The Governing Board of Windmill Hill
The Governing Board of Windmill Hill work, in partnership with the Headteacher, to develop and drive the strategic vision of the school. It has statutory duties that include, agreeing the school budget and expenditure and ensuring key policies are in place. Governors do not get involved with the day to day running of the school. Their role is that of a “critical friend” asking challenging questions and providing support. In order to be effective, Governors are expected to attend training and read all the relevant documentation. There are 3 full Governing Body meetings a year as well as 3 sub-committee meetings. These sub-committees are Curriculum, Finance and Buildings and Grounds.
At Windmill Hill Primary School we have the following sub-committees:
Buildings & Grounds:
The main purpose is to discuss health and safety; sustainability and maintenance of the learning environment and ensuring accessibility to key areas of the school grounds.
Finance:
The key areas of focus are future planning and building; risk registration; staffing and recruitment; legal compliance and general financial responsibilities.
Curriculum:
The primary focus is to discuss and monitor all aspects of our school’s work on attainment and progress. Their goal is to ensure a broad and balanced curriculum that meets statutory requirements.
Chair of Governors Mr Michael Soetendal
Governors' Impact Statement 2019/2020
Since the start of Miss Newman’s first year as Headteacher, the Governors promised and continue to promise, full support in whatever way possible to ensure her continued professional development.
This is to ensure that our children continue to thrive and develop in the outstanding fashion that they have over these past years, in not only their educational development, but also personal development.
To ensure that school leadership is competent and effective and staff members are motivated and driven to give their very best to making a real difference to the children they care for and teach.
Year on year, we are happy to see continual improvements in all areas of children’s development. Reading, writing and maths standards continue to rise, attaining and often exceeding national averages with phonics standards and maths deserving of real praise.
These improvements come from tremendous hard work from both staff and pupils alike.
As Governors, we are committed to questioning and scrutinizing all areas of school procedures, regulations, results and general life so as to attain the very best from our staff and pupils alike. Governors and staff regularly attend meetings and training sessions to ensure they are abreast of new ideas and confident enough to deliver these standards.
Over the coming year and beyond, we will be focussing more towards reading standards and reading levels with new Ofsted guidelines and frameworks being more geared towards reading passions and development.
Over the past months, I have made a number of school visits to observe school life in depth. From Reception to Year 6, there is nothing short of exceptional standards, be it teaching and lesson quality to pupil standards and behaviour.
While we aim to attain great results and standards, Safeguarding is still our utmost priority. Everything we do revolves around the protection of our children and staff. Governors and staff regularly receive up to date training to ensure we can confidently cope with any issues that may occur. We aim to make this school as safe and also pleasurable/happy experience as we can for both staff and children.
During the year, we aim to look at giving pupils a bigger voice, listening to their ideas and views on how they feel they are being taught. We aim to push for more parent interaction. To give ideas to the school so we can help parents and students from things such as attendance to reading. Being a parent myself, I can understand some of the hardships some families face with regards School-Parent-Child interactions. Any suggestions are most welcome and will help made a difference.
While we have plenty to celebrate and be thankful for, we cannot allow complacency especially in the coming months where Brexit and politics will play a large part in education. As previously stated, Ofsted have changed criteria and policies in the way they evaluate schools. The previous ‘results’ driven system has been replaced with a process driven system which focuses on curriculum and how and what we do to achieve our goals and if our processes are effective. Which, given the level of work that goes into our teaching, will illustrate the hard work, effort and sacrifice that our teachers give daily.
Throughout my association with Windmill Hill Primary School, it has been both a pleasure and an honour and a privilege to be a Governor and see the great things that happen here. But also, to be a parent and see the amazing leaps in education and confidence made by my child.
Myself and the fellow Governing board will continue to liaise closely with Miss Newman and staff members and ensure we continue to reach for the stars.
Chair of Governors Mr Michael Soetendal
The list Governing Body members and all of the courses that have been attended are available below.
