How they work

In simple terms the members “own” the Academy Trust.  They have a number of statutory rights, including;

• the right to appoint the auditors
• the right to remove Trustees (provided that a specific procedure is followed which includes the right of the relevant Trustee to make representations)
• the right to amend the Articles of Association of the Academy Trust
• the right to receive the annual accounts.

They also have the right to appoint up to 8 Trustees under the Articles.  The Members are required to provide a guarantee that if the Academy Trust were to be wound up and the assets did not meet all of its liabilities, they would contribute £10 each.

Our members

 

Margaret Tanner (Appointed 28 November 2018)

After graduating from Bristol University in 1966 Margaret completed her PGCE in Cardiff where she remained for a year working in a secondary school with less able students.  Margaret moved to Florence Brown School in Bristol working with young people aged between 5 and 8 years old.  In 1984 Margaret set up a Learning Support Unit for primary schools in South Bristol, observing, supporting and working with children with special educational needs in mainstream schools.

In 1998 Margaret was appointed Deputy Head with responsibility for coordinating the delivery and monitoring of a broad and balanced curriculum, including the developing of assessment policies, mentoring and supporting staff, arranging supply cover and liaising with outside agencies.

Margaret has a love of theatre, regularly seeing plays In Bristol and Bath. Music has also played a big part in her life with Margaret going to concerts at St George’s and seeing Welsh National Opera productions in Cardiff and is a member of a  Good Afternoon Choir” in Bath.

Since retirement, apart from the delights of spending time with three grandchildren in Bristol, Margaret has been a volunteer at Julian House in Bath. She is also involved with “Month in Bath” an audio magazine for visually impaired residents.

Margaret enjoys being involved in her local village activities: baking for the twice a month coffee shop held in the church, joining the walking group every Monday morning (whatever the weather) and supporting a monthly village market.

 

 

Alex Raikes, MBE (Appointed 23 April 2019)

Alex Raikes, MBE, is Director (Strategic) of Stand Against Racism & Inequality (SARI), the charity dedicated to tackling hate crime and promoting equality and community cohesion across Avon and Somerset.

SARI provides a specialist casework service – dealing with 500 new cases a year ranging from incidents such as verbal abuse or property damage to murder – education and training initiatives, young offender reduction programmes, restorative justice approaches and offers consultancy support to a range of services on equality and cultural competency.

Having graduated from Bristol University in Social Policy and having worked with children with learning disabilities in care, Alex began working at SARI as its first caseworker in 1991.  She took up her current role in 2014.  Alex is now working to take SARI to the next leg of its journey as a growing, successful, increasingly recognised human rights local Charity.

Alex has gained specialist and practical knowledge on all forms of hate crime and on delivering services to victims of such incidents. She has an extensive knowledge of other equalities and support services in the region.  Alex has led on designing pioneering  specialist collaborations for tackling hate crime,  facilitated many complex situations involving conflict or community concerns which need addressing by public bodies or to invoke crucial learning for local services and sits on a number of local strategic partnerships.

Alex was awarded an MBE for her contribution to community relations in 2009.

Crucially, as a dual heritage individual with 4 teenaged sons, Alex has first-hand experience of racial harassment and of running a busy and lively household.  She brings this personal understanding to her work.

 

Peter Evans (Appointed 12 June 2022)

Experienced Leader in Education with over 22 years as a Head Teacher of a range of Special Schools covering specialisms in Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN), Social and Emotional Mental Health (SEMH), Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) and Deaf children.  Included within his many professional achievements is the realisation of Knowle DGE Academy as an inspirational provision for young people with SEMH or SLCN in Bristol, and the ongoing partnership with a Primary and Special School in Nakuru, Kenya.

Former Members in post during reporting period 01 September 2021 - 31 August 2022

Name	Date Appointed	Date Stepped Down
Ian McGregor	01 September 2017	26 April 2022
Stephen Bradshaw	30 August 2018	13 May 2022
Martin Bisp	17 September 2019	05 October 2022
Julie Atherton	22 September 2022	06 February 2023