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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 governance@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:
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 - Local Governor
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
Sarah Woodburn - Local Governor
Interests and date each interest commenced
Tessy Idemudia - Local Governor
Tessy is an aspiring lawyer with a deep commitment to young people, education, and community. She brings her values directly to her role as a school governor.
She read Law with Politics at the University of Manchester, and has since built a career grounded in youth advocacy and community leadership. She currently serves as a Trustee of New Writing North and as a Youth Advisor to YoungMinds UK, alongside volunteering with a number of other organisations supporting young people. This experience in oversight, accountability, and strategic decision-making speaks directly to the responsibilities at the heart of school governance.
Tessy is passionate about diversity and about widening access to the arts and to opportunity for working-class communities. She co-founded Black Girls' Space, a national organisation supporting young women, which now has branches across the UK. She has represented young people's voices in the House of Commons and worked alongside Rape Crisis Tyne and Tees on campaigns addressing victim blaming culture in schools, generating national media attention.
Her leadership has been recognised with a place on the Powerlist Magazine Top 150 Future Leaders and the University of Manchester's Stelify Award for community service.