Welcome from Chair of Governors:

On behalf of the Trust Local Governors of Woodfield Academy, I would like to offer you a very warm welcome to our school.

We joined the Bordesley Multi Academy Trust in April 2022 and we want to reiterate that we are committed to remaining a middle school, whilst working closely with our pyramid partners. The Trust Local Governors are passionate and proud of the school’s achievements and with the Headteacher, are ready to support the school on the next stage of its journey.

In this section you will be able to find out more information about the school’s Governors and the work that we do. At the heart of the Governing Body ethos is the education, development and well-being of our children and staff; ensuring that each and every person in school may achieve their full potential in a safe, caring and nurturing environment.

Governors are volunteers who bring their outside experience into school to act as ‘critical friends’. Membership of the Governing Body is drawn from different parts of the community including parents, staff and co-opted members with specific skills. The Governors are responsible for the strategic development of the school.

The three core strategic 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;
  • Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure that its money is well spent;
  • Be transparent and accountable, including in recruiting staff, its governance structure, attendance at meetings and contact with parents.

Governors are also responsible for ensuring that the school meets statutory requirements with regard to Safeguarding, Health and Safety, the Curriculum and Finance. The Local Governing Body delegates responsibility for the day to day running of the school to the Headteacher, and hold the Headteacher to account for the performance of the school. The Local Governing Body cannot delegate their accountability but can delegate some of the detailed scrutiny, oversight and decision making.

Committees

The full Local Governing Body Committee – meets 6 times a year, once in each school half term.

The Local Governing Body has also established three further committees which meet as required to carry out some of its governance functions. Where this includes making decisions, those decisions will be deemed decisions of the Local Governing Body. Our committees are;

Finance and Audit Committee

Initial oversight and management of the annual budget drawn up by the school; Ensures the school maintains an appropriate system of internal financial control; Agrees priorities for revenue and capital funding.

Operations and Compliance Committee

This committee ensures strategic oversight of the operational aspects of the school including safeguarding arrangements and Health and Safety. This committee also functions to ensure that the school is compliant with statutory regulations and statutory guidance.

Education, Staffing and Standards

Primarily drives standards and performance via the analysis of the School Development Plan (SDP). The committee makes recommendations to the Local Governing Board as required.

Other Responsibilities

  • We also, along with the Trust, appoint and conduct the performance management of the Headteacher.
  • We also serve on a range of different panels that may be needed for appeals such as school admissions, pay and disciplinary matters for both children and staff.
  • We monitor the school and evaluate the work by undertaking school visits to see evidence in practice and we then review these at our meetings, feeding back to the Headteacher on our findings.
  • Some Governors have specific monitoring links relating to Safeguarding, SEND, Pupil Premium, Curriculum and Health & Safety

Register of Business Interests

The Local Governing Body of Woodfield Academy and staff members have a responsibility to avoid any conflict between their business and personal interests and affairs and the interests of the school.

A register of business interests is maintained for both Governors and school personnel with significant financial responsibilities. The register includes all business interests such as directorships, share-holdings and other appointments of influence within a business or other organisation that may have dealings with the school. The disclosures also include business interests of relatives and other individuals who may exert influence. A full record of disclosures is kept on record in school and this is completed annually by all Governors.

 

The Chair of our Local Governing Body is Neil Pagett and the Vice Chair is Judith Doidge, both being appointed in October 2023. The Clerk to the Woodfield Local Governing Body is Kim Edwards.

Our Local Governing Board is very much a team and we are united by our collective commitment aiming to deliver the best for our pupils: whether that be providing the optimal learning environment and atmosphere, ensuring their well-being, or delivering the highest standards of education and teaching. Parents are a fundamental part of this team, and the school places great value on close co-operation between parents and staff to ensure that every child realises their potential.

On behalf of the Trust Local Governing Body, we welcome your comments, suggestions and feedback. Please address any letters to “The Clerk to the Trust Local Governing Body” using the school address or email, details of which can be found on our home page. Alternatively, pop into school and leave a message at the office, or if you see a governor at a school event, please come and say hello.

Being a governor is a very rewarding experience and I would encourage anyone considering how they could further support the school, to get in touch and to keep an eye out for parent governor elections. I wish your child every success and happiness at Woodfield Academy.

Woodfield Local Board Chair

Name Appointed Office Term Link Areas Committees
Judith Doidge Trust Local Governor 1.04.22 – 1.04.26 Curriculum, English, SEND, PSHE, PE, Sports Premium, IT, Humanities, RE, Languages, Music LGB Vice-Chair, ESS, Finance, Ops & Comp
Jane Louise Spilsbury Appointed by foundation/Trust 14.02.23 -13.02.27

 

Curriculum 

 

 LGB, ESS
Ross Elliot Gardner Appointed by foundation/Trust 14.02.23 -13.02.27  Finance  LGB, Finance, Ops & Comp
Rebecca Delmore Trust Local Governor 1.04.22 – 1.04.26 Safeguarding LGB, Ops & Comp
Neil Padgett Trust Local Governor 1.07.22 – 1.07.26 Behaviour, Pupil Premium, Mathematics, Attendance, Pastoral, Data, IT Science LGB Chair, ESS, Finance, Ops & Comp
Emma Carr Parent Governor 1.04.22 – 1.04.26 Careers, Health & Safety, Attendance LGB, Finance, Chair, Ops & Comp Chair
Tarryn Golding Parent Governor 1.04.22 – 1.04.26 Parent & Community Links, Wellbeing LGB, ESS
Neil Straw Headteacher Ex Officio   LGB, ESS, Finance, Ops & Comp  
Dagmara Sheffield Staff Governor 1.04.22 – 1.04.26 Science LGB, Finance, Ops & Comp
Bev Whiteside Staff Governor 1.04.22 – 1.04.26 Parent & Community Links, Wellbeing LGB, ESS
Adrian Ward      
Shaw Goodwin      

 

 

Click here to view/download : Governor meeting attendance

Please click on the links below to read more about our current Governors and Parent Governors.