All schools in England have a Governing Body which is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions of the school. A key role is to act as a ‘critical friend’: to support, to challenge, to ask questions, ultimately to represent the school community.
The Governing Body works in close partnership with the Headteacher, staff and the Local Authority. Whilst the Headteacher is, of course, responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are involved with such things as staffing, curriculum, school buildings and finance. It ensures the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives.
Membership of the Governing Body includes parents, teaching staff and representatives from the local community and the Local Authority. The Governing Body meets at least once each term; additionally, there are sub-committees which meet more frequently:
- Finance and General Purposes
- Curriculum, Appeals, & Pupil Discipline
- Personnel & Pay Review
Join In
All governors to a school’s Governing Body must be elected.
If you want to be part of Howden Junior’s Governing Body please enquire about any vacancies.
Governors’ Vision Statement
We believe that everyone is a learner and that every experience is a learning opportunity.
Being at the heart of our community, our aim as Governors is to ensure that Howden Junior School provides learning experiences in an outstanding, values based environment. We strive for excellence enabling our children to achieve their highest potential in all areas of the curriculum, and to be the best that they can be.
Message from the Chair of Governors
On behalf of the Board of Governors, I welcome this opportunity to briefly introduce you to the work the Governing Body undertakes to ensure that your child(ren) will receive a sound primary school education.
The Governing Body has a range of powers and duties laid down by various Education Acts. In the main, these responsibilities relate to:
- Setting targets and promoting high standards of educational achievement
- Setting the strategic framework within which the school operates
- Management of the school’s delegated budget
- Ensuring that the curriculum for the school is balanced and broadly based
Governors discharge the above responsibilities, together with many others, through a Governing Body meeting each term. These formal meetings are supplemented by a series of informal subcommittee-meetings dealing with more specific issues. A number of governors also have responsibilities for specific issues within the school such as literacy, maths and safeguarding.
Governors adopt, review and monitor a range of policies that govern the operation of the school including Health and Safety, Behaviour, Curriculum and Performance Management.
The Governing Body is proud of the achievements of the school, not only in terms of good academic results, but also in the solid foundations it provides in preparing all our pupils for the remainder of their formative education.
Gillian Chatham
Chair of Governors
Governor List
| Governor name | Responsibility | Term of office start date |
|---|---|---|
| Gillian Chatham | Chair of Governors | 18/05/2023 |
| Claire Young | Co-Vice Chair of Governors | 18/05/2023 |
| Lynn Ellerby | Co-Vice Chair of Governors | 25/04/2024 |
| Elsa Johnson | 23/11/2023 | |
| Luke Crowther | 23/11/2023 | |
| Sophia Bove | 23/11/2023 |