Governance

The Chair of Governors can be contacted via Rebecca Tills, the Clerk to Governors at rebecca.tills@laidlawschoolstrust.com, Laidlaw Schools Trust, Suite 2, 3rd Floor, St Nicholas Building, St Nicholas’ Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1RF or 0191 6622416.

Alan Hodgson

Chair of Governors

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 Metcalf

Vice Chair of Governors

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.

Margaret Parsons

Local Governor

Margaret was appointed as a governor of Academy 360 in May 2019. After an early career as an archivist, she re-trained as a teacher and worked in schools in Sunderland and Gateshead before moving to the University of Sunderland in 1998. During her time at the University, Margaret worked mainly in the area of early childhood care and education and had a particular interest in provision for children from birth to three. She left the University in 2017 to become a student again and has recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Genealogical Studies.

Since 2011, Margaret has been chair of the governing body of Pennywell Early Years Centre and also enjoys working with the team at the Centre as a volunteer in the provision for 3-4 year olds. She also works in a voluntary capacity with a small chain of kindergartens in the North East. Margaret is looking forward to the new opportunities that being part of the governing body of Academy 360 will bring and to getting to know the staff, children and families.

Dave Archer

Local Governor

Dave was appointed as a local governor at Academy 360 in January 2019 and is a Senior Lecturer in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition at the University of Sunderland. Growing up, he attended an inner-city school in Dublin, before attending Trinity College Dublin, receiving his PhD from the University of Aberdeen and lecturing there for several years before moving to the North East. His research includes teaching and learning, nutrition, performance sport and physical activity in schools. Being the first in his extended family to go to university, he firmly believes that education can play a vital role in expanding horizons and providing opportunities for young people to reach their potential.

Andrea Sawyers

Parent Governor

Andrea has been a parent governor for the past 8 years at South Hylton Primary, and the last two years took on the role of Vice Chair of Governors. Andrea has been a Pharmacy Manager in the local community since leaving school, providing her with the knowledge and understanding of the advantages and challenges within schools, community and also with parents and pupils.

As her children have now moved into secondary, Andrea has now joined our Academy 360 governing body as a Parent Government.

Linda Howat

Parent Governor

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.