THE GOVERNING BODY
The main focus of Northway’s Governing Body is ensuring that our pupils make good progress in their education and we appreciate that for this to happen the school must be well-led by a professionally competent leadership team with motivated staff who all work together within a safe, caring, supportive yet professionally challenging environment. The governing body work alongside the leadership team and all staff to ensure that our children develop into well-equipped, independent learners and thinkers. Our motto “Nurturing today’s minds for tomorrow’s challenges” is at the heart of our thinking and decision making.
In accordance with the Government’s requirement for all governing bodies, the three core strategic functions of Northway Community Primary School Governing Body are:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos, values and strategic direction;
- Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff;
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent;
Setting the strategic direction of the school is a vital role of governors. They support the Headteacher and senior leadership team in setting the school’s priorities and strategic direction. Governors continually monitor the School Improvement Plan (SIP). They receive termly reports from the Headteacher relating to the SIP and monitor the progress towards achieving targets and goals. They then receive an in-depth end of year evaluation detailing the member/members of staff that were responsible for leading the progression, the methods used, pupil outcomes, the timescale in which it was actioned, resources used to enable the progress, the success criteria and how and who it was monitored by.
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
The governing body work as a ‘whole team’, meeting once every half term. By working as one board, without separate committees, this enables all governors to work together to strategically lead the school and the vision for continued improvement. In addition to the full governing body meetings, there are committees established for Headteacher Performance Management, Pay, Pay Appeals, Staffing Disciplinary and Disciplinary Appeals. Working parties may be set up throughout the year as required, for example to complete the Schools Financial Values Standard. Governors have link roles which enable them to provide a greater level of support and challenge in key areas, including safeguarding, health and safety, finance, SEND, pupil premium and with curriculum subjects.
The governing body of Northway Community Primary School consists of:
- One local authority governor
- Three parent governors
- Four co-opted governors
- One staff governor
- One headteacher governor
- One observer (Deputy Headteacher)
MEET OUR GOVERNORS
Governor: KATE McKENZIE | Category: HEAD TEACHER |
Appointed on: 1/9/2020 | Appointed by: GOVERNING BODY |
Term: N/A | Financial/Business interest: NIL |
Governor at another school: NO | |
Roles & Committees: Headteacher - all committees | |
Governor: JANINE PETERS | Category: CO-OPTED |
Appointed on: 16/3/2022 | Appointed by: GOVERNING BODY |
Term: 4 YEARS | Business interests: SISTER ON STAFF |
Governor at another school: NO | |
Roles & Responsibilities: Chair of Governors, Full Governors, Pay Committee, Head teacher's Performance Management & Safeguarding Governor | |
Governor bio:
I became a Parent Governor in January 2018. As a former pupil, I have wonderful memories of Northway school. Both of my children attend the school, and I am pleased to have been given the opportunity to serve on the governing body. In October 2023, I became the Chair of Governors and am delighted to commit to this new role at Northway. I work in social housing with a background in performance management, customer insight and business transformation. I look forward to working with other governors and senior staff. I hope to make a valuable contribution to the excellent work being done at Northway to provide an outstanding education for the children. |
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Governor: CLARE ELWILL | Category: PARENT |
Appointed on: 23/01/2023 | Appointed by: PARENT ELECTION |
Term: 4 YEARS | Financial/Business interests: NIL |
Governor at another school: NO | |
Roles & Responsibilities: Full Governors | |
Governor bio: It is a pleasure to be a part of the Governing Body at Northway Primary School. I currently have a daughter in Year 3 and a son in Reception and they thoroughly enjoy school and I am glad that we made a good choice for them to be here for such an important part of their education.
I have been a primary school teacher since 2007, working mostly for Knowsley Council and more recently West Lancashire Council. I hope that the skills and knowledge that I have regarding education will support me with the important decisions that the Governors make, and ensure that the children at Northway receive the best education and enjoy every aspect of school life.
