Governors
Governors of the Federation of Mill Hill and Woodcroft Schools
Welcome to this section of the website. A smaller more focused Governing Body, based on skills, started on 10 July 2014. There are now 11 willing volunteers* who give time, energy and expertise to ensure that the Federation provides the very best learning opportunities and environment for all the pupils. The Governors task is to ensure the Federation of the two schools continues to improve so that the highest possible standards are achieved all the time. Governors are part of the leadership teams and focus on ensuring that there is a clear vision, ethos and strategic direction, hold the leaders to account for pupil achievements and overseeing the finances of the Federation to make sure that money is well spent.
The Leaders are responsible for the day to day running of the school and they work hard to implement the Federations Strategic Plans. It is the responsibility of the Governors to challenge and support the school in its ways of providing the best all round education for all the children.
The Governors meet twice a term for Full Governing Body meetings and once a term each for a Resources Committee meeting and a Standards, Curriculum and Inclusion Committee meeting at 4pm.
Meetings last no longer than 2 hours.
If you are interested in becoming a governor for the Federation or wish to contact me, please ring the school office and leave your contact details and I’ll reply to you as soon as I can.
Mrs Marie Hattersley
Chair of Governors
Federation of Mill Hill and Woodcroft Schools - Governing Body 2018-19
The core Functions of any Governing Body are to:
- Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Hold executive leaders to account for the educational performance for the school and its pupils and the performance management of staff
- Oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure its money is well spent
We uphold the vision statement of both our schools:
Learning for a lifetime
It underpins all we do and believe as a governing body.
We believe that all children should:
- make good progress
- feel happy and safe at school
- have good attendance
- have well qualified teachers
- feel that their concerns and opinions are valued
- enjoy a well planned curriculum with a wide range of experiences, activities and opportunities
We shall do everything we can to support and challenge the leaders of both schools in order to
uphold their Ofsted judgements as “good” schools and to ensure that the learning environment is positive. Good behaviour will continue to be a priority so that all children are tolerant, respectful and aware of the needs of others.
Governor priorities for 2018-2019 include:
Refining our use and understanding of data so we have a sharp focus on attainment and progress for all groups of pupils
Making sure that the schools have a robust programme of assessment
Supporting the teaching staff to address the priorities of the School Improvement Plans through regular monitoring and feedback at governing body meetings
Ensuring that the schools are providing opportunities for higher attaining pupils to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding at greater depth
Maintaining a close oversight of the schools’ budgets to ensure that the schools can deliver their improvement priorities
Ensuring that the budgets allocated to Pupil Premium and the development of Sports Provision represent value for money
Improving our engagement with the school community so that everyone feels valued as a stake holder
Reviewing our effectiveness as a governing body, identifying how best to use current members and to recruit where we have identified a gap in skills.
Developing the work of the Federation so that the schools can be mutually supportive and more cost effective
Making best use of support offered by the Local Authority to develop the expertise of staff and governors.
How will we gather evidence that these priorities are addressed?
Analysis of pupil data - progress and attainment
Curriculum planning - reports to governors; attendance at insets
Safeguarding audits
Evaluating the impact of Pupil Premium spending
Evaluating the impact of Sports Premium spending
Budget and finance reviews - minutes
Resources and school premises appear well managed
Headteacher performance management
Audit of staff performance management
The agendas and minutes of governor meetings; Full Governing Body; Resources; Personnel
Head teacher reports to governors
Questionnaires and surveys of parent, pupil and staff opinions
School visits - purpose and duration recorded
Monitoring visits and reports, especially of SEN and PP provision
Reviews of school policies
Local Authority reviews
Termly reviews of governor body activities provided for parents and carers
If there is anything that you would like to ask of the governing body, please contact us through the schools. Please bear in mind that our role is strategic, not operational so the day to day management of the schools lies with the staff and headteacher. As governors we are supporting them to create the right learning environment for your children - not just for this year, but for the years that lie ahead.
