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 (Prof. B Ollier) 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 two Co-opted Governor vacancies.
If you are interested in becoming a Governor, for further information, please contact Cheryl Jackson (Clerk to Governors) at cheryl.jackson@cheshireeast.gov.uk
Ruskin Governor Membership 2020/21
Mr John Rhodes, Chair of Governors
Prof William Ollier, Vice Chair of Governors
Mr Dean Postlethwaite, Headteacher
Mrs H Barnett – 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 D Jones – 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: Cheryl Jackson, Cheshire East School Governance Team
Terms of Office
Mr D Postlethwaite: 20 May 2021 –
Mrs H Barnett: 1 April 2020 – 31 March 2024
Mr D Burrow: 23 November 2021 – 22 November 2025
Mrs A Cross: 4 July 2019 – 3 July 2023
Mrs S Garbutt: 1 September 2020 – 31 August 2024
Mr C Griffin: 7 March 2022 – 6 March 2026
Mrs C Harrison: 3 December 2020 – 2 December 2024
Ms D Jones: 31 March 2022 – 30 March 2026
Mrs D McCumskey: 7 March 2022 – 6 March 2026
Prof.W Ollier: 5 December 2021 – 4 December 2025
Mr J Park: 11 February 2019 – 10 February 2023
Mr J Rhodes: 9 March 2022 – 8 March 2026
Miss E Szymura: 10 July 2019 – 9 July 2023
Mrs M Veitch: 7 March 2022 – 6 March 2026
Leadership, Management and Environment Committee
Mr J Rhodes – Chair of Committee
Mrs H Barnett
Mr D Burrow
Mrs C Harrison
Mrs D McCumskey
Prof W Ollier
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
Prof. W Ollier
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
Mr D Burrow
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
Prof. W Ollier
Mr J Park
Miss E Szymura
Mrs M Veitch
Headteachers Performance Management Panel
Prof. W Ollier
Mr J Park
Mrs M Veitch
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
Pupil Discipline and Exclusion Committee
PLEASE NOTE: Staff Governors and the Headteacher are ineligible to sit on this committee
Mrs A Cross
Mrs S Garbutt
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 2021/22:
Link Governors:
English – Mr C Griffin
Maths – Mr J Park
Science – Prof. W Ollier
Humanities – Mrs A Cross
Performing Arts – Mrs S Garbutt
Technology and Art – Prof. W Ollier
PE, Music & Dance – Vacancy
Languages – Mr J Park
ICT – Mr D Burrows
Careers – Prof. W Ollier
Pupil Premium – Mrs A Cross
Other Governor responsibilities:
Looked after children – Mrs A Cross
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
The following Governors have a family member as a member of staff:
None
Governors that are members of staff are:
Mr D Postlethwaite, Mrs C Harrison, Mrs D McCumskey, Ms D Jones, Miss E Szymura
Governors with no personal interests in the school are:
Mrs H Barnett, Mr C Griffin, Prof. W Ollier, Mr J Park, Mr J Rhodes, Mrs M Veitch
Governors with roles in other educational establishments are:
None
Committee Meetings for the Summer Term 2022
Autumn Term 2020
Leadership, Management and Environment: Tuesday 14th June at 4.00pm
Student, Development and Welfare: Wednesday 22nd June at 3.15pm
Teaching, Learning and Assessment: Wednesday 22nd June at 4.15pm
Full Governing Board: Tuesday 28th June at 4.00pm
Meeting Attendance