Hello

My name is Suzanne Jobson.  I am proud to be the Chair of the Governing Body here at Norton.  I have been a governor since 1986, and chair since1998.  Before that I worked as an English Teacher in a Secondary School in Doncaster and I am delighted that I do now have the time to spend in school, in my role as Chair.  I live near to the school in the village of Campsall, which enables me to visit the school at least once a week to meet with Julie, the Headteacher, and keep abreast of the many new strategies and initiatives that keep the teaching staff very, very busy.

The Governing Body is made up of a combination of appointed, elected and co-opted governors.  We have:

                Chair                                                                    Suzanne Jobson      

                Vice-Chair                                                            Mark Beresford              

                                                                                            John Atkins

                                                                                            Chris Bennett

                                                                                            Colin Jobson

                                                                                            Gordon Yates

           5 parent governors                                                                             

                                                                                           Susan Bushell

                                                                                           Jenny Hobson

                                                                                           Jane Maxfield

                                                                                           Sarah Metcalfe

                                                                                           Hilary Suddes

                                                                                                                                        1 Teacher Representative                                      Louise Ponsonby

              1 Non-Teaching Representative                             Helen Lomas

          Headteacher                                                           Julie Joy

The Governing Body meet once a term, however, sub-committees, eg Curriculum, Welfare, Finance and Staffing, Sites and Premises, meet as and when required.

Information for Prospective Governors

This page gives an overview of a governor's responsibilities.  For more information about how governors are appointed, read on.

What we hope you will get out of being a governor

• the knowledge that you are helping schools and pupils.
• the satisfaction of giving something back to the community
• a sense of purpose and achievement
• new skills which may be useful elsewhere
• broader horizons
• new friends and workmates
• training and support in order to help you fulfill your duties and responsibilities.

What we hope you will be able to offer

• time (research shows that most governors give about 20 hours per term to meetings, reading documents, visiting the school and attending training)
• commitment
• a willingness to learn
• a listening ear
• the ability to assimilate information, make judgments and take decisions
• flexibility
• tact
• ability to work as part of a team.

Responsibilities

Governors are appointed to provide

• strong links between the school and the community it serves
• a wide experience of the outside world
• an independent view
• a visible form of accountability for the Headteacher and staff of the school
• a team focusing on long term development and improvement
• accountability to the community for the use of resources and the standards of teaching and learning in the school
• support for the Headteacher and staff.

School governors are expected to

• attend the regular and special meetings of the governing body - there must be at least one meeting each term
• work as a member of the governing body (not as an individual) in the best interests of the school
• show an interest in school activities
• become well-informed about education in general and about their school in particular
• become familiar with the rules of school governance
• attend necessary training courses.

In addition, individual governors will usually be involved in some of the following activities often through groups or committees which report back to the main body

• staff appointments
• the financial management of the school
• pupil discipline
• the curriculum
• the training of governors
• liaising with parents and other stakeholders on behalf of the governing body
• community links.

Governing bodies are the strategic planners of schools

In order to do this a governing body:

• employs others to carry out the work
• has an operational manager (the Headteacher) who is responsible for the day to day management of the school
• agrees policies and practice which allows the Headteacher the necessary tools to carry out his/her responsibilities
• agrees principles and targets for improvement
• acts as the critical friend of the school and Headteacher
• receives and discusses reports on the resulting practice and conduct of the school
• reviews its own working practices
• should ensure that the school profile is updated annually to keep parents informed of the school's progress

Decisions of the governing body are made in formal meetings, either with the full governing body, or in committees if their terms of reference allow.

All governing bodies have committees which

• carry out tasks specifically given to them by the governing body
• aid the work of the governing body
• report back to the governing body

The number of committees depends on the governing body and its needs.

All governors, once appointed, share the responsibilities and work as a team

• Individuals are part of the corporate governing body
• Duties are carried out as part of the team
• Governors are not legally liable as individuals.

Principles of Working as a Governor and as a Governing Body

Governors, once appointed, are holders of public office, and should be prepared to work to the same principles as any paid public official. This is true both as an individual and as a whole governing body.

Selflessness

Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.

Integrity

Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligations to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.

Objectivity

In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.

Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

Openness

Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take, They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands this.

Honesty

Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interest relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.

Leadership

Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

(The Seven Principles of Public Life from the Second Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life - The Nolan Committee CM3270 - 1 May 1996 )

Supporting Our Governors

All schools receive support from the Local Authority and have a School Improvement Partner who takes a particular interest in the conduct and achievement of the school. They are regular visitors to the school and may also attend governing body meetings when specific information is required. The Attached Inspector provides written reports to the school which, together with the Headteacher's termly report and the annual tests, assessments and examinations, assist the governing body in knowing how the school is performing against specific targets and helps the governing body to set further targets for improvement.

Advice and support for schools and governing bodies is also available to cover financial, personnel , pupils' welfare and specific needs. Training is centred on the strategic role of governors and is free to governors themselves (schools have a budget to purchase the necessary governor training).

Courses offered include:

There is a Governor Services department in each local area as well as at the county headquarters. The Local Governor Services Coordinator and his/her team are happy to answer queries from individual governors and governing bodies, and provide support for governors and governing bodies at all times.

It is useful to give some detail in the reasons why you are applying for governorship as this helps in the appointment process.

Any information you can give about your interests, skills and expertise, will be extremely useful. This should not be restricted to paid employment, and should include voluntary work, hobbies and any clubs and societies to which you belong or have belonged.

And Finally..........

No one governor is expected to know it all.

The strength of a governing body lies in its ability to attract and rely upon members from a wide variety of backgrounds, share out the duties amongst its members, and be able to take decisions as a group.

No one governor is responsible for the governing body, not even the chairman.

All governors share the responsibility of making the governing body effective and efficient by setting the remit of the body and its committees, being well-informed and attending the meetings.

Some of the governors, as well as being members of the various sub-committees, take on extra responsibilities, which involves them in the day to day organisation and importantly. The education and curriculum provided for the children.

These are:                                                           ICT

                            Suzanne Jobson                     SEN & Literacy

                                                                            Looked After Children

                            Louise Ponsonby                    Race Equality

                            Mark Beresford                       Numeracy

                           Susan Bushell                          Early Years

                           Sarah Metcalfe                        Year Two

                            Jane Maxfield                          Year One

                            Mark Beresford                        Health & Safety

Many of the Governors work full time but to contact any of the Governors, including myself, then please do ring the school who will put us in touch with you.

Suzanne Jobson

Chair of Governors