Governing Board Members
Name | Start Date | Term of Office | Governor Type | Responsibilities |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mr Michael Soetendal (Parent Governor & Chair) | 12/01/2017 | 12th January 2017 to 11th January 2021 | Parent Governor elected by Parents | Chair of Governors, Buildings & Grounds, Curriculum, Finance, Staff Dismissal, Safer Recruitment Trained. |
Mr Mike Shepherd | 13/11/2012 | 10th March 2015 to 23rd October 2019 Resigned 23rd October 2019 | Co-opted to the GB by core members | --- |
Miss Paula Newman (Headteacher) | 18/04/2016 | 18th April 2016 to Present | Headteacher | Head Teacher, Educational Visits, Vice-Chair of Curriculum, Safer Recruitment Trained, Buildings & Grounds, Finance. |
Mr Tom East (Teacher) | 06/03/2018 | 6th March 2018 to 5th March 2022 | Staff Governor elected by Staff | Chair of SEN, Buildings & Grounds, Curriculum, Finance. |
Mrs Gill Gleave (Business Manager) | 10/03/2015 | 10th March 2015 to 9th March 2019 Became Associate Member from 7th March 2017 | Associate Member | Safer Recruitment Trained. |
Mr Jon Thain (Parent Governor) | 29/11/2016 | 29th November 2016 to 28th November 2020 | Parent Governor elected by Parents | Chair of Curriculum, Health & Safety, Buildings & Grounds, Finance, Staff Appeal. |
Mr Dan Ellis (Co-opted Governor) | 07/03/2017 | 7th March 2017 to 6th March 2021 | Co-opted to the GB by core members | Chair of Buildings & Grounds, Curriculum, Finance, Staff Dismissal, Pupil Discipline, Headteacher Performance Management. |
Mrs Claire Pentin | 19/06/2018 | 19th June 2018 to 18th June 2022 | LA Governor | Chair of Finance and Pupil Premium, Buildings & Grounds, Curriculum, Finance. |
Mrs Irene Bramwell | 30/10/2018 | 30th October 2018 to 29th October 2022 | Co-opted to the GB by core members | Buildings & Grounds, Curriculum, Finance. |
Mr Ged Murphy | 03/11/2020 | 3rd November 2020 to 2nd November 2024 | Co-opted to the GB by core members | |
Mrs Angela Askwith | 07/03/2017 | 31st October 2017 to 30th November 2018 | Co-opted to the GB by core members | --- |
Cllr David Cargill (Local Authority) | 01/01/2010 | 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2017 | Local Authority | --- |
Mr Steve Mowat | 04/03/2004 | 10th March 2015 to 9th March 2019 Resigned 31st October 2017 | Co-opted to the GB by core members | --- |
Mrs Michelle Bland | 16/10/2013 | 16th October 2013 to 15th October 2017 Resigned 4th January 2017 | Parent Governor elected by Parents | --- |
Name | Mr Michael Soetendal (Chair) |
Start Date | 12/01/2017 |
Term of Office | 12/01/2017 to 11/01/2021 |
Parent Governor Elected by Parents | Parent Governor & Chair |
Responsibilities | Chair of Governors, Buildings & Grounds, Curriculum, Finance, Staff Dismissal, Safer Recruitment Trained. |
Name | Mr Mike Shepherd |
Start Date | 13/11/2012 |
Term of Office | 10th March 2015 to 23rd October 2019 Resigned 23rd October 2019 |
Governor Type | Co-opted to the GB by core members |
Responsibilities | --- |
Name | Miss Paula Newman (Headteacher) |
Start Date | 18/04/2016 |
Term of Office | 18/04/2016 to Present |
Governor Type | Headteacher |
Responsibilities | Head Teacher, Educational Visits, Vice-Chair of Curriculum, Safer Recruitment Trained, Buildings & Grounds, Finance. |
Name | Mr Tom East (Teacher) |
Start Date | 06/03/2018 |
Term of Office | 06/03/2018 to 05/03/2022 |
Governor Type | Staff Governor elected by staff |
Responsibilities | Chair of SEN, Buildings & Grounds, Curriculum, Finance. |
Name | Gill Gleave (Business Manager) |
Start Date | 10/03/2015 |
Term of Office | 10/03/2015 to 09/032019 Became Associate Member from 07/03/2017 |
Governor Type | Associate Member |
Responsibilities | Safer Recruitment Trained. |
Name | Mr Jon Thain |
Start Date | 29/11/2016 |
Term of Office | 29/11/2016 to 28/11/2020 |
Governor Type | Parent Governor Elected by Parents |
Responsibilities | Chair of Curriculum, Health & Safety, Buildings & Grounds, Curriculum, Finance, Staff Appeal. |
Name | Mr Dan Ellis |
Start Date | 07/03/2017 |
Term of Office | 07/03/2017 to 06/03/2021 |
Governor Type | Co-opted to the GB by core members |
Responsibilities | Chair of Buildings & Grounds, Curriculum, Finance, Staff Dismissal, Pupil Discipline, Headteacher Performance Management. |
Name | Mrs Claire Pentin |
Start Date | 19/06/2018 |
Term of Office | 19/06/2018 to 19/06/2022 |
Governor Type | LA Governor |
Responsibilities | Chair of Finance and Pupil Premium, Buildings & Grounds, Curriculum, Finance. |
