SCHOOL GOVERNORS
A Guide to the Work of the Governing Body
What do Governors do?
The Governing Body of a school provides strategic leadership and accountability, and is responsible for both the conduct of the school and for promoting high standards.
The Governing Body of our school has:
- 16 Governors appointed by the Members of the Academy Trust
- 2 Parent Governors
- 3 Staff Governors
- 1 Governor nominated by the Local Authority
- The Dean of Carlisle is an Ex Officio Governor
- The Headteacher is an Ex Officio Governor
The three core functions of the Governing Body are:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its students, and the performance management of staff; and
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
In real terms, this involves key actions, such as:
- Approving the school budget.
- Determining the school’s Admissions Policy.
- Approving the School Improvement Plan.
- Appointing and appraising the Headteacher.
- Approving key policies that regulate how the school operates.
- Ensuring that the school is compliant with legal requirements.
- Determining employment practices as the employer of its staff.
Most importantly, the Governing Body has a key duty to monitor the work and performance of the school, by acting as a ‘critical friend’ – a source of challenge and support to the staff – working in partnership with the Headteacher. The day to day running of the school remains the responsibility of the Headteacher, not the Governing Body.
How does the Governing Body operate?
The full Governing Body holds four meetings per year – at least one per term. At each meeting, the Governing Body will go through reports from the Headteacher and the Senior Leadership Team, report on the work of its various committees and approve key decisions, and discuss pertinent issues relevant to the governance of the school.
“The governing body is very effective. Governors have a very good range of experience and expertise. As a result, they understand clearly about school finance, data and teaching, and closely question reports they are given. They are unrelenting in expecting students and staff to give of their best. They ensure that training and support for teachers and the quality of teaching for students help to accomplish this aim.”
OFSTED 2015
The Governing Body has six committees, who meet throughout the academic year, and whose work it is to develop the strategic direction of the school, taking key decisions to the meetings of the full Governing Body for ratification. They are:
- Church Foundation Committee: Under the leadership of the Dean of Carlisle, this committee reviews the school’s Christian ethos, and its activities that support the spiritual, moral, social and cultural life of the school and its students.
- Curriculum & Achievement Committee: Curriculum & Achievement Governors review developments within school regarding the curriculum, and monitor the performance of the school in terms of exam results, other key performance measures and the progress of key student groups.
- Finance & General Purpose Committee: The F&GP Committee monitors income and expenditure patterns of the school and ensures good financial management. It also approves key expenditures and works with the Headteacher and Business Manager to create the budget for approval by the full Governing Body.
- Pastoral Committee: The Pastoral Committee monitors the pastoral life of the school and the work of the pastoral team, ensuring that key policies are in place to meet legislative requirements and to support students in key areas such as: safeguarding and child protection, the year group system, careers guidance and work experience, Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), home-school links, vulnerable groups, and uniform.
- Premises Committee: This committee reviews the use, maintenance and development of the school grounds, site and buildings. It also reviews and monitors health and safety practices, ensuring that the school is fully compliant legally, as well as being a safe place to visit and work.
- Staffing Committee: As the employer of the school’s staff, this committee reviews employment policies and practices, ensuring that the school is fully compliant with legislation and is a fair and equitable employer. In addition, Staffing Governors also form a separate Pay Committee, which approves staff pay scales and pay decisions, and forms panels as required to hear any pay appeals.
Transparency of Governance Information
In the interests of transparency, governing bodies are required to publish up-to-date details of their governance arrangements on the school website. Below are full details of all Trinity Governors, their roles, dates of appointment, terms of office and attendance at meetings. Any relevant business and pecuniary interests are also listed, including governance roles in other educational institutions and any close relationships with other Governors or school staff.
Senior Governors
The Chairman of Governors, who is also Chairman of the Academy Trust, Mr Armstrong, has an association with the school spanning many decades, as a pupil of the Creighton School, as a parent of past pupils at Trinity School and as a governor since the 1980s. He served as Vice Chairman for 15 years and was elected Chairman in May 2007.
