Our Governors

Our Fordwater Governors  for Academic year 2023 - 2024

Fordwater School Instrument - Jan 2015 (.pdf file)

Fordwater has nine Governors and a professional Clerk as follows in accordance with the Instrument of Governance setting up the present Governing Body.

To view the Fordwater School Instrument of Governance document please click on the link above. 

Frequency of Meetings

Fordwater Governors meet on average twice a term as a full Governing Body, our meetings are held during the school day at the school but Governors do have the option of participating virtually if circumstances prevent Governors attending the school. All our Governors have experience and skills which they give voluntarily to support the school.

Core Functions of Governing Body 

We have three core functions which are the same for all schools as set out in the (Governance Handbook - March 2019) 

1. Ensuring 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 effective and efficient performance management of staff; and

3. Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

Governor-Structure-24-25

Governing Body Code of Conduct

The National Governance Association (NGA) latest code of conduct dated August 2022 was adopted by Governors at the Full Governing Body Meeting of the 26th September 2023 which details how Governors are to undertake their duties in fulfilling their assigned roles. Click to view details of this document 

NGAcode-of-conduct-August

Governor Roles, Committees and Meetings  

Individual Governors have specific roles and responsibilities which enables us to be better informed, proactive and supportive to the senior school leaders.

We have statutory committees, a Finance Committee and Capital Improvement Committee and form Task and Finish Groups when needed.

At the beginning of each academic year we hold an extra meeting when we review our annual Governors’ Action Plan and set our targets for the coming year and elect Governors to particular roles and to serve on Committees.
 
We normally make focused visits to the school but during the pandemic these were restricted and so we interfaced virtually with staff and school, however now restrictions have been lifted we visit the school as required.

We like to keep our stakeholders informed by contributing to the Fordwater Bugle newsletter.

We continue our own development by presently participating in on-line training courses, webinar briefings and conferences. 

Non-confidential Governing Body Minutes are available from the Clerk to the Governors who may be contacted through the School Office. The Chair of Governors may also be contacted through the School Office.

Governors Action Plan 

Please click on the link below for details on the Governors Action Plan for 2023/2024

proposed-Governor-Action-Plan-2023-24.pdf

Governing Body Meetings

Full Governing Body Meetings for the academic year 2024 – 2025 are scheduled to be held in each term on:

Appointments and Membership of Committees

Appointment of Co-Chairs and Vice Chair 2023/24

Fordwater has operated a Co-Chair system since September 2020 and this system is continuing for the new academic year 2023/24, having been ratified at the Full Governor’s Meeting on the 26th September 2023. The Assignment of tasks and duties split between the 2 Co-Chairs, Therese Brook and Roy Hawkins-Dady are detailed in the following table which can be viewed by clicking on the link: 

C0-Chair-Duties-Tasks-TB-RHD-sept-22.pdf

No formal Vice Chair has been appointed but in the event neither of the Co-Chairs are available Sally Morgan will act as nominated Vice Chair until such time as the Governing Board decide to appoint an official Vice Chair.
 

Diversity Statement

The governors of Fordwater School believe it is important that boards reflect the diversity of the school communities they serve. Diverse boards promote inclusive school environments and provide diverse role models for staff and young people.

The governors are currently collecting data on the diversity of the board, including data on age, gender, disability, social background and ethnicity.

The data is used to inform their recruitment and training needs and ensure there is always a diverse range of perspectives around the table to support robust decision making.

Due to the governing body being relatively small, diversity data will not be published online as governors could be identified, and the school has a legal obligation to protect their personal data.
                                                                                                                                                -  June 2024

Membership of Committees

For the academic year 2023 – 2024 the membership of committees is as follows which was ratified at the Full Governor’s Meeting on the 26th September 2023:
 

Governors Tenure, Declaration of Pecuniary Interest and Attendance 1st Sept 2022 to 31st August 2023

This document summaries length of service , representation ,attendance record at Meetings and any Pecuniary Interests.click the link below to view document details:

Governors-attendance-2022-to-2023.pdf

Mr Roy Hawkins Dady

Mrs Therese Brook F.I.O.H., F.R.S.P.M.

Miss Sophie Clarke B.A. Hons, M.A, Q.T.S.

Kayleigh Hale

Mrs Sally Morgan M.C.S.P.

Clare Anderson

Grace Brough

Mrs Della Venette

Mr Paul Arkle