Highbury School

Our Governors

Governors of Highbury School

The Governing Body carries out a very important job behind the scenes in supporting and challenging the school staff to improve the outcomes for children.

Governors have three core functions:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

We carry out regular audits of our skills in the light of the skills and competences we need, taking account of the Department for Education’s Competency Framework for Governance. We update our knowledge through governor training events, reading, visiting school and presentations at our meetings.

GOVERNING BODY MEMBERS

Currently there are 9 members and all have voting rights on their committees and in the Full Governing Body:

2 parent governors (appointed by parents)

Mrs Gail Broadbent - Term of office – 1^st December 2016 - 30^th November 2020

Mrs Joanne Mitchell - Term of office - 20th June 2019 - 19th June 2023

1 Staff governors (appointed by the staff):
 

Mr Adam Medlock – Term of Office – 20^th September 2017 – 19^th September 2021

Mrs Debbie Sweet - Head Teacher

Austin Crowther - Local Authority appointment

 4 Co-opted governors (appointed by the Governing Body):

Mrs Christine Graham - Term of office 22^ndJanuary 2016 -21^st January 2020

Mrs Brenda Montieth – Term of office 3^rd December 2018 – 2^nd December 2022

Mrs Stella Spencer (Chair) – Term of Office 1^st October 2016- 30^th September 2020

Mr Kane Hellewell -  Term of Office 11 April 2019 to 10 April 2023

Our Clerk to the Governors is Mrs Bev Ashton 

GOVERNOR PROFILE OF SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Mrs Stella Spencer OBE (Chair)

Stella had a senior role in governance in a department of the Civil Service. This covered areas such as HR, data protection, security, budgets and quality amongst others. In her role as Area Director she was awarded the OBE for services to diversity. Stella has previous experience as the Chair of Governors in a mainstream primary and had experience on the finance and buildings sub committees and organised the setting up out of school care. The school had an Ofsted inspection in 2003 and made it onto the chief inspector's list of 415 outstanding schools and colleges across the country.

Mr Austin Crowther (Vice Chair) 

Austin worked in the building industry for many years and gained experience of all aspects of premises building and management including financial management. Austin is involved in a range of charities which support children and adults with disabilities. Austin also serves as a Governor at Ravenscliffe High School.

Mrs Christine Graham 

Christine is an ex Head teacher and has worked as an inclusion manager and SENCO. She has previously worked for the Local Authority as a consultant working to support children with SEN to access the curriculum. She has an excellent working knowledge of the SEN agenda, pupil progress and assessment and continues to work in a consultant capacity as part of the Highbury outreach service.

Mrs Brenda Montieth 

Brenda is currently an SEN officer for Bradford Local Authority and has a wealth of experience working with schools. She has an excellent understanding of the Code of Practice and has been part of the Bradford strategy to successfully introduce EHC plans. Brenda is also an experienced Head teacher who worked to support many primary schools across Calderdale as an interim Head.

Mrs Gail Broadbent

Gail is the parent of a child with complex needs who attends the school and is able to understand the challenges parents face and the need for high quality, child centred education. Gail has a wealth of experience in child care and early childhood education as she is the manager of a very successful pre-school provision and owns and manages two out of school provisions. Gail has experience of personnel management and co-ordinates CPD for her staff team.

Register of Interests 

Mr Austin Crowther - Governor at Ravenscliffe High School

                                          Trustee of Friends of Highbury

                                          Trustee of Pellon Baptist Church

                                          IEB of the Trinity Academy

Mrs Christine Graham - Works in Highbury school one day a week.

Mrs Debbie Sweet - None

Mrs Brenda Montieth - Senior SEN officer BMDC.

Mrs Stella Spencer - A family member is a pupil at the school.

                                        A member of my family is in a relationship with a member of staff.

Gail Broadbent - Self Employed in childcare business.

Adam Medlock - None

Joanne Mitchell - None

Kane Hellewell - None

Update January 2019 - Outstanding!

“Leaders, governors and staff are highly committed to improving the life chances of pupils. They work together to successfully fulfil their ambitious expectations. They continually adapt to meet pupils’ changing needs.”

Governors were very pleased and proud of the whole school when we received the Ofsted inspection result. The full report can be read through the link on our home page and the Head’s Blog tells you more about it.

As governors we are dedicated to pupils, parents, staff and leaders of the school and Ofsted recognised this in the report. This external scrutiny was very welcome as we strive to improve and move with the challenges and changes in education.