The School governors are a team of people who work closely with the head teacher to make the major decisions vital to the successful running of the school. The governors appoint the head teacher and make decisions that directly affect the education and well-being of the children.
To ensure clarity of vision and strategic direction for the school;
To hold the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school;
To oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure its money is well spent.
These questions are used to guide the governing board meetings and to review our governing board performance and test the effectiveness of delegated structures and operations:
The governing board was reconstituted in 2012 in accordance with regulations from the Department for Education (DfE) and consists of 12 governor positions.
There are 7 co-opted governors, who are selected by the governors from the local community for their skills and relevant experience. There are two parent governors who are required to have children at the school when they are elected by the other parents. One governor is nominated by Norfolk County Council. There is one staff governor elected by the school staff. The headteacher is also a governor.
The governing board fulfils its duties through formal meetings of the whole board and three sub-committees. The sub-committees comprise: the Strategic Leadership Committee (Chair: Alex Robinson) which sets the overall direction and priorities for governors each term; the Pupil Learning Committee (Chair: Gordon Woolcock) which scrutinises academic performance, teaching and learning and the curriculum; and the Staffing and Resources Committee (Chair: Kerry Porteous) which oversees all financial matters, human resources (personnel) and premises. There are a number of other committees which meet for specific activities during the school year, for example Headteacher Performance Management. The full “operating model” and terms of reference for the committees can be read in the document attached below. All governors are committed to a governor’s code of conduct (download below).
Individual governors visit the school frequently. Some governors are parents and others have previously had children at the school. During the year there are two or three formal “governors in school” days when several governors visit together to monitor aspects of the school improvement plans and to meet pupils and staff.
Governors contribute to the wider local education system through participation at cluster events, training sessions and conferences and through involvement with other schools’ governing boards.
Headteacher governor, permanent member of governing board.
Responsibilities: member of all committees.
Meeting attendance 2019-20: attended 5 out of 5 full governing board meetings,
Register of interests: None
Staff governor, 17/11/2017 - 16/11/2021
Responsibilities: member of Pupil Learning Committee.
Meeting attendance 2019-20: attended 4 out of 5 full governing board meetings.
Register of interests: None
Co-opted governor, 22/09/17 - 21/09/2021
Responsibilities: Chair of Staffing and Resources Committee, member of Pay Committee, member of Strategic Leadership Committee, link governor for Safeguarding.
Meeting attendance 2019-20: attended 4 out of 5 full governing board meetings.
Register of interests: None
Co-opted governor, 06/12/2020 - 05/12/2024
Responsibilities: Chair of the Governing Board, Chair of Strategic Leadership Committee, link governor for training / skills, member of Staffing and Resources Committee, member of Headteacher Performance Management Committee, member of Pay Committee, link governor for SEND.
Meeting attendance 2019-20: attended 5 out of 5 full governing board meetings.
Register of interests: National Leader of Governance providing school governance advice to other schools in England. Director of the Viscount Nelson Education Network CIC which provides school improvement services to schools not including Millfield.
Other Governing Boards: academy trust Member at Ad Meliora Trust and academy trust member at Enrich Learning Trust.
Co-opted governor, 14/09/2018 - 14/09/2022
Responsibilities: member of Staffing and Resources Committee (SRC).
Meeting attendance 2019-20: attended 4 out of 5 full governing board meetings.
Register of interests: None
Local Authority governor, 23/03/2019 - 22/03/2023
Responsibilities: Vice Chair of governing board, member of Staffing and Resources Committee, link governor for Health and Safety.
Meeting attendance 2019-20: attended 4 out of 5 full governing board meetings.
Register of interests: spouse works as a Teaching Assistant at the school.
Responsibilities: Vice Chair of governing board, member of Strategic Leadership Committee, member of Pupil Learning Committee link governor for Pupil Premium (PP) and Looked After Children (LAC).
Meeting attendance 2019-20: attended 5 out of 5 full governing board meetings.
Register of interests: None
There is currently a vacancy for a Parent Governor.