Our Governors
Governance
Our Governors have a common interest in supporting the school in giving our pupils the best Key Stage educational opportunities at The Grove Junior School.
The Governing Board comprises a member from the Local Authority, the Headteacher, staff, parent, and co-opted governors. Governors have equal rights to participate in the work of the Governing Board and to state their own views, but always work together and are bound by the collective decisions of the team. Governors other than the Headteacher are appointed or elected to serve a four-year term of office.
Governors
- Sheila Smith – Co-Chair of Governors
- Jo Hamilton-Watson – Co-Chair of Governors
- Amanda Ellison – Vice Chair of Governors and Chair of School Improvement Committee
- Philippa Waterman – Chair of Resources Committee
- Dave Summers
- Beth Ashton
- Jack Carr
- Nicola Coad
- Paula Lindores
- Eleanor Oxborrow
- Matt Forrow
- Nigel Smart
- Sarah Norton
Contact us
To contact the governors, please use the Co-Chair of Governor’s confidential email address: ssmithgov@grovejm.herts.sch.uk
What do Governors do?
Governors do not manage the school – that is the role of the Headteacher. The Governors aim to support her in doing this but do not shy away from being a ‘critical friend’ and asking searching questions.
Governors are responsible for ensuring the clarity of vision, ethos & strategic direction of the school and for supporting the Headteacher and her staff in achieving that vision. The Governing Board holds the leadership of the school to account for the educational performance of the school and its children. Governors also have responsibility for appointing the Headteacher, managing the school’s budget and making sure that money is well spent. In addition to these statutory responsibilities, Governors monitor the impact of policies and do a wide variety of other things, either through formal committee activity or through personal involvement with the day-to-day life of the school.
The Governing Board may also be called upon to consider complaints from parents.
Whilst the role is a voluntary one, the Governing Board expects all Governors and prospective Governors to be aware of the time commitment required to be an effective Governor.
Primarily, that commitment arises from:
- Attending meetings of the Governing Board
- Membership of either the School Improvement (SIC) or Resources Committees
- Undertaking training courses relevant to the role of a governor
- Having a particular area of responsibility such as finance, personnel, safeguarding
- Having a link to a particular area of teaching and learning or to a school development plan priority
Resources Committee
The Resources Committee deals with everything to do with the human, physical and financial resources of the school and:
- is responsible for proposing the annual budget for approval by the Governing Board and for the ongoing monitoring of management accounts.
- prepares the responses to the Schools Financial Value Standard questionnaire that must be submitted to Herts County Council each year.
- considers all aspects of Health and Safety and site management.
- approves the staffing structure and assists with some areas of recruitment.
The School Business Manager attends all meetings.
The current members of the committee are:
- Philippa Waterman– Committee Chair
- Lorna Urquhart – Headteacher
- Dave Summers
- Sheila Smith
- Nicola Coad
- Jack Carr
- Paula Lindores
School Improvement Committee
This committee focuses on Children and the Curriculum.
This is the forum for detailed discussion of children’s progress and attainment and delivery of the curriculum but also deals with pupil behaviour and wellbeing.
The current members of the committee are:
- Amanda Ellison – Committee Chair
- Lorna Urquhart – Headteacher
- Beth Ashton
- Jo Hamilton- Watson
- Eleanor Oxborrow
- Matt Forrow
- Nigel Smart
Statutory information about governors
Information about Governors, their terms of office, any pecuniary and material interests declared and a record of their attendance at meetings is published annually at the end of the academic year.