Our Academy Committee Members

As part of Excel Learning Trust’s governance structures, our trust schools have Academy Committees, which are committees of the Trust Board. Our ACs and committee members play an important role by providing support and challenge to our schools, as well as holding a shared vision which is clear, understood and well communicated to all stakeholders and reflects the fundamental values and objectives of the Trust. Our committee members come from a variety of backgrounds and are advocates for the school and for the Trust.

For further information regarding the governance of our Trust and the roles and responsibilities of committee members, trustees and members, please see our Scheme of Delegation, available on our website here.

Chair of Academy Committee

Our Chair is Andy Pope. If you need to contact him, please use the school contact details and mark your correspondence for the attention of the Chair of the Academy Committee.

Committee Members

Name	Shared with	Appointed by	From	To
Andy Pope Chair of Governors	Not recorded	Staff Governor - Appointed by Trustees	1 May 2026	30 April 2030
Andrew Waller	Not recorded	Trustees	1 May 2026	30 April 2030
Ian Savage	Not recorded	Trustees	2 March 2023	1 March 2027
Gavin Kumar	Not recorded	Ex-officio by virtue of office as Principal	1 September 2024	Not recorded
Sally Gordon	Not recorded	Trustees	19 July 2023	18 July 2027
Laura Backhouse	Not recorded	Parent appointed by GB/Board due to no election candidates	7 May 2026	6 May 2030
Val Roddis	Not recorded	Trustees	13 June 2023	12 June 2027
Clare Besant	Not recorded	Parent appointed by GB/Board due to no election candidates	1 July 2024	30 June 2028
Kate Smithson	Not recorded	Trustees	28 April 2026	27 April 2030

Information regarding date of appointment, term and appointee is available through the GIAS website.

Committee members’ business interests

To view details of our committee members’ business interests, please click here.

Committee members’ attendance

Governors Attendance Register 2022-23.

Governors Attendance Register 2023-24.

Governors Attendance Register 2024-25.

Governors Attendance Register 2025-26.

Interested in becoming a committee member?

If you are interested in becoming a committee member please contact the school. 

Committee minutes