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 D McCumskey
Mrs C Palin
Miss E Szymura
Mrs M Veitch
Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee
Mr C Griffin – Chair of Committee
Mr D Burrows
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
Mr C Griffin
Mrs J Lewis
Prof. W Ollier
Mrs C Palin
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.
If you would like a hard copy of any policy or procedure, please contact the Main School Office.


















