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

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 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

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 2021/22:

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:

Committee Meetings for the Summer Term 2022

Autumn Term 2020

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.