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Academy Council

The Milton Keynes Academy is one of a growing number of schools in the Creative Education Trust family. Creative Education Trust is a non-profit educational charity recognised by the Department for Education as one of the leading multi-academy chains.

The Trust Board

The CET Board is the overall governing body of the Trust and all its Academies. It is charged with the strategic direction of the Trust and is responsible to the Secretary of State for Education for executing its statutory duties. Its main functions are:

  • setting annual performance targets
  • determining all statutory and other policies
  • ensuring that curriculum requirements are met
  • setting the budget for the Trust and each academy
  • being the employer of all staff
  • being the ultimate body of appeal within the Trust
  • agreeing all major building work with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

Creative Education Trust can be contacted at: 67-68 Long Acre, London, WC2E 9JD and through telephone 020 39109200. The following link also contains further information around governance, schemes of delegation and accounts, Creative Education Trust Statutory Information.

Academy Council

The Academy Council (AC) is a sub-committee of the Creative Education Trust Board of Directors. It is accountable to the Board of Directors and is its local presence. It may include representatives from such groups as the school community, the local community and other local organisations and businesses as appropriate.

The main functions of the AC are:

  • supporting CET’s plans for the school as set out in the ADIP, SEF and annual budget
  • providing understanding of the local context and the challenge that the local environment presents
  • acting as a sounding board for senior leaders, especially the Principal or Head Teacher
  • providing regular monitoring of health and safety matters, safeguarding provision, the welfare of looked after children, and provision for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
  • providing hearing panels for pupil behaviour matters
  • building and maintaining positive local perceptions of the school
  • building and maintaining relationships with the local and regional business community
  • building and maintaining relationships with community partners (e.g., health services, police, social services)
  • undertaking local fundraising
  • the Chair of AC assisting in the recruitment process for Head Teachers and Principals

If you have any questions about the governance of our Academy, please contact the Academy Council by email via the Principal Gordon Farquhar.

Any written correspondence should be addressed to The Chair, The Milton Keynes Academy Council c/o The Milton Keynes Academy, Leadenhall, Milton Keynes, MK6 5LA.

The table below lists the members of The Milton Keynes Academy Council.

Academy Council Current Membership

Academy Council
Member Name

AC Member
Role

First
Appointed

Term
Start

Term
End

Dawn  Howard

Chair
Community Councillor

01 Oct 2022

01 Oct 2023

30 Sept 2026

Gordon Farquhar

Principal

01 Sep 2021

01 Sep 2021

Ex-officio

Sonia Faull

Staff Councillor

14 Feb 2025

14 Feb 2025

13 Feb 2028

Lyndsay Radford

Parent Councillor
Academy Improvement
Board

01 Sep 2021

01 Sep 2024

31 Aug 2027

Diane Taylor

Staff Councillor
Health & Safety

01Sep 2018

01 Sep 2024

31 Aug 2027

Susan Izadkhasti

Community Councillor 
Careers

14 Feb 2025

14 Feb 2025

13 Feb 2028

Chantelle Turney Parent Councillor 21 Jan 2026 21 Jan 2026 20 Jan 2029

Members of The Milton Keynes Academy Council

The chair of the AC can be contacted in writing via Holly Crofts, clerk to the Academy Council.