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
• A Chair
• A Vice-Chair
• Three elected parent governors
• Three appointed co-opted governors

Vacancies:

We currently have vacancies for a Parent Governor.

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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 and LA Governor until 30.01.22

Co-opted Governor

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

Governor responsible for Safeguarding, Science and Pupil Premium.

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 14.07.2018

Appointed Co-opted Governor until 13.07.2022

Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee

Governor Responsibility for Head Teacher's Performance Management Review, The 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.

Martin Weston

Elected Staff Governor - elected 24.02.2020

Appointed Staff Governor until 23.02.2024

I have been teaching for over 7 years in a few different schools in Derbyshire, but have worked at Westhouses for the last 3 years as the Trailblazers class teacher. As well as being the Staff Governor, I am also responsible Maths, PE and Modern Foreign Languages curriculum areas.  

I became the Staff Governor because I wanted to make sure that our school was the best it could be for the children that attend it. It’s important to me that all of the children in our school have the best possible chances. 

Nick Taylor

Elected Parent Governor - elected 22.10.2018

Appointed Parent Governor until 21.10.2022

Chair of the Resources Management Committee

Governor responsible for Computing, Mathematics and Health and Safety. 

Rebecca Clarke

Appointed Co-Opted Governor - elected 18.03.2019

Appointed Co-opted Governor until 17.03.2023

Member of the Resource Management Committee

Governor responsible for Humanities

I am a co-opted 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 - elected 01.06.2020

Appointed Parent Governor until  30.05.2024

Governor responsible for SEND and D.T.

I was really happy to become a parent governor at the school, especially as I have two children that attend and a third who will start in September 2021! I am also a co-opted governor at a local nursery school, and feel passionately about all young children getting the best start possible.  I am a Continuous Improvement Manager for a national retailer, and will do all I can to bring my strengths from my day job to help and support the school continue to grow.

Tracy Coley

Appointed Co-Opted Governor - elected 10.02.2021

Appointed Co-opted Governor until 09.02.2025

Governor responsible for Foreign Languages and Humanities.

Pam Stocks                                                                                                                        

Co-opted Governor - elected 08.12.2020

Appointed Co-opted Governor until 107.12.2024

Governor responsible for P.E.

I came to live in Westhouses over 25 years ago and became actively involved in the Primary school when my daughter was registered there in her Reception year. It wasn't long before I joined the PTA which started out attending one meeting and then donating cakes for a fundraiser and then I found myself 6 years later still taking part. During this time, I had plenty of opportunity to get involved in school activities and learn about the day-to-day work that the children would be involved in.  It was great to be part of organising events and fundraisers that helped give something back to the school and the children, so when I was approached to be a Governor, I was really happy to accept.

As well as working full time, I also volunteer as an Assistant Leader at a local Cub/Scout Group and I am on the board of a local Community Association in Westhouses who organise fundraisers and events throughout the year and this gives me an insight and an opportunity to work with children and family groups first-hand.

Elizabeth Dare                                                                                                                       

Parent Governor - elected 13.11.2020

Appointed Parent Governor until 12.11.2024

Governor responsible for Anti-bullying and Performance management. 

Kate Taylor                                                                                                                     

Elected Co-opted Governor - elected 

Appointed Co-opted Governor until

Governor responsible for English. 

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 2020/2021 ACADEMIC YEAR