Governors
'Welcome to the Governors' section of our website. Governors are drawn from the local community and parents. They are critical friends of the school. We support its aims and ambitions, we help in strategic planning and we try to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible. Above all we are here to hold the school leadership to account. We ask endless questions about every aspect of the school's activities. I am happy to say that they always respond positively even when we press them very hard!' - Sheena Ratcliffe (Chair of Governors)
The governing body of the school is a formal, legal entity, which has certain areas of responsibility, and is accountable for the school's overall performance to parents, the community and the Secretary of State.
Governors can be contacted through the school on 01332 662337 or by e-mail at: sarah.hand@westpark.derby.sch.uk.
The Governors work with the Head to set the future direction for the school and decide how the school's budget should be managed. We provide the Head and the Leadership Group with support and advice, drawing on our knowledge and varied experience. In our regular meetings and through frequent visits and observations in school, we review the impact of policies on matters such as performance targets and ask searching questions, whilst respecting the Head's position as professional leader of the school.
The Governing Body report to parents on school achievements and respond to inspection recommendations. Governors hear appeals from pupils, parents and staff. We also consider and act on complaints from the community that we serve. You can find in our section details of the management committees and when Governors' terms of office start and end.
If you have any questions relating to the work of the Governing Body, please write to me via the Clerk to the Governing Body: sarah.hand@westpark.derby.sch.uk.
School governors are people from the local community who wish to make a positive contribution to children's education. No special qualifications are required but enthusiasm, commitment and an interest in education are useful to bring to the table. Governors come from a broad range of backgrounds and are drawn from the following categories: The Head is automatically a governor.
Trust Members
Unique to the school, these governors are appointed by the School. These governors are chosen for their commitment to the good governance and success of the school.
Governors appointed by the Trust members and Co-opted Governors
Co-opted governors are drawn from those who have made a significant contribution to the school (which may be financial) but may equally be from local business or industry. The Trust members may appoint up to four Governors. We currently have two.
Parents
The minimum requirement is two, we currently have four. Governors are elected from among the parents or carers of children attending the school. Elections are held and every parent has the right to stand for election and vote.
Staff
Two members of staff from the school are elected for fixed periods of time to serve as governors representing the staff of the school.
| Finance, Resources & General Purposes |
|---|
| Andrew Fooks (Chair) |
| John Maclaine (Vice Chair) |
| David Birks |
| Pauline Jennings |
| Richard Jennings |
| Jonathan Smale |
| Sheena Ratcliffe |
| Scott Mcgregor |
| Disciplinary & Admissions Panel (Pupils) |
|---|
| Any 3 Available Governors |
| Sheena Ratcliffe (Chair) |
| Pauline Jennings |
| John Maclaine |
| Curriculum Standards & Pupil Care |
|---|
| Sheena Ratcliffe (Chair) |
| John Maclaine (Vice Chair) |
| Pauline Jennings |
| Rebecca Smith |
| Richard Jennings |
| Jonathan Smale |
| Scott Mcgregor |
| Performance Management of the Head & Disciplinary Panel (Staff) |
|---|
| Sheena Ratcliffe (Chair) |
| John Maclaine |
| Andrew Fooks |
| Pauline Jennings |
| Trust Members | |
|---|---|
| Andrew Durrant | |
| Jeanette Atkinson | |
| David Dixon | |
| Andrew Fooks | |
| West Park Governors - All terms of office are 4 years | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of Governor | Name | Start & End Date | Appointing Body | Pecuniary & Personal Interests | Committee Membership / Link Monitoring Areas | Attendance at Meetings 2023/24 |
