Chair of Academy Council in Weston-super-Mare

Your opportunity to lead and make a difference in education: We are looking for a Chair of Academy Council at Uphill Village 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: As Chair of an Academy Council, you will:

• 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 elevate 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: You will have:

• 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 Uphill Village Academy: Uphill Village Academy is a vibrant primary school located in Weston-super-Mare. We are a school that thrives on inclusion and strong pastoral and academic provision and welcome children and families to join our school community where we celebrate each other’s strengths and uniqueness. Our community of children, parents, relatives, colleagues and other local community groups work closely together to ensure our children learn in an environment where they are filled with joy, confidence, and a strong sense of agency and feel safe to try new experiences and explore concepts of learning in a deeper way.

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 and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups including ethnicity, 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: 15 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 are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This role has significant responsibility for ensuring safeguarding practice within the academy. This role involves working with children on a daily basis and is therefore in regulated activity. The successful applicant will, in accordance with statutory guidance, be subject to a comprehensive pre-employment checking process including references from current and previous employers, health, right to work in the UK and a child disqualification check. The checks will also include an enhanced DBS check and a further check against the appropriate barred list.