Mr D B Armstrong
Chairman of Governors
Date appointed: 1 September 2011
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2023
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Church Foundation – 2/2, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2, F&GP – 4/4, Pastoral (Ex Officio) – 2/3, Premises (Ex Officio) – 2/3 and Staffing 2/2
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Church Foundation – 2/2, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2, F&GP – 3/4, Pastoral (Ex Officio) 1/3, Premises (Ex Officio) – 3/3 and Staffing – 2/2
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 4/4; Church Foundation – 2/2, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2, F&GP – 4/4, Pastoral (Ex Officio) – 1/3, Premises (Ex-Officio) – 2/3 and Staffing – 2/2
The Vice Chairman is Mr Leach, a long-standing Governor. Mr Leach, he is a retired legal consultant and was former Managing Partner at Burnetts Solicitors. He chairs the Curriculum & Achievement and Staffing Committees. Following the resignation of Mrs Glendinning, Chair of the F&GP Committee in September 2019, he also chairs the F&GP Committee.
Mr T Leach
Vice Chairman of Governors
Chair: Curriculum & Achievement Committee, Staffing Committees and the F&GP Committee
Date appointed: 1 September 2011
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2022
Business & Pecuniary Interests: Director of Make Print Ltd (Lettings)
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 2/4, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2, F&GP – 3/4 and Staffing – 1/2
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 3/4, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2, F&GP – 2/4 and Staffing – 1/2
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 2/4, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2, F&GP – 3/4 and Staffing – 1/2
The Very Revd M Boyling, Dean of Carlisle
Chair: Church Foundation Committee
Date appointed: 1 September 2011
Current Term of Office: Ex Officio
Business & Pecuniary Interests: Director of Carlisle Cathedral Enterprises Co.
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Church Foundation – 2/2, Curriculum and Achievement – 2/2 and Staffing – 2/2
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Church Foundation – 2/2, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2 and Staffing – 2/2
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Church Foundation – 2/2, Curriculum & Achievement – 1/2 and Staffing – 2/2
Mr C Jefferson
Local-Authority Governor
Chair: Premises Committee
Date appointed: 1 September 2013
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2021
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Premises – 3/3 and Staffing – 2/2
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Premises – 3/3 and Staffing – 2/2
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Premises – 3/3 and Staffing – 2/2
Dr W D Paterson
Chair: Pastoral Committee
Date appointed: 1 September 2011
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2022
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2, Pastoral – 3/3 and Staffing – 2/2
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2, Pastoral – 3/3 and Staffing – 2/2
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2, Pastoral – 3/3 and Staffing – 2/2
Mrs S Glendinning, Chair of the F&GP Committee resigned from the Governing Body on 25 September 2019.
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 4/4 and F&GP – 3/4
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 2/4 and F&GP – 4/4
The other Governors on the school’s Governing Body are:
Appointed Governors:
Mrs S Aglionby OBE
Committees Attended: Church Foundation and Pastoral
Date Appointed: 1 September 2011
Current Term of Office: 4 years to January 2022
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Church Foundation – 1/2 and Pastoral – 1/3
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Church Foundation – 2/2 and Pastoral – 3/3
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Church Foundation – 2/2 and Pastoral – 3/3
Dr E Borlase
Committees Attended: Church Foundation and Pastoral
Date Appointed: 1 September 2013
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2021
Business & Pecuniary Interests: Self – GP at Brampton Medical Practice; Spouse – Finance Officer at Operation Mobilisation (a charitable organisation); 1 child in Year 12.
