Academy Council

The Sky Academy is part of the Cabot Learning Federation, a multi-academy trust that is responsible for a number of academies across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Gloucester and Somerset. Governance for a multi-academy trust operates at two levels. At trust level, there is a Board of Directors. The directors are accountable to the Department for Education and external government agencies, including the Charity Commission, for the quality of the education the trust provides and the effective use of the associated academy funding. They are required to have systems in place through which they can assure themselves of quality, financial probity, safety and good practice. The Board is provided assurance on a number of these areas through various sub-committees, as shown in the diagram below. Visit the CLF website for more information about the board.

At a local level, each academy has an Academy Council comprising of up to 9 Academy Councillors. Academy Councils are responsible for holding Principals and their leadership teams to account for the quality and effectiveness of the academic experience of the students under their care with the aim of securing effective school improvement. They do this through monitoring performance against an annual academy improvement plan, through monitoring risks and responses to risks, and by overseeing systems and processes for the safeguarding of children and the health, safety and wellbeing of academy staff.

Chair of Academy Council

Kate Dawson , Chair of Academy Council

Kate is an educational psychologist by training with over 30 years’ experience of working with children with special educational needs in mainstream primary and secondary schools, special schools and FE colleges. Kate has worked as an Assistant Director of children’s services in a local authority in the South West of England where she was responsible for the leadership of school improvement, early years, SEND, youth services, behaviour and attendance. Kate has also worked on government projects (Academy and Free Schools) for the Department for Education and the Department of Health (National Healthy Schools Programme).

Kate has worked for private fostering agencies helping to enhance the educational outcomes of children in care. She has extensive experience of school governance having been a chair of governors across a number of independent specialist schools (SEMH – 95% rated good or better) and set up and developed a specialist free school (autism) near Bristol.

Academy Council Members

Amanda Wright, Sponsor Councillor

Tracy French , Executive Principal

Gaby Long, Principal

Gaby began her career as a Secondary mainstream Geography teacher, where she quickly developed a strong interest in working with students with SEND. As her experience grew, she made a deliberate decision to pursue a leadership pathway in special education, recognising the limited opportunities for SEND leadership with mainstream settings.

Gaby is a national leader in SEND and has worked collaboratively with colleagues across a range of educational settings to drive school improvement. She is passionate about ensuring that students with SEND are offered meaningful opportunities for success, personal development, and lifelong growth.

Kai Francis, Student Voice

Kai initially trained as a primary teacher and has since built his professional career within the special educational sector, gaining valuable experience across school settings and through close collaboration with external agencies. He is currently Assistant Principal for Pastoral at The Sky Academy.

Kai is passionate about ensuring that all children are given equal opportunities to succeed and that every student's voice is heard and valued, regardless of individual circumstances or background.

Emma Wykes, Support Staff Councillor

Emma has a professional background in Property Development and Finance, which provided a strong foundation for her 16-year career in specialist education leadership. She has held senior roles including Business Manager and, more recently, Specialist Provision Development Manager for the Trust.

Emma brings extensive experience in leadership support, school improvement, and governance. As a Trauma-Informed Practitioner, she is passionate about ensuring that children receive high-quality, inclusive support that enables them to overcome barriers to learning and achieve their full potential.

Katherine Ward , Parent Councillor

I am an early year's educator with SENCO training. I became interested in special educational needs when my children required support.
I am also an active member of the scouting community, as a beaver leader, and enjoy ensuring all children get the opportunity they deserve.

Roy Jones, Academy Councillor

Roy has dedicated over 25 years to the field of Further Education, building a career defined by commitment, compassion, and a deep understanding of the diverse needs of learners. Throughout this time, he has worked across a wide spectrum of educational settings, gaining invaluable experience in supporting students from all backgrounds helping them achieve their potential.

For the past 20 years, Roy has been a key member of a specialist provision within the UCS College Group, where he focuses on supporting students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs helping create inclusive, nurturing environments where every learner feels valued, understood, and empowered. Roy is passionate about helping students develop the confidence, resilience, and social skills they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

Roy firmly believes that every student deserves the same opportunities to succeed, regardless of their starting point or personal challenges. He is keen that learners are equipped with the tools, guidance, and encouragement necessary to progress into employment, further education, and adulthood. His vision is simple yet powerful: to enable every young person to become the very best version of themselves, and to make positive contributions to their local and wider communities.