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Governance
BackAtkinson Road Primary Academy is overseen by a Local Governing Body responsible for ensuring the highest standards of teaching and wellbeing. The Local Governing Board 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 board has established Local Governing Bodies for each Academy in the Trust.
Diversity is important to our governing boards 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:
Peregrine Solly - Governor
Prior to his involvement with the Laidlaw Schools Trust and The Children’s Foundation, Peregrine worked for two of the North East’s leading Companies: Vickers plc (later BAE Systems plc) and Scottish and Newcastle plc. His role for both companies took him all over the world and gave him a fascinating and unrivalled experience working across different cultures and different organisations. Peregrine still consults for several start-up companies, helping them to develop their businesses internationally. Although he has not been directly involved in education before joining the Trust, Peregrine grew up in a school, his brothers both teach and he is married to a teacher. He fully supports the Trust’s aim of improving the opportunities and life chances of some of the most disadvantaged children and young people in the North East of England.
Ben Hardy - Chair of Governors
Ben is the Relationship Manager for Schools North East, a charity giving a voice to all 1,150 North East schools in the national debate. His role is to work with schools, MATs and partners across all sectors to support the organisation to influence the shape of regional and national policy.
After studying at Newcastle University, Ben moved to London to work in education at The Key, spending five years supporting school leaders and governors across the country. After working with Schools North East at the start of 2019 on a project to support MATs across the region, Ben moved back to the North East in the summer and joined the SNE team.
Ben was previously a governor at a special school in London for 4 years as Chair of a leadership and management committee. During his time at the school, he was involved in recruiting a new Head Teacher, a school relocation, and an Ofsted inspection (Good!).
Ben is passionate about supporting the Trust’s vision to transform the lives of children and communities in the Laidlaw Schools Trust through inspirational education.
Kelsey Blemings- Local Governor
Kelsey is a Student Recruitment Coordinator at Northumbria University responsible for developing strategies and delivering outreach activity, supporting young people to make informed career and education choices. Originally from County Durham, Kelsey moved to Scotland to complete a BA (Hons) Sport Studies degree at the University of Stirling, where she then gained her first role in Student Recruitment and Higher Education. During her time at University, Kelsey also spent time on the SportScotland Trust Company Board, responsible for the direction and develop of Scotland’s 3 National Centres for Sport.
Outside of work, Kelsey is a qualified sports coach and can often be found near a netball court! Kelsey is passionate about engaging young people in leadership opportunities through education and sport.
Kelsey is passionate about supporting the trust, with a specific interest in sport and careers guidance to ensure that the children of Atkinson Road Primary School are able to succeed and thrive in their education and local community.
Harry Goodwill - Local Governor
Harry is the Policy Officer at Schools North East, a charity giving a voice to all 1,150 North East schools. His role is to research national educational policy developments and data and to support lobbying on behalf of schools in the region.
Originally from Yorkshire, Harry studied History at Newcastle University. Following on from University, he worked in Parliament for three years, before moving back to the North East in 2019.