Our Governing Body

What is it?

All schools in England have a Governing Body which is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions of the school. A key role is to act as a ‘critical friend’: to support, to challenge, to ask questions, ultimately to represent the school community.

The Governing Body works in close partnership with the head teacher, staff and the local authority. Whilst the head teacher is, of course, responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are involved with such things as staffing, curriculum, school buildings and finance. It ensures the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives.

Who are we?

The governing body elected to reconstitute under the following act provided by the Gov.co.uk:

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/constitution-of-governing-bodies-of-maintained-schools

The governing body now consists of:

• The Head Teacher
• One elected staff governor
• One appointed local authority governor
• Three elected parent governors
• Two appointed co-opted governors

Vacancies:

We currently have vacancies for a Co-opted Governors and Parent Governors. 

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The standard term of office for a governor is four years. The chair and vice-chair are elected every two years at the first Full Governing Body meeting of that academic year.

The chair of governors is Mr Simon Taylor, who can be contacted via the school office by phone: 01773 832518 or email: info@westhouses.derbyshire.sch.uk.

Much of the work of the governing body is done by committees. At Westhouses Primary we have the following committees:

• Resources and Management
• Teaching and Learning

Also:

• Staffing and selection panels which are set up as and when required

Simon Taylor

Appointed Chair of Governors until 30.01.22

Member of the Resource Management Committee and the Teaching & Learning Committee

Governor responsible for Safeguarding, Science, Pupil Premium and Headteacher's Performance Management Review

I have lived in Westhouses for over 15 years and currently I work for Derbyshire County Council’s Children’s Services. I deliver training to care staff and schools across Derbyshire on a range of safeguarding and social care approaches. This gives me ideal experience for supporting the head and the school on these important issues.

My work experience has included residential care, roles supporting community and economic development, running a support programme for a national charity helping care providers and now delivering children services training. I also volunteer as a director of a social enterprise community farm in north Derbyshire which works to support people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, those returning from prison and those with a range of learning and life support needs.

I believe strongly that any school needs to ensure children feel safe and emotionally supported as a foundation for the best learning and growth, I hope to be able to support the governors, the staff and students to ensure the school is a great place to live and learn.

Steph Coley                                                                                                                          

Vice Chair of the Governing Body - elected 02.07.2019

Appointed Co-opted Governor until 14.10.2022

Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee

Governor Responsibility for Head Teacher's Performance Management Review, Arts and Early Years

I became a parent governor in 2014 as I was keen to get actively involved in the school that my son, Sawyer attended.  He has since moved on to secondary school but I have stayed an active member of the Westhouses governing body. I am a professional artist and arts tutor and my work over the years has taken me into many schools across the country; many good ones, and some not so! Early years education is vital to children and I will endeavour to make sure Westhouses Primary continues to be such a welcoming and successful school.

Kristy Coupe

Elected Staff Governor until 29.06.2021

Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee and Resource Management Committee

Governor Responsibility for Diversity and Multi-Culturalism

I am the Class 1 teacher and part of the school’s SLT. I joined the school in June 2017, after teaching for a few years in a small school in Nottinghamshire. Since starting in my previous role, I had been a staff governor involved in making many important decisions for the school. I believe that the role of the school is to nurture the whole child. This is why I wanted to be on the governing body. I am dedicated to doing the best I can for all the pupils in the school. Before teacher training, I gained a degree in Psychology and Sport Science.

Pam Warren

Appointed LA Governor until 7.01.2022

Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee

Governor responsibility for English and Anti-bullying (shared).

Kath Salt

Appointed Co – Opted Governor until 15.10.2022

Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee

Governor responsibility for Safer Recruitment and SEN

I have lived in the village for over 30 years and I began working at Westhouses Primary School just over 25 years ago. In my previous position as HLTA I worked with the foundation/KS1 class every morning and delivered intervention and booster programmes for the infant children in the afternoon.  In order to keep an active part in school I introduced an after school art/activity club which I ran weekly to enable all the children to take part if they wished.  I am very committed to ensuring that our school is a place where children are safe and enjoy learning.

Nick Taylor

Elected Parent Governor until 21.10.2022

Chair of the Resources Management Committee

Governor responsible for Computing, Mathematics and Anti-bullying (shared).

Rebecca Clarke

Appointed Co-Opted Governor until 17.03.2022

Member of the Resource Management Committee

Governor responsible for Humanities

I am a parent governor, my little girl has recently started in reception. I believe as a parent I should be able to be a part in where my child spends the majority of their day and to help the school in any way possible. My background is marketing and GP liaison so hopefully I can help the school with my knowledge! 

David Ramsay

Elected Parent Governor 

Tracy Coley

Clerk to Governors 

Message from the Chair of Governors

On behalf of the Board of Governors, I welcome this opportunity to briefly introduce you to the work the Governing Body undertakes to ensure that your child/children will receive a sound primary school education.

The Governing Body has a range of powers and duties laid down by various Education Acts. In the main, these responsibilities relate to:

• Setting targets and promoting high standards of educational achievement
• Setting the strategic framework within which the school operates
• Management of the school’s delegated budget
• Ensuring that the curriculum for the school is balanced and broadly based

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Governors discharge the above responsibilities, together with many others, through a Governing Body meeting each term. These formal meetings are supplemented by a series of informal sub-committee meetings dealing with more specific issues. A number of governors also have responsibilities for specific issues within the school such as literacy, numeracy and SEN.

Governors adopt, review and monitor a range of policies that govern the operation of the school including Health and Safety, Behaviour, Curriculum and Performance Management.

At Westhouses Primary, staff, pupils, parents and governors work together to ensure that all our pupils have the opportunity to develop to their full potential.

The Governing Body is, therefore, rightly proud of the achievements of the school, not only in terms academic results, but also in the solid foundations it provides in preparing all our pupils for the remainder of their formative education.

GOVERNING BODY - DECLARATION OF BUSINESS INTERESTS

At the start of every academic year, each Governor is asked to declare any business interests they may have, including any relationships with members of school staff.

At the start of each Full Governing Body or Committee Meeting throughout the academic year, Governors are asked if there are any changes to their initial declarations.

GOVERNOR INFORMATION

GOVERNING BODY RECORD OF ATTENDANCE FOR THE 2018/2019 ACADEMIC YEAR