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Governance
South Hylton Primary Academy is overseen by a Local Governing Committee responsible for ensuring the highest standards of teaching and wellbeing. The Local Governing Board is a ‘critical friend’ to the Academy as well as a champion of pupils, teachers and the wider community.
As the Academy is part of the Laidlaw Schools Trust, there is a board of trustees who are responsible for the work of the Trust, including the running of the academies. Further information is available on the Governance section of the Trust’s website. To support the effective operation of the Trust and the academies, the board has established Local Governing Committees for each Academy in the Trust.
Diversity is important to our governing committees and we strive to be reflective of the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for school governors from all areas of our school community. If you are interested in becoming a school governor or finding out more, please contact the Clerk to Governors.
The Clerk to Governors can be contacted at tracey.curtis@laidlawschoolstrust.co.uk, Laidlaw Schools Trust, Suite 2, 3rd Floor, St Nicholas Building, St Nicholas’ Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1RF or 0191 662 2416.
Details of the Governors at South Hylton can be found below:
Peregrine Solly
Chair of Governors
Peregrine is a business consultant and trustee with experience supporting start-up companies to develop their operations internationally. He previously worked for Vickers plc (later BAE Systems plc) and Scottish and Newcastle plc, roles that gave him extensive experience working across different cultures and organisations worldwide.
Peregrine is a trustee of the Laidlaw Schools Trust and The Children’s Foundation. Although he had not been directly involved in education before joining the Trust, he comes from a family with strong educational links—both his brothers are teachers, and he is married to a teacher. He fully supports the Trust’s aim of improving opportunities and life chances for some of the most disadvantaged children and young people in the North East of England.
Interest and date interest commenced
Nil
Patricia Bateley
Local Governor
Patricia is a retired Head Teacher with over 40 years of experience in education. She taught in schools across Durham and Sunderland for 20 years before serving as Head Teacher for a further 20 years, retiring from Academy 360 in 2011. She was previously Head Teacher at Quarry View Primary and has a deep understanding of the local school community, including the opportunities and challenges faced by staff, students, and parents.
Since retiring, Patricia serves as an independent volunteer panel member for admissions and exclusion appeals, supporting Sunderland Local Authority, parents, and students. She is committed to sharing her enthusiasm for education and continues this work as a Governor at South Hylton Academy.
Interest and date interest commenced
Nil
Thomas Eastick
Local Governor
Thomas is an engineer at VMS, specialising in motorway installations and communications. He previously worked as a Commissioning Engineer for Rolls Royce, contributing to power stations, naval ships, shore installations, and other engineering projects. Prior to this, he spent over 25 years working in various collieries, completing an electrical apprenticeship at Wearmouth Colliery and finishing his mining career at Easington Colliery.
Thomas serves as a governor and is committed to using his life and work experience to support the school community and contribute to its activities.
Interest and date interest commenced
Nil
Krithiga Narayanan
Local Governor
Interest and date interest commenced
Deloitte LLP (Employee - October 2016)
Norman Dennis
Local Governor
Norman is a retired teacher of Music and School Counsellor, with extensive experience both in the UK and internationally, having taught in schools in Iceland, West Africa, and the Middle East. He previously served in HM Forces as a musician for ten years before embarking on his teaching career.
Since retirement, Norman has been appointed Honorary Padre to the Rifle Regiment and Chaplain to the Great Britain Scouts Shooting Team. He is now a School Governor and is committed to sharing his passion and enthusiasm for education with the school community.
Interest and date interest commenced
Nil
Helena West
Associate Governor
Interest and date interest commenced
Academy 360 (Primary Headteacher - Ex officio)