ST THOMAS
CE (VC) PRIMARY SCHOOL
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Our Governors
SILVA SCOTT
L.A. Governor
& Chairperson
L.A. Governor and Chairperson, responsible for Governor Training, member of Resources Committee and the Standards and Effectiveness Committee. I chair the meetings of the full Governing Body which meet 6 times a year. I help the Headteacher with the school's strategy, hold the Headteacher to account for the school's performance, and make sure the school's budget is managed properly. I come into school on a regular basis and I also meet with the Headteacher every week. I became a Governor to help the children in our community to receive the best start in life with an education that helps them reach their potential and that will take them through their life.
Being a Governor is - Awesome, Brilliant, Rewarding.
CAT GODDARD
Acting Headteacher
Co-opted Governor, Deputy Head and member of the Standards, Curriculum and Effectiveness Committee. I have worked at the school for many years, joining as a Teacher, and now being Deputy Head. The governors are crucial in terms of holding us to account, and ensuring the children at St Thomas receive the very best education and care.
Being a Governor means: Responsibility, Challenge and Reward.
AMANDA HOWARTH
Co-opted Governor
Co-opted Governor and Chair of the Resources Committee. I work for a local Huddersfield business, Cummins Ltd, and as part of our company's ethos to give back and help our local communities I have volunteered to work with St Thomas School Bradley and I am really looking forward to meeting everyone and working with you all. I believe that all children are entitled to the highest quality of education and from what I have seen so far I believe that this school gives its pupils the best start they can have in life.
Being a Governor means: Responsibility, Involvement and Trust.
IAN JAMIESON
Vicar &
Ex-Officio Governor
Ex-Officio and Priest-in-Charge at St Thomas' Church. I moved to Bradley in May 2017 and immediately began serving on the governing body at our school. I am a former teacher and, as such, enjoy coming into school each week to lead collective worship and welcoming the children and staff into Church at times like Harvest, Christmas and Easter and for events like the leavers' assemblies. I became a governor because I think that local schools and Churches share a responsibility to serve the local community and care for the well-being of every child and their family.
Being a Governor means: Serving, loving, and caring.
JOANNE SIMPSON
Co-Opted Governor
Co-opted Governor, chair of the Standards and Effectiveness Committee. I have worked as a teacher, in primary schools, for over 33 years and have a passion for education. I am a member of St Thomas Church, Bradley. I am delighted to be a governor, to be able to use my skills to support St Thomas School and serve the community.
Being a Governor means having a strong commitment to making sure the school achieves the best possible outcomes for all children.
JULIE-ANN ROY
Parent Governor
Parent Governor, responsible for EYFS, and a member of the Standards and Effectiveness Committee. I attend and participate in all meetings, go to Governor Days in school and meet with staff regarding my Governor responsibilities. I became a Governor to help make a positive contribution to our children's education.
Being a Governor means: Being a Critical Friend.
MARIA MORGAN
Parent Governor
I work for the local authority in human resources. I am passionate about ensuring children have the best possible experience at school. I have mentored children in a school setting and I have volunteered to be a Parent Governor so that I can give back to the school.
Being a Governor means supporting all children, being passionate about education and caring for all.
SIMON PHIPPS
Foundation Governor
I am a curate within the Church of England working with Ian at St. Thomas’ Church; I enjoy regular interaction with the school through our after school club, assemblies and governer meetings. It is a real joy to watch the children flourish and I am grateful to be able to be able to contribute towards that goal in my role as a Foundation Governer.
Being a Governer extends my work, and the work of the church, to benefit the community that I am serving in.
KAIRON MEAD
Staff Governor
I am a Learning Mentor, working mainly in Key Stage 2. I have worked at St Thomas School for several years and all five of my grown up children have attended the school , and so I have watched the school grow and flourish over the past twenty-five years. I am committed to providing positive educational and social experiences for all the children who attend St Thomas and am proud to represent the staff at our amazing school as a staff governor.
Being a governor is being a voice for our staff and children
CO-OPTED GOVERNOR VACANCY
Are you a dedicated advocate for education? We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our school's governing body! As a governing body member, you'll play a crucial role in fostering a dynamic learning environment. If you're committed to educational excellence and eager to make a positive impact, we invite you to apply for this vacancy.
If you would like to apply please leave your details at the school office.
CO-OPTED GOVERNOR VACANCY
Are you a dedicated advocate for education? We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our school's governing body! As a governing body member, you'll play a crucial role in fostering a dynamic learning environment. If you're committed to educational excellence and eager to make a positive impact, we invite you to apply for this vacancy.
If you would like to apply please leave your details at the school office.
What is a Governing Body and what do they do?
WHY WE HAVE GOVERNING BODIES
The Education Act 1980 made it compulsory for each school in England and Wales to have a governing body. The Governing Body is responsible for the overall management of the school.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Governing bodies are accountable to:
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the Local Authority (which maintains the school)
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the parents
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the pupils
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the community served by the school
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the staff of the school
WHERE GOVERNORS COME FROM
Members of School Governing Bodies are volunteers and are part of the biggest volunteer force in the country. They include men and women who represent the parents, staff, the local authority and the local community.
CATEGORIES OF GOVERNORS
At St Thomas we have a maximum of twelve governors. This is made up of:
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Two parent governors – parents with a child or children at the school, elected by parents.
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Two staff governors – the Headteacher (if he or she chooses) plus one member of the school elected by school staff.
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One LEA governors – appointed by the Local Authority
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Five Community/Co-opted governors – people who live or work in the community served by the school appointed by the governing body
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Two Foundation governors – appointed by St Thomas Church to which the school is linked because we are a Church of England school.
Governing Bodies are responsible for the overall management of the school and have responsibility for raising school standards by:
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deciding on the strategic direction the school should take
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ensuring accountability
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monitoring and evaluating school performance.
Overall management of the school includes:
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admissions
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complaints about the school
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finance (setting the yearly budget)
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fixing the starting and finishing times of the school day
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agreeing how many children there should be on the roll and the maximum number in each class
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health and safety
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home-school agreement
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links with parents
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staff performance and pay
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school prospectus
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pupil attendance
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pupil behaviour
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school inspections
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safeguarding
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sex education
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staffing
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the curriculum
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the promotion of high standards of educational achievement
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the school’s aims and ethos
HOW GOVERNING BODIES PERFORM THEIR FUNCTIONS
The governing body can perform its duties and use its powers in three modes:
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itself as a body
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by delegation to a committee of governors
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by delegation to the head
We meet regularly, at least twice a term to hear progress reports from the Head and also reports from the various committees on which the governors sit. The governors also regularly attend training sessions.
To maintain links between the governors and staff and children, each governor is allocated to a particular year group in which normally there are two classes. If possible each governor visits classes in their years group once or twice a term to see the work the children are doing and to speak to them and their teachers.
Governors can also, if they wish, volunteer to help children by, for example, hearing them read on a one to one basis, help with after-school extra curricular activities and accompany staff members on educational and leisure visits.
Involvement of the governors in this way is considered very important by the Government-appointed Ofsted teams who carry out inspections at all schools on a regular basis to check the progress being made by the children and they are very keen to know about the work of the governors and their contribution to the life of the school.
We have Governor Days every term, where Governors are invited to spend the day in school and in classes looking at their own responsibility and how it relates to the running of the school and the progress of our children.
PREVIOUS GOVERNORS
David Rushby
Elizabeth Ashwell
Kathryn Buxton
David Hewitt
Anthony Walkley
Sarah Palmer
Hayley Oldfield