Our Governors

Thank you for your interest in working at Ruskin High School. Current job opportunities within the school are listed below.

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 Leadership Team (SLT) 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 the verbal and written feedback from Governors with special responsibilities.

Key topics that have been discussed in the last 12 months:

  • Whole school curriculum review
  • Monitoring SEND action plan
  • Student and staff wellbeing
  • Making improvements in attendance and behaviour
  • Improve school environment and spaces
  • Ensuring Safeguaridng is a top priority 
  • Monititor school finances

The key focus areas for the coming academic year:

  • Implementation of 5 year strategic plan
  • Achieve ment of disadvantaged students
  • Attendance
  • Student and staff wellbeing
  • High Prior Attainers
  • In Year Admissions and PAN

The Ruskin Governing Body currently has two Parent 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 2019/26

Name Role
Mr John Rhodes Chair of Governors
Prof William Ollier Vice Chair of Governors
Mr Dean Postlethwaite Headteacher
Mr Duncan Burrow Co-opted Governor
Mr Chris Griffin Co-opted
Mrs Claire Harrison Co-opted
Mr Don Higgs Co-opted
Ms Debbie Jones Co-opted
Mrs Denise McCumskey Co-opted
Prof. William Ollier Co-opted
Miss Emma Szymura Co-opted
Mrs Margo Veitch Co-opted
   
Clerk to Governors Cheryl Jackson, Cheshire East School Governance Team

Leadership, Management and Environment Committee

Name Position
Mr J Rhodes Chair of Committee
Mr D Higgs Co-opted Governor
Mr D Burrow Co-opted Governor
Mrs C Harrison  
Ms D Jones  
Mrs D McCumskey  
Prof W Ollier  
Miss E Szymura  
Mrs M Veitch  
   

Pay Committee

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

Name Position
Prof. W Ollier Chair of Committee
Mr D Burrow Co-opted Governor
Mr J Rhodes
Mrs M Veitch

Headteachers Performance Management Panel

Prof. W Ollier
Mrs M Veitch

Pupil Discipline and Exclusion Committee

 
Mrs S Garbutt
Mr J Rhodes
Mrs M Veitch
D Higgs

Terms of Office

Name Term of Office
Mr Dean Postlethwaite 20 May 2021 –
   
Mr Duncan Burrow 7 December 2022 – 6 December 2026
Mr Don Higgs 7 December 2022- 6 December 2026
Mr Chris Griffin 7 March 2022 – 6 March 2026
Mrs Claire Harrison 3 December 2020 – 2 December 2024
Ms Debbie Jones 31 March 2022 – 30 March 2026
Mrs Denise McCumskey 7 March 2022 – 6 March 2026
Prof. William Ollier 5 December 2021 – 4 December 2025
Mr John Rhodes 9 March 2022 – 8 March 2026
Miss Emma Szymura 10 July 2019 – 9 July 2023
Mrs Margo Veitch 7 March 2022 – 6 March 2026

Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee

Name Position
Mr C Griffin Chair of Committee
Mr D Burrows Co-opted Governor
Mrs M Veitch  
Mrs S Garbutt  
Mrs C Harrison  
Prof. W Ollier  
Miss E Szymura  
Mr D Higgs Co-opted Governor
   

Student Development, Behaviour and Welfare Committee

Name Position
Mrs M Veitch Chair of Committee
Mr D Burrows Co-opted Governor
Mr D Higgs Co-opted Governor
Mrs S Garbutt  
Mrs C Harrison  
Mr C Griffin  
Prof. W Ollier  
Miss E Szymura  
   

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
Mr D Higgs

Staff Grievance / Dismissal Committee

Committee Members
Mr D Burrows
Mr J Rhodes
 

Governor Responsibilities 2022/23:

Staff Grievance / Dismissal Committee

Mr D Burrows
Mr J Rhodes

Other Governor responsibilities:

Looked after children tbc
Pupil Premium Prof. W Ollier
Special Educational Needs Mrs M Veitch
Safeguarding D Higgs
Governors Training Mrs M Veitch
Health and Safety Mr J Rhodes

Link Governors

English Mr C Griffin
Science Prof. W Ollier
Humanities Vacancy
Performing Arts C Griffin
Technology and Art Prof. W Ollier
PE, Music & Dance Vacancy
Languages D Higgs
ICT Mr D Burrows
Careers Prof. W Ollier

Other Governor responsibilities:

Looked after children tbc
Pupil Premium Prof. W Ollier
Special Educational Needs Mrs M Veitch
Safeguarding Mr D Higgs
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
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: Mr C Griffin, Prof. W Ollier, Mr J Rhodes, Mrs M Veitch
Governors with roles in other educational establishments are: None

Committee Meetings for the academic year 2023/24

Term Committee Date Time
Autumn Term 2023 Full Governing Body Tuesday 10th October 4.00pm
Pay Committee Tuesday 7th November 9.30am
Leadership, Management and Environment Tuesday 14th November 4.00pm
Student, Development & Welfare Wednesday 15th November 3.15pm
Teaching, Learning and Assessment Wednesday 15th November 4.15pm
Full Governing Body Wednesday 29th November 4.00pm
Spring Term 2024 Leadership, Management and Environment Tuesday 5th March 4.00pm
Student, Development & Welfare Wednesday 6th March 3.15pm
Teaching, Learning and Assessment Wednesday 6th March 4.15pm
Full Governing Body Wednesday 20th March 4.00pm
Summer Term 2024 Leadership, Management and Environment Tuesday 18th June 4.00pm
Student, Development & Welfare Wednesday 19th June 3.15pm
Teaching, Learning and Assessment Wednesday 19th June 4.15pm
Full Governing Body Wednesday 3rd July 4.00pm

Governor Meeting Attendance 2021/22 

Please click on link

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 Senior Management Team. 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.