Chair of Academy Council
Hanham Woods Academy, Bristol, Bristol, BS15 3LA16 days remaining to apply
Job start date
15 April 2026
Closing date
3 May 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
15 April 2026
Job details
Job role
- Other leadership roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time
Contract type
- Casual
Full-time equivalent salary
- Voluntary
Chair of Academy Council job summary
Role Title: Chair of Academy Council
Hours: Approx. 1-2 hours per week across the school year
Provisional Start Date: ASAP
Your opportunity to lead and make a difference in education:
We are looking for a Chair of Academy Council at Hanham Woods 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 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:
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 Hanham Woods Academy:
Hanham Woods Academy is a secondary school located within the outskirts of Bristol and South Gloucestershire, delivering education to more than 800 pupils aged 11-16. It is one of the most improved academies in the South West, and has a growing reputation both locally and regionally.
While we appreciate the unique setting in which the academy is placed, we work hard to challenge students from a variety of backgrounds to be the best they can be in all areas of life. Our mission here is simple: we want to give people the best chance of success, underpinned by our ethos of 'Dream Big, Work Hard, Be Kind'. We want students to 'climb the mountain' in order to achieve success both academically and by developing a confident, resilient and hard-working character.
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.
- We strongly believe representation matters and encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups.
Recruitment timeline:
- Closing Date: 03 May 2026 @11.59pm
- Review of Expressions of Interest: 04 May 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.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Hanham Woods Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 844 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Hanham Woods Academy website
Hanham Woods Academy is part of the Cabot Learning Federation and is one of the most improved Academies in the South West, providing an excellent education to over 800 students. The Academy has a growing reputation both locally and regionally. Whilst we appreciate the unique setting in which the Academy is placed, we work hard to challenge students from a variety of backgrounds to be the best they can be in all areas of life. Our mission here is simple: we want to give people the best chance of success. This underpinned by our ethos of Dream Big, Work Hard, Be Kind. We want students to 'climb the mountain' in order to achieve success both academically and by developing a confident, resilient and hard working character. The Academy was judged ‘Good’ by Ofsted in November 2019, noting that ‘Pupils are proud of their school’ and ‘They feel safe’. The Academy continues its improvement journey, being over-subscribed in a number of Year Groups. Our students are excited to learn, are increasingly successful in reaching their potential and are real ambassadors for our community. Staff are hard working and supportive, and leaders consider carefully the wellbeing of colleagues. If you want to work in an environment that is high challenge, low threat, that takes great pride in developing people and works together to give students the best chance of success, then this is the academy for you.
School location
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