Birkenshaw CE (C) Primary School

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Governor Information

Welcome to the Governors Page

The Governing Body of Birkenshaw CE (C)  Primary School is a group of parents, staff, members of the diocese and members of the local community who oversee the running of your school. The school is very fortunate to have a hard working and supportive Governing Body which meets regularly to discuss all areas of school activity in order to ensure that the school is fulfilling its duties and to forward new developments and other improvements. Each Governor is passionate about the school and volunteers their time, away from their busy schedules, to act as a ‘critical friend’ to the school.

In addition to the full Governing Body which meets four times a year, there are three ‘sub-committees’ who meet three times a year to deal with different aspects of school management in more detail:

  • Resources Committee, which focuses on the school finances, the upkeep of the premises, projects and staffing issues.
  • Standards and Effectiveness Committee, which focuses on the academic performance of the school, curriculum and child welfare matters; and
  • Children, Families and Communities Committee, which focuses on pastoral needs, behaviour, links with parents and the local community

The Governors also make regular visits to the school.  Through doing this they get to know the staff, children and parents and are, therefore, better informed about the school they are responsible for overseeing.

The following people have been elected or appointed to represent you on the governing body:

Name

Type of Governor

Body who appointed

Date Appointed

Term of Office

Stepdown

Governance role in another school

Mrs Amanda Mahoney (Chair)

Co-opted

Community

Governors

Nov 2022

4 years

Nov 2026

 

No

Cllr Elizabeth Smaje

 

Local Authority

Local Authority

March 2023

4 Years

Mar 2027

 

No

Mrs Rebecca Martin

 

Headteacher

Ex- Officio

Sept 2012

Ex- Officio

 

No

Mrs Helen Hare

Staff

Staff

July 2022

4 years July 2026

 

No

Mrs Joanne Frost

Co-opted Staff

Governors

Sept 2021

4 Years

Sept 2025

 

No

Mr Ian Tobin

 

Associate Member

Associate Staff Member

Sept 2021

4 years

Sept 2025

 

No

Mr Richard Wayman

 Co-opted

Community

 Governors

Feb 2021

 4 Years

Feb 2025

 

No

Mrs Katherine Hainsworth 

 Associate Member

 Associate Staff Member

Sept 2021

4 years

Sept 2025

 

No

Mr Richard McKirgan 

(Vice Chair)

 Parent

 Parents

Feb 2021

4 Years

Feb 2025

 

No

Mrs Claire Tidgwell

Parent

Parents

June 2023

4 Years June 2027

 

No

Mrs Valerie Hesketh

Co-opted

Governors

 Mar 2022

 4 Years

Mar 2026

 April 2024

 No

Miss H Woodcock

 Ex-Officio

Diocese

 Jan 2023

 4 Years 

Jan 2027

 

 No

Mrs Helen Worsnup

Foundation

PCC

 July 2024

 4 years

July 2028

 

 No

Vacancy

Foundation

Diocese

 

 

 

 

Vacancy

Co-opted

Governors

 

 

 

 

 

PDF icon Please click on this link to view Governors Attendance Register & Business & Financial Interests 2024-2025

PDF iconPlease click on this link to view the Governing Body Code of Conduct

Governing Body  Committees

As well as being on the main Governing Body, Governors are also members of different committees. The committees for 2024 / 2025 are -

Standards and Effectiveness Committee (main)

PDF icon Please click on this link to see the Terms of Reference

Mrs A Mahoney

Head Teacher

Mrs J Frost

Mr R Wayman

Mrs C Tidgwell

Mr I Tobin (Associate)

Vacancy

Resources Committee (main)

PDF icon Please click on this link to see the Terms of Reference

Mrs A Mahoney

Head Teacher

Mr R McKirgan

Mrs H Woodcock

Mrs H Hare

Mrs K Hainsworth (Associate) 

Vacancy

Children, Families and Community Committee (main)

PDF icon Please click on this link to see the Terms of Reference

Mrs A Mahoney

Head Teacher

Mr R McKirgan

Mrs H Hare

Cllr E Smaje

Mrs K Hainsworth ( Associate)

