The Governing Board

'We are proud that our Governing Board comprises of a diverse and eclectic group of people. Multi faceted, multi ethnic and highly skilled, governors commit in real terms, affording appropriate challenge and support'. David Sellens 2023

The Governing Board at Thomas Jones are rigorous. They hold the Leadership Team to account for everything from financial elements of running the school, to the quality of education that every pupil is afforded. Governors are a regular presence at the school; formally when scrutinising a specific subject area or strand they oversee, as well as informally. This is especially the case for Parent Governors who are a near constant presence, discussing incidentals with the Leadership Team to ensure Thomas Jones remains valid, ambitious and accountable.

Our Governors access Governor Hub and use this as a resources to assist them in their roles. It is no exaggeration to say that Governor Hub has become a tool to afford information and updates for changes within both statutory and non-statutory strands pertaining to schools per se.

All Governing Board and subcommittee meetings are minuted (and informed on some occasions) by the designated Clerk of Governors, Charmaine McCloud - Director, Clerking and Appeals Associates Limited.

Governors pride themselves on holding the Leadership Team to account and continue to operate using these exacting standards. Governors are brutally candid and demanding, and the expectations of all are disarming. The Head Teacher’s 360° appraisal by the Chair and Vice Chair of Governors (alongside an external provider) is:
• dense
• ultra-challenging
• informed by strategy

The above performance management also affords incidental insight into the current climate with regard to Ofsted and their exacting requirements for outstanding.

In response to the question how do governors know what is happening at the school, this can take a number of forms. Used within the example of the success of the remote learning venture in 2020 and 2021 this occurred:

• through dialogue (both formal and informal)
• challenge at governor meetings and committee meetings.
• utilising the school’s website as a tool for information

More recently this understanding also occurs through:
• visits to the school to undertake specific scrutiny of subjects or other areas such as wellbeing, child protection, SEN etc.

Recent governor visits to the school include:

• 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.
• 28/03/23 - Subject specific history meeting, book look and learning walk held between Melissa Kiley, history subject leader and Barbara Crowther, 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 (safegaurding) 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 (safegaurding) 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