Our Governors

The role of the Governors is to provide a strategic view for the school, to ensure accountability and to be a critical friend.

The Governors set and agree frameworks within which the school operates. The Headteacher and other professionals manage the day-to-day running of the establishment and the Headteacher liaises regularly with Governors.

The Governors provide the Headteacher and staff with support, advice and information, drawing on members’ knowledge and experience. In these ways, the Governors act in the role of critical friend.

The Governing Board has the responsibility of ensuring a high-quality education at the school; therefore the Governors examine all proposals from the Headteacher.

The Governors are mindful that they answer to the parents and community for the school’s overall performance. The Governing Body comprises of 14 members. There is a Chair of Governors (Mr J Rhodes) a Vice Chair (Mrs C Palin) and a team of supporting Governors who bring a variety of skills and knowledge. The Governing Board meets termly as a Full Governing Body and it also meets in smaller committees every term. The school Senior Management Team (SMT) attend these meetings and, at times, Governor Representatives attend SMT meetings. This gives transparency and mutual understanding in the strategic decision making process.

Governors are appointed by the Local Authority, Full Governing Body, school staff and parents.

Governance Statement

Most of the Governance takes place at committee level. When the Full Governing Body convenes, it reviews the work of the committees. It also reviews the reports provided by the Headteacher and it reveives verbal and written feedback from Governors with special responsibilities.

Key topics that have been discussed in the last 12 monthes include:

In Year Admissions
Multi Academy Trust status and plans
Data and data training for Governors
Exclusion and exclusion training for Governors
Terms of reference for all committees
The IDSR and DfE tables
Finance

The key focus areas for the coming academic year are:

Finance and the role of the Finance Manager
EAL migration and impact
Additional ICT investment
Student and staff wellbeing
High Prior Attainers
In Year Admissions and PAN

The Ruskin Governing Body currently has one Co-opted Governor vacancy.

If you are interested in becoming a Governor, for further information, please contact Kathryn Rhodes (Clerk to Governors) at Kathryn.Rhodes@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Ruskin Governor Membership 2020/21

Mr John Rhodes, Chair of Governors

Mrs Caroline Palin, Vice Chair of Governors

Mr Dean Postlethwaite, Headteacher

Mrs H Bennett – Co-opted

Mr D Burrow – Parent

Mrs A Cross – Parent

Mrs S Garbutt – Local Authority

Mr C Griffin – Co-opted

Mrs C Harrison – Co-opted

Ms J Lewis – Co-opted

Mrs D McCumskey – Co-opted

Mr J Park – Co-opted

Prof. W Ollier – Co-opted

Miss E Szymura – Co-opted

Mrs M Veitch – Co-opted

Clerk to Governors: Mrs Kathryn Rhodes, Cheshire East School Governance Team

Terms of Office

Mr D Postlethwaite: 20 April 2020 –

Mrs H Bennett: 1 April 2020 – 31 March 2024

Mr D Burrow: 23 November 2018 – 22 November 2022

Mrs A Cross: 4 July 2019 – 3 July 2023

Mrs S Garbutt: 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2024

Mr C Griffin: 7 March 2018 – 6 March 2022

Mrs C Harrison: 3 December 2020 – 2 December 2024

Mrs J Lewis: 7 March 2018 – 6 March 2022

Mrs D McCumskey: 7 March 2018 – 6 March 2022

Prof.W Ollier: 5 December 2017 – 4 December 2021

Mrs C Palin: 25 March 2019 – 24 March 2023

Mr J Park: 11 February 2019 – 10 February 2023

Mr J Rhodes: 9 March 2018 – 8 March 2022

Miss E Szymura: 10 July 2019 – 9 July 2023

Mrs M Veitch: 7 March 2018 – 6 March 2022

Leadership, Management and Environment Committee

Mr J Rhodes – Chair of Committee

Mrs H Bennett

Mr D Burrow

Mrs C Harrison

Mrs J Lewis

Mrs D McCumskey

Prof W Ollier

Mrs C Palin

Miss E Szymura

Mrs M Veitch

Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee

Mr C Griffin – Chair of Committee

Mr D Burrows

Mrs A Cross

Mrs S Garbutt

Mrs C Harrison

Ms J Lewis

Prof. W Ollier

Mrs C Palin

Mr J Park

Miss E Szymura

Mrs M Veitch

Pay Committee

PLEASE NOTE: Staff governors and the Headteacher are ineligible to sit on this committee

Mr J Park Chair of Committee

Mrs A Cross

Mr J Rhodes

Mrs M Veitch

Student Development, Behaviour and Welfare Committee

Mrs M Veitch Chair of Committee

Mr D Burrows

Mrs A Cross

Mrs S Garbutt

Mrs C Harrison

Mr C Griffin

Mrs J Lewis

Prof. W Ollier

Mrs C Palin

Mr J Park

Miss E Szymura

Mrs M Veitch

Headteachers Performance Management Panel

Mrs C Palin

Prof. W Ollier

Mr J Park

Appeals Committee

PLEASE NOTE: Staff Governors and the Headteacher are ineligible to sit on this committee. For a Pay Appeal Mr Park would be ineligible to form part of the panel due to Chairing the Pay Committee.

