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Governance
Atkinson Road Primary Academy is overseen by a Local Governing Committee responsible for ensuring the highest standards of teaching and wellbeing. The Local Governing Committee is a ‘critical friend’ to the Academy as well as a champion of pupils, teachers and the wider community.
As the Academy is part of the Laidlaw Schools Trust, there is a board of trustees who are responsible for the work of the Trust, including the running of the academies. Further information is available on the Governance section of the Trust’s website. To support the effective operation of the Trust and the academies, the Trust board has established Local Governing Committees for each Academy in the Trust.
Diversity is important to our governing committees and we strive to be reflective of the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for school governors from all areas of our school community. If you are interested in becoming a school governor or finding out more, please contact the Clerk to Governors.
The Governance Administrator can be contacted at rebecca.mayo@laidlawschoolstrust.co.uk, Laidlaw Schools Trust, Suite 2, 3rd Floor, St Nicholas Building, St Nicholas’ Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1RF or 0191 662 2416.
Details of the Governors at Atkinson Road can be found below:
Ben Hardy - Chair of Governors
Ben is the Relationship Manager for Schools North East, a charity representing all 1,150 schools in the region in the national debate. He works with schools, multi-academy trusts, and partners across all sectors to influence regional and national education policy.
After studying at Newcastle University, Ben worked in London at The Key, supporting school leaders and governors across the country. He joined Schools North East in 2019, initially on a project supporting MATs, before returning to the North East to join the team permanently.
Ben has also served as a governor at a special school in London, including four years as Chair of the leadership and management committee, during which he was involved in recruiting a Head Teacher, a school relocation, and an Ofsted inspection (Good!).
He is passionate about transforming the lives of children and communities through inspirational education.
Interests and date each interest commenced
Schools North East (July 2019)
Kelsey Blemings - Local Governor
Kelsey is a Student Recruitment Coordinator at Northumbria University, developing strategies and delivering outreach activities to help young people make informed career and education choices.
Originally from County Durham, Kelsey completed a BA (Hons) Sport Studies at the University of Stirling, where she began her career in student recruitment and higher education. While at university, she also served on the SportScotland Trust Company Board, contributing to the direction and development of Scotland’s three National Centres for Sport.
Kelsey is a qualified sports coach and enjoys spending time near a netball court. She is passionate about engaging young people in leadership opportunities through education and sport, and supporting the Trust to ensure children at Atkinson Road Primary School can succeed and thrive in their education and local community.
Interests and date each interest commenced
Northumbria University (Employee - 22/11/2022)
Rafay Ansari - Local Governor
Rafay is currently employed as a consultant at a leading engineering and professional services consulting firm, where Rafay delivers expert advisory services in the fields of Telecommunications and Cyber Security.
Rafay holds a PhD in Computer Engineering from a university in Cyprus. Following the completion of the doctorate, Rafay relocated to the United Kingdom to pursue a role as a research scientist at a higher education institution. Five years ago, Rafay moved to Newcastle to take up a position as a Senior Lecturer at a university, continuing an academic career. Recently, Rafay transitioned into the industry, bringing a wealth of academic and research experience to the consultancy domain.
Beyond professional commitments, Rafay is an enthusiastic volunteer in STEM outreach initiatives, dedicated to inspiring young people to explore and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Rafay is enthusiastic about playing an active role in supporting the trust, with a particular interest in leveraging technology to enrich students’ learning experiences. Rafay is committed to fostering an environment at Atkinson Road Academy where all children are inspired to achieve their full potential and supported to flourish.
Interests and date each interest commenced
Nil
Oludare Alimi - Parent Governor
Interests and date each interest commenced
Nil
Vijay Panchanadeeswaran K - Local Governor
Interests and date each interest commenced
Nil
Petra Brown
Petra joined the Local Governing Committee at Atkinson Road Primary Academy in 2025, driven by a strong belief in the transformative power of Early Years education.
She has spent over 20 years teaching and leading within the Early Years phase, dedicated to ensuring every child receives the strongest possible start in life. Petra’s approach is guided by the principle that early development is a key predictor of future educational outcomes, and she advocates for high-quality, inclusive, and forward-thinking Early Years provision.
She is proud to support Atkinson Road Primary Academy in nurturing confident, curious learners from the very start of their educational journey.
Interests and date each interest commenced
Nil