Academy Community Council (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 Hamilton

Barthomley Road
Birches Head
Stoke-on-Trent
ST1 6NW

lynda.podmore@coopacademies.co.uk

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
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 (2025-2026)	2/3

Claire Robinson

Full Name	Claire Robinson
Date of appointment	01/09/2026
Term of office	n/a
Category of CCM	Ex-officio
Appointed by	By virtue of appointment as Headteacher
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2025-2026)	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
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2025-2026)	2/3

Kirsty Light

Full Name	Kirsty Light
Date of appointment	07/01/2026
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Parent
Appointed by	Appointed by parents
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2025-2026)	1/2

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
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2025-2026)	3/3

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
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2025-2026)	3/3

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
Declarations of Interest	Parent Governor at Taxal and Fernilee Primary School (appointed July 2025)
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2025-2026)	3/3

Gordon Mitchell

Full Name	Gordon Mitchell
Date of appointment	07/05/2026
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Sponsor
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2025-26)	1/1

Sandie Isherwood (Chair of the ACC)

Full Name	Sandie Isherwood
Date of appointment	12/06/2025
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Community, Chair of the ACC
Appointed by	Appointed by the Community Council
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2025-26)	3/3

Resignations Over the past 12 Months

Paul Atkins (Chair ACC)

Full Name	Paul Atkins
Date of appointment Dato or resignation	04/07/2024 10/01/2026
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Community, Chair of the ACC
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Community Council
Subcommittee membership (2025-2026)	None
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2025-2026)	0/1
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2025-2026)	n/a

Vicky Dreya

Full Name	Victoria Dreya
Date of appointment Date of resignation	02/09/2024 07/01/2026
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Community Council
Subcommittee membership (2025-2026)	None
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2025-2026)	1/1
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2025-2026)	n/a

Lilian Dodd

Full Name	Lilian Dodd
Date of appointment Date of resignation	17/10/2024 18/06/2026
Term of office	4 years
Category of CCM	Community
Appointed by	Appointed by the Academy Community Council
Subcommittee membership (2025-2026)	None
Declarations of Interest	None
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2025/2026)	0/3
Attendance at subcommittee meetings (2025/2026)	n/a

Shirley Carrigan

Full Name	Shirley Carrigan
Date of appointment Date of resignation	01/07/24 31/08/26
Term of office	n/a
Category of CCM	Ex-officio
Appointed by	By virtue of appointment as Headteacher
Declarations of Interest	Family member is employed at Co-op Academy Northwood
Attendance at Academy Community Council meetings (2025-2026)	3/3