Governors

School Governors

Woodfall Primary School and Nursery is part of Cheshire Academies Trust (CAT). Governance of the academy is split between those matters decided at Trust Board Level, and those matters delegated to the local governing body.

The Local Committee is made up of community representatives, parents and school staff. 

Further information regarding governance across Cheshire Academies Trust schools, including the Scheme of Delegation, can be found at https://www.cheshireacademiestrust.co.uk/

Local governors have an important role to play in both challenging and supporting the leadership team on key aspects of the school’s strategy, always with a strategic lens on governance and the safe but dynamic leadership of the school.

Once a vacancy arises, governors are elected or appointed onto the local committee and perform their role on a voluntary basis.

The focus of the local committee is ensure the clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school. 

We do this by knowing and understanding the school and the wider educational context, reading meeting paperwork and attending meetings where we ask questions to ensure that the best possible decisions are made for the benefit of the children in the school, attending training and development events to improve our skills and knowledge and adhering to the trust’s code of conduct. 

Please see information regarding members of our Local Governing Body below.

Declarations of interest are checked at every Local Governing Body meeting, this page being updated with any changes which may arise.

Helen Hough, Headteacher

Declaration of Interests: None

Duncan Haworth, Co-opted Governor

Term of Office: 1^st April 2023 to 31^st March 2027

Declaration of Interests: Whieldon Blythe, company, Trustee, Neston High School

Accredited Lay Inspector, Estyn, Member of CWAC Schools’ Forum, Governor, Ysgol Sandycroft, Governor, The Observatory School, Peninsular MAT, Member, Mosslands School, Governor, Huxley CoE Primary, Member of Local Governing Body

Caroline Peters, Co-opted Governor, Chair of Governors

Term of Office: 23^rd May 2023 to 22^nd May 2027

Declarations of Interest: None

Julia Bryant, Co-opted Governor

Term of Office: 3^rd October 2023 to 2^nd October 2027

Declarations of Interest: None

Maxine Wellsbury, Parent Governor

Term of Office: 1^st November 2020 to 31^st October 2024

Declarations of Interest: None

Joanna Harding, Parent Governor

Term of Office: 1^st November 2020 to 31^st October 2024

Declaration of Interests: None

Andrew Malone, Parent Governor

Term of Office: 2^nd January 2024 to 1^st January 2028

Declarations of Interest: None

Greg Bakewell, Parent Governor

Term of Office: 1^st October 2021 to 30^th September 2025

Declarations of  Interest: None

Samantha Cox, Parent Governor

Term of Office: 1^st October 2021 to 30^th September 2025

Declarations of Interest: None

Trudy Gleave, Staff Governor

Term of Office: 19^th September 2022 to 18^th September 2026

Declarations of Interest: None

Emma Bailey, Parent Governor

Term of Office: 29.09.2023 to 28.09.2027

Declarations of Interest: None

Hayley Foster, Co-opted Governor

Term of Office: 20.03.2024 – 19.03.2028

Declaration of Interest: Member of staff at Woodfall Primary School and Nursery

Becoming a Governor

Local governors are people who want to make a positive contribution to children’s education.  It is an immensely rewarding role that allows you to be involved in raising standards within school.

In addition to being over 18 years of age, governors need a strong commitment to the role and to improving outcomes for children, the inquisitiveness to question and analyse, and the willingness to learn.

Parent governors are elected by parents of children attending school at the date of election, co-opted governors are appointed by the local committee and staff governors are elected by staff members of the school.

Time commitment

Initially, you should expect to spend the equivalent of around 8 to 10 days per year (15 to 25 hours a term) on your governing body responsibilities. For many governors, this might comprise three evening meetings per term, with the pre-reading; one link visit and writing a resulting short report; attending a school event such as an assembly; reading around their link subject or keeping up to date on school governance; and responding to some emails.

Expenses

Being a school governor is an unpaid role. Governors may receive out of pocket expenses in line with the governor expenses policy. Payments can cover incidental expenses, such as travel, but not loss of earnings.

Training

All local governors are expected to undertake training to support them in their role. Local governors do not pay for training. All governors are automatically registered for the National Governance Association Learning Link virtual training to enable governors to have flexibility in the time when they chose to undertake training.

You can find out more about the role of a governor on the National Governance Association website.

Local governors have a strategic role and do not deal with the day to day running of the school. Any questions of this nature should always be directed to school staff in the first instance.

If you are interested in becoming a local governor at Woodfall Primary School and Nursery would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Debbie Tomkinson, Governance Director, at debbie.tomkinson@cheshireacademiestrust.co.uk

Please contact our Clerk, Mrs Emma Keefe on  emma.keefe@chesteracademiestrust.co.uk should you wish to request specific information regarding our School Governors.

http://www.fft.org.uk/fft-live/governor-dashboard.aspx

Governor Profiles

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