Governance

Purpose of the Governing Body.

The Governing Body has a role to help the School to run effectively. It is strategic rather than operational. Governors don’t get involved with the day to day running of a school, instead supporting and challenging the school’s leadership team to drive school improvement.

Governors usually attend around 6 meetings a year. Being a school governor is a commitment and a responsibility, but offers the chance to see first-hand the impact which a School and effective Governing Body can make in improving education for children in your community and to ensure that the children are attending a safe, successful school which provides them with the best education and supports their well-being.

Governors work together to carry out their core functions:

  1. ensuring there is clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
  2. holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils and the performance management of staff
  3. overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent
  4. ensuring the voices of stakeholders are heard

Governors must also ensure that the governing body complies with all legal and statutory requirements. Governors should seek the advice of the clerk to the governing board and other professional advice as appropriate.

Governing body strategic responsibilities

Governing bodies work closely with Headteachers and Senior Leaders. Headteachers are responsible for day to day management whereas the role of the Governing body is strategic. As such, Governors are responsible for:

  • determining the mission, values and long-term ambitious vision for the school
  • deciding the principles that guide school policies and approving key policies
  • working with senior leaders to develop a strategy for achieving the vision
  • ensuring that parents, pupils, staff and the wider community are involved, consulted and informed as appropriate
  • ensuring that all pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum such that pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education and adult life
  • setting the school’s budget and ensuring it is managed effectively together with premises and other resources
  • agreeing the school’s staffing structure and keeping it under review to ensure it supports delivery of the strategy
  • ensuring robust risk management procedures are in place and that risk control measures are appropriate and effective

Monitoring and evaluating school performance

Governors must monitor the priorities that have been set to ensure progress is being made by:

  • measuring the school’s impact and progress towards its strategic objectives
  • ensuring the required policies and procedures are in place and the school is operating effectively in line with these policies
  • evaluating relevant data and feedback provided by school leaders and external reporting on all aspects of school performance
  • asking challenging questions of school leaders in order to hold them to account
  • holding the headteacher to account for standards, financial probity and compliance with agreed policies
  • visiting the school to monitor implementation of the strategy and reporting back to the board (this could be in a link governor capacity)
  • ensuring that there are policies and procedures in place to deal with complaints effectively

Panels and committees

When required, Governors are expected to serve on panels or committees in order to:

  • appoint the Headteacher and other senior leaders
  • appraise the Headteacher and make pay recommendations
  • hear staff grievances and disciplinary matters
  • review decisions to exclude pupils
  • deal with formal complaints

Contribution to the Governing body

Governors should ensure that they are making a positive and meaningful contribution to the governing body by:

  • attending meetings (a minimum of 3 full governing board meetings and a number of committee meetings each year), reading papers and preparing questions for senior leaders in advance
  • establishing and maintaining professional relationships with senior leaders and colleagues on the board
  • getting to know the school, including visiting the school occasionally during school hours
  • undertaking induction training and developing knowledge and skills on an ongoing basis

 

Governing Body and Interests

NAME GOVERNOR CATEGORY APOINTING BODY TERM START TERM END RESPONSIBILITES AND LINKS NAMED BUSINESS &/O PERSONAL INTERESTS WITH SCHOOL MEMBER OF ANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS 
Christine Owen LA Governors   September 2024 Chair of Governors  None None
          Vice Chair    
Lindsay Gibson-Phillips HT  Governors September 2021 - Headteacher Headteacher None
Ruth Curtis  Staff Staff   March 2022   Employed at FWVPS  
               
Jane Smith Co-Opted  Governors   June 2021 Currently under review to be confirmed at Nov 2021 FGB Employed at FWVPS  
Sam Warburton Co-Opted  Governors  September 2021 September 2025 None Deputy Head at Helsby High School
             