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Governor: LISA BAGGALEY | Category: CO-OPTED |
Appointed on: 12/6/2022 | Appointed by: GOVERNING BODY |
Term: 4 YEARS | Financial/Business interests: NIL |
Governor at another school: YES | |
Roles & Responsibilities: Full Governors, Teaching & Learning Link | |
Governor bio: I have 15 years teaching experience in the primary sector and now work for Liverpool City Council as a School Improvement Officer. I have a passion for mathematics and became subject leader during my first year of teaching. Subsequently, I have worked across a number of Sefton schools as an advanced skills maths teacher. I am an accredited Every Child Counts Lead Trainer and NCETM Lead and regularly lead professional development for teachers and teaching assistants to deliver mathematics intervention programmes. I was a governor at Deyes High for 3 years and am excited to join the team at Northway. I am committed to the role and hope my experience will enable me to support the school to continue to provide an excellent education for the children. |
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Governor: TOM LEAH | Category: LOCAL AUTHORITY |
Appointed on: 21/6/2024 | Appointed by: LOCAL AUTHORITY |
Term: 4 YEARS | Business interests: DAUGHTER ON STAFF |
Governor at another school: NO | |
Roles & Responsibilities: Full Governors, Health & Safety Link | |
Governor bio: I joined the Governor team at Northway in September 2016 and enjoy to adding value and experience to the school. I joined the team to sit on the Resources Committee as this is my speciality but I am open to helping in other positions if appropriate. I come from an Engineering Project Management and Facilities Management background in the retailing sector. I have also spent a number of years managing Building Services and Building Facilities departments in warehousing and logistics. Currently, I am employed within a Project Management Role in a Parcel Handling Business. I am familiar with the financial control of Building Services and Building Projects, the Health and Safety and Compliance legislation although Schools are a new challenge for me. On a regular basis I deal with contractors, construction projects and building fabric contracts within my Senior Manager Role. I will bring experience from my Facilities Management and Compliance roles to support the team at Northway Community Primary School to keep the buildings fit for purpose and the children safe. |
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Governor: EMMA O'CONNOR | Category: STAFF |
Appointed on: 14/07/2023 | Appointed by: STAFF ELECTION |
Term: 4 YEARS | Financial/Business interests: NIL |
Governor at another school: NO | |
Roles & Responsibilites: Full Governors | |
Governor bio: I have been teaching since 2007 and joined the Northway team in 2016. I currently teach in Year 2 but have taught from Y1 - Y6 during my career. I lead Maths in Northway alongside Mrs Reardon. I have recently completed the NPQ in Leading Teaching. It is a privilege to be part of the governing body and I want to continue help our school to be a place where children and staff are happy and thrive, fulfilling their potential. |
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Governor: NICKIE BARNES | Category: CO-OPTED |
Appointed on: 21/10/2021 | Appointed by: GOVERNING BODY |
Term: 4 YEARS | Financial/Business interests: NIL |
Governor at another school: NO | |
Roles & Responsibilities: Full Governors, SEND Link | |
Governor bio: I became a Governor at Northway in September 2021. I have lived in Maghull all my life so the community is very important to me. I have worked in HMRC for the last 23 years and currently I am a manager in Customs. I worked a couple of evenings per week as a youth worker for 10 years. I have previously been a local councillor for 9 years, a school governor of a local high school and I voluntarily managed the Youth Coffee Bar based at Maghull Town Hall for 20 years. I am looking forward to supporting Northway in the months and years ahead to help drive Northway forward and continue providing an excellent all-round education for its pupils. |
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Governor: DIANE CUSHION | Category: PARENT |
Appointed on: 7/11/2024 | Appointed by: PARENT ELECTION |
Term: 4 YEARS | Financial/Business interests: NIL |
Governor at another school: NO | |
Roles & Responsibilities: Full Governors | |
Governor bio: | |
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Governor: SARAH BALDWIN | Category: PARENT |
Appointed on: 6/7/2022 | Appointed by: PARENT ELECTION |
Term: 4 YEARS | Financial/Business interests: NIL |
Governor at another school: NO | |
Roles & Responsibilities: Vice Chair, Full Governors, Pupil Premium Link | |
Governor bio: | |
It is a lovely privilege to have been elected as a parent governor. I have two children at Northway and I am very thankful to have found such a supportive and welcoming school for them. I am a primary school teacher with over 15 years experience, I hope the skill set I have built during this time will help the governing board with their decision making. I look forward to working with the team to ensure Northway continues to provide an excellent education and caring environment, where all of our children can continue to thrive. |
POLICIES
Governors review all relevant policies, during the relevant committee meeting, on a programmed basis to ensure that they meet the statutory requirements and that all guidance is relevant and up to date.
Specific attention is paid to ensure that the school complies with the Department of Education mandatory policy list and the Local Authority recommended list.
TRAINING
The governing body access training through the Local Authority’s SLA with Governor Services.
New Governors are expected to attend LA training for new Governors. Governors are encouraged to attend any training that is relevant to the SIP in the first instance and may also attend any training that is of particular interest to them. We also ensure that any statutory training is attended either through the SLA or via an approved online training programme. The staff also provide training for governors which is sometimes held before or after a scheduled meeting or if required another meeting time is arranged.
Governors have attended training on Safeguarding, Prevent Strategy, Safer Recruitment, Introduction to School Governance, the role of a governor in the OFSTED inspection and Health & Safety courses.
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