What is a School Governor?

School governors are people who want to make a positive contribution to children’s education.

Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards.  The role of the governing board is absolutely key to the effectiveness of a school.

What Does a School Governor Do?

School governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools.  Governors also appoint the head teacher and deputy head teacher.

Each individual governor is a member of a governing board, which is established in law as a corporate body.  School governing bodies are responsible for working with the school to ensure that it delivers a good quality of education.  Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the governing board; decisions are the joint responsibility of the whole governing board. 

The role of the governing board is a strategic one, together with the head teacher, who has day to day responsibility of running the school, its key functions are to:

• set the aims and objectives for the school;
• agree the policies for achieving those aims and objectives;
• set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives;
• monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives; and
• be a source of challenge and support to the head teacher (a critical friend).

They also carry out a number of other important duties, which include:

• Determining how the school's budget is spent;
• The appointing and dismissing of staff;
• Hearing appeals and grievances;
• Forming policy on the school's curriculum and collective worship;
• Setting standards for pupils' behaviour and discipline; and
• Making sure school buildings are welcoming and safe.

A governor does NOT:

• Write the school policies;
• Undertake audits of any sort – whether financial or health & safety - even if the governor has the relevant professional experience;
• Spend much time with the pupils of the school – if you want to work directly with children, there are many other voluntary valuable roles within the school;
• Fundraise – this is the role of the PTA – the governing body should consider income streams and the potential for income generation, but not carry out fundraising tasks;
• Undertake classroom observations to make judgements on the quality of teaching – the governing body monitors the quality of teaching in the school by requiring data from the senior staff and from external sources;
• Do the job of the school staff – if there is not enough capacity within the paid staff team to carry out the necessary tasks, the governing body need to consider and rectify this.

Who can be a school governor? 

You don't have to have children at the school to be a governor.  However, you do have to be over 18, and pass a formal check for your suitability to be within a school.  No specific qualifications are required but there are certain expectations.

What's really important is that you have the skills, time and commitment to help drive school improvement and the passion and ambition to achieve the best possible education for children and young people. 

Effective governance will include these core features:

• Commitment to ongoing development and to getting to know the school well, including effective induction;
• Commitment to playing an active part whilst working as part of a team;
• Ability to provide robust challenge and hold school leaders to account whilst listening to and respecting the views of others;
• Focus on a strategic role rather than involvement in operational matters

How much of my time will being a Governor take up?

Under usual circumstances, you should expect to attend 6 evening meetings per year and a maximum of 5 days (usually part days/evenings) on training, policy review, School Development Plan review, meeting and learning walks of the school per year.  However, there may be periods when the time commitment may increase, for example when recruiting a head teacher or being involved in an OFSTED inspection. 

A letter from our Chair of Governors

Dear Parents / Carers,

Governor Update

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and the Governing body of the school. My name is Jenna Atherley and I am the Chair of Governors at Aldwyn Primary School.

I have been on the governing body for 5 years. I am a parent and I have one child in KS2 who attends Aldwyn Primary School.

I run and manage an engineering business alongside my husband. I live locally in Audenshaw and I like to get involved in the community when I can.

 In my role as Chair of Governors I am happy to respond to any questions or queries you may have.

Our Governing Body consists of the following people:-

Jenna Atherley - Chair of Governors - (Parent Governor)

Thomas Currie- Deputy Chair of Governors - Co-opted Governor

Craig Beaty - Head Teacher

Tracey Sutton - Staff Governor

Jason Moore - Co-opted Governor

Ciara Airey - Parent Governor

Jeanette Thompson - Parent Governor

Marc Caldecott – Parent Governor

Neil Bonsall - Co-opted Governor

Sue Mottram - Co-opted Governor

The aim of a governing body is to support the Headteacher and the staff in the smooth running of the school and act as a critical friend. As a governing body we aim to build good working relationships and work towards the future success of Aldwyn. None of our governors have a pecuniary (financial) interest in the school. I wholeheartedly understand the vision of the school and am determined to make a positive impact and hope that both my contributions and actions, and those of the Governing Body, make a difference to the school.

You can contact me by letter, phone or e-mail via school.

Kind Regards,

Jenna Atherley – Chair of Governors

Meet our Governors

My Name is Jenna Atherley and I am the Chair of Governors at Aldwyn.

My son attends Aldwyn Primary, he is in KS2 and he loves it.

My family and I live locally in Audenshaw and my husband also attended Aldwyn as a child, so of course our son wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps.

I work alongside my husband at our engineering business, where I manage the all of the company operations, employees as well as HR, H&S and training.

I am very passionate about Aldwyn Primary School and want to contribute in helping to make a difference.

Details of any pecuniary/business/financial interests that should be disclosed:

None.

Details of any other governance roles in other schools:

None.

End of Term

19/03/2024

My Name is Craig Beaty.  I am very proud to be both the Headteacher and a teacher governor at Aldwyn Primary School.  This enables me to work with the Governing Body and the whole school community to drive school improvement. 

