Academy Councillors (Governing Body)
Abbey College joined Meridian Trust in March 2026. 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
The Abbey College Academy Councillors:
- Andy Christoforou (Headteacher) - Ex-Officio, no end date for term of office
- Andy Daly (Executive Principal) - No end date for term of office
- Rachel Cox (Trust appointed Councillor, Senior staff member) SEND Champion
- Charlotte Downing - Chair (Trust appointed Councillor) SEND Champion, Careers Champion
- Lisa Gregory (Trust appointed Councillor) Finance and Resources Champion
- Ryan Hyman (Trust appointed Councillor)
- Madeleine Jackson (Trust appointed Councillor) Sixth Form Champion
- Eve Kamau (Trust appointed Councillor) Ethos and Antibullying Champion
- John Kelly (Trust appointed Councillor) Buildings Champion
- Leonor Silva De Mattos (Trust appointed Councillor) Curriculum and Standards Champion, Pupil Premium Champion
- Claire Sutton (Trust appointed Councillor) Safegaurding Champion
- Edward Welsh (Trust appointed Councillor)
- Genevieve Wardle (Trust appointed Councillor) Curriculum and Standards Champion & Parent's Forum
To make a complaint, please follow the complaints procedure which can be found on the Statutory Information page. Emailing the Clerk to the Governing Body could cause a delay to you receiving a response.
Academy Councillors can be contacted via the Clerk: KDodsley@abbey.college, Abbey College, Abbey Road, Ramsey, Cambs, PE26 1DG, 01487 812352
Meeting minutes are available upon written request to the Clerk.