Governance

Avonbourne Girls' Academy

Avonbourne Girls' Academy is a part of United Learning whose Trustees hold the ultimate responsibility for the governance of each United Learning school.

The Department for Education’s governance handbook 2020 identifies the essentials of effective governance as follows:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
Holding the executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and
Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

United Learning’s Trustees delegate certain key roles and responsibilities to the school’s Local Governing Body (LGB) and these are set out clearly in our Scheme of Delegation which can be seen on the United Learning website.

Click here to view the Scheme of Delegation

Chair of the Avonbourne Academies Governing Board

Phil Harris-Bridge

Phil Harris-Bridge info

Phil Harris-Bridge – Chair of the Avonbourne Academies Governing Board

Phil is an experienced executive and non-executive director with over 20 years operating at Board level. His career in the commercial sector covered IT, manufacturing and distribution organisations, with considerable focus on change, strategy, development, growth and performance.

For the last 10 years Phil has enjoyed combining consultancy work in sales, operations, strategy, governance and risk management with Non Executive Director/Governance roles in health, education and pensions.

In 2015 he trained as a National Leader of Governance for the schools’ sector. For the past

9 years Phil has worked with the leadership teams and governing boards at a variety of schools and academies. He facilitates identifying, addressing and resolving one or a number of strategic challenges and now also chairs Independent Admissions Appeals panels for both Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils.

He has been a governor for schools and academies for over 30 years and was recognised with the award of Governor of the Year 2023 at the Portsmouth Teach Awards in June 2023.

Contact details : Philip.Harris-Bridge@avonbourneacademy.org.uk

Mike Macleod

With a career marked by versatility and innovation, Mike has consistently bridged the gap between creativity and leadership. His professional journey reflects a commitment to pushing boundaries and fostering meaningful connections across multiple industries.

He began his career as a graphic designer and then moved laterally into film and event production, evolving from Producer to Project Director and then Client Services Director, serving on the boards of several communications and engagement agencies in London, before establishing and owning his own experiential agency.

Having worked for many years in the corporate sector Mike has a wealth of strategic, creative, managerial and operational experience.

Mike is enthusiastic and passionate about the value and benefits of the arts and sport as core elements of school life and beyond.

“People might forget what you said. People might forget what you did. People will never forget how you made them feel.”

Hayley Baldwin

Hayley Baldwin is a committed and enthusiastic Geography Teacher at the Avonbourne Academies, where she has been part of the teaching team since 2021. Hayley brings a unique blend of industry experience and educational insight to her role as a Governor, having transitioned into teaching after a successful career in the financial sector.

Before entering the classroom, Hayley spent eight years at JP Morgan, working within equities trading and contract drafting. Her time in finance honed her analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to thrive in high-pressure environments. Following this, she ran her own businesses for three years, gaining valuable entrepreneurial experience and a deeper understanding of leadership and adaptability.

Since joining the Avonbourne Academies, Hayley has held a variety of positions within the school, including Head of Purbeck House and Head of Key Stage 3 Geography. Hayley is deeply invested in the school’s mission and values, and strongly believes that all children should be empowered to achieve their potential and have the right to thrive.

Over the past 5 years Hayley has greatly enjoyed watching the Academies go from strength to strength and she is proud to contribute to their continued success.

Lucie Barton-Ridges

With 21 years of service in the NHS, including valuable experience within the Medicines Team, Lucie brings a strategic and practical perspective to her role as Safeguarding Governor. Her background in healthcare has shaped a strong understanding of safety, responsibility, and the importance of clear communication—skills she continues to apply in her governor role within education.

As an experienced governor and current Chair of a local primary school, she has spent many years supporting the schools to create safe, inclusive environments where children can thrive. In 2023, she was recognised for her contribution with the 'Governor of the Year' award, presented by both Avonbourne Academies and her local primary school.

Lucie has a thoughtful approach, strong sense of integrity, and has the ability to support teams effectively. Her passion for safeguarding is rooted in a belief that every child deserves to feel safe, heard, and valued—not just in policy, but in everyday practice.

Viv Woodey

Viv has over twenty years of experience working in top tier corporate brands and small enterprise, specialising in maximising customer value and company profitability, using insight and data to drive strategy. Viv has substantial experience in business cases and decision making, as well as leading teams and managing critical internal and external partnerships.

Viv is also a Director of a specialist consultancy that provides tailored coaching and management support, built upon foundations of positive psychology, strengths and action. Viv brings the understanding and interests in professional and personal development gained from this, into her own approach to supporting teams to perform and deal with challenges.

Avonbourne is Viv's first school governor position, and she's excited about the opportunity to support the local community.

Adam Scott

Adam Scott brings over 15 years of strategic technology leadership experience across global organisations including Tata Consultancy Services, Amazon Web Services, and Penguin Random House. As a multi-cloud certified technology leader specialising in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital transformation, Adam combines deep technical expertise with a passion for developing talent and creating opportunities for the next generation. His work at the forefront of AI adoption across regulated industries provides invaluable insight into how artificial intelligence is reshaping the workplace across all sectors - not just technology.

As a Governor, Adam is committed to strengthening the transition pathway from secondary education into Sixth Form, fostering meaningful connections between the academy and diverse industries, and ensuring our students understand and are prepared for the AI-influenced future of work, regardless of their chosen career path. Adam's military background with the Royal Air Force, where he commanded personnel and led digital transformation initiatives, has instilled in him the importance of structured development, mentorship, and helping young people realise their full potential in an evolving professional landscape.”

Current school board members

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School board members who have stepped down

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