Ken McLarney Co-Opted Governors   November 2022 None None
             
Steph Cawte Parent Parent   June 2022 Parent None 

Resignations 

NAME GOVERNOR CATEGORY APOINTING BODY TERM START TERM END RESPONSIBILITES AND LINKS NAMED BUSINESS &/O PERSONAL INTERESTS WITH SCHOOL MEMBER OF ANY OTHER EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS 
Rebecca Goldsmith Parent  Parent    Resgination January 2022 SEND Parent Works for NHS
Tom Tilley Co-Opted  Governors    Resignation January 2022 Community Works for Weaver Vale Housing Trust  None
Sally Baker Co-Opted,  Governors   Resgination December 2021 Deputy Headteacher Employed at FWVPS None
Peter Van Geffen  Headteacher  Governors   Resignation-August 2021 Headteacher Headteacher at FWVPS None
Colin Whelan Co-Opted Governors  

November 2022

Resignation August 2021

  Chair Parent None
Martin McKee Co-Opted  Governors  

September 2024

Resigned. 

     None

Instrument of Government

 

 

 

Governor's Attendance 2021-2022

NAME  BUSINESS MEETING and FGB 16.09.21 FGB November 2021 FGB Feb 2022  
Christine Owen Present Present     
         
Lindsay Gibson-Phillips Present Present    
Ruth Curtis  Present Present    
Sally Baker Present Present Resigned   
Jane Smith Present Present    
Sam Warburton

Present

 Present     
Tom Tilley Apologies - Traffic problems  Present Resigned   
Ken McLarney Apologies -Traffic Problems Apologies    
Rebecca Goldsmith Apologies Present  Resigned   
Steph Cawte Present  Present     
Wendy Collyer (Clerk to Governors) Present Present     

 

Letter from Chair of Governors 

 

Meet Our Governors 

Christine Owen – Local Authority Governor.

I volunteered as a Local Authority Governor nearly 6  years ago as I believe all children deserve to have the best start to their education. Frodsham Weaver Vale is changing and I am pleased I  joined as it embarked on a programme of improvement. The children are a delight and, along with the staff and other governors, I will be working hard to ensure they receive a first class education.  I currently work in a CAB where I help people who are struggling to find jobs, homes and manage their finances.

 - Chair of Governors

 

 

 

Lindsay Gibson-Phillips - Headteacher

I am extremely proud and thrilled to be part of the FWVPS family. My pathway to becoming the Headteacher at FWVPS has given me the opportunity to work for a number of Local Authorities in a variety of roles. My background is Music, having gained my BA Hons studying Music at Edge Hill University. I have can play a number of instruments to a high standard and performed on many stages including at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. My ambition is to provide all learners with life-long transferable skills, to be confident, motivated and resilient learners who can effectively use their knowledge and wisdom to be effective, independent global citizens who have dignity and respect for all. Having taught from Early Years Foundation Stage through to Key Stage Two, I have a clear understanding of the necessary curriculum knowledge, high expectations and attributes needed to ensure that the children are equipped to be life-long learners in a rapidly changing world. 

 I have been married to Aaron for nine years, we love to travel especially to New York and enjoying trying new foods and restaurants . I am a very keen gardener and love spending time relaxing and reading books in the sunshine. 

  

Ruth Curtis - Staff Governor

This is my seventh  year  of teaching  at Frodsham Weaver Vale, having previously taught in two inner city schools in Birmingham. I have been the MFL,  Literacy, Science and Music coordinator, and am currently enjoying leading History and Geography across the school. I am lucky enough to have taught several year groups over the years, with this being my fourth  year  in Reception. I  became a staff governor in the Summer term of 2018 and enjoy  having an input for the continuing  development  of our school .  

