Governors

Lower Park School Governing Body

Chair of Governors: Ms. Clara Kenyon

Vice-chair: Mr. Richard Simkin

Clerk to Governors: Ms. Gemma Reeves (S2N School Support)

What do we do?

The Department for Education has specified three core functions that governing boards of all state-funded schools should prioritise:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos, and strategic direction;
2. Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

In addition, the board has a role to play in ensuring the school or schools are compliant with educational and other legislation, such as safeguarding, equality and health and safety.

We are the ‘critical friend’: our role is to challenge and support as part of the leadership and management of the school. We are responsible for ensuring the school meets all its statutory requirements, ensuring the curriculum is relevant, approving academic targets, appointing staff, reviewing and approving school policies, agreeing and monitoring the school budget, overseeing the Performance Management of the staff, and the Head Teacher.

Structure of the Governing Board

The Full Governing Board typically meets every term. Much of our work is delegated to three key committees:

• Quality of Education (Chair -  Mark Bertinshaw)
   
• Resources & Finance ( Chair - Richard Simkin)
   
• Personal  Development  and Well-being (Chair - Sandra  Sharpe)
   
                                                                                                                                                     Our committee members and Governors with Special Responsibilities are reviewed annually. We have link Governors and the priorities change to reflect the school priorities. 

The Link Governors for 2022 - 2023 are as follows:

Governor Information

Information about each governor, including their full name, date of appointment, term of office, date they stepped down (where applicable) and who appointed them (in accordance with the governing body’s instrument of government) can be downloaded from this page.

 Governors Register of Interests

Governors are required to state any relevant business and pecuniary interests, which may affect their role in the school. This includes governance roles in other educational institutions and any material interests arising from relationships between governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners, and close relatives). These must be published in a Governors Register of Interests, which is available to download using the link at the top of this page.

Attendance Record

The attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over the last academic year is available to download using the link at the top of this page.

Minutes of Governors' Meetings

Copies of the minutes of Governing Body meetings are available from the school office.