Governance

We are a part of the Co-op Academies Trust, which is a multi academy trust. Our Trust Board is legally responsible for the effective running of the whole Trust. To learn more about trust-level governance, please visit our Trust’s central website here.
Our Academy Community Council (ACC) is made up of our Community Council Members (CCMs) who are responsible for ensuring a high-quality pupil experience that meets the needs of our local community. Learn more about them below.

How our Academy Community Council is organised

The Academy Community Council (ACC) consists of 8 to 12 Community Council Members (CCMs), of which between 2 and 4 are appointed by the sponsor. In addition, the ACC includes 2 staff CCMs, 2 parent CCMs and the Headteacher. The ACC can then appoint a number of community CCMs to be representative of the local community, provide insight into local partnership links, or bring a particular set of skills.

How to contact Community Council Members

Community Council Members can be contacted by writing to the Governance Officer for the academy at:

Lynda Podmore

Co-op Academy Northwood

Keelings Road
Northwood
Stoke-on-Trent
ST1 6QA

lynda.podmore@coopacademies.co.uk

Paul Atkins (Chair of the ACC)

Full Name	Paul Atkins
Date of appointment	04/07/2024
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Community, Chair of the ACC
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Community Council
Subcommittee membership (202-2025)	None
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2024-2025)	3/3
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2024-2025)	n/a

Ian Brayshaw

Full Name	Ian Brayshaw
Date of appointment	04/07/2024
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Community Council
Subcommittee membership (2024-2025)	None
Declarations of Interest	Chair of Trustees at Hope Community Church in Stoke since 01/11/2012 Chair of the Northwood Residents Association since 26/11/2015
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2024-2025)	3/3
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2024-2025)	n/a

Shirley Carrigan

Full Name	Shirley Carrigan
Date of appointment	01/07/2024
Term of office	n/a
Category of CCM	Ex-officio
Appointed by	By virtue of appointment as Headteacher
Subcommittee membership (2024-2025)	None
Declarations of Interest	Family relation is employed at Co-op Academy Northwood.
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2024-2025)	3/3
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2024-2025)	n/a

Lilian Dodd

Full Name	Lilian Dodd
Date of appointment	17/10/2024
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Community Council
Subcommittee membership (2024-2025)	None
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2024-2025)	1/3
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2024-2025)	n/a

Sarah Davies

Full Name	Sarah Davies
Date of appointment	17/10/2024
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Community Council
Subcommittee membership (2024-2025)	None
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2024-2025)	2/3
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2024-2025)	n/a

Victoria Dreya

Full Name	Victoria Dreya
Date of appointment	02/09/2024
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Community Council
Subcommittee membership (2024-2025)	None
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2024-2024)	3/3
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2024-2025)	n/a

Joanna Damjanovic

Full Name	Joanna Damjanovic
Date of appointment	02/09/2024
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Staff
Appointed by	Appointed by Staff
Subcommittee membership (2024-2025)	None
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2024-2025)	3/3
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2024-2025)	n/a

Yvonne Glaister

Full Name	Yvonne Glaister
Date of appointment	01/07/2024
Term of office	n/a
Category of CCM	Ex-officio
Appointed by	By virtue of appointment as Headteacher
Subcommittee membership (2024-2025)	None
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2024-2025)	3/3
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2024-2025)	n/a

Carla Myott

Full Name	Carla Myott
Date of appointment	01/07/2024
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Sponsor
Appointed by	Appointed by the sponsor
Subcommittee membership (2024-2025)	None
Declarations of Interest	Parent Governor at Taxal and Fernilee primary school (appointed July 2025)
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2024-2025)	3/3
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2024-2025)	n/a

Sandie Isherwood

Full Name	Sandie Isherwood
Date of appointment	12/06/2025
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Community Council
Subcommittee membership (2024-25)	None
Declarations of Interest	TBC
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2024-25)	1/1
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2024-25)	n/a

Resignations over the past 12 months

Chris Derbyshire

Full Name	Chris Derbyshire
Date of appointment Date of resignation	04/07/2024 25/11/2024
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Community Council
Subcommittee membership (2023-24)	None
Declarations of Interest	Governor at Kearsley West Primary School since 30/11/2019 Directorship at Seddon (Plant & Engineers) from 01/10/2023 Directorship at Winget from 01/07/2024
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2023-24)	0/1
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2023-24)	n/a

Kerri Newton

Full Name	Kerri Newton
Date of resignation Date of appointment	08/03/2025 09/07/2024
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Parent
Appointed by	Elected by parent/carers
Subcommittee membership (2024-25)	None
Declarations of Interest	Teacher at Co-op Academy Grove
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2024-25)	1/1
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2024-25)	n/a