The Governing Body
The Governing Body has responsibility to oversee the effective performance of the school, to give strategic guidance, to allocate resources and, above all, to support the school in its work. We keep a close eye on pupils’ achievement and targets; we monitor the curriculum; we visit the school throughout the year to meet staff and observe lessons. We manage the school’s finances in conjunction with the Head Teacher. We also help to appoint teaching staff and are involved in the staff performance and pay system. For further information, please see the Department for Education (DfE) website:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/governance
Our committees include:
Curriculum
Finance
Personnel and General Purposes
Premises
For details of the structure and remits of our committees, please see further down this page.
Governors also undertake Link Governor roles. This means that they take a special interest in a key area such as literacy, mathematics, SEND/Inclusion, Safeguarding, Communication, IT, Pupil Premium, Science and Gifted and Talented. These Governors visit the school regularly to liaise with staff members involved and report back to the Board of Governors regularly.
Current areas of Focus for Governors
At the moment the Governing Body are particularly involved in the following:
Curriculum development including intent, implementation and impact of all subject areas;
Further development of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths);
Effective delivery of SEND support across the school to promote progress for all.
Jane Whittaker, Co-opted Governor Emily DeAbaitua, Parent Governor Cathryn Downing, Headteacher
(Appointed by the Governing Body) (Elected by Parents) (Ex-officio)
11 May 2020 - 10 May 2024 18 Nov 2019 - 17 Nov 2023
Nicholas Broughall, Cllr John Lamb Kate Murdock
(Elected by Parents) (Appointed by the Local Authority) (Appointed by the Governing Body) 20 Oct 2017 - 19 Oct 2021 17 Sept 2019 - 16 Sept 2023 29 Nov 2016 - 28 Nov 2020
Richard Odell Asst Headteacher Sarah Price, Head of School
(Appointed by the Governing Body) (Appointed by staff)
18 June 2018 - 17 June 2022 9 Oct 2019 - 8 Oct 2023
Nuala Powell Maria Ratnarajah Pippa Ravenscroft
(Appointed by the Governing Body) (Appointed by Parents) (Appointed by the Governing Body)
30 Jan 2019 - 3 Feb 2022 18 Nov 2019 - 17 Nov 2023 3 Oct 2018 - 7 Oct 2022
Martin Dolce (Retired Nov 2020) Sinead Hesp (Retired Nov 2020)
(Elected by Parents) (Elected by Parents)
29 Nov 2016 - 28 Nov 2020 29 Nov 2016 - 28 Nov 2020
Committee Structure & Remits 2020-21
Curriculum
All Governors are automatically members of the Curriculum Committee.
Chair - Ms Pippa Ravenscroft
Finance
Membership of the Finance Committee is as follows;
Mrs Cathryn Downing, Cllr John Lamb, Mrs S Price, Dr M Ratnarajah (Chair) & Mrs Jane Whittaker
Personnel & General Purposes
Membership of the Personnel & General Purposes Committee is as follows;
Mrs Cathryn Downing, Mrs Kate Murdock, Mrs Nuala Powell (Chair), Ms Pippa Ravenscroft & Mrs Jane Whittaker
Premises
Membership of the Personnel & General Purposes Committee is as follows;
Mr Nicholas Broughall, Mrs DeAbaitua, Mr Martin Dolce, Mrs Cathryn Downing, Mr Richard Odell & Mrs Nuala Powell (Chair)
Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings | ||||
Governor | Governor Type | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
Mr Nicholas Broughall | Parent | 3/4 | 3/3 | 1/1 |
Mrs Emily DeAbaitua | Parent | N/A | 2/2 | 1/1 |
Mr Martin Dolce | Retired Nov 2020 (Parent) | 4/4 | 3/3 | 1/1 |
Mrs Cathy Downing | Headteacher | 4/4 | 3/3 | 1/1 |
Mrs Sinead Hesp | Retired Nov 2020 (Parent) | 4/4 | 3/3 | 1/1 |
Cllr John Lamb | Authority | 1/2 | 1/3 | 1/1 |
Mrs Kate Murdock | Co-Opted | 4/4 | 2/3 | 0/1 |
Mr Richard Odell | Co-Opted | 2/2 | 3/3 | 1/1 |
Mrs Nuala Powell | Co-Opted | 4/4 | 3/3 | 1/1 |
Mrs Sarah Price | Staff | 4/4 | 3/3 | 1/1 |
Dr Maria Ratnarajah | Parent | N/A | 2/2 | 1/1 |
Ms Pippa Ravenscroft | Co-Opted | 1/2 | 3/3 | 1/1 |
Mrs Jane Whittaker | Co-Opted | 4/4 | 2/3 | 1/1 |
Declaration of Interests 2020-21
Name of Governor |
Role |
Name of Business/ Associated Interest |
Nature of Business |
Nature of Interest |
Date Interest Commenced |
Mr Nicholas Broughall |
Parent Governor |
Nothing to Declare |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Mrs Emily DeAbaitua |
Parent Governor |
Nothing to Declare |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Mr Martin Dolce |
Retired Nov 2020 |
Nothing to Declare |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Mrs Cathryn Downing |
Headteacher |
Mrs Christine Higgins |
Sister-in-Law is employee |
Sister-in-Law is employee |
2015 |
Mrs Sinead Hesp |
Retired Nov 2020 |
University of Manchester |
University |
Employee |
2010 |
Cllr John Lamb |
Local Authority Governor |
Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council |
Local Authority |
Councillor |
2003 |
Raising Performance |
Management Consultancy |
Managing Director |
2005 |
||
New Leadership Foundation |
Public Sector Leadership Organisation |
Director |
2010 |
||
West Trafford Learning Partnership |
Governing Board for Ashton on Mersey & Broadoak Schools |
Chairman |
2015 |
||
Mrs Kate Murdock |
Co-opted Governor |
Trafford LCO |
NHS |
Employee |
2010 |
Mr Richard Odell |
Co-opted Governor |
Stamford Park Junior School |
Assistant Headteacher |
Employee |
2008 |
Mrs Anne Nuala Powell |
Co-opted Governor |
Nothing to Declare |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Mrs Sarah Price |
Staff Governor |
Stamford Park Junior School |
Head of School |
Employee |
2015 |
Standards & Testing Agency |
Education |
Assessment Advisor |
2014 |
||
Dr Maria Ratnarajah |
Parent Governor |
Ratnarajah Medical Services Ltd |
Provider of GP Services |
Director |
2014 |
Extracellular |
Private GP & Lifestyle Medicine Co |
Director |
2018 |
||
Ms Pippa Ravenscroft |
Co-opted Governor |
Nothing to Declare |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Mrs Jane Whittaker |
Chair/Co-opted Governor |
Nothing to Declare |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
How to contact the Governors
You can contact the governors via the school office. If you wish to contact the Chair of the Governing Body please leave your details with the school office and she will get in touch.
Clerk to the Governors
Trust GS, 28-32 Greenwood Street, Altrincham, WA14 1RZ. Contact: Julie Lawson, 0161 348 7188