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Academy Council


Nexus Multi-Academy Trust


As an academy, the Academy Council of Hilltop School has delegated powers from the ​Nexus Multi Academy Trust Board of Directors, which are outlined in the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation. 

The Chief Executive Officer and Officers of the Trust act as advisors to the Academy Council and attend most meetings.

Meet the Nexus Multi Academy Trust Team

Each member has their own biography information to tell you more about them and additional important documentation.

Click here: Meet The Team


Membership


Hilltop School Academy Council was constituted on 1st June 2016 and the following structure of governance is now in place.  The total membership should be not less than 7 and not more than 12.  The membership shall comprise:

  • the Chair who is elected by the Trust Board of Directors;
  • the Headteacher;
  • no fewer than 2 elected Parent Governors;
  • two elected Members of Staff, one Teaching, one Non-Teaching;
  • the remaining Governors are appointed by the Academy Council.
  • Governors can be parents or members of Staff but the number of Staff Governors (inc Headteacher) must not exceed one-third of the total number of governors.
How are governors chosen?

There are different categories of Governors: Parent Governors, Staff Governors and Governors.

  • Parent Governors are elected by current parents when a vacancy becomes available.
  • Staff Governors, are representatives of the teaching or support staff and are elected by the eligible staff when a vacancy becomes available.
  • All Governors are appointed by the Academy Council.  ​
  • They are selected to provide skills and experience which Governors feel are required.
  • The Chair of the Academy Council is appointed by the Nexus Multi Academy Trust Board of Directors.
  • All Governors initially serve for a period of four years.
  • At the end of the four years, they can stand for re-election or be re-appointed.
  • Governors are free to resign before the end of their four-year term if they so wish.
Members Of The Hilltop Academy Council

To contact the Chair of our Academy Council, please email clerkingservices@nexusmat.org

 

Paula Williams – Governor (Hilltop Chair of Governors)

Paula Williams – (Chair of Governors)

Paula Williams – Governor (Hilltop Chair of Governors)

Paula has worked within inclusion and special educational needs for over 30 years including as a mainstream teacher and a specialist teacher. Her most recent roles have been in the strategic leadership of local authority SEND services and provision and she brings a wealth of experience to support the work of the governing body. Paula is highly committed to children and young people with additional needs becoming successful and happy adults leading successful and happy lives.

Sharon Biggin - (Vice Chair)

Sharon Biggin - Finance Governor

Sharon has worked with young people and within communities for the last 30 years in youth centres and as part of a detached team in different areas of Rotherham.

Part of her role is encouraging participation of young people in projects and activities, offering new experiences and empowering young people to grow into confident members of the community in which they live.

 She has developed a range of positive links and partnerships within the community and has attended the Youth Taskforce Conference to give a presentation around partnership work as a part of the Safer Neighbourhoods Team. 

Sharon currently works with young people to build their confidence, self-esteem and social skills in different areas of Rotherham. 

Sam MacDonald - (Headteacher)

Sam Macdonald - Headteacher

 

 

Emma Goult - (Parent Governor)

Emma Goult - Parent Governor

 

 

Ruth Milburn - (Governor)

Ruth Milburn – Governor​

Ruth is a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist with significant experience working with children with a range of Speech, Language and Communication needs between the ages of 1-18. Prior to training as a Speech and Language Therapist Ruth worked as a Learning Support Assistant for children with profound and multiple learning difficulties.

​Having worked as a Speech and Language Therapist for the NHS in both London and Yorkshire, Ruth currently runs a small private practice.

Sandra Rosado - (Parent Governor)

Sandra Rosado - Parent Governor

Sandra works for the Telecommunications company O2 Telefonica as a 2nd  Line technical Guru.

She is the proud mom of two, one which is a pupil at Hilltop School. Her studies were in Curative Psychopedagogy and although she hasn't used much professional it now really helps her a lot when she works with her son on his development. She would love to use that knowledge to work with the school on teaching and learning development. 

​She is also passionate about new technology and considers herself, proudly, a bit of a geek although she is a firm believer that technology has it's time and place and it can be useful  but shouldn't never rule our way of life.

 

Fiona Featherstone - (Community Governor)

Fiona Featherstone - Community Governor

Fiona has nearly 40 years of experience working in Careers, Connexions and SEN in Rotherham. Originally set up Parent Partnership in 1994 and also managed the Connexions service.

Fiona retired in 2021 from being a manager in the EHC Team. She is looking forward to bringing her own experience to challenge and support the school to do the best for children, families and staff.

Enjoys working with people, is a good listener and is excited to be part of the Hilltop team.

Previous Governors

Governor Date of Resignation Declaration of Interests and Attendance 
Cathryn Tansey 30/09/2024 Interests & Attendance Data 
Gaynor Higham 13/09/2024 Interests & Attendance Data 
Rebecca Turnbull 18/06/2024 Interests & Attendance Data 
Chris Spowage 10/10/2023 Interests & Attendance Data 
Zara Skidmore 21/03/2025 Interests & Attendance Data
Sacha Schofield   Interests & Attendance Data

How can I contact the school governors?

​The Chair of Governors can be contacted via the School office.  You can also contact Clerking Services about any aspect of school governance at this address clerkingservices@nexusmat.org

Useful Information

Further useful governance information can be found on the Nexus Trust website.  Please click here to locate documents such as the Governance Handbook, Glossary of Terms and the ​Scheme of Delegation. To view Nexus Trust's  documentation (Memorandum and Articles) please click here.

Updated 01/05/25