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UrduOur 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 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 |