Chair of Academy Council in Bristol

Your opportunity to lead and make a difference in education:

We are looking for a Chair of Academy Council at Summerhill Academy to provide strategic leadership and governance support across one of our academies. This is a rewarding voluntary role where you will influence decisions that shape the future of education and ensure every child has the best possible start in life.

Details about the role:

• Ensure meetings are run effectively with clear agendas and active participation.
• Hold regular one-to-one meetings with the Principal.
• Lead the Council, providing strategic direction and oversight.
• Attend Chairs’ meetings to share updates and escalate issues to the Board.
• Manage vacancies and support recruitment, ensuring new Councillors receive training and support.
• Chair or participate in panels for exclusions and complaints.
• Make decisions about barring adults from site and ensure these are documented appropriately.

About you:

• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• The ability to build relationships and influence at a strategic level.
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
• Time to attend meetings and engage with academy leadership.

Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached information prior to submitting an expression of interest application.

About Summerhill Academy:

Summerhill Academy is a junior school located in St George, Bristol. We provide a wide-ranging and inspiring curriculum to meet the needs of the diverse community that we serve. High standards of teaching and learning, delivered in a kind, caring, inclusive environment, ensure that all children thrive. Children leave Summerhill Academy with a sense of community and purpose, filled with the skills and confidence needed to allow them to achieve the best they can in their future lives.

About Cabot Learning Federation (CLF):

We are a diverse and inclusive community of 36 academies across five cluster regions in the South West, committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for improving lives. We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters. Over 65% of the pupils who attend Summerhill Academy are from global majority groups, so we particularly encourage applicants from those groups in order to represent the pupils we serve, as well as wider underrepresented groups including gender, transgender, age disability, sexual orientation or religion. We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

Why volunteer with CLF?

• Professional development in governance and leadership.
• Networking opportunities across the South West.
• The chance to make a meaningful difference to children and families in your community.

Recruitment timeline:

• Closing Date: 15 February 2026 @11.59pm
• Review of Expressions of Interest: 16 February 2026

How to apply:

By clicking ‘Apply’ on the advert page, you will be re-directed to the CLF Governance Page. On this page, please access and complete the Expression of Interest form (towards the bottom of the page and titled ‘Express Your Interest’) and detail the academy you are interested in becoming Chair of Academy Council at. The Governance Team will pick this up and contact you directly to arrange an initial call/meeting, along with informing you about any other next steps of the process. We welcome visits from potential volunteers. If you would like to arrange a school visit as part of your interest in becoming an Academy Councillor at one of our academies, please let us know this when completing the Expression of Interest form.

Safeguarding & Inclusion

We take safeguarding seriously. All volunteers must complete an application form, provide references, and undergo checks, including a DBS. CLF is a Disability Confident Committed Employer. If you need adjustments during application or onboarding, let us know how we can support you.

Safeguarding Statement

The Cabot Learning Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles across the trust have a varying level of responsibility for ensuring safeguarding practice, with some roles holding significant responsibility and involving working with children on a daily basis in regulated activity. Regardless of the level of responsibility and involvement in each role, we expect all staff, visiting professionals and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates will undergo a comprehensive pre-employment checking process, including an enhanced DBS check (including a further check against the appropriate barred list), references from current and previous employers, health, right to work in the UK, child disqualification (where applicable), prohibition from teaching/management and online checks. You must also tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.