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Academy Council

Outwood Academy Riverside 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 Riverside.

Council members

GovernorAppointedTerm ends
Mr Ralph Pickles
Chair of Local Governing Body
Appointed by foundation/Trust
15 September 202615 September 2030
Mrs Shazia Aslam
Local Governor
Elected by school staff
13 March 202513 March 2027
Mrs Melissa Brant-Smith
Local Governor
Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal
1 September 2020While in post
Mr Derek Foxcroft
Local Governor
Appointed by foundation/Trust
24 June 202523 June 2029
Mrs Sarah Gordon
Local Governor
Appointed by GB/board
1 September 202431 August 2028
Mrs Rachel Gray
Local Governor
Appointed by GB/board
11 November 20259 November 2029
Mrs Fiona Kempton
Local Governor
Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates
11 November 20259 November 2027
Mrs Julie Kinneavy
Local Governor
Appointed by foundation/Trust
16 April 202415 April 2028
Mr Hugh McShane
Local Governor
Appointed by GB/board
11 November 20259 November 2029
Jayne Rodgers
Local Governor
Appointed by GB/board
28 April 202626 April 2030

Mr Ralph Pickles

Chair of Local Governing Body
Appointed by foundation/Trust
Appointed
15 September 2026
Term ends
15 September 2030

Mrs Shazia Aslam

Local Governor
Elected by school staff
Appointed
13 March 2025
Term ends
13 March 2027

Mrs Melissa Brant-Smith

Local Governor
Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal
Appointed
1 September 2020
Term ends
While in post

Mr Derek Foxcroft

Local Governor
Appointed by foundation/Trust
Appointed
24 June 2025
Term ends
23 June 2029

Mrs Sarah Gordon

Local Governor
Appointed by GB/board
Appointed
1 September 2024
Term ends
31 August 2028

Mrs Rachel Gray

Local Governor
Appointed by GB/board
Appointed
11 November 2025
Term ends
9 November 2029

Mrs Fiona Kempton

Local Governor
Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates
Appointed
11 November 2025
Term ends
9 November 2027

Mrs Julie Kinneavy

Local Governor
Appointed by foundation/Trust
Appointed
16 April 2024
Term ends
15 April 2028

Mr Hugh McShane

Local Governor
Appointed by GB/board
Appointed
11 November 2025
Term ends
9 November 2029

Jayne Rodgers

Local Governor
Appointed by GB/board
Appointed
28 April 2026
Term ends
26 April 2030

Read our council members' declarations of interests

To contact the chair of governors, please email r.pickles@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.