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 3/4, Church Foundation – 2/2 and Pastoral – 3/3
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 3/4, Church Foundation – 2/2 and Pastoral – 2/3
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 2/4, Church Foundation – 1/2 and Pastoral – 3/3
Mr M Carigiet
Committees Attended: Premises
Date Appointed: 1 December 2012
Current Term of Office: 4 years to December 2020
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 4/4 and Premises – 3/3
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 4/4 and Premises – 3/3
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 4/4 and Premises – 3/3
Mr D Carter
Committees Attended: F&GP and Premises
Date Appointed: 1 September 2016
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2020
Business & Pecuniary Interests: Self – Director/Shareholder at Bell Park Kerridge Limited (Solicitors) and Director/Shareholder at BPK Estate Agents Limited; Spouse – Director at BPK Estate Agents Limited
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 3/4, F&GP – 4/4 and Premises – 2/3
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 3/4, F&GP – 3/4 and Premises – 3/3
Mr T Dawson
Committees Attended: Pastoral and Premises
Date Appointed: 1 September 2011
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2020
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Pastoral – 2/3 and Premises – 2/3
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Pastoral – 3/3 and Premises – 2/3
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 3/4, Pastoral – 3/3 and Premises – 3/3
Mr A Hanson
Committees Attended: Pastoral
Date Appointed: 1 January 2019
Current Term of Office: 4 years to December 2022
Business & Pecuniary Interests: 2 children in year groups 9 and 11 at Trinity School
Mr J Johnston
Committees Attended: F&GP Committee
Date Appointed: 1 January 2019
Current Term of Office: 4 years to December 2022
Business & Pecuniary Interests: Self – Partner at Burnetts (Law Firm)
Mrs K Johnston
Committees Attended: Church Foundation, Curriculum & Achievement and Staffing
Date Appointed: 1 September 2011
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2020
Business & Pecuniary Interests: Self – None; Spouse – Non Executive Director at Cumberland Building Society and Non Executive Director at Future Money (Fund Management)
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Church Foundation – 2/2, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2 and Staffing – 1/2
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 2/4, Church Foundation – 1/2, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2 and Staffing – 2/2
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Church Foundation – 2/2, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2 and Staffing – 2/2
Mrs D Libby
Committees Attended: Church Foundation, F&GP and Premises
Date Appointed: 1 September 2011
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2020
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Church Foundation – 2/2, F&GP – 4/4 and Premises – 3/3
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 3/4, Church Foundation – 1/2, F&GP – 3/4 and Premises – 3/3
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 3/4, Church Foundation – 2/2, F&GP – 4/4 and Premises 2/3
Revd Canon M Manley
Committees Attended: Church Foundation
Date Appointed: 1 September 2011
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2020
Business & Pecuniary Interests: Director at Carlisle Cathedral and Chair of the Local Advisory Board at James Rennie Special School
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 3/4 and Church Foundation – 1/2
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 3/4 and Church Foundation – 2/2
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 2/4 and Church Foundation – 1/2
Mr S McDermott
Committees Attended: F&GP
Date Appointed: 1 December 2013
Current Term of Office: 4 years to November 2021
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 4/4 and F&GP – 4/4
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 3/4 and F&GP – 3/4
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 3/4 and F&GP – 4/4
Revd. D Pitkeathly
Committees Attended: Pastoral and Staffing
Date Appointed: 1 September 2016
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2020
Business & Pecuniary Interests: Trustee of The Border Kirk, Trustee of Churches Together in Cumbria, Trustee of Carlisle Foodbank and Trustee of Carlisle One World Centre
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 3/4, Pastoral – 2/3 and Staffing 1/2
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Pastoral – 2/3 and Staffing – 1/1
Mrs L Walkingshaw
Committees Attended: Pastoral and from 1 September 2019 Church Foundation
Appointed: 1 October 2018
Current Term of Office: 4 years to September 2022
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Parent Governors:
