SENDV Champion 

Current Parent, term of office ends: 28th February 2028

Iain Lunan: Trust Appointed Councillor, Curriculum & Standards Champion

Current Parent, term of office ends: 1st September 2026

Alison Tanton-Smith: Parent Elected Councillor, Experience Champion

Current Parent, term of office ends: 30th June 2029

Sarah Hawkings: Trust Appointed Councillor, Post 16 Champion

Current Parent, term of office ends: 25th June 2028

Samantha Thompson: Parent Elected Councillor, PR/Parents/Forum Champion

Current Parent, term of office ends: 14th January 2030

Samantha Sadie: Parent Elected Councillor, Experience Champion

Current Parent, term of office ends: 7th January 2030

Meetings

If you would like a copy of any approved Academy Council minutes, please email: governance@meridiantrust.co.uk

If you would like to contact our Academy Council please email: Office@sawtryva.org

Annual Reports

Please click on the following links for more information regarding the Annual Reports and Accounts for the Academy, as part of the Trust:

• Annual Audited Accounts
• Charity Trustees and Members

For names of Meridian Trust Members, Trustees and Policy & Scrutiny Committee members, please see About MERIDIAN TRUST on: www.meridiantrust.co.uk

To contact Meridian Trust (formerly CMAT), please use: Contact Meridian Trust