Leaders and governors have high aspirations for staff and pupils. They work well as a team, offering support and challenge to each other. They have developed a broad and rich curriculum, which is ambitious for all pupils. – Ofsted, November 2022

The role of school governors

Find out what school governors do and the key role they play in helping schools to succeed. This short film gives you all the essential information about this rewarding voluntary role. Most people over 18 years old are eligible to govern so, if you're interested in education and making a difference, watch this film to find out more.

Governors’ and senior leaders’ actions have stabilised the school’s financial and staffing positions. They have a secure understanding of how well English and mathematics is delivered across the school. (Ofsted, November 2021)

Governance at Springcroft

The governing body has a range of duties and powers and a general responsibility for the conduct of the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. It will often work through committees and its responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Setting targets for pupil achievement
2. The Scrutiny committee will hold the headteacher to account for teaching, achievement, behaviour and safety. It will also monitor the targets and achievement levels to analyse trends and challenge the Headteacher and staff to account for any concerns expressed by the governing body
3. Managing the schools finances through the Governors Finance Committee
4. Making sure the curriculum is balanced and broadly based the curriculum committee
5. Appointing senior staff including the Headteacher
6. Reviewing staff performance and pay through the pay review committee
7. Setting objectives for the Headteacher and monitoring his/her performance.

The governing body has considerable discretion as to how to discharge its responsibilities but is required to constitute itself in line with the regulations and to appoint a chair and vice chair.

Functions

The three core functions of a governing body, as reflected in Ofsteds inspection criteria are:

1. Setting vision, ethos and strategic direction, engaging stakeholders, and ensuring statutory duties are met;
2. Challenging and strengthening leadership; contributing to school self-evaluation; and
3. Ensuring financial solvency and probity with effective management of financial resources, including the Pupil Premium, to raise standards.

Roles & Actions

Constitution of the governing body the governing body must be constituted in line with the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2003. These regulations cover the number and type (category) of governors that make up the governing body. Roles of governor the governing body must appoint a chair and vice-chair and may wish to make a number of other specific appointments to lead on certain aspects of the school.

In brief, the different categories of governor within Springcroft Primary School and the number of members per category are:

Chair of Governors

are selected by election (or appointment if insufficient people stand for election) and drawn from parents and carers of children at the school.

Vice-Chair of Governors

are selected by election (or appointment if insufficient people stand for election) and drawn from parents and carers of children at the school.

Co-Opted Governors

are selected by election (or appointment if insufficient people stand for election) and drawn from parents and carers of children at the school.

Parent Governors

are selected by election (or appointment if insufficient people stand for election) and drawn from parents and carers of children at the school.

Staff Governors

including the Headteacher: selected by election from teaching and support staff paid to work at the school.

Authority Governors

are appointed by the Staffordshire County Council.

Associate Members (not governors)

are invited by the governing body to attend committee meetings and/or full governing body meetings due to their particular skills or experience but do not have a vote.

Springcroft Primary School's Full Governing Body meets six times a year and address issues such as staffing, finance, curriculum and premises.

If you wish to contact our independent Clerk to Governors, Mrs Ruth Silcock, please email: ruth.silcock@frmconsultancy.co.uk

If you wish to contact our Chair of Governors, Mr Duncan Chadwick, please email: cog@springcroft.staffs.sch.uk

Positive relationships lie at the heart of Springcroft Primary. Leaders, staff and supportive parents work together to get the best for pupils. This partnership working helps pupils to thrive. Parents are proud of the school. Leaders are ambitious for the school community. They have created a kind, caring culture, and have a firm belief that all pupils can achieve their best. These values and aims are at the heart of every decision they make. – Ofsted, November 2022

A message from the chair:

I am a Dynamic Materials engineering professional offering an extensive background in business and project management. My area of expertise is recognised in materials engineering and NDT, predominantly in automotive, defence, marine, rail and civil engineering sectors. I have a thorough knowledge of patent and IPR, and have a proven ability of over 20 years delivering results from concept to implementation.  Previous experiences include Senior Lecturer and Senior Research Fellow in Physical Science, Chemistry and Materials at Manchester Metropolitan University and language skills in French and German.

Dr. Duncan Chadwick 

Chair of Governors/Local Authority

Pen Portraits - Governors

Gareth Kirk (Vice Chair - Co-opted)

Coming from a family of teachers and as a father of 2 children, I have been interested in taking on a governor’s role at a local school where I hope I complement and enhance the knowledge, skills and experience of the existing board of governors. 

My background working in a commercial environment for over 20 years has allowed me to help plan for and oversee the continuous improvement and development of the school for the benefit and safety of its pupils, staff and wider community.

My more recent corporate roles have been in a leadership capacity where I am among other things accountable for building and managing diverse and effective teams, maintaining profitability of business units and improving best practice and team performance.

Jane Walley (Co-opted)

Awaiting Content

 

Tina Walker (Parent Governor)

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Melissa Thake (Parent Governor)

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Judy Wyman (Co-opted)

Hello!