Meet the Governors
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| Biography: | |||||||||
| Margaret has been a Governor for over 20 years. She started her Governance at Waite End Infants School which, with Waite End Junior School, was threatened with closure. She campaigned strongly to keep them open and was part of this amalgamation of these two schools to become Mill Hill Primary School. She has seen the school progress from being in special measures to a school which is now good. In 2011 she played a major role in the forming of the Federation with Woodcroft Primary School. Over these years she has been Chair of Governors, Vice Chair, Chairs of many Committees and continues to be fully supportive and committed to the education of all children. Margaret has an MBE for services to the community. | |||||||||
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| Name: | |||||||||
| Angela Jones | |||||||||
| Office: | |||||||||
| Chair of Resources Committee | |||||||||
| Type: | |||||||||
| Local Authority Governor | |||||||||
| Responsibilities: | |||||||||
| Budget & Policies, Safeguarding, Pupil Premium and Health & Safety | |||||||||
| Biography: | |||||||||
| Angela, as a healthcare professional, has been in vocational education for over 30 years at undergraduate and postgraduate level, as a lecturer and as a manager, with a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA). She is currently the Chair of the Resources Committee at the current federation but was previously part of the Interim Executive Board appointed when Woodcroft Primary School (WPS) was in Special Measures. Before that she was asked to participate on the Temporary Governing Body during the amalgamation of Meadowlands Infant and Junior Schools into the new WPS. Therefore, she has had a long association with WPS in one form or another. Additionally, she is the Chair of Governors at another federation, and believing passionately in good education for all pupils, feels that the contrasting experience from the two organisations is of great value to both. Complex decision-making has been part of her role as a Justice of the Peace (JP) or Magistrate at the local Bench of the Wiltshire, Hampshire and IoW Judiciary since 1993. Therefore she thoroughly enjoys supporting all aspects of the education system for the benefit of children. In comparison, relaxation involves exercising and training her two Golden Retrievers. | |||||||||
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| Name: | |||||||||
| Marie Hattersley | |||||||||
| Office: | |||||||||
| Chair of Governors | |||||||||
| Type: | |||||||||
| Parent Governor | |||||||||
| Responsibilities: | |||||||||
| Leadership & Management, Pupil Premium, SEN & Data Analysis | |||||||||
| Biography: | |||||||||
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Marie is excited to be a governor and contribute to a key area of the local communities. She is also Vice-Chair of Trustees at The Acorn Community Centre. In her role at the centre, she runs a Job Club and IT sessions, assisting the local community in their search for work. When her 2 boys were young, Marie was a childminder in the local village. Now teenagers, they both attended Woodcroft Primary School. Before having children, Marie worked as a Customer Services Manager and also provided IT and database support for the production systems. Marie believes that, in her role as governor, she can bring her flair and personal skills to help both schools achieve the best for their pupils, fulfilling their individual potential by ensuring that they have an outstanding environment, guidance and teaching. In her spare time Marie can be seen in her rainbow poncho. She enjoys craft of all sorts but mainly chainmaille and fusing glass. |
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| Name: | |||||||||
| Yvonne Dixon | |||||||||
| Type: | |||||||||
| Staff Governor (MHPS) | |||||||||
| Responsibilities: | |||||||||
| School Council | |||||||||
| Biography: | |||||||||
| Yvonne is a Staff Governor representing Mill Hill Primary School. She has worked in education for almost 25 years in various roles across the primary age. She attends the Resources and Standards Committees and has a good understanding of school life. She works hard to ensure that all children leave primary school with an excellent education and the confidence to strive to be the best they can possibly be in their future lives. She has 2 children and one granddaughter and she enjoys family time together being outdoors and going on holidays. | |||||||||
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Name: |
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| Rachel Reid | |||||||||
| Type: | |||||||||
| Co-Opted Governor | |||||||||
| Responsibilities: | |||||||||
| Performance Management | |||||||||
| Biography: | |||||||||
| Rachel is a Parent Governor for Woodcroft Primary School. She has 1 child and has lived in the Horndean Area all her life. Rachel is self employed and works within the Horndean Community; previous to that she held a Procurement position for a global solutions company for 16 years. Rachel enjoys spending time with her family and walking her dog. | |||||||||
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| Name: | Office: | Type: | Responsibilities: |
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Tracy Morgan
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Head Teacher | Staff Governor (MHPS HT) | All |
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Barry Fanning
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Head Teacher | Staff Governor (WPS HT) | All |
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The Governors are ably assisted by Kelly Stewart, our Clerk to the Governors who undertakes all the administrative tasks. |
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Governing Body Information
If you would like to see a copy of the minutes and documentation from any Governor meeting, please contact Mrs Rapley at the school office, who can arrange this for you.