About the Governing Body

Since the introduction of the Education Act (1988), governors have played an increasingly important part in overseeing the running of schools. It’s our role to ensure the school acts in the best interest of the pupils and the communities they serve. Good governance is vital to every school, and in these changing times, more is expected of the governing body than perhaps ever before.

The Chair of Governors may be contacted via the school office, on 01484 605441. All enquiries will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.

So what do we actually do?

Governors govern. The governing body are there to help shape the strategic direction and focus for the school.

The governing body has a legal responsibility to ensure the school to gives our children the best possible education. We do this by acting as a critical friend to the school’s leadership and staff. We ask challenging, sometimes difficult, questions. We provide oversight and together with the senior leadership team, help shape the long-term direction of the school.

We do this by:

  • encouraging the highest possible standards of education
  • helping to set the strategic aims and objectives of the school
  • making sure the curriculum is balanced and broadly based
  • establishing realistic, achievable targets
  • monitoring and evaluating the school’s performance against these targets
  • making sure the school’s aims, values and culture are reflected in what the school does
  • ensuring proper management of the school’s finances
  • communicating openly with parents, the local community and the local education authority
  • acting as a critical friend to the head teacher
  • discuss and ratify school policies.

Previous Governors

Mrs Sarah Greene (Co-opted) (Vice Chair) 19/10/18-26/1/21
Mrs Jan Ansell (Co-opted) 16/10/19-26/1/21
Dr Andy Williams (Trust Appointed Governor) 22/04/20-26/02/22

Mrs Caroline Stevens (Parent Governor)

 08/10/20-10/10/23
Ms Katie Hutton (Staff Governor)  2/11/20 - 10/10/23
Mr John Thompson (Parent Governor)  30/09/20-18/5/24
Mr Terry Sigsworth (Co-opted)  01/09/18 - 4/12/24

Governor Visits

We also take part in governor visits to the school. These allow us to get a sense of the school itself by seeing how the children are responding to their work, to each other and the staff.  It also serves as a reminder how governorship helps the school as a whole, and why we do it.

This first-hand experience of school is vital in informing our thinking and strategic planning.

 

 

Governor Attendance 

Governor Attendance 2024-25

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Register of Interest

Governor Register of Interest 2023

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Governor Meeting Approved Minutes

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A copy of governor meeting minutes may be requested at any time from the school office. 

If you would like to contact the chair of governors in writing please use the following details:

FAO: Sian Allen

Birdsedge First School

Penistone Road

Birdsedge

HD8 8XR

 

Individual Governors can also be contacted by their email address shown on the 'Meet the Governors' tab. 

Find out about the Trustees at The Mast Academy Trust here:  Meet our Trustees | The Mast Multi Academy Trust