What is the role of the Governing Body?

The governing body have responsibility for raising school standards through their three core strategic functions of:

a. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

b. holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;

c. overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money well spent.

It works in close and balanced partnership with the Headteacher, who is responsible for day to day management issues. There are 14 governors including the Head teacher, a staff governor, two parent governors, an LA governor and nine co-opted governors.

Who are the School Governors?

There are different types of governors listed on the governing body.

The Headteacher always has the choice to be a member of the governing body. Our Parent Governors are elected by parents and carers of pupils registered at school. Our LEA governor is appointed by the Local Education Authority. Our Staff governor is a paid member of staff who has been elected by the staff.

Our Governors:

• Chair of Governing Body: Rachel Muers
• Vice-Chair of Governing Body: Nik Rutherford
• Headteacher: Amy Houldsworth (Acting)
• Staff Governor: Jo Ward

Parent Governors:

• Emma King
• Stephen Davies

Co-opted Governors:

• Robin Phelan
• Rachel Muers
• Jackie Campbell
• Lee Arnell
• Hayley Atkins
• Stefan Kucharczyk

(Governors who have been appointed for the skills and expertise they bring to the Governing Body)

Local Authority Governor: 

• Nik Rutherford

Associate Member: 

• Liz Singleton

(An Associate Member is not a Governor, but has been voted in by the other Governors to be part of committees and meetings, due to their specific expertise and skills)

Governors' Register of Interests

The full governing body meets five times a year. There are two main committees;

Teaching and Learning/Pupil Support Committee

Chair: Jackie Campbell. Members: Hayley Atkins, Emma King, Rachel Muers, Stephen Davies, Jo Ward, Amy Houldsworth, Stefan Kucharczyk, Liz Singleton

Resources Committee

Chair: Lee Arnell. Members: Robin Phelan, Jo Ward, Nik Rutherford, Amy Houldsworth, Liz Singleton

There are also special committees, convened only when required

• Headteacher’s Performance Management/Pay Committee: Lee Arnell, Rachel Muers

Some governors also have special responsibilities:

• Child protection / LAC governor: Emma King
• SEND governor: Stephen Davies
• Attendance: Emma King
• Complaints Governor: Rachel Muers
• Health and Safety Governor: Rachel Muers
• Pupil Premium Governor: TBA
• EYFS Governor:Rachel Muers
• Equalities Governor:Jo Ward
• Staff Wellbeing Governor: Rachel Muers

Some of our Governors are linked to areas of the curriculum:

• English: Rachel Muers
• Maths: Jackie Campbell
• Wider Curriculum: Hayley Atkins

We have a rolling programme of reviewing all the school policies. Some policies are available on this website and all policies can be viewed by contacting the Headteacher, Miss Houldsworth at the school or via email at a.houldsworth@springbankprimary.org

Buddies 

Each class has a nominated governor ‘buddy’ who might join them on school trips and/or attend class assemblies.

How can I become a School Governor?

If you think you have what it takes to be a school governor there are a number of ways of finding schools that have vacancies:

• You can contact the school to ask if they need a new governor.
• You can contact SGOSS – Governors for Schools, which recruits.
• You can contact Leeds City Council.
• Governors nationally.

If you wish to contact the governors, you can speak to them directly or leave a message for any of them at the school office on (0113) 204 3120.