Governance 

Alan taught for the first eleven years of his career in a secondary school in North Kensington, which is one of the most deprived and socially challenged areas of London. During that time he held senior positions as Head of Year and Head of History, teaching O Level, GCSE and A Level.
He moved with his family to Northumberland and was Deputy Head at Corbridge Middle School for nearly seven years and then Head Teacher at St Joseph’s, Hexham for nineteen years. During his headship the school was inspected five times by Ofsted and was never graded less than “ good with outstanding features”.

Since his retirement in 2015 he has worked as a consultant for Cambridge Assessment International Education part of the University of Cambridge. He has successfully carried out many compliance inspections in China, USA, Indonesia, Bermuda and UK.

Mike was appointed as a local governor at Academy 360 in November 2018 and is a teacher at the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle, where he teaches French and German from Year 7 to A-Level. In addition to his teaching role, he is an experienced Head of Year, supporting students through pastoral and academic guidance, and undertakes regular training on all aspects of safeguarding and compliance issues, including specialist training in online safety and mental health first aid.  Prior to his current post, Mike worked and studied in Cambridge, Paris and Normandy before returning to his native North East. He began his teaching career with a PGCE at Newcastle University and has nearly 20 years of teaching experience across the state and independent sectors. Growing up in Fulwell, he attended Monkwearmouth School; his son and daughter are now both at school within the Sunderland education system. He fully supports the Trust’s aims of improving the opportunities and life-chances of children and young people in the North East of England.

Linda joined the governing body in 2019. She moved to Sunderland settling in South Hylton in 2005 at the time being a serving soldier in the REME. She later left the Armed forces to bring up her 2 young children who later attended South Hylton Academy and then Academy 360.

She has always been involved with the children’s schools and has helped out in any way she can.

She is very proud to be associated with Academy 360, its staff and its values, all of which contribute to the local community and the personal development and continuous improvement of its students. 

Kimberley was appointed onto the Governing Board of Academy 360 in October 2021.

Kimberley has worked in education for many years as a Senior Leader for Together for Children and brings a wealth of experience in vulnerable children’s services, including SEND services, Access and Inclusion and services for Cared for Children including strategic leadership of the Virtual School; she also currently leads the city wide alternative provision service development and sufficiency strategy and acts as deputy to the Director of Education.

Prior to her role with Together for Children, for over a decade Kimberley was the HR Manager for Sunderland LA working directly with schools across the city having specialised in employment law at university. Kimberley has a strong legal academic background and continues to hold a particular intertest in ensuing legislative compliance through the robust application of statutory requirements.

Kimberley is the lead Governor for Safeguarding.