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Academy Council

Outwood Academy Freeston is a proud member of the Outwood Family; therefore, ultimate responsibility for our academy rests with the Outwood Grange Academies Trust Board of Trustees. However, some of the work of the board is delegated to the Academy Council, who are the governors of the academy.

Our Academy Council is a sub-committee of the Outwood Board and its role is to carry the Outwood vision, values, policies and priorities forward while providing internal assurance and, in addition, to develop and strengthen the academy's links with the local community.

The Academy Council is made up of governors who are expected to question, challenge and support the academy's leadership. Some governors are appointed by the Trust and others are elected by parents or carers of children who attend Outwood Academy Freeston.

Council members

GovernorAppointedTerm ends
Mr Ben Thaler
Chair of Local Governing Body
Appointed by foundation/Trust
18 November 202417 November 2028
Mrs Lisa Allott
Local Governor
Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal
5 November 2018While in post
Ms Sharron Booth
Local Governor
Elected by school staff
9 October 20258 November 2027
Mr Michael Devaney
Local Governor
Appointed by foundation/Trust
9 September 20268 September 2030
Mr Ben Eccersley
Local Governor
Elected by school staff
12 November 202411 November 2026
Ms Leah Huddlestone
Local Governor
Appointed by foundation/Trust
9 September 20268 September 2030
Mrs Emma Jayne Parkinson
Local Governor
Appointed by foundation/Trust
25 September 202324 September 2027
Mrs Maggie Vasey
Local Governor
Appointed by foundation/Trust
18 November 202417 November 2028
Ms Kelly Wilson
Local Governor
Appointed by foundation/Trust
9 September 20268 September 2030

Mr Ben Thaler

Chair of Local Governing Body
Appointed by foundation/Trust
Appointed
18 November 2024
Term ends
17 November 2028

Mrs Lisa Allott

Local Governor
Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal
Appointed
5 November 2018
Term ends
While in post

Ms Sharron Booth

Local Governor
Elected by school staff
Appointed
9 October 2025
Term ends
8 November 2027

Mr Michael Devaney

Local Governor
Appointed by foundation/Trust
Appointed
9 September 2026
Term ends
8 September 2030

Mr Ben Eccersley

Local Governor
Elected by school staff
Appointed
12 November 2024
Term ends
11 November 2026

Ms Leah Huddlestone

Local Governor
Appointed by foundation/Trust
Appointed
9 September 2026
Term ends
8 September 2030

Mrs Emma Jayne Parkinson

Local Governor
Appointed by foundation/Trust
Appointed
25 September 2023
Term ends
24 September 2027

Mrs Maggie Vasey

Local Governor
Appointed by foundation/Trust
Appointed
18 November 2024
Term ends
17 November 2028

Ms Kelly Wilson

Local Governor
Appointed by foundation/Trust
Appointed
9 September 2026
Term ends
8 September 2030

Read our council members' declarations of interests

To contact the chair of governors, please email b.thaler@freeston.outwood.com

Standards and accountability

The Outwood Board and our Academy Council, and their members, will at all times uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life, known as the Nolan Principles.

The Outwood Board and our Academy Council each have detailed Terms of Reference which set out their roles, responsibilities and functions. The authority of each is controlled by the Board via the Scheme of Delegation. You can find out more about this on the page about the Outwood Grange Academies Trust Board of Trustees.

Could you be a governor?

We're always looking for people from all walks of life to join us in carrying the Outwood vision, values and priorities forward. As a governor you'll receive training, develop transferable skills, and help shape the things that matter most to our pupils and our community.

We especially welcome interest from people with experience in finance, business or marketing, education leadership, safeguarding, HR, health and safety, special educational needs, or careers and employability. If you're ready to question, challenge and support the academy's leadership, we'd love to hear from you. You can read more about the role on the Outwood Family website.