Members
Members hold the Academies Trust Board to account for the effective governance of the Trust but have a minimal role in the running of the Trust. It is the Academies Trust Board, Directors, who are the organisation’s key decision makers.
However, Members hold the responsibility for critical decisions, especially if the Trust is deemed to be failing.
Academy Trusts are set up as charitable companies limited by guarantee. As limited companies, it is the charity which is liable for its debts, not the people behind in, who are protected by limited liability. In the case of Academy Trusts, Members’ liability is limited to £10.
While Members have no day-to-day or week-to-week role in running the Trust, a key responsibility is the appointment or removal of Directors. If the Trust is not achieving its purpose the members must consider if this is because the Directors are failing to carry out their three core governance functions. If they conclude they are not, Member need to consider whether to remove Directors, or if other action is required, such as commissioning an external review of governance.
Members
Members (ID 1036)
-
Linda Wight
Linda Wight
-
Joyce Drummond-Hill
Joyce Drummond-Hill
-
Andrew Broadbent
Andrew Broadbent
Andy has worked in education for more than 28 years and is currently the Principal and Chief Executive of New College Durham.
Andy has played a key role in the development of the New College Durham Academies Trust (NCDAT), for which the College is a lead sponsor.
Andy began his career in education at Newcastle College as a financial accountant, during which time he qualified through the ACCA route and now holds Fellow status. Eight years at Newcastle was followed up with 3 years as a Senior Service Accountant for Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with responsibility for financial oversight of six directorates across the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital. In 2004 Andy was appointed as the Head of Finance at New College Durham with subsequent progression through to Director of Finance, Chief Finance Officer and Deputy Principal. Following a campus redevelopment in 2005, Andy was instrumental in raising the College’s financial status to ‘Outstanding’ in 2008 and maintaining this rating to the present day, through some of the most challenging times that the sector has faced. In 2020 Andy was appointed as Principal and Chief Executive of New College Durham.
Andy played a leading role in the College’s Institute of Technology application which involved working extensively with 6 regional delivery partners, the DfE capital and finance team, partner University leads and key employer leads. The North East Institute of Technology was approved in 2020, is led by New College Durham and is now in its fifth year of operation.
Andy was elected NE Regional Representative for the Association of Colleges in March 2022 and duly became a member of the AoC Board and a Director of AoC Services Ltd. Andy is also the Further Education representative member on the Durham Local Government Pension Committee and a member of the North East Local Skills Investment Plan (NELSIP) Board.
-
Helen Bradley
Helen Bradley
Helen Bradley has been a Member of New College Durham Academies Trust since July 2023. Helen is a qualified solicitor with 20 years’ experience working Local Government, specialising in governance.
As a legal practitioner, Board Director and former Company Secretary, Helen has a proven track record of providing effective and constructive challenge as well as promoting and improving good governance
Helen is currently Director and Deputy Vice President of Lawyers in Local Government and is seen as an expert in the field. She is the Director of Legal and Democratic Services of Durham County Council.
Helen is also a foundation governor at her local primary school, which brings invaluable experience in the education sector.
Register of Interests
members current register of interests.pdf
