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Governing Board

Message from the Chair of the Governing Board

I am proud to have been elected as Chair of Governors at St Johns CE (VA) Primary School and, as a board, all governors are committed to working hard to support our Headteacher and staff and want the very best for our children.

The Governing Board is responsible for all matters relating to the successful and effective management of the school including teaching and learning, safeguarding, Christian distinctiveness, health and safety, staffing, premises and ensuring financial accountability and sustainability. We meet twice a term and act as a ‘critical friend’, supporting and challenging the Headteacher and leaders of the school.

Should you wish to contact us to discuss any matter further please do so by first contacting our Headteacher, Mrs S Bowyer.

Kind Regards

Mrs Laraine Jones – Chair of Governors.

 


Our Governing Board

School governors are a group of volunteers who come together as a group called the School Governing Body or Board. They support and challenge the headteacher to get the very best in education for the children and families in their school community.

The core functions of the governing body ensure:

  • that the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school are clearly defined.
  • that the headteacher performs their responsibilities for the educational performance of the school.
  • the sound, proper and effective use of the school’s financial resources.

 

Our current governing board members are:

Name

Governor Type

Term From

Term To

Disclosure of Pecuniary and Other Interests

 Pecuniary and Other Interests

Mrs Eileen Bithell

Foundation Governor

05 Jul 2021

4 Jul 2025

03 Feb 2025

None

Mrs Susan Bowyer

Headteacher

04 Jan 2021

 

1st Feb 2025

Diocese of Lichfield Education Trust (DLET)

Mrs Sally Brough

Associate Member

(no voting rights)

05 Jul 2021

4 Jul 2025

18 Oct 2024

Trustee of Newguild Trust

Mr Stephen Copner

Foundation governor

03 Feb 2024

2 Feb 2028

29 Sept 2022

None

Mrs Lauren Dowley

Parent governor

01 Sep 2022

31 Aug 2026

18 Oct 2024

Daughter of Laraine Jones

Rev. Elizabeth Hollis Ex-Officio Foundation governor

17/01/2024

 

18 Oct 2024

None

Mrs Samantha Johnson

Foundation governor

05 Jul 2021

4 Jul 2025

18 Oct 2024

None

Mrs Laraine Jones

Foundation governor

CHAIR

03 Feb 2024

2 Feb 2028

18 Oct 2024

Mother of Lauren Dowley

Governor at:

- St. Marks Primary School

- Etruscan Primary School

- Thomas Boughey Kindergarten

Vacancy Parent governor        
Mr Akkash Mahmood Staff governor  18 Sep 2024 17 Sep 2028 18 Oct 2024 None

Mr Nick Parkes

Foundation governor

06 Sep 2022

5 Sep 2026

21 Jan 2025

None

Mrs Margaret Stevenson

Foundation governor

05 Jul 2021

4 Jul 2025

18 Oct 2024

None

Vacancy Foundation governor        
Mr Michael Hill LA Governor 2nd Dec 2024 1st Dec 2028 2nd Dec 2024  

Miss Rachel Jackson

Staff governor

Resigned 31 May 2024

 

7 Nov 2022

None

We have 3 full governing board meetings each year as well as committee meetings for:

Finance, Business and Compliance (Chair: Mrs Sally Brough)

Curriculum and Standards (Chair: Mrs Laraine Jones)

Notes:

Local Authority appointed (recommended) by Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Parent Governor, elected by parents at the school

Staff governor elected by staff at the school

Foundation Governor, appointed by Diocesan Education Service, Diocesan Board of Education, Foundation Trust*

Co-opted Governor, appointed by the governing body

The Role of the Chair of the Governing Board:

  • To ensure the business of the Governing Board is conducted properly, in accordance with legal and Stoke-on-Trent City Council delegation requirements.
  • To ensure meetings are run effectively, focusing on priorities and making the best use of time available, and to ensure that all members have an equal opportunity to participate in discussion and decision-making.
  • To establish and foster an effective relationship with the Headteacher based on trust and mutual respect for each other’s roles. The Chair has an important role in ensuring that the Governing Board acts as a sounding board to the Headteacher and provides strategic direction.

The Role of the Clerk to the Governing Board:

  • To work effectively with the Chair of Governors, the other Governors and the Headteacher to support the Governing Board.
  • To advise the Governing Board on Constitutional and Procedural Matters, duties and powers.
  • To convene meetings of the Governing Board.
  • To attend meetings of the Governing Board and ensure minutes are taken.
  • To maintain a register of members of the Governing Board and report vacancies to the Governing Board.
  • To give and receive notices in accordance with relevant regulations.
  • To perform such other functions as may be determined by the Governing Board from time to time.

The Role of the Chair of a Committee:

  • To ensure the business of the Committee is conducted properly, in accordance with legal requirements.
  • To ensure meetings are run effectively, focusing on priorities and making the best use of time available, and to ensure that all members have an equal opportunity to participate in discussion and decision-making.

The Role of the Clerk to Committees:

  • To advise the Committee on procedural and legal matters.
  • To convene meetings of the Committee.
  • To attend meetings of the Committee and ensure minutes are taken.
  • To perform such other functions with respect to the Committee as may be determined by the Governing Board from time to time.

The Governing Board
The Governing Board needs to take a strategic role, act as a critical friend to the school and be accountable for its decisions. It should set aims and objectives and agree, monitor and review policies, targets and priorities.

Terms of reference:

  • To agree constitutional matters*, including procedures where the Governing Board has discretion.
  • To recruit new members as vacancies arise and to appoint new governors* where appropriate.
  • To hold at least three Governing Board meetings a year.*
  • To appoint or remove the Chair and Vice Chair.*
  • To appoint or remove a Clerk to the Governing Board.*
  • To establish the committees of the Governing Board and their terms of reference.*
  • To appoint the Chair of any committee (if not delegated to the committee itself).
  • To appoint or remove a Clerk to each committee.*
  • To suspend a governor.*
  • To decide which functions of the Governing Board will be delegated to committees, groups and individuals.*
  • To receive reports from any individual or committee to whom a decision has been delegated and to consider whether any further action by the Governing Board is necessary.*
  • To approve the first formal budget plan of the financial year.
  • To keep the Health and Safety Policy and its practice under review and to make revisions where appropriate.
  • To review the delegation arrangements annually.*

*these matters cannot be delegated to either a committee or an individual

Membership – As per the Instrument of Government

Disqualification – as per Regulation 20 and Schedule 6 of the Constitution Regulations

Contact Us

St Johns CE(A) Primary School Wheatly Ave, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 6SB

office@stjohnscea.org.uk

01782 238889