Pay Committee

PDF icon Please click on this link to see the Terms of Reference

Mrs A Mahoney

Head Teacher

Cllr E Smaje

Mr R McKirgan

Staff Dismissals Committee

Mrs A Mahoney

Cllr E Smaje

Mr R Wayman

Dismissal Appeals Committee

Mrs C Tigwell

Mrs H Woodcock

Mr R McKirgan

Pupil Discipline Committee

Mrs A Mahoney

Mrs H Worsnup

Mrs H Woodcock

Teacher Appraisal Committee

Mrs A Mahoney

Cllr E Smaje

Mr R McKirgan

Teacher Appraisal Appeals Committee

Mrs C Tidgwell

Mrs H Woodcock

Mr R Wayman

 Complaints Committee

All Governors who are not staff members in school will be considered members of this committee and the relevant / most suitable staff will be selected to form the committee if it needs to convene. If necessary Governors from other schools will be invited to join this committee.

Governors Responsibilities

All our school Governors are linked to a priority or focus area in school. Each term, Governors meet with the relevant member of school staff to discuss their area in further detail. Governors look at action plans, data and impact of actions linked to each area. They hold the school to account as well as becoming well informed about a particular priority in school. Each Governor shares visit information with the other Governors so that all Governors are well informed. Below is a list of the priority areas for 2024 - 2025.

Priority Area

Staff Lead

Link Governor

Assessment and Curriculum

Ian Tobin / Rebecca Martin

Jo Frost and Richard Wayman

RE / SIAMS

Claire Dickens

 Hilary Woodcock

PE/Sports Premium

Ian Tobin

Richard McKirgan

Pupil Premium/LAC

Rebecca Martin

Claire Tidgwell

Health and Safety

Sara Mitchell / Rebecca Martin

Richard McKirgan

SEN / Equality

Katherine Hainsworth

Richard McKirgan

Early Years

Rachel Fox / Claire Dickens

Helen Hare

Safeguarding & children protection

Rebecca Martin / Ian Tobin

Cllr Liz Smaje 

Behaviour and Attendance

Rebecca Martin

Amanda Mahoney

Emotional Wellbeing

Sharron Goldspink / Helen Hare

Helen Worsnup

Training

Rebecca Martin

Jo Frost

Website

Rebecca Martin / Jo Frost

Richard Wayman

 

Governor Class Links

Each of our Governors is linked to a class. During the year Governors visit and write to their link classes. They get to know the children and all about the curriculum in their year group. At the end of the year, each Governor moves up to the next year group with their link class. This ensures that the Governors continue to build relationships with specific groups of children.  The links for 2024-2025 are –

Class

Year Group

Teachers Name

Linked Governors Name

Ladybird

Early Years

Mrs Elliott & Mrs Dickens

Helen Hare

Dragonfly

Early Years

Miss Chipchase & Mrs Dickens

Hilary Woodcock

Butterfly

Early Years

Miss Fox

Hilary Woodcock

Seadragon

Year 1

Mrs Tobin & Mrs Hainsworth

Claire Tidgwell

Stingray

Year 1

Miss Wilcock

Claire Tidgwell

Starfish

Year 2

Mrs Jaroszek & Mrs Hainsworth

Amanda Mahoney

Dolphin

Year 2

Mrs Mealor

Amanda Mahoney

Zebra

Year 3

Mrs Walker

Jo Frost

Leopard

Year 3

Miss Hall

Jo Frost

Kangaroo

Year 4

Miss Sidebottom

Richard McKirgan

Koala

Year 4

Mrs Charrosin

Richard McKirgan

Owl

Year 5

Miss Hawkes

Helen Worsnup

Robin

Year 5

Mrs Walsh & Mr Tobin

Helen Worsnup

Hawk

Year 6

Miss Jackson

Richard Wayman & Cllr Elizabeth Smaje

Eagle

Year 6

Mrs Margetts

Richard Wayman & Cllr Elizabeth Smaje

 Contact details for the Chair of Governors Mrs A Mahoney 

 Email: chair.birkenshawprimary@kirkleeseducation.uk