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Academy Council Information

  • Marsha Douglas

    Community MAC. Roles and responsibilities: Inclusion and SEND. Equalities and Diversity and Curriculum

  • Richard Steele

    Community MAC. Roles and responsibilities: Equalities and Diversity and Curriculum

  • Jo Sorensen

    Head of Lower School

  • Sarah Waddingham

    Academy Council Vice Chair. Parent MAC. Roles and responsibilities: Safeguarding, equalities and diversity and Curriculum

  • Nadine Anderson

    Community MAC. Roles and responsibilities: SEND and Inclusion, Equalities and Diversity and Curriculum.

  • Alex Toogood

    Community MAC. Roles and responsibilities: Pupil premium, equalities and diversity and curriculum.

  • Claire Binks

    Head of Upper School

  • Ailsa Chapman

    Deputy Head of Lower School and Staff MAC

  • Gavin Lambert

    Academy Council Chair. Roles and Responsibilities: Safeguarding, Equalities and Diversity, Curriculum and Parent Liaison.

  • Rochelle Fryer

    Roles and Responsibilities: Curriculum, Equalities and Diversity and Parent Liaison

  • Emma Chang

    Deputy Head of Upper School and Staff MAC

Marsha Douglas

Term of Service started:

June 2026

Term of Service ends:

June 2030

Responsibilities:

Community MAC. Roles and responsibilities: Inclusion and SEND. Equalities and Diversity and Curriculum

I

Richard Steele

Term of Service started:

May 2023

Term of Service ends:

May 2027

Responsibilities:

Community MAC. Roles and responsibilities: Equalities and Diversity and Curriculum

My name is Richard Steele and I have been a parent governor since 2011.  All three of my children went to Cypress . I work as a Finance Director in the private sector and have enjoyed being able to share my financial and leadership experience to support Cypress.  Over the years I have been Chair of the Finance & Premises sub-committee and was Chair of Governors before Marsha.  Now that Cypress is part of the Pegasus Academy Trust I look forward to working with parents and staff to improve outcomes for children whilst ensuring that all that is great about Cypress and its community is preserved.

Jo Sorensen

Responsibilities:

Head of Lower School

Sarah Waddingham

Term of Service started:

October 2026

Term of Service ends:

October 2030

Responsibilities:

Academy Council Vice Chair. Parent MAC. Roles and responsibilities: Safeguarding, equalities and diversity and Curriculum

Nadine Anderson

Term of Service started:

May 2023

Term of Service ends:

May 2027

Responsibilities:

Community MAC. Roles and responsibilities: SEND and Inclusion, Equalities and Diversity and Curriculum.

Alex Toogood

Term of Service started:

October 2026

Term of Service ends:

October 2030

Responsibilities:

Community MAC. Roles and responsibilities: Pupil premium, equalities and diversity and curriculum.

I

Claire Binks

Responsibilities:

Head of Upper School

Ailsa Chapman

Responsibilities:

Deputy Head of Lower School and Staff MAC

Gavin Lambert

Responsibilities:

Academy Council Chair. Roles and Responsibilities: Safeguarding, Equalities and Diversity, Curriculum and Parent Liaison.

Rochelle Fryer

Responsibilities:

Roles and Responsibilities: Curriculum, Equalities and Diversity and Parent Liaison

Emma Chang

Term of Service started:

October 2026

Term of Service ends:

October 2030

Responsibilities:

Deputy Head of Upper School and Staff MAC

Frequently asked questions about Academy Councils

Pegasus is a Multi Academy Trust (MAT), governed overall by a Board of Directors and then a separate Academy Council for each school.

What is a MAC?
The three letters stand for ‘Member of the Academy Council’

What is the Academy Council?
The Academy Council consists of:

  1. Up to 5 x Community MACs
  2. 2 x Staff MACs
  3. Heads of School
  4. Up to 4 x Parent MACs
  5. Up to 2 x Board Representatives.

Alongside the heads of School the Academy Council is responsible for monitoring key aspects of each school’s performance – specifically:

  1. Outcomes for children and learners;
  2. Quality of teaching, learning and assessment;
  3. Behaviour and welfare (including safeguarding)

What does a MAC do?
A Member of the Academy Council (MAC) acts as a school governor, though there are differences: For example, in the Pegasus Academy Trust MACs don’t have any financial responsibilities as the executive group have this responsibility. MACs act as ‘critical friend’ to the school, supporting governance and strategy. Parent MACs specifically represent the parents of the school. A MAC may have responsibility for a particular year group and area, for example Pupil Premium or Safeguarding.

How do I become a MAC?
Parent MACs are elected for a four year period and fresh elections take place whenever terms expire.  Community MACs are appointed by the Academy Council themselves and may be local councillors etc. (not normally parents).  Staff elect their own representatives.

How can I contact a MAC?
You can contact MACs via the school e-mail address marked ‘For attention of [name of governor] or speak to any of us (photos above) on the playgrounds before or after school

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ACADEMY COUNCIL

Each school in the Trust has its own Academy Council. The Academy Council is responsible for monitoring key aspects of each school’s performance namely:

  • Outcomes for children and learners;
  • Quality of teaching, learning and assessment;
  • Behaviour and welfare (including safeguarding);
  • Ethos and values (and how they match the Trust’s overall values statements)

Members of the Academy Councils (MACs) are expected to establish for themselves what is happening in their schools and to ensure that they receive evidence on these key aspects from a variety of sources. A budget is set aside by Directors so that, when required, Academy Councils may commission their own consultants to give an independent view on areas of concern.

Academy Councils (sometimes known as ‘Local Governing Bodies’) are vital to Directors in ensuring that local voices are properly heard and the have the right to escalate matters to Directors if they vote to do so.  Since the formation of the Trust at least one Director has attended each Academy Council so that a quick response can be given where required.

Pecuniary Interests

First published on 13th July, 2017 and modified 9th October, 2024

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