Academy Councillors

Academy Councillors Details
Name Position Link Area / Department Appointed Appointed by Term of Office
Alan Jones Chair of Academy Council Student Outcomes / Maths and Computing Co-Opted Governing Body 28th Jun 2022 - Jun 2026
Chris Baldwin Staff Councillor Staff Welfare / Health and Safety      28th Jun 2022 - Jun 2026
Ian Bottrill Safeguarding Councillor SEND, Character Curriculum / World Studies Co-Opted Governing Body 19th Jun 2023 - 19th June 2027
Jackie Cooper Headteacher     ex officio N/A
Kalila Storey Councillor   Co-Opted Governing Body 27th Sept 2023 - 27th Sept 2027
Neil Johnson Vice Chair   Co-Opted Governing Body 18th Jan 2023 - 18th Jan 2027
Sarah Brown Councillor Attendance / Inclusion / Enterprise Parent Governing Body 28th Jun 2022 - Jun 2026

 

Meet the Councillors

Alan Jones

Alan Jones is a retired environmental physics researcher who lives in Midway. He came to South Derbyshire 40 years ago to work in the coal industry investigating workplace dust and noise. More recently he has worked at the University of Birmingham analysing and reviewing data on air pollution from vehicles and incinerators, and on bio-aerosols. Between 1989 and 2009 he was a member of Derbyshire County Council.

Ian Bottrill

Ian lives locally and is Company Secretary of Sharpe’s Pottery Heritage and Arts Trust and Vice Chair of ‘Swad in Bloom’. Ian is also Director of ‘Learning for Leadership Cymru’ (since 2014), lead tutor on the Welsh Leadership Academy and an advisor to the Welsh Local Government Association and previously to the LGA (on leadership and community engagement) and Welsh Government (on the community use of school buildings, local government governance and safeguarding). Ian was a County Councillor in Warwickshire from 1980-2005, Chair of the Education Committee (1985-89) and Leader of the County Council from 1993 until 2005. Ian was previously a teacher, Pastoral Head and then Head of Faculty in a large inner city comprehensive school (from 1972-2000) and Operations Manager then Director of Operations for a nationwide Community Education Charity (2000-2014). Ian has a B.ED Hons in Education, Sociology and Geography from Nottingham University (1972).

Neil Johnson

Neil Johnson was born and raised in South Derbyshire, where he still lives with his family and children. He studied Engineering and Mathematics at Derby University and has a rich professional background in Global Finance and IT strategy. He has been working at Microsoft for 18 years, holding various global roles and mentoring UK graduate hires. He is currently an Engineering Principal Program Manager, leading innovative projects in technology. Neil is passionate about mathematics teaching in schools and the challenges faced by girls in pursuing STEM subjects. He has also been an instructor at Microsoft Certified Master programs, where he taught complex topics to the top 1% of candidates in Redmon. Neil brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and enthusiasm to our school community.

Pecuniary Interests


Business and Pecuniary Interests Sep 2023

Academy Council Attendance 

William-Allitt-Meeting-Attendance-2022.23-1.pdf

Contact the Academy Council

By Post:

Chair of Academy Council

Mercia Academy

Sunnyside - Newhall

Swadlincote

Derbyshire

DE11 0TL