I am an experienced teacher, having taught in different schools within Tameside, Stockport and Derbyshire. Prior to teaching I worked in business and finance for several years.  I am married, with two sons.  In my spare time I enjoy sport, especially football, swimming and sailing. 

Details of any pecuniary/business/financial interests that should be disclosed:

None.

Details of any other governance roles in other schools:

None.

End of Term:

My name is Tom Currie.

I am a former Aldwyn pupil and I now manage a specialist resource provision unit supporting pupils with Autism to access within a mainstream setting where possible. It was my time at Aldwyn which inspired me to become a teacher and to instil the same love of learning to others that I received. I have a passion for all things Autism and inclusion and believe that being a governor allows me to give something back to a school which has supported me throughout my primary, secondary and university education. 

I have a lot to thank Aldwyn for and I am looking forward to helping to guide it into its future.

Details of any pecuniary/business/financial interests that should be disclosed:

None.

Details of any other governance roles in other schools:

None.

End of Term:

02/10/2024

My name is Tracey Sutton and I have been part of the Aldwyn family for over 18 years. 

I am currently a year 4 teacher but I have also had experience teaching foundation stage and Key Stage 1.  I have served on the board of governors since 2008.  During this time, I have seen many changes implemented throughout the school.  I am proud to be a governor and a member of the Aldwyn community.

Details of any pecuniary/business/financial interests that should be disclosed:

None.

Details of any other governance roles in other schools:

None.

End of Term:

31/08/2023

My Name is Jason Moore, i have lived in the local area for 15 years. I am married, with one child who has now moved up from Aldwyn to high school.

I work as an IT Architect for a large global IT Services business, providing many clients across the UK with IT governance, strategy, and technical leadership. I bring my industry experience and inquisitive analytical nature to the Aldwyn school board of governors.

I am actively involved in promoting diversity in my workplace and I am also part of an internal steering committee for People with Disabilities (PwD).

For fun, I like to build and expand my Smart Home automation systems in an endless quest to control every electrical device through voice activation (as inspired by Star Trek...).

Details of any pecuniary/business/financial interests that should be disclosed:

None.

Details of any other governance roles in other schools:

None.

End of Term:

14/11/2023

My name is Ciara Airey.  My husband and I moved to the area about 10 years ago and our two daughters currently attend Aldwyn Primary. It’s wonderful to see them grow in such a positive, nurturing and fun environment.

I currently work in the healthcare industry for a pharmaceutical company. I am passionate about education and have previously been involved in various outreach programmes to promote science and education among young people. I am very proud to have the opportunity to contribute to Aldwyn school life as a parent governor.

Details of any pecuniary/business/financial interests that should be disclosed:

None.

Details of any other governance roles in other schools:

None.

End of Term

19/03/2024

My name is Sue Mottram and I have had links with Aldwyn since my son started in reception in the old school building over 20 years ago. I found the school to be very welcoming and supportive towards children and parents alike.

For the last 14 years I have worked across the keystages as a teaching assistant, supporting children to be the best they can.

Many things have changed at Aldwyn since my time as a parent but I feel as a member of staff that the school's attitude towards inclusion and nurturing it's pupils has remained the same throughout this time. 

I am happy to be a part of the Aldwyn community and look forward to supporting the school in the years ahead.

Details of any pecuniary/business/financial interests that should be disclosed:

None.

Details of any other governance roles in other schools:

None.

End of Term

18/10/2024

My name is Marc Caldecott. I have recently become a parent governor at Aldwyn and have a daughter who attends the school. I have been a Police Officer for Greater Manchester Police for 18 years and hope to bring my policing skills and qualities to help support the school, pupils, staff and parents in a positive way.

Details of any pecuniary/business/financial interests that should be disclosed:

None.

Details of any other governance roles in other schools:

None.

End of Term

18/10/2024

My name is Jeanette Thompson, I’m a mum of two children who both attend Aldwyn (as I did) and they both really enjoy it. 

I very much believe in the school and their ethos of inclusivity and the importance of respecting each child for their individuality. 

I became a governor as a way of giving back, contributing to the future of the school and broadening my own knowledge.  By day, I work as a paralegal for a commercial property company drafting legal documentation. I’ve always worked in the legal sector.  I have previously volunteered as a literacy mentor in a school and found it to be extremely rewarding.  My evenings and weekends are occupied doing all the parent things associated with two busy little girls and an energetic whippet!

Details of any pecuniary/business/financial interests that should be disclosed:

None.

Details of any other governance roles in other schools:

None.

End of Term

18/10/2024

My name is Neil Bonsall and I represent the staff on the governing body as a co-opted governor.

I am originally from Doncaster in Yorkshire and moved to Manchester to take a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. Previously, I had worked for BT as an engineer and, before that, I tested soils in a laboratory after completing a degree in geology.

I have worked at three schools - all very different from each other - and have been at Aldwyn for a monumental 20 years. 

I have recently come out of sporting retirement to play hockey again and also, out of a slightly longer retirement, to play the drums again. 

Details of any pecuniary/business/financial interests that should be disclosed:

None.

Details of any other governance roles in other schools:

None.

End of Term

18/10/2024