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 currently has:
- 15 Governors appointed by the Members of the Academy Trust
- 2 Parent Governors
- 3 Staff Governors
- 1 Governor nominated by the Local Authority
- The 2 Co-Headteachers are Ex Officio Governors
The three core functions of the Governing Body are:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Holding the Co-Headteachers 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 Co-Headteachers.
- 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 Co-Headteachers. The day to day running of the school remains the responsibility of the Co-Headteachers, 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 Co-Headteachers 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 Co-Headteachers 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 D Brian 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 2019
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
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 Tom Leach, a long-standing Governor. Mr Leach, a Legal Consultant, retired 2 years ago and was former Managing Partner at Burnetts Solicitors. He chairs the Curriculum & Achievement and Staffing Committees
Mr T Leach
Vice Chairman of Governors
Chair: Curriculum & Achievement and Staffing Committees
Date appointed: 1 September 2011
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2022
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
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: Dean at Carlisle Cathedral; Director, Carlisle Cathedral Enterprises Ltd; Trustee, Carlisle Cathedral Development Trust; Trustee, Ouseley Church Music Trust
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
Mrs S Glendinning
Chair: F&GP Committee
Date appointed: 1 December 2013
Current Term of Office: 4 years to November 2021
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 2/4 and F&GP – 4/4
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 3/4 and F&GP – 2/4
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 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 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
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: Self – Director, Susan’s Farm, C.I.C
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, Brampton Medical Practice; Spouse – Employee, OM – ICT (charitable organisation); Child – Student in Year 12, Trinity School; Child – Student in Year 10, Trinity School
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 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, Bell Park Kerridge Limited, (Solicitors); Director, BPK Estate Agents Limited; Spouse – Director, BPK Estate Agents Limited
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 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
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 – Partner, Armstrong Watson LLP (Accountants); Director, AW Audit Ltd (Accountants); Director, AW Financial Planning (Financial Advisors); Director, Future Money Ltd (Fund Management); Director, Cumberland Building Society
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 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: None
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: Branch Manager, HSBC Bank PLC
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: None
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Pastoral – 2/3 and Staffing – 1/1
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 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 1/2 and Pastoral – 1/1
There is currently a Parent Governor vacancy
Mr I McGregor – stepped down from his role on the Governing Body on 31 August 2018
Committees Attended: Pastoral and Staffing
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 – Teacher, Trinity School
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 – Staff Governor
Committees Attended: Pastoral and Premises
Date Appointed: 1 May 2016
Current Term of Office: 4 years to April 2020
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Pastoral – 2/3 and Premises – 3/3
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 1/1 and Pastoral – 1/1
Ms Linda Wedderburn
Committees Attended: Pastoral
Date Appointed: 1 September 2018
Current Term of Office: 4 years to August 2022
Business & Pecuniary Interests: to be advised
Mrs C Robinson resigned from her role as Staff Governor on 31 August 2018
Committees Attended: Pastoral
Co-Headteachers:
Mrs S Johnston
Committees Attended: Church Foundation, F&GP and Staffing
Date Appointed: 1 September 2014
Current Term of Office: Ex Officio
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Church Foundation – 2/2, F&GP – 4/4 and Staffing (Pay) – 1/1
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Church Foundation – 2/2, F&GP – 4/4 and Staffing (Pay) – 1/1
Mr D Kay
Committees Attended: Curriculum & Achievement
Date Appointed: 1 September 2014
Current Term of Office: Ex Officio
Business & Pecuniary Interests: None
Attendance at Meetings 2016 to 2017: Full Governing Body – 4/4, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2, F&GP – 1/1 and Staffing (Pay) – 1/1
Attendance at Meetings 2015 to 2016: Full Governing Body – 3/4, Curriculum & Achievement – 2/2 and Staffing – 1/1
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 Co-Headteachers in the first instance. They are operationally in charge of the school and can most effectively deal with any issues. The Co-Headteachers are also Governors, and are 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 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.