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About Consilium

Consilium Academies is a multi-academy Trust working across the North of England. It has nine academy schools located in Yorkshire, the North West, and the North East. Consilium is dedicated to enriching lives and inspiring ambitions for both students and colleagues.

Meet Our Local Academy Board

Consilium is a Multi-Academy Trust with a family of eight schools across the North West, North East and Yorkshire.  Within each school, a Local Academy Board has been established.  Local Academy Boards (LAB’s) may also be known at other Trusts as ‘Academy Committees’, ‘Local Governing Boards’ or ‘Local Advisory Committees'.

Each LAB is composed of different members, usually two Parent places are within the Board.  Parent members are elected through a process which is defined in a key document called the ‘Articles of Association.’

Parent Trustees and Parent LAB members play an important role within the board.  The role is to support the Trust itself and provide insight on behalf of other parents of students who attend the school.  A key function of the LAB is to engage meaningfully with all parents and carers as a whole.  

The Trust Board determines the level of delegation or responsibility which is to be passed to the Local Academy Boards.  This is subject to review on a yearly basis and responsibilities can be added or removed dependent on how well the Trust Board feel that the LAB is managing.  Local Academy Boards are a formal and important part of the governance of Consilium Academies and the contributions of members are very much valued by the Trust Board.  Some of the typical areas which are covered at local level may be;

  • Support of the efficient and effective operation of the Trust and its policies
  • Support and challenge (where appropriate) to the school leaders
  • Share issues and risks with the Trust Board if necessary
  • Scrutiny of reports which may be supplied by school leaders or members themselves
  • Provide a meaningful link with the community, parents and the students of the school, sharing feedback with the Board, regarding challenges but also to celebrate successes
  • Provide feedback to the Trust Board in relation to policies and practices which are personal to the school, (policies which are delegated to the LAB are identified in a document called the Scheme of Delegation.

Our Local Academy Board Members have a term of service for four years. Parent and Staff members are elected by parents and staff retrospectively. The Headteacher is ex officio and automatically holds a position due to their position within the school.

Contact our Local Academy Board Members

For any matter related to Heworth Grange Local Academy Board you may contact the Chair, Mrs Yvonne Baker, at heworthgrangeenquiries@consilium-at.com

For any matters or queries relating to governance please contact Consilium Academies, 5th Floor, 1 City Approach, Albert Street, Eccles, M30 0BL.

Our school LAB members:

Name: Member Type: Term From: Term To: Appointed/Elected by:
Mrs Yvonne Baker OBE Chair 01/09/20 31/08/24 Trust Board
Mrs Denise Nicholson Vice Chair 01/09/20 31/08/24 Resigned - 09/02/2023
Mr Jason Holt Headteacher 27/02/23 - By Default
Prof. Jon Timmis Trust Appointed 31/01/21 30/12/24 Resigned - 10/10/2023
Dr Sunil Bhopal Trust Appointed 19/03/21 18/02/25 Resigned - 04/10/2023
Mrs Rachel Miller Trust Appointed April 2021 April 2025 Trust Board
Mr Paul Thornton Trust Appointed     Trust Board
Mrs Joanne Grewcock Parent 10/06/21 09/06/25 Parent
Mr Iain Stephenson Parent 10/06/21 09/06/25 Parent
Mr Liam Gates Staff - Associate     Staff

LAB Attendance 2022 – 2023

Name 10/11/2022 09/03/2023 22/06/2023
Yvonne Baker OBE Present Present Present
Denise Nicholson Absent - Apologies Recorded Resigned - 09/02/2023 Resigned - 09/02/2023
Allie Denholm Present Present Present
Jonathan Timmis Absent Present Absent - Apologies Recorded
Sunil Bhopal Present Absent - Apologies Recorded Present
Rachel Miller Absent - Apologies Recorded Present Absent - Apologies Recorded
Paul Thornton Present Present Present
Joanne Grewcock Absent - Apologies Recorded Present Present
Iain Stephenson Present Absent - Apologies Recorded Present
Liam Gates Present Present Present

Declarations of Interest:

Name Role Business or Other Interests Other Governor Roles
Yvonne Baker OBE Chair Chief Executive STEM Learning and member of the Royal Society Education Committee Trustee of the 5% Club
Denise Nicholson Vice Chair None None
Jason Holt Headteacher None None
Jonathan Timmis Appointed Member  Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Sunderland.  Director, Learning North East Ltd, Director, University of Sunderland Enterprises Ltd Director, Learning World Ltd, Director, Sunderland Intern Factory Ltd, Director Simomics Ltd, 1079 Ltd, Director UTC South Durham Ltd Trustee, UTC South Durham
Sunil Bhopal Appointed Member Paediatrician (Great North Children's Hospital & Newcastle University), currently seconded to Department of Health & Social Care. Trustee, The Children's Foundation. Trustee, Foundation Years Information & Research.
Rachel Miller Appointed Member None None
Paul Thornton Appointed Member    
Joanne Grewcock Parent Member Employed by Gateshead Local Authority None
Iain Stephenson Parent Member Works in the Education Sector None
Liam Gates Staff Member - Associate    

Local Academy Board (LAB) Members lead schools, they don’t manage them. They are there to give a long-term strategic direction to how the school is run; to be critical friends to the school; and to ensure the school is accountable for its actions. Members discuss and have input on:

  • School policies, such as discipline, dress, sport, bullying and homework
  • Long term plans and the future of the school
  • How the school will try to reach performance targets
  • Appointment and dismissal of staff
  • Complaints from pupils, staff and parents
  • Repair and maintenance of school buildings
  • Use of school premises outside school hours

Meet our Chair:

Yvonne Baker OBE:

Yvonne is a Chemical Engineer by background, who now leads STEM Learning an organisation supporting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. She has been a school governor for over 20 years in a range of places and settings and sits on the Royal Society’s Education Committee. Yvonne is Co-Chair of the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s Education and Skills Panel as well as a Trustee of the 5% Club, which encourages employers to offer meaningful ‘earn and learn’ opportunities including apprenticeships. However, her interests extend far beyond STEM thanks to her inspirational music teacher, Yvonne has always been a keen amateur musician and singer (even now being part of a Sea Shanty Group) and over the last few years, she has become a pilot gig rower.

Yvonne believes that a great education is the right of every child and young person, whatever their background. Education opens doors and gives choice and, to this day, Yvonne remains grateful for those teachers, her parents, and others who supported her throughout her education from pre-school to the world of work. She looks forward to working with the staff team, governors, students, parent/s/carers, and wider community at Heworth to ensure that all our young people have this opportunity and choice.