Mr D Burrows

Mr C Griffin

Mrs J Lewis

Pupil Discipline and Exclusion Committee

PLEASE NOTE: Staff Governors and the Headteacher are ineligible to sit on this committee

Mrs A Cross

Mrs C Palin

Mr J Rhodes

Mrs M Veitch

Staff Grievance / Dismissal Committee

PLEASE NOTE: Staff Governors and the Headteacher are ineligible to sit on this committee

Mr D Burrows

Mr J Rhodes

GOVERNOR RESPONSIBILITIES 2020/21:

Link Governors:

English – Mr C Griffin

Maths – Mr J Park

Science – Prof. W Ollier

Humanities – Mrs A Cross

PE, Music and Dance – Mrs J Lewis

Technology and Art – Prof. W Ollier

PE, Music & Dance – Mrs C Palin

Languages – Mr J Park

ICT – Mr D Burrows

Careers – Prof. W Ollier

Other Governor responsibilities:

Looked after children – Mrs C Palin

Pupil Premium – Prof. W Ollier

Special Educational Needs – Mrs M Veitch

Safeguarding – Mr J Park

Governors Training – Mrs M Veitch

Health and Safety – Mr J Rhodes

Business Interests

Nothing to report.

Personal Interests

The following Governors have children/grandchildren at the school:

Mr D Burrows

Mrs A Cross

Mrs S Garbutt

Mrs C Palin

The following Governors have a family member as a member of staff:

None

Governors that are members of staff are:

Mrs D McCumskey, Mrs C Harrison, Mr D Postlethwaite, Miss E Szymura

Governors with no personal interests in the school are:

Mrs H Bennett, Mr C Griffin, Ms J Lewis, Prof. W Ollier, Mr J Park, Mr J Rhodes, Mrs M Veitch

Governors with roles in other educational establishments are:

None

Meetings for the academic year 2020/21

Autumn Term 2020

Executive Committee: Monday 14 September, 2020 at 11.15am

Executive Committee: Wednesday 16 September, 2020 at 4.00pm

Executive Committee: Friday 25 September, 2020 at 10.00am (Finance)

Full Governing Body: Monday 28 September, 2020 at 4.00pm (Data)

Pay Committee*: Thursday 5 November, 2020 at 11.00am

Full Governing Board: Monday 23 November, 2020 at 4.30pm

Spring Term 2021

Agenda setting Meeting: tbc

Leadership Management & Environment: Tuesday 9 March, 2021 at 4.00pm

Student Development & Welfare: Wednesday 10 March, 2021 at 3.15pm

Teaching Learning & Assessment: Wednesday 10 March, 2021 at 4.00pm

Full Governing Body: Monday 22 March, 2021 at 4.30pm

Summer Term 2021

Agenda setting & Committee meetings: tbc

Meeting Attendance

Autumn Term 2017

Spring Term 2018

Summer Term 2018

To help students, staff and parents understand how the school operates there is a range of policies which have been produced and approved by the Governors and SMT. Our Policies are available to /download from the school website.

Our Governors

Governance Statement

The Ruskin Governing Body currently has one Co-opted Governor vacancy.

If you are interested in becoming a Governor, for further information, please contact Kathryn Rhodes (Clerk to Governors) at Kathryn.Rhodes@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Ruskin Governor Membership 2020/21

Mr John Rhodes, Chair of Governors

Mrs Caroline Palin, Vice Chair of Governors

Mr Dean Postlethwaite, Headteacher

Mrs H Bennett – Co-opted

Mr D Burrow – Parent

Mrs A Cross – Parent

Mrs S Garbutt – Local Authority

Mr C Griffin – Co-opted

Mrs C Harrison – Co-opted

Ms J Lewis – Co-opted

Mrs D McCumskey – Co-opted

Mr J Park – Co-opted

Prof. W Ollier – Co-opted

Miss E Szymura – Co-opted

Mrs M Veitch – Co-opted

Clerk to Governors: Mrs Kathryn Rhodes, Cheshire East School Governance Team

Terms of Office

Mr D Postlethwaite: 20 April 2020 –

Mrs H Bennett: 1 April 2020 – 31 March 2024

Mr D Burrow: 23 November 2018 – 22 November 2022

Mrs A Cross: 4 July 2019 – 3 July 2023

Mrs S Garbutt: 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2024

Mr C Griffin: 7 March 2018 – 6 March 2022

Mrs C Harrison: 3 December 2020 – 2 December 2024

Mrs J Lewis: 7 March 2018 – 6 March 2022

Mrs D McCumskey: 7 March 2018 – 6 March 2022

Prof.W Ollier: 5 December 2017 – 4 December 2021

Mrs C Palin: 25 March 2019 – 24 March 2023

Mr J Park: 11 February 2019 – 10 February 2023

Mr J Rhodes: 9 March 2018 – 8 March 2022

Miss E Szymura: 10 July 2019 – 9 July 2023

Mrs M Veitch: 7 March 2018 – 6 March 2022

Leadership, Management and Environment Committee

Mr J Rhodes – Chair of Committee

Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee

Mr C Griffin – Chair of Committee

Pay Committee

Mr J Park Chair of Committee

Student Development, Behaviour and Welfare Committee

Mrs M Veitch Chair of Committee

Headteachers Performance Management Panel

Appeals Committee

Pupil Discipline and Exclusion Committee

Staff Grievance / Dismissal Committee

GOVERNOR RESPONSIBILITIES 2020/21:

Link Governors:

Other Governor responsibilities:

Business Interests

Personal Interests

The following Governors have children/grandchildren at the school:

The following Governors have a family member as a member of staff:

Governors that are members of staff are:

Governors with no personal interests in the school are:

Governors with roles in other educational establishments are:

Meetings for the academic year 2020/21

Autumn Term 2020

Spring Term 2021

Summer Term 2021

Meeting Attendance

To help students, staff and parents understand how the school operates there is a range of policies which have been produced and approved by the Governors and SMT. Our Policies are available to /download from the school website.

If you would like a hard copy of any policy or procedure, please contact the Main School Office.