- Home
- Our Academy
- Academy Council
Academy Council
Welcome from the Chair of the Academy Council
The Academy Council for St Peter's CofE Academy is the governing body that has responsibility for ensuring the clarity of vision, direction and ethos for the Academy; for holding the Principal to account for the educational performance of pupils and for ensuring value for money.
The Academy Council contains both elected parent and staff representatives as well as representatives appointed by the Woodard Academies Trust and the Diocese of Lichfield Board of Education. We're incredibly fortunate at St Peter's to have currently a wealth of experience and expertise on the Academy Council, including senior leaders in education. We all want to do the very best to ensure that every pupil at St Peter's CofE Academy has the best start in life by having a first-class education.
As Academy Councillors, we take great pride in the achievements of our pupils and appreciate attending awards evenings and performances. If you need to speak with us please make contact as appropriate through the
Academy.
Canon Andrew Wickens
Chair, Academy Council
Joining the Academy Council
If you would like to join the Academy Council, please see below for further information.
Becoming-a-Governor-at-St-Peters.pdf
Contact Us
If you wish to contact a member of the Academy Council please email the Academy on office@spa.woodard.co.uk marked for the attention of the Academy Council.
Or by post:
The Academy Council
St Peter’s CofE Academy,
Fenton Manor,
Fenton,
Stoke-on-Trent,
Staffordshire
ST4 2RR
Please click below to be directed to the WAT Governance page
Academy Council Members
|
Councillor |
Name |
|
Foundation |
Rev Andrew Wickens |
|
WAT Appointment |
Mark Kent |
|
WAT Appointment |
Sara Goddard |
|
WAT Appointment |
Tracy Critchley |
|
WAT Appointment |
Sheena Podmore |
|
WAT Appointment |
Adam Yates |
|
Parent Elected |
Craig Turner |
|
Parent Elected |
Berlina Procter |
|
Staff Elected |
Andrew Forrest |
|
Staff Elected |
Usra Shah |
Canon Andrew Wickens
Andrew is the Rector of the Minster Church of St Peter and Vincula, also known as Stoke Minster. St Peter's Academy takes its name from the church and students visit the church for the St Peter’s Day service each year.
As well as working full time as a Church of England priest in Stoke and Fenton, Andrew is also City Faith Officer and works closely with different faith communities across Stoke-on-Trent. Andrew was made an honorary canon of Worcester Cathedral for his work in Dudley in the Black Country where he served until 2017 when he moved to the Potteries.
Andrew has extensive experience in education and in interfaith relations and spent eight years living and working for the church in Kenya and Zambia.
Mark Kent
Mark joined the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College as Principal in January 2016 where he continues to teach Maths and he is also the Chief Executive of the Potteries Educational Trust. Mark’s previous post was as Deputy Principal at King Edward VI College in Stourbridge, making this hi sixth post in a sixth form college over a 30 year career.
Mark has experience in training groups of teachers in maths and statistics and has delivered training modules for Maths Primary School under-graduate trainee teachers. During the course of his career, Mark has also been involved in taster and master class sessions in primary and secondary schools.
Mark began teaching in Oxford as a Maths teacher, working his way up to Head of Maths and Head of Faculty.
Mark is from Liverpool where he studied Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Economics A Levels at King David High School (a part Jewish state school) and then went on to complete a Maths degree at Leeds University, followed by a PGCE and then a Masters Degree in Statistics with education at Sheffield Hallam. Mark has served on Mathematics in Education and Industry’s Curriculum Committee since 2006 and for 15 years acted as an examiner, and was a trustee of an international Maths education publication.
Away from education, Mark has served as a church warden at his local Anglican Church and in his spare time he leads worship in his church playing a 12 string guitar and mandolin. Mark is a photography enthusiast, a keen walker, cyclist and enjoys reading and spending time with family as well as supporting Liverpool Football Club.
Adam Yates
Adam is a former professional footballer, playing for Crewe Alex, Morecambe and Port Vale. Adam is an advocate for professional players gaining qualifications and broadening their employment prospects for their careers after football. Following his retirement from football due to injury, Adam now uses the skills and experience gained from his degree at Staffordshire University to work as a Community Business Manager with Synetics Solutions and he is Head of Community Liaison for the Port Vale Foundation Trust and The Hubb Foundation, an independent and socially-inclusive charity dedicated to supporting families and communities in creating happy, healthy school holidays. Adam works with many schools in Stoke-on-Trent, including St Peter’s to oversee holiday clubs and ensure that families still have access to hot food on days when schools are normally closed.
Sheena Podmore
Sheena has been a primary school teacher in Staffordshire for over 25 years and her degree was in RE and English. Sheena is a member of the Senior Leadership Team in her school and is responsible for the safeguarding and pastoral care of pupils. Sheena teaches a class every day in Early Years ad enjoys being involved at the start of a child’s learning journey to watch them develop throughout their time in school.
Sheena is local to Stoke-on-Trent and is extremely passionate about the city and its young people. Sheena is a mother of three children who have attended St Peter’s in the past and chose to become a Governor out of an interest in school improvement at all levels and a deep rooted belief in the importance of education for all.
Sara Goddard
Sara has been in the teaching profession for over twenty years with experience in various roles. She has been a Principal for seven years and is currently the Executive Principal of Kingsland CE Academy in Stoke-on-Trent. Sara has a degree in English and Primary Education and a Masters degree in Education Studies. Kingsland is part of a large Multi-Academy Trust and Sara is the lead for Christian Distinctiveness and SIAMS for the Trust. Sara is also a SIAMS Inspector for the Church of England.
Sara regularly worships and takes an active role in her parish church where she is a member of the Leadership Team and Parochial Church Council. Sara also helps to led a weekly youth club for the young people of the parish.
Tracy Critchley
After practicing as a Registered Learning Disabilities nurse for a number of years in hospital and private settings, Tracy became a partner in the Christian Worship organisation ‘Presence Worship’ with her husband over 20 years ago, resourcing and meeting with Christians both in the UK and overseas.
Tracy has lived in Stoke-on-Trent all her life and believes it is a wonderful place to live and serve. As well as her work with the local organisation, Beacon House of Prayer, Tracy regularly volunteers at her local foodbank.
Tracy has seen her 4 children educated at St Peter’s and likes to offer practical support as well as praying and building together a great Christian faith community.
Berlina Procter
Berlina is a qualified Psychological Well-being Practitioner, treating people with mild to moderate mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Berlina has worked in this role for 6 years. Recently, Berlina has moved into lecturing at Staffordshire University in Psychological Well-being Practice to teach apprentices, equipping them with the skills, practice and knowledge in equality and diversity, assessing and treating. Berlina holds a degree in Health Studies, a degree made up from the Physiological, Sociological, Epidemiological and Psychological aspects of health.
Berlina has worked as a parent partner with Adoption UK supporting other parents of adopted children and is an adopter herself. During her time at university Berlina worked at ChildLine as a switchboard operator being the first point of call for children in distress.
Craig Turner
Craig has previously been a governor at Heron Cross Primary School for the last 4 years as a co-opted Governor for Finance and is currently the Finance Manager at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.
Andrew Forrest
Andrew has been at St Peter’s since September 2015 as a Teacher of Theology. Andrew has arranged trips for students to Chester Cathedral and has recently been on the Dovedale Worship Retreat with students from across the Academy.
Usra Shah
Usra is a Learning and Teaching Assistant and has worked at St Peter's Academy since September 2022. Usra has previously been a Governor at a primary school and is enthusiastic about making a difference in the lives of students in the local area.