I am delighted to join the Springcroft Board of Governors as a co-opted governor.

As the retired Headteacher of Blythe Bridge High School (1993 - 2005) I have known Springcroft Primary School for many years.  It is a privilege now to work with the staff, other governors  and help the school in whatever way I can.

I started my professional career as a Petroleum Geologist working in Canada which allowed me to participate in many outdoor activities and travel internationally.  Education 'called' and I have worked in schools in Cumbria, Jersey, Leicestershire, and North Somerset before coming to Staffordshire. My previous active lifestyle has been thwarted by arthritic joints, but I continue to travel when possible.

Since my official retirement I have continued to have a role in Staffordshire supporting School Leaders as they juggle the many challenges facing schools at the moment.    

Chris Newton (Co-opted)

Hello, 

I live nearby in Forsbrook, and have two young children. Since leaving University I have spent over twenty years in the professional sport world, initially as an Elite performer before moving on to work for a High Profile Sports Agency who had many household sporting celebrities on their books. After several years of this I moved to a National Governing Body of Sport undertaking various management roles while also taking secondments as Technical Operations Manager and Field of Play Senior Leader at three Olympic Games and four Commonwealth Games. All these major competitions have involved years of planning followed by delivery of the competition in front of a worldwide TV audience of 35 million involving large teams of staff and volunteers who number well above one hundred in most cases.

Paul Spreadbury (Co-opted)

Awaiting Content

 

Gemma Hammond (Co-opted)

I work in Business, managing and delivering training to new start up businesses. I am also actively involved in the running of a community managed Library, delivering initiatives on behalf of the library service. I also have experience of working with children and young people with additional needs.

 

Paul Spreadbury (Associate Governor)

Awaiting Content

Springcroft Primary School

Governor Details and Register of Interests

2023-2024

 

Name of Governor or Associate Member		Category	Appointed Body	Term of Office	End of Appointment Date	Positions of Responsibility	Committee Membership	Relevant Business Interests	Personal Relationships (if any) with members of school staff	Attendance 2023/2024 (4/6)
Surname	First
Chadwick	Duncan	LA Governor	Governing Body	4 years	07.04.26	Chair of Governors/LA Governor	Personal Development   Quality of Education   Premises, Facilities and Finances   Premises, Facilities and Finances	None	None	100%
Kirk	Gareth	Co-opted Governor	Governing Body	4 years	25.11.25	Vice Chair	Quality of Education   Premises, Facilities and Finances   Personal Development   Appraisal	None	None	100%
Wyman	Judith	Co-opted Governor	Governing Body	4 years	18.05.26	Governor	Effectiveness of Leadership and Management   Premises, Facilities and Finances   Quality of Education   Health and Safety	- Trustee of a Staffordshire University MAT - ASCL union rep	None	50%
Spreadbury	Paul	Co-opted Governor	Governing Body	4 years	18.09.27	Associate Governor	Safeguarding	-School Improvement Manager at Manor Hall Academy Trust	None	100%
Walley	Jane	Co-opted Governor	Governing Body	4 years	17.07.27	Governor	Premises, Facilities and Finances	Co-opted Governor -Moorside Academy   Co-opted Governor - Potteries Educational Trust	None	50%
Newton	Chris	Co-opted Governor	Governing Body	4 years	25.11.25	Governor	Effectiveness of Leadership and Management   Premises, Facilities and Finances   Quality of Education	None	None	50%
Hammond	Gemma	Co-opted Governor	Governing Body	4 years	19.01.26	Governor	Behaviour and Attitudes   Personal Development   Quality of Education   Premises, Facilities and Finances   SEND   Well-being	None	None	75%
Thake	Melissa	Parent Governor	Governing Body	4 years	15.05.26	Governor	Behaviour and Attitudes   Personal Development   Quality of Education	None	None	75%
Walker	Tina	Parent Governor	Governing Body	4 years	15.05.26	Governor	Behaviour and Attitudes   Personal Development   Quality of Education	None	None	100%
Gleave	Emma	Staff Governor	Governing Body	4 years	27.06.25	Higher Level Teaching Assistant	-	None	None	100%
Drew	Stephen	Headteacher	Governing Body	-	In post	Headteacher	Effectiveness of Leadership and Management   Quality of Teaching, Learning and Assessment   Outcomes for Pupils   Premises, Facilities and Finances	None	None	100%
Governors who have left over the last 12 months.
Miles	Pam	Co-opted Governor	Governing Body	3 years	Resigned 13.11.23	Governor	Effectiveness of Leadership and Management   Behaviour and Attitudes   Premises, Facilities and Finances   Appraisal   Quality of Education   SEND	-Clerk to Governors for schools on Derbyshire City Council - Confidentiality	None	100%

The Chair of Governors, Dr Duncan Chadwick, can be contacted via our Clerk to Governors, Mrs Ruth Silcock.

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