Local Governing Body
Meetings 2023/2024
Full governors meetings are held from 6pm on the following dates.
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Wednesday 11th October 2023 |
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Wednesday 15th November 2023 |
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Wednesday 24th January 2024 |
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Wednesday 13th March 2024 |
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Wednesday 8th May 2024 |
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Wednesday 19th June 2024 |
What is a Governor?
The Governors are a group of people who form part of the leadership of the school.
Although not employed or based at the school, Governors play a key role in the monitoring, development and management of the school. Governors get involved in all aspects of school life – such as:
- Finance
- Recruitment
- The curriculum
- Pastoral matters
- OFSTED
- The school buildings and facilities
Governors receive special training to ensure that they can be effective in their role. Governors are known collectively as “The Governing Body” of the school. There are people representing different groups such as parents, teachers and members of the local community.
Governors are normally elected or appointed for a period of 4 years, although Governing Bodies can set a shorter term of office for one or more categories of Governor.
What Governors Do?
The purpose of having a Governing Body is:
- Strategic - to help the school to set high standards by planning for the school's future and setting targets for school improvement;
- to support and challenge the school in maintaining focus on school improvement;
- to be a critical friend to the school, offering the school its support and advice;
- accountable - to help the school to be responsive to the needs of parents and the community and ensure the school is accountable to the public for what it does;
- to work with the school on planning, developing and maintaining policies;
- to exercise its responsibilities and powers in partnership with the Headteacher and staff;
- not to intervene in the day-to-day management of the school, unless there are weaknesses in the school, when they then have a duty to take action.
Sub-committees
With the exception of Finance all decisions are made at Full Governing Body meetings. Highfield has a finance subcommittee which is responsible for budget setting.
Finance subcommittee membership is:
- Chair of Governors (Chair)
- Finance Link Governor
- The Head
- School Business Manager (Associate Governing Board Member)
- Deputy Head (Associate Governing Board Member)
Associate Governing Board members have voting rights on the subcommittee, but not at FGB.
Types of Governor
There are 4 different types of Governor at The Highfield School.
However, all Governors have the same role and responsibilities, with the exception of staff Governors who do not participate in certain discussions, particularly related to personnel issues.
The types of Governor that we have at The Highfield School are:
Parent:
A parent or carer with a child at the school. Once appointed, parent governors will normally complete their term of office even if their child is no longer at the school.
Local Education Authority (LEA)
The Highfield School is a local authority maintained school and Hertfordshire County Council therefore appoints a number of school governors. LEA Governors do not have to be a council staff member or elected council official. The LEA maintains a list of people from the local community with an interest in education who have expressed a willingness to become a Governor, but not for any specific school.
Staff
All teachers and non-teaching staff are eligible for election as Staff Governors by fellow members of staff.
Co-opted
Someone invited to join the Governing Body by existing governors. Generally, a member of the local community with specific knowledge and skills – for example, business, financial or legal - that will be very useful to Governors.
Governor Summary
Click here for a summary of the Governing Body.
Our Governors
The governing body provides strategic direction and oversight for The Highfield School by holding the headteacher to account for its educational performance, making sure its money is well spent and ensuring the clarity of its vision and ethos.
Duncan Painter
Duncan has two children who attend The Highfield School. He has worked in corporate organisations throughout his career across legal, commercial and leadership roles. As a governor Duncan is focused on supporting the school as a safe, friendly and successful place for young local people to get the best education to develop their personal abilities and without bias or prejudice.
Jack Gladas
Jack is a data analyst with experience in a variety of sectors. He is passionate about effective use of data to drive decision making, and his professional expertise ranges from technical number-crunching, to educating stakeholders to improve statistical literacy. Prior to his career in data, he worked as a teacher of mathematics in secondary schools in and around Cambridge. Moving to Letchworth in 2022 has given Jack the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of young people by applying his experience in a school governor role.
Philip Hobbs
Philip has been a teacher at The Highfield School since 2018 and has been working in education within Hertfordshire for over 20 years. He brings knowledge of the practical implementation of policies and allows a student facing viewpoint to be included in discussions. He is passionate about the education of young people and has also worked in Scouting in Hertfordshire for over 20 years in his leisure time. He lives in the local area and has one child at The Highfield School and one at a local primary school.
Dan Nearney
Dan has been a Teacher in Hertfordshire and the local area for 22 years and is currently an Executive Headteacher for alternative provision. He brings knowledge of the needs within the local community and the support available to allow all students to reach their potential. Moving into Letchworth has given Dan the opportunity to support a local community school that shares his vision and values. Dan will support the school to ensure all students can meet the challenges in front of them to have a successful schooling and prosperous future.
Derin Ovonlen
There is an adage that says, “it takes a whole village to raise a child”. Derin is quite taken by this proverb as it entrusts a sense of responsibility to every individual member of the community - hence the reason Derin is serving as a governor. Derin received a legal education and has built a diversified skill set and experience ranging from supplier relationship management, negotiation, contract management, risk management, sustainable procurement, project management, policies, and change management. Derin's aim is to add value, serve, give back, support, help care for the wellbeing and success of the school in raising world class citizens.
Paul Switzer
Paul has one child at The Highfield School. He has experience in Critical Incident Management, Risk Management, Leadership, Safeguarding, and Management of Human Resources. Having previously worked in the Public Sector, Paul is very familiar with the Nolan Principles and still uses these as his guiding principles. Paul does voluntary work assisting train Police Officers and Police Community Support officers in Hertfordshire. He coaches the U12 rugby team at Letchworth Rugby Club and his hobbies include cycling and Karate.
Chris Wood
Chris is a qualified accountant and internal auditor, working in an assurance and leadership role in local government. He passionately promotes robust governance, risk management and control as a sound basis for effective service delivery. He lives locally and has one son attending primary school.
The Headteacher, Lucy Miles, also serves on the Governing Body.
Contacting The Governing Body
If you have a general question about the work of the Governing Body, please contact the Chair of Governors:
Duncan Painter: duncanpainter@highfield.herts.sch.uk
Joining the Governing Body
If you would like to express your interest in becoming a Governor in the future, please contact the Chair of Governors:
Duncan Painter: duncanpainter@highfield.herts.sch.uk
Clerk to the Governors
If you wish to contact the Clerk to the Governors please email:
clerk@highfield.herts.sch.uk
Concerns and Complaints
Governors do not get involved in the day-to-day running of the school, and the work carried out by teachers and other staff. If a parent or student has a concern or complaint about the school, then the first and best thing to do is to telephone, meet with, or write to the student’s Tutor. The Tutor will take ownership of the issue and ensure that it is dealt with. If this does not lead to a timely outcome, then the contact sequence below should be followed.
Only if this contact sequence has been followed and exhausted, or if there is a substantive reason for bypassing this process, will the Governing Body become involved.
In this situation, please contact the Chair of Governors:
Name: Duncan Painter
Email: duncanpainter@highfield.herts.sch.uk
