The Governing Board

'We are proud that our Governing Board is comprised of a diverse and eclectic group of people who are so incredibly rigorous and effusive. Multi-faceted and highly skilled, Thomas Jones’ governors commit in real terms, affording appropriate challenge and support'. 

David Sellens 2023

The Governing Board at Thomas Jones are exacting. They hold the Leadership Team to account for everything from the quality of the curriculum and learning outcomes, to the financial elements of running the school. Governors are a regular presence, formally, when scrutinising a specific subject area or strand for which they are responsible for overseeing, as well as informally. This is especially the case for Parent Governors who are frequent visitors and whose incidental interactions are paramount and ensure Thomas Jones remains valid and ambitious.

Board members access Governor Hub and use this as a resources to assist them in their role/s. This resource has become a tool to afford information and updates for changes within both statutory and non-statutory elements pertaining to the school.

All Governing Board and subcommittee meetings are recorded by the designated Clerk of Governors, Charmaine McCloud, Director at Clerking and Appeals Associates Limited.

Consistently encouraging but also acutely candid and demanding, the expectations of all governors is disarming. One such example is the Head teacher’s appraisal by the Chair and Vice Chair of Governors (alongside an experienced external provider). This process is informed by strategy and is dense and ultra-challenging. The above performance management also affords incidental insight into the current climate in regard to Ofsted and their requirements.

How do governors know what is happening at the school?’

This can take a number of forms, including

• The school’s website – in particular fortnightly letters to parents and carers by the Head teacher as well as news features and the gallery of photographs, which is updated periodically, to reflect class assemblies, plays, concerts and one-off special events.
• Visits to undertake specific scrutiny of subjects or other areas such as safeguarding, Pupil Premium, SEND and standards in education.
• Attendance at concerts and assemblies.
• Meetings with the Head and Deputy Head teachers, and school leaders with responsibility for: Safeguarding, the curriculum, subject areas, SEND and the EYFS.
• Attendance at meetings – full Governing Board meeting as well as Resources and Teaching, Learning, Curriculum and Standards committee meetings.
• Publication of the annual Data Pack (next to be formulated in November 2023) – information that captures outcomes across the school and identifies areas for improvement and/or further development.
• The Head teacher’s detailed and uncompromising termly reports.
• Termly reports written by the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Annual SEND reports scribed by the SENDCo.
• Analytical finance reports.

Recent governor visits to the school include:

• 21/09/23 - SEN meeting held between Harriet Bingley, Governor, SENCO Lindsay Johnson and SENCO Assistant Abi Kantoch.
• 20/09/23 - Safeguarding meeting held between Harriet Bingley, Governor, DSL Lindsay Johnson and DDSL Scott Gourley.
• 12/07/23 - Attendance at Year 6 Staging of Peter Pan by Chair of Governors Tom Church.
• 03/07/23 - SEN meeting held between Harriet Bingley, Governor, SENCO Lindsay Johnson and SENCO Assistant Abi Kantoch.
• 28/04/23 - Subject specific history meeting, book look and learning walk held between Melissa Kiley, history subject leader and Barbara Crowther, Governor overseeing this subject.
• 17/04/23 - Subject specific mathematics meeting, book look and learning walk held between Verity Handyside, mathematics subject leader and Tom Church, Governor overseeing this subject.
• 09/03/23 - SEN meeting held between Harriet Bingley, Governor and SENCO Lindsay Johnson.
• 07/03/23 - Subject specific English meeting, book look and learning walk held between Rachel McCombe, English subject leader and Lucy Bramhall, Governor overseeing this subject.
• 03/03/23 - Subject specific RE meeting, book look and learning walk held between Ellie Hanbury, RE subject leader and Barbara Crowther, Governor overseeing this subject.
• 02/02/23 - Subject specific DT meeting and book look held between Polly Holmes, DT subject leader and Corinna Farrow, Governor overseeing this subject.
• 26/01/23 - Assessment, data and Pupil Premium meeting held between Sarah Danes, Vice-Chair of Governors, and Assessment Leader Abi Kantoch.
• 10/01/23 - Single Central Record check (safeguarding) held between Harriet Bingley, Governor, and Janice Hall, Business Manager.
• 14/10/22 - SEN meeting held between Harriet Bingley, Governor, SENCO Lindsay Johnson and Assistant SENCO Abi Kantoch.
• 12/07/22 - Attendance at Music Recital and scrutiny of SEN outcomes by Chair of Governors Tom Church.
• 05/05/22 - Curriculum and Assessment meeting held between Sarah Danes, Vice-Chair of Governors, Curriculum Leader Verity Handyside, and Assessment Leader Natasha Peurois.
• 31/03/22 - Generic school tour with a focus on behaviour by Chair of Governors Tom Church.
• 18/01/22 – Single Central Record check (safeguarding) held between Harriet Bingley, Governor, and Janice Hall, Business Manager.
• 10/12/21 - SEN meeting held between Harriet Bingley, Governor, SENCO Lindsay Johnson and Assistant SENCO Abi Kantoch.
• 30/11/21 - Subject specific MFL/French meeting, book look and learning walk held between Natasha Peurois, French subject leader and Chanda Viette, Governor overseeing this subject.
• 25/11/21 – Subject specific English meeting, book look and learning walk held between Rachel McCombe, English subject leader and Lucy Bramhall, Governor overseeing this subject.
• 24/11/21 - Safeguarding Audit Review meeting held between Harriet Bingley, Governor, Designated Safeguarding Lead Lindsay Johnson and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead Scott Gourley.
  • 10/11/21 – Subject specific history and geography meeting, book look and learning walk held between Melissa Kiley, History and Geography subject leader and Barbara Crowther, Governor overseeing these subjects.

Information about all governor visits including follow up reports is stored centrally but can be made available upon request