  

 

Ken McLarney - Co-opted Governor

I have been a governor at Weavervale now for seven  years, being nominated by the Local Authority.   In 2016 I was then co-opted to the Governing team, 
I am the schools Safeguarding and Health and Safety Governor.  I was a member of the Governing body when we achieved the Ofsted ranking as “GOOD”   and  I want to continue driving the school forward and gain an “Outstanding“  status from Ofsted. Over the past few years I have completed many  courses in regards to Safeguarding and the role of a Governor which is helping me Understand, Promote  and  be a “Critical Friend” Moving the school forward in Safeguarding / Safety Health of the children and in all aspects of the Governor role.
I am a professional Health and Safety Practitioner gaining my Chartered Membership of IOSH over eighteen years ago.  I also have an up to date CDP.  I regularly keep in touch with the, regulatory bodies, HSE, (including the Educational side of safety) EA, FSS plus IOSH, ROSPA
The school has come a long way forward during my time, as governor and I believe that we can continue this.
I live in the Runcorn area, with my wife; I am semi-retired but continue to use my experience in various volunteer roles, in the Cheshire area.

Jane Smith - Staff Governor

I am Jane Smith,  my son and daughter have attended Weaver Vale since nursery and I have also taken up the position of Welfare officer within the school. I am able to support young children through their journey in education, ensuring they are able to access it in the best possible way.

I joined the governing body  as an enthusiastic volunteer in March 2013. The role is very challenging and time consuming but necessary to help ensure the school moves forward and continues to improve.

Stephanie Cawte - Parent Governor

I  joined the governing body as a parent governor when my two sons joined in 2017.  My youngest son has a disability so I am hoping to be the voice for all disabled children within the school. I have joined the team to be a part of parents' voice and assist with community fundraising as I am at the school daily. We moved to Frodsham from Runcorn four years ago and live very locally to the school.

GOVERNOR STATUTORY INFORMATION for Sept 2020-21

Name

​Category

​Appointing body

​Term runs till

​Responsibilities

Registered interests
Martin Mckee Co-Opted Governors September 2024 GDPR None
Tom Tilley Co-opted Governors February 2025   Works for Weaver Vale Housing Trust

Peter Van Geffen

Headteacher

School

-

Headteacher

Head teacher

Ken McLarney

Co-opted

Governors

November 2022

 Safeguarding / Child protection

​None

Rebecca Goldsmith

Parent

 Parents

June 2022

SEND

Parent of child at FWVPS

Ruth Curtis

Staff

Staff

March 2022

Website

Works at school

Jane Smith

Co-opted

Governors

June 2021

Training Liason

Works at school

Colin Whelan

Co-opted

Governors

November 2022

Chair of governors. Disadvantaged / pupil premium.

Parent of child at FWVPS

Christine Owen

Local Authority

Governors

September 2024

Vice Chair of governing body. SFVS working party Lead.

None
Steph Cawte Parent Parents

June 2022

 Emotional health and wellbeing of staff and children. Parent of child at FWVPS

Sally Baker

Co-opted (Staff)

Governors

March 2023

Pupil Premium / COVID19 Pupil Recovery

Deputy headteacher

Frodsham Weaver Vale Primary School Governing Board Attendance Register for the Academic Year 2019/20

Governor Attendance 2019-20

 

Name

 Full Governing  Board Additional Full Governing Board Full Governing Board Buildings, Premises and  HSE Committee Teaching and Learning Committee Finance and Staffing Committee
21/11/20 05/02/20 20/05/20 03/06/20 01/07/20 07/11/19     17/10/19     21/10/19    
Peter Van Geffen

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ü

ü

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Colin Whelan

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Christine Owen

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Apologies

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Ian Bleasdale

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Resigned

 

 

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Ken McLarney

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Apologies

Apologies

Apologies

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Apologies

 

 

 

 

 

Sally Baker

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Apologies

 

 

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Ruth Curtis

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Steph Cawte

Apologies

ü

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Rebecca Goldsmith Apologies

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Apologies

No Apologies

 Apologies

 

 

 

Apologies

 

 

 

 

 
Jane Smith

ü

ü

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ü

 

 

 

 

 
Jackie Frodsham

No Apologies

 Resigned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Emily Tobin

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Resigned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

The role of a governor