The Academy Council

The Academy Council is the name for the governing body of an academy and we work closely with the Headteacher and other staff to set a strategic direction for Foley Park Primary Academy. We act as a ‘critical friend’, complementing and enhancing the school leadership by making sure all statutory duties are met. These include appointing the Headteacher, providing support and challenge, and holding the school to account for its impact on improving outcomes for all pupils. This continues to be particularly important following the school’s "Journey to Good", and beyond.

The Headteacher, who is a member of the Academy Council, runs the school on a day to day basis. The Academy Councillors are responsible for the strategic overview of the school and for overseeing the curriculum. We also handle formal complaints, personnel issues, buildings, health and safety, policies and some disciplinary matters.

The Academy Council includes representation from school staff, the community and parents; people who have experience and skills that enable us to support and advise on school issues.

The Academy Council meets regularly and has  a number of sub-committees which look  in more detail at such areas as health and safety, disadvantaged pupils, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), safeguarding, and the curriculum. The Academy Council feeds into the Victoria Academy Trust Board.

If you have any matters that you'd like to raise, please let us know.

Our Academy Councillors

Richard Collie

Role: Chair -  Parent Councillor (appointed by parents)

Link Councillor: Various but including Maths, English and Science

Appointed: 18/10/2019, reappointed 18/10/2022

Term of Office: 3 years; Expires 18/10/2025

Business/Percuniary Interests: None Declared

I became a Councillor to help the school to push its boundaries in continuing to provide a safe and progressive learning environment not just for my grandchildren who attend the school but also for all pupils. Whilst I am a link councillor for specific subject areas, I am interested in all aspects of the curriculum and the school day.  I am always happy to talk about the school so feel free to stop me in the playground (Tuesdays and Wednesdays are when I can normally be spotted) to have a chat.

Before I retired I ran a management consultancy company for over 20 years which focused very much on improving operational performance. I am married, have two daughters with one working at Kidderminster College and the other teaching Year 6 children in Birmingham. Although a while back now, when my daughters were going to school both my wife and myself became heavily involved in their school lives, my wife as a governor whist I chaired the PTA for 6 years."

Nina Price

Role: Parent Councillor (appointed by parents)

Link Councillor: Pupi Premium, Attendance, Art

Appointed: 3/12/2021,

Term of Office: 3 years; Expires 3/12/2024

Business/Percuniary Interests: None Declared

I was first involved with Foley Park over 15 years ago when I was a youth worker delivering a range of extra-curricular sessions in schools across the Wyre Forest. I loved the warmth and ethos of Foley Park and this was the reason my husband and I bought a house within the catchment area with a plan to sending our own children there in the future…and we did just that! I have continued to work within community engagement roles locally. I believe wellbeing is essential in children’s ability to grow and learn and I am passionate about engaging with young people through arts, play and cultural activities.

I am very excited and proud to be part of the Foley Park family and I look forward to growing into my role as parent councillor.

Steve Robinson

Role: Community Councillor

Link Councillor: Various but including Safeguarding, PSHE and RE

Appointed: 20/5/2022

Term of Office: 3 years; Expires 20/5/2025

Business/Percuniary Interests: None Declared

I’m a massive believer in our education system and the amazing work teachers do all over the country. I was a teacher myself in primary schools for a decade of my life and worked myself slowly up the ladder working in my later years as Head of Literacy and Year 6 at a school in Oldbury and then Assistant Headteacher at a West Bromwich school. Both were in special measures when I joined them and was part of the team that brought both schools out as good.

In my role as Church minister of Riverside Elim Church Bewdley I believe that we need to play a role in making a positive difference in our communities. “Love where you live” being a key strap line with me at church and we have some people from church who live in the Foley Park area as well as on staff.  When this opportunity arose to become part of the board at Foley Park I was incredibly excited as it brought two of my life passions, teaching and the community, together.

In this role I want to bring my expertise from my teaching career and my expertise from my community building and caring to the school community. Something which I am eager to explore and engage in. I have a long history of safeguarding, needing to be trained since my first teaching role over 15 years ago and still in my church role today.

Andy Lander

Role: Community Councillor

Link Councillor: Various but including Early Years Foundation Stage

Appointed: 8/7/2022

Term of Office: 3 years; Expires 8/7/2025

Business/Percuniary Interests: None Declared

I am currently Assistant Headteacher at a Primary School in Halesowen where I also served as a staff governor for 4 years. Previous to this, and for the past 17 years or so, I have worked in schools across Kidderminster and Dudley Borough. My key responsibilities are for leading Early Years Foundation Stages and Key Stage One, working as a Designated Safeguarding Lead and for the development of early reading and phonics. 

I pride myself on developing children’s passion for learning. I believe this can only be done through a broad and balanced cross-curricular approach and have encouraged teachers to take greater control of their curriculum. There has never been a better time to develop an inspirational curriculum that fully engages all children in the learning process.

Central to my teaching are my core beliefs about school, learning and children. I believe that school should be an enjoyable and memorable experience for everyone, and in order to achieve this, the self-esteem of both the children and staff needs to be a high priority. Everyone must feel they are important and that their ideas are valued. I am a confident and enthusiastic teacher, committed to doing the best I can not only the children at the school where I work, but importantly in my governor capacity for the children at Foley Park.

Neil Halford

Role: Community Councillor

Link Councillor: Subject areas to be agreed

Appointed: 2/12/2022

Term of Office: 3 years; Expires 2/12/2025

Business/Percuniary Interests: None Declared

The majority of my working life has been as a teacher focussed on working with 11 to 19 year old s with extensive experience gained in leading the teaching of English.  My teaching experiences are varied with these gained in schools that are either now Academy led, CofE led or schools specialising in the teaching of children with special educational needs. Once I realised I had taken retirement far to early I immediately signed with several teaching agencies as a supply teacher. This provided a steady stream of work in very varying environments up until July 2021, when I retired permanently from the profession.

I feel privileged to have played some part in the shaping of young people and enabling them to prepare for their future lives upon leaving school. I am now enjoying retirement, but still feel I would like to continue contributing to the lives of young people. I feel that can be achieved as a member of the Academy Council. Although my teaching expertise has mainly focused on 11-19 year olds, I feel confident in my ability to have a positive influence on their younger counterparts as well.

I have a growing family with a son, two daughters and a granddaughter who will soon be starting at Nursery School. I have always tried to maintain a sensible life/work balance with music and sport being my passions and am still directly involved with Bewdley Cricket Club as their elected Child Welfare Officer and First Team Scorer. Over time I have also have developed and maintained good relationships with many at Kidderminster Carolians RFC.

Miss Katie Page

Role: Teaching staff councillor

Link Councillor:

Appointed: 18/10/2022,

Term of Office: 3 years; Expires 18/10/2025

Business/Percuniary Interests: None Declared

Pen Portrait - to follow

Vacancy (1) - vacant since July 2022

Role: Non-teaching staff councillor

Link Councillor:

Appointed:

Term of Office: 3 years; Expires

Business/Percuniary Interests:

Vacancy (2) - Appointment of nominated candidate pending

Role: Community Councillor

Link Councillor:

Appointed:

Term of Office: 3 years; Expires

Business/Percuniary Interests: