GOVERNORS

WELCOME

Elmwood School has a governing body made up of eleven members (9 governors and two associate members).  These include representatives from the Local Authority, community (co-opted), parents and staff.

The Chair of Governors is Ms Tracy Brandwood and the Vice-chair is Mrs Sallyann Tuckwell-Allen. The Clerk to the Governors is Mrs Dawn Canham.

The Governing Body has three main key roles which are to provide a strategic view, to act as a critical friend to the headteacher and staff and to ensure accountability.

EXPERTISE

The Governing Body bring a wealth of expertise to the School.  In addition to the Acting Headteacher, Lee Cross, we have the following Governors:-

Ms Tracy Brandwood has a lot of experience as a support worker for young people with special needs.  Ms Brandwood is link governor for behaviour, the nurture unit as well as staff support. Ms Brandwood took over as Chair of Governors in November 2017.

Mrs Sallyann Tuckwell-Allen joined the Governing Body in January 2018 as an LA Governor and  is an Assistant Head and SENCO at a local primary School.  Mrs Tuckwell-Allen is also the Safeguarding/SEN Governor and was elected as Vice Chair of Governors in November 2018.

Mrs Rose Burley has also been a governor for many years at both primary and secondary schools.  She is an elected local Councillor as well as Deputy Mayor of Walsall and sits on many committees.  Mrs Burley is the joint link Governor for safeguarding and staff support.

Mr Ashley Homes is a Skills Development Coordinator/ASDAN teacher at the School and is proving to be a great asset to the Governing Body following his appointment in March 2016. Mr Holmes is link governor for PSHE,

I am in my second year as a governor and my  ninth year teaching at Elmwood School.

Teaching a variety of subjects within the school across all year groups, my main specialism is outdoor education and utilising this learning to also help pupils gain alternative qualifications.  

This full-time teaching commitment along with my role as a form tutor, learning base lead and previously being the school EVC, gives me the skills, knowledge and insight to feed into the governing body to help inform its decisions.

For five years prior to Elmwood I taught disaffected, at risk of exclusion / NEET pupils within inner-city Birmingham mainstream schools.  Prior to this I was an officer in HM Forces.

Mrs Theresa Cheetham, mom to a Year 11 pupil who left the School in July 2019, was elected as a Parent Governor in May 2016. Mrs Cheetham is a joint link governor for science.

Mrs Suzanne Hill, mom to a former pupil who left in July 2018, was elected as a Parent Governor in March 2017. Mrs Hill is link governor for parental engagement.

Ms Danielle Webb, mom to a Year 7 pupil, joined the Governing Body on the 16th October 2019 as a parent governor.

The views of parents and carers are always welcome and their input into school life is encouraged wherever possible.

Mrs Rita Martin, joined the Governing Body on 23rd May 2018 as a Co-opted Governor.  Rita has been involved with the School for a number of years providing careers guidance and support for our young people.  Mrs Martin is our link governor for careers.

Mr Dave Watton is a retired engineer and has also been a governor of a local primary school for a number of years.  At the end of the summer term 2014 Mr Watton resigned from his role as an LA Governor at the School but as continued his links as an Associate Member attending Full Governing Body Meetings.  Mr Watton has been given voting rights and is on various committees.  In addition he is the health and safety governor and science link governor.

I was invited to become a Local Authority Governor and first took up post in February 2008 upon the opening of Elmwood School. I helped with the move into our present building in September 2008 and have served as both Vice Chair and also as Chair of Governors. I resigned from my role of Local Authority Governor in July 2014, and I was appointed as an Associate Member in September 2014 as I still wished to be a part of the Governing Body. Because of my long experience in engineering I am the lead Governor for Science  and for Health and Safety. I have had the privilege of watching Elmwood grow into the outstanding School that it now is.

Ms Georgina Edmunds joined the Governing Body as an associate member in October 2019.  Georgina is an experienced governor and acts as a corporate parent for a number of pupils at Elmwood.  Georgina is the link governor for pupil premium.

In July 2019 Mrs Tina Ashford’s term of office as a Parent Governor ended.  Thank you to Mrs Ashford for her support during her appointment.

In March 2018 Mrs Chrissie Grainger ended her time as a Governor at the School.  Chrissie had been a Governor at the School from its openining in 2018 and with a vast knowledge of SEN and safeguarding has been a real asset to the Team.  Chrissie was Chair of Governors for a number of years and the support she has given the School has been invaluable; we wish Chrissie every happiness for the future.

As a result of a change in school placement we said goodbye to Mrs Theresa Jenkins, Parent Governor, on 17th February 2017.  A big thank you to Mrs Jenkins for her support.  We also lost a valuable member of the team, Mr Simon Breakspear, on 22nd September 2017 due to his term of office ending as a Parent Governor. Finally at the end of 2017 we bade farewell to Karen Sedgwick who initally joined the Governing Body as an Associate Member but became a Local Authority Governor in 2014.  Mrs Sedgwick was a real asset to the team with her knowledge and expertise and will be sadly missed.

MEETINGS

In addition to a termly meeting held by the whole governing body during the Spring, Summer and Autumn term, governors are also members of individual committees, which meet on a regular basis.  It is sometimes necessary for special meetings to be arranged when a matter of urgency arises.

Termly meetings are scheduled for 4.00 pm on:

Autumn – Thursday 14th November 2019

Spring – Thursday 12th March 2020

Summer – Thursday 21st May 2020

Committees consider financial, personnel, pupil and building matters.

Finance & Pay Committee meetings are scheduled for 1.00 pm on:

Autumn – Friday 18th October 2019

Spring – Friday 7th February 2020

Summer – Friday 15th May 2020

Sites and Buildings Committee meetings are scheduled for  3.00 pm on:

Autumn – Tuesday 1st October 2019

Spring – Tuesday 30th January 2020

Summer – Tuesday 28th April 2020

Curriculum and Policies Committee meetings are scheduled for 4.00 pm on:

Autumn – Thursday 28th November 2019

Spring – Thursday 16th February 2020

Summer – Thursday 23rd April 2020

Copies of any public minutes can be obtained from the Clerk to the Governors via the School; a charge for copying would be applicable.

GETTING INVOLVED

When time allows Governors support the School where possible by attending events, functions and training.

Previously these have included theme days, hospitality and catering events and assemblies.

Governors are also involved in the recruitment of any new staff to the School.

GOVERNING BODY TERMS OF OFFICE AND BUSINESS INTERESTS

Legend:

LA – Local Authority appointed (recommended) by Walsall Council

PG – Parent Governor, elected by parents at the school

STF – Staff governor elected by staff at the school

CG – Co-opted Governor, appointed by the governing body

GOVERNING BODY COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

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