The Governing Body is the group of parents, staff and people from the local community who guide the management of Ashlands, supporting and challenging the school management team to make sure that Ashlands is as effective a school as it can be. The role of Governors is often described as a “critical friend” – someone who will ask difficult questions, but in a constructive way to drive continuous improvement. The Governors are, ultimately, legally responsible for the quality of education at Ashlands, and the welfare and safety of pupils and staff. At Ashlands, our Governing Body is made up of: parent governors, who have children at school, and are elected by the parents; staff governors, who represent the teaching and non-teaching staff and are chosen by the staff; LEA governors, who are nominated by the Local Authority and appointed by the Governing Body based on theirs skills and knowledge and Community Governors, who are invited to join the Governing Body, often to bring needed skills and expertise.
The Governing Body meets six times a year. It manages the school through two main committees – the Pastoral and Academic Committee, which is responsible for the welfare of the whole school community and the education of the pupils and the Finance Committee, which is responsible for managing the school budget and the upkeep of the school’s premises. The Buildings Committee advises the Governing Body on the long-term investment in the school’s buildings and grounds, focused on improving the “learning environment”.
People have many reasons for becoming Governors, and we’re certainly not all governors for the same reasons. What we all share, though, is a passion for making Ashlands the best place it can be for children to learn, for staff to work, and above all for everyone to enjoy coming here.
Copies of minutes are available from the school office
NAME | TYPE & OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES | CONTACT |
Joanna Archdale | Teaching Staff Governor | office@ashlands.school |
Chris Brown | Parent Governor Year 4 Governor | chris.brown@ashlands.school |
Alison Chalmers | Parent Governor | alison.chalmers@ashlands.school |
Roya Helme | Community Governor Safeguarding Governor Nursery Governor | roya.helme@ashlands.school |
Dawn Morgan | Parent Governor Vice Chair of Governors SEN Governors Year 1 Governor | dawn.morgan@ashlands.school |
Caroline Pope | Co-opted Community Governor Year 6 Governor Pupil Premium Governor | caroline.pope@ashlands.school |
Paul Smith | Co-opted Community Governor Chair of Governors Reception Governor Chair – Finance Committee | paul.smith@ashlands.school |
Charlotte Smithson | Co-Opted Non-Teaching Staff Governor Health & Safety Governor Media Governor | office@ashlands.school |
Andrew Soutar | Head Teacher | office@ashlands.school |
Francesca Spencer | Parent Governor Year Five Governor | francesca.spencer@ashlands.school |
Nicola Wharmby | Parent Governor Friends Governor Looked After Children Governor Year 2 Governor Oversight for Safeguarding Governor Chair of Academic Pastoral Committee | nicola.wharmby@ashlands.school |
Nicky Wilce | Co-opted Community Eco Governor Year 3 Governor | nicky.wilce@ashlands.school |
Sally Weir | Clerk to Governors | office@ashlands.school |
Kathy Raine | Deputy Head (observer) | office@ashlands.school |
Nicola Wharmby – Chair
Andrew Soutar
Dawn Morgan
Joanne Archdale
Roya Helme
Caroline Pope
Charlotte Smithson
Nicky Wilce
Chris Brown
Kathy Raine (in attendance)
Andrew Soutar
Francesca Spencer
John Butler
Bryan Hellen
Paul Smith – Chair
Andrew Soutar
Joanna Archdale
Dawn Morgan
Chris Brown
Charlotte Smithson
Alison Chalmers
John Butler (in attendance)
Kathy Raine (in attendance)
Jeanette Ward (in attendance)