Mr M Burnes
Committees Attended: Curriculum & Achievement and Pastoral
Date Appointed: 1 March 2017
Current Term of Office: 4 years to February 2021
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2 and Pastoral – 2/3
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 1/2 and Pastoral – 1/1
Mr P Uppard
Committees Attended: Curriculum & Achievement and Premises
Date Appointed: 1 January 2019
Current Term of Office: 4 years to December 2022
Business & Pecuniary Interests: Self – None
Staff Governors:
Dr I Barker
Committees Attended: F&GP
Date Appointed: 1 September 2013
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2021
Business & Pecuniary Interests: Self – Teacher, Trinity School; Spouse – Head of English, Trinity School
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 3/4 and F&GP – 4/4
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 4/4 and F&GP – 4/4
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 2/4 and F&GP – 3/4
Mr G Edwards
Committees Attended: Curriculum from 1 September 2019 (Pastoral up to 31 August 2019
Date Appointed: 1 May 2016
Current Term of Office: 4 years to April 2020
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Attendance at Meetings 2017 to 2018: Full Governing Body – 4/4 and Pastoral – 2/3
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 4/4 and Pastoral – 2/3
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 1/1 and Pastoral – 1/1
Ms L Wedderburn
Committees Attended: Pastoral
Date Appointed: 1 September 2018
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2022
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Ms J Hawkin
Date appointed – 1 September 2019
Term of Office: Ex Officio Governor
Committees attended: Church Foundation, F&GP and Staffing. Ex Officio Member of Curriculum and Achievement, Pastoral and Premises.
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
For information:
Mrs Johnston and Mr Kay were appointed as Co-Headteachers on 1 September 2014 and they retired with effect from 31 August 2019. They were both Ex-Officio Governors. Mrs Johnston attended the Church Foundation, F&GP and Staffing (Pay) Committees and Mr Kay attended the Curriculum and Achievement Committee.
The normal period of office is 4 years, although Governors can be re-appointed or elected again.
The work of the Governors is supported by the Secretary to the Academy Trust & Governing Body, Mrs Minns, who was appointed in September 2016.
The Trinity Academy Trust
The Members of the Trust are:
Mr D B Armstrong
Chairman of Governors
The Very Revd M Boyling
Dean of Carlisle
Mr J Johnson
Diocesan Board of Finance Member appointment – representing the Diocesan Board of Finance
Date Appointed: 28 November 2017
The Right Reverend J Newcome
Bishop of Carlisle
Date Appointed: 1 September 2011
The Venerable L Townend
Archdeacon of Carlisle
Date Appointed: 25 February 2017
When and how to contact the Governing Body
Sometimes, Parents/Carers may wish to contact the Governing Body about a school matter that is affecting them.
In all situations, please contact the Headteacher in the first instance. The Headteacher is operationally in charge of the school and can most effectively deal with any issues. The Headteacher is also a Governor and is therefore best placed to bring any strategic matters to the attention of the Governing Body.
There are also formal processes in place within school to deal with admission and exclusion matters, and complaints. Parents/Carers involved in these processes will be contacted directly by school staff and informed of how to appeal.
However, if you do still wish to contact the Governing Body directly, please contact the Secretary to the Academy Trust & Governing Body for advice and guidance:
Mrs L Minns
Secretary to the Academy Trust & Governing Body
Trinity School
Strand Road
Carlisle
CA1 1JB
Tel: 01228 516051
Email: clerk@trinity.cumbria.sch.uk
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Download our Financial Statements Accounts Dec 2018
Download our Financial statements ending 31 August 2017
Download our Trinity School Carlisle Financial Statements CofE Academy 2015/16
Download our Trinity School Carlisle Financial Statements 2014 – 2015
Schools are required to have policies in place covering all aspects of the life and work of the school. Many are a legal requirement and others are recommended by the Department for Education (DfE). The Governing Body, together with the Senior Leadership Team, is responsible for the constant review of policies.
Parents/carers might find it helpful to know what policies are in place at Trinity School. The main areas of interest come under the headings of Pastoral, Curriculum and Premises. In addition the school does have policies that cover Leadership and Management, Staffing and Finance. For your information you will find on this website relevant Pastoral, Curriculum, Premises and Leadership and Management Policies.