| Parent Governors | Victoria Stewart | 16th November 2021 - 15th November 2025 | Elected by Parents | Finance, Resources and General Purposes Committee | 1/4 | |
| Carianne Purcell-Jackson | 21st March 2023 - 20th March 2027 | Appointed by GB | Curriculum, Standards and Pupil Care Committee | 2/2 | ||
| Matt Selwyn-Smith | 9th October 2023 - 8th October 2027 | Elected by parents | N/A | |||
| Head and Accounting Officer | Scott McGregor | Ex-officio | By virtue of post | Headteacher at West Park School |
Curriculum, Standards and Pupil Care Committee Finance, Resources and General Purposes Committee |
4/4 |
| Appointed Governor | John Maclaine Vice-Chair of Governors |
21st March 2023 - 20th March 2027 | Appointed by Members |
Curriculum, Standards and Pupil Care Committee Finance, Resources and General Purposes Committee HTPM / Pay Committee |
4/4 | |
| Sheena Ratcliffe | 21st March 2023 - 20th March 2027 | Appointed by Members |
Curriculum, Standards and Pupil Care Committee |
3/4 | ||
| Andrew Fooks | 21st March 2023 - 20th March 2027 | Appointed by Members |
Finance, Resources and General Purposes Committee HTPM / Pay Committee Named Governor for Finance Named Governor for GDPR |
3/4 | ||
| Co-opted Governors | Pauline Jennings | 10th October 2021 - 9th October 2025 | Co-opted by Governing Body | Son, Richard Jennings is also a Governor at West Park School |
Curriculum, Standards and Pupil Care Committee Finance, Resources and General Purposes Committee HTPM / Pay Committee Named Governor for Pupil Premium |
4/4 |
| Jonathan Smale (Chair of Governors) | 27th December 2019 - 26th November 2027 | Co-opted by Governing Body | Local Councillor |
Nameed Governor for Safeguarding Named Governor for Careers |
0/4 | |
| Rebecca Smith | 8th July 2021 - 7th July 2025 | Co-opted by Governing Body | Curriculum, Standards and Pupil Care Committee | 4/4 | ||
| Helen Berry | 27th November 2023 - 26th November 2027 | Co-opted by Governing Body |
Curriculum, Standards and Pupil Care Committee Named Governor for Teaching & Learning |
N/A | ||
| Lizzie Butler | 27th November 2023 - 26th November 2027 | Co-opted by Governing Body |
Finance, Resources and General Purposes Committee Named Governor for Careers Guidance |
N/A | ||
| Martyn Radford | 27th November 2023 - 26th November 2027 | Co-opted by Governing Body |
Finance, Resources and General Purposes Committee Named Governor for SEND & Mental Health |
N/A | ||
| Michele Seal | 27th November 2023 - 26th November 2027 | Co-opted by Governing Body |
Curriculum, Standards and Pupil Care Committee Finance, Resources and General Purposes Committee Named Governor for Pupil Premium |
N/A | ||
| Resignations / End of term of office | Anthony Crawley | Resigned 23rd January 2023 | 1/1 | |||
| Sue Smith | Resigned 11th July 2023 | 4/4 | ||||
| Jackie Walker | Resigned 12th March 2023 | 0/4 | ||||
| David Birks | Resigned 2nd October 2023 | 1/4 | ||||
Additional Information:
Governors complete a business and pecuniary interest declaration form annually which is subject to audit. The declaration includes members of their close family.
There are no relationships between the governors and members of the school staff.
Governor Resignation:
| Type of Governor | Name | Date of Appointment | Term of Office | Leaving Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Opted Governors | Lee Griffiths | 4 Years | Apr 2015 | July 2018 |
| William Diggins | 4 Years | Sep 2015 | Oct 2018 | |
| Christopher Griffin | 4 Years | Nov 2020 | ||
| Staff Governors | Ben Paradise | 4 Years | Sep 2015 | Aug 2019 |
| Kevin Lane | 4 Years | Jul 2018 | Mar 2020 | |
| Parent Governors | Michael Johnson | 4 Years | Oct 2017 | Sep 2021 |
| Ian Pendry | 4 Years | Nov 2017 | Nov 2021 |
Finance - Mr Fooks
SEND - Mrs Jennings
Pupil Premium - Mr Fooks
School Data - Mr Fooks
Health & Safety - Mrs Jennings
Safeguarding & Wellbeing - Mrs Ratcliffe
GDPR - Mr Smale
Careers Guidance - Mr Smale
Monitoring of SDP KPIs
Priority 1 - The Quality of Education is outstanding - Mr Maclaine and Mr Pendry
Priority 2 - The Behaviour and Attitudes of pupils are outstanding - Mrs Ratcliffe, Mrs Smith and Mrs Jennings
Priority 3 - Leadership and Management of the school is outstanding - Mr Fooks and Mr Jennings.