Name | Mrs Irene Bramwell |
Start Date | 30/10/2018 |
Term of Office | 30/10/2018 to 29/10/2022 |
Governor Type | Co-opted to the GB by core members |
Responsibilities | Buildings & Grounds, Curriculum, Finance. |
Name | Mr Ged Murphy |
Start Date | 03/11/2020 |
Term of Office | 3rd November 2020 to 2nd November 2024 |
Governor Type | Co-opted to the GB by core members |
Responsibilities | --- |
Name | Angela Askwith |
Start Date | 07/03/2017 |
Term of Office | 31/10/2017 to 30/11/2018 |
Governor Type | Co-opted to the GB by core members |
Responsibilities | --- |
Name | Cllr David Cargill |
Start Date | 01/01/2010 |
Term of Office | 01/01/2014 to 31/12/2017 |
Governor Type | Local Authority |
Responsibilities | --- |
Name | Steve Mowat |
Start Date | 04/03/2004 |
Term of Office | 10/03/2015 to 09/03/2019 Resigned 31/10/2017 |
Governor Type | Co-opted to the GB by core members |
Responsibilities | --- |
Name | Miss Michelle Bland |
Start Date | 16/10/2013 |
Term of Office | 16/10/2013 to 15/10/2017 Resigned 04/01/2017 |
Governor Type | Parent Governor Elected by Parents |
Responsibilities | --- |
Register of Interests
Name | Relevant Business Interest | Other Educational Establishments Governed | School Relationships (With Staff or Governors) |
---|---|---|---|
Mr Michael Soetendal (Parent Governor and Chair) | --- | --- | --- |
Miss Paula Newman (Headteacher) | --- | --- | Cousin of Mr D Stoddart (Teacher) |
Mr Tom East (Teacher) | --- | --- | --- |
Mrs Gill Gleave (Business Manager) | --- | --- | --- |
Mr Jon Thain (Parent Governor) | Web Design Halton (Created the school's website) | --- | Nephew of Mrs L Price (Midday Assistant) |
Mr Dan Ellis (Co-opted Governor) | --- | --- | --- |
Mrs Claire Pentin (Local Authority) | --- | --- | --- |
Mrs Irene Bramwell (Co-opted Governor) | --- | --- | --- |
Name | Mr Michael Soetendal |
Relevant Business Interest | --- |
Other Educational Establishments Governed | --- |
School Relationships (With Staff or Governors) | --- |
Name | Miss Paula Newman |
Relevant Business Interest | --- |
Other Educational Establishments Governed | --- |
School Relationships (With Staff or Governors) | Cousin of Mr D Stoddart (Teacher) |
Name | Mr Tom East |
Relevant Business Interest | --- |
Other Educational Establishments Governed | --- |
School Relationships (With Staff or Governors) | --- |
Name | Mrs Gill Gleave |
Relevant Business Interest | --- |
Other Educational Establishments Governed | --- |
School Relationships (With Staff or Governors) | --- |
Name | Mr Jon Thain |
Relevant Business Interest | Web Design Halton (Created the school's website) |
Other Educational Establishments Governed | --- |
School Relationships (With Staff or Governors) | Nephew of Mrs L Price (Midday Assistant) |
Name | Mr Dan Ellis |
Relevant Business Interest | --- |
Other Educational Establishments Governed | --- |
School Relationships (With Staff or Governors) | --- |
Name | Mrs Claire Pentin |
Relevant Business Interest | --- |
Other Educational Establishments Governed | --- |
School Relationships (With Staff or Governors) | --- |
Name | Mrs Irene Bramwell |
Relevant Business Interest | --- |
Other Educational Establishments Governed | --- |
School Relationships (with Staff or Governors) | --- |
Governor Meeting Attendance 2020/2021
Date of Meeting | Type of Meeting | Governors Present | Apologies Received | Apologies not Received |
---|---|---|---|---|
03/11/20 | Full Governing Body | M Soetendal P Newman G Gleave J Thain D Ellis C Pentin G Murphy P Price | T East I Bramwell | --- |
03/11/20 | Full Governing Body |
Governors Present | M Soetendal P Newman G Gleave J Thain D Ellis C Pentin G Murphy P Price |
Apologies | T East I Bramwell |
Governor Training 2019/2020
16/09/19 & 07/10/19 | Basic Awareness in Safeguarding and Child Protection Training |
Governors Present | M Soetendal P Newman T East G Gleave J Thain I Bramwell D Ellis C Pentin |
23/09/19 | Chair of Governors Briefing |
Governors Present | M Soetendal |
22/10/19 | Chair of Governor Assessment |
Governors Present | M Soetendal |
05/12/19 | Governor Safeguarding – Roles and Responsibilities |
Governors Present | M Soetendal C Pentin |
12/02/20 | OFSTED Preparation (LA) |
Governors Present | M Soetendal J Thain I Bramwell D Ellis C Pentin |
20/01/20 | Governor Briefing |
Governors Present | C Pentin |
22/01/20 | Schools Financial Value Statement |
Governors Present | C Pentin |
03/03/20 | Primary Inspection Data Summary Report |
Governors Present | M Soetendal P Newman T East J Thain C Pentin |