Governors
Samuel Lucas Governing Board
The Governing Board is part of the Leadership and Management of the school and works within the Department for Education and Local Authority guidelines and provides an independent view of the school. Governors set the vision and strategic direction and try to improve the school, ensuring that the aims and vision are implemented through long term development.
The Governing Board provides an oversight of the management and operation of the school, with the aim of improving the quality of education provided and raising standards. The Governing Board does not run the school on a day to day basis. The daily management of the school is the responsibility of the Headteacher and the other senior staff.
The Governing Board will usually meet between 4 and 5 times in each academic year. The meetings are usually held in the evening and last approximately two hours. The Governing Board has also established Committees to focus on different areas of the School. These Committees will tend to meet once or twice a term and again, usually meet in the evenings. The Committees are:
- Resources Committee (Finance / Personnel / Premises)
- School Improvement Committee
The Governing Board is appointed to:
- Appoint the Headteacher and other senior staff
- Help set the school’s vision, aims, plans and policies
- Offer support and advice to the school
- Act as a “critical friend”, challenging the school leadership where appropriate
- Approve and monitor the school’s budget
- Ensure the policies are appropriate and are implemented in the school
- Visit the school to confirm policies are implemented and to understand the school better
- Help to develop community links
- Review pupil discipline
- Focus on a safe and well-maintained learning environment
The Governing Board is not involved with:
- Managing the day-to-day aspects of school life
- Inspecting the school and its teaching and learning
- Deciding on the way pupils are taught;
- Determining whether a pupil should be excluded
Who is the Governing Board?
The Governing Board is made up of up to 12 members. There are 5 categories of members for a Community School: Parent; Staff; Community, Coopted and Local Authority. The Governing Board may also appoint an Associate Member.
A full list of the current Governors are as follows:
| NAME |
GOVERNOR ROLE |
TERM OF OFFICE |
APPOINTING BODY |
REGISTER OF BUSINESS / PECUNIARY INTERESTS |
REGISTER OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS |
RELATIONSHIP TO MEMBER OF STAFF OR THEIR RELATIVES |
GOVERNOR AT OTHER ESTABLISHMENT |
| Ben Fuller |
Chair |
May 2015 – 2019 |
Governing Board |
Ben is an employee of Herts for Learning Ltd. which supplies services to schools;
Ben’s wife Lara Fuller, is a self-employed provider of services to schools, as owner and director of ”Inquiry Active Teachers”. |
None |
None |
None |
| Tracy Thomas |
Headteacher |
– |
|
None |
None |
None |
None |
| Andy Burgess |
Vice Chair / Parent |
March 2017 – 2021 |
Parent Election |
None |
None |
None |
None |
| Lee Allan |
Vice Chair / Co-opted |
May 2015 – 2019 |
Governing Board |
Lee provides web design services to schools and other educational organisations. |
None |
None |
None |
| Michael Taylor |
Community |
August 2016 – 2020 |
Governing Board |
None |
None |
None |
None |
| Dominic Roberts |
Parent |
January 2015 – 2019 |
Parent Election |
None |
None |
None |
None |
| Susan Cosgrave |
Co-opted / Staff |
March 2017 – 2021 |
Governing Board |
None |
None |
None |
None |
| Robert Burgess |
Staff |
November 2015 – 2019 |
Governing Board |
None |
None |
None |
None |
| Sandra Otila Ortiz |
Parent |
January 2016 – 2020 |
Parent Election |
None |
None |
None |
None |
| Lorraine Painter |
Staff |
May 2016 – 2020 |
Governing Board |
None |
None |
None |
None |
| Nick Shaw |
Parent |
October 2016 – 2020 |
Parent Election |
None |
None |
None |
None |
| Kayleigh Kingsland |
FGB Clerk |
|
Governing Board |
Herts for Learning Employee |
None |
None |
None |
Copies of the signed minutes for Governing Board meetings are available from the School upon request.
Governors’ Meeting Attendance Register
| FULL GOVERNING BOARD |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spring 16 |
Summer 16 |
Autumn 16 |
Spring 17 |
Summer 17 |
Autumn 17 |
| Ben Fuller |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Tracy Thomas |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Andrew Burgess |
Y |
Y |
N |
N |
Y |
N |
| Lee Allan |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Michael Taylor |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
| Dominic Roberts |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Lorraine Painter |
n/a |
n/a |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Robert Burgess |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Sandoora Otila Ortiz |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Susan Cosgrave |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Y |
Y |
Y |
| Nick Shaw |
n/a |
n/a |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spring 16 |
Summer 16 |
Autumn 16 |
Spring 17 |
Summer 17 |
Now Resources Committee |
| Tracy Thomas |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| Anthony Fussey |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
| Dominic Roberts |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| Michael Taylor |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| Lorraine Painter |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| PREMISES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spring 16 |
September 16 |
November 16 |
February 17 |
Summer 17 |
Now Resources Committee |
| Dominic Roberts (Chair) |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| Andrew Burgess |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| Nick Shaw |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| Tracy Thomas |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| Susan Cosgrave |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Y (Guest) |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Benjamin Fuller |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| Robert Burgess |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| Lorraine Painter |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| Andy Burgess |
Y |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
| Sandoora Ortiz |
n/a |
Y |
Y |
N |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| RESOURCES |
|
|
|
|
|
Autumn 17 |
| Dominic Roberts (Chair) |
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
| Nick Shaw |
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
| Benjamin Fuller |
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
| Michael Taylor |
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
| Tracy Thomas |
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
| Lorraine Painter |
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
| Susan Cosgrave |
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
Becoming a Governor
School governors come from every walk of life and there is no requirement for you to have an educational background, indeed it is desirable to have a variety of skills and backgrounds on the Governing Board. The nature of the role is dependent on the individual school’s circumstances and legal requirements (e.g. its size, outcome of a recent Ofsted inspection etc) but will always contribute to the over-arching work of the governing body and link to the main focus of school improvement; thus ensuring the children and young people are able to achieve to the best of their ability, in a safe environment.
Samuel Lucas welcomes new Governors to join the team as this always brings a fresh perspective into the Governing Board.
So what would I have to do?
- show commitment by attending meetings (full governing body and committee meetings)
- attend training when needed
- work as a member as part of a team without self-interest
- make visits to the school during the school day so you can know our school
- have the best interests of the school at heart
Is training available?
Yes.
A day’s ‘Governor Induction’ is run by the Hertfordshire County Council Governance Team and is recommended in the first 3 months of your new term of office. This will help you to understand more about the role of being a Governor and is usually run at the weekend. ‘Safeguarding Children for Governors’ training is also recommended in the first 6 months, as the welfare and safety of our children is paramount. This course normally takes 2-3 hours and is run regularly during the week in the evening.
When you become a Governor, the Chair of Governors or governor who oversees training will be able to help you book onto courses. Once your governor term is confirmed, you will also receive monthly emails with details of training courses on offer. At Samuel Lucas we encourage Governors to take any training that they feel they need.
How do I become a Governor?
If you are interested in becoming a governor and you are a parent of a child or a member of the wider community and would like to apply to join the Samuel Lucas governing body please contact the school directly regarding vacancies.
If you would like further detail or an informal discussion about becoming a Local Authority or Community governor in Hertfordshire, please (01438) 843082. Further information is also available on the Hertfordshire County Council website.
