Governors

Sherington Governing Body

The Sherington governors share the enthusiasm and excitement for learning that pupils and staff have. We are proud of Sherington’s outstanding achievements and are committed to the Sherington vision of “Aspire Believe Create Achieve” and between us, we bring a wide variety of skills and experience to the role.

To get in touch, you can email governors@sherington.greenwich.sch.uk, leave a message in the school office or catch us in the playground – questions, ideas, comments all welcome! (Please note that the first port of call for any issues relating specifically to your child is your child’s class teacher.)

Linda Pound – Chair of Governors

Sherington’s Governing Board has four key responsibilities:

The role of the governing body is strategic (not operational – the headteacher is responsible for the day-to-day running of the school). The governing body acts as a “critical friend” to the school and its leadership.  Governors focus on these core strategic functions:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction– we help decide the school’s strategy for improvement. We do not get involved in the day-to-day management of the school but focus on key issues that will raise standards and achievement.
• Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff. We use our knowledge and experience to support and challenge (in a constructive way) the headteacher and staff so as to get the best possible teaching and outcomes.
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent . We work with the staff to ensure that the school makes best use of its resources.
• Ensuring the voices of stakeholders are heard by ensuring that governors are visible to staff, children and parents and take up opportunities to interact with all three groups.

Governor Impact Statement – September 2023 to August 2024

The academic year September 2023 to September 2024 was full of challenge, change and success at Sherington. Throughout the year the Sherington’s governing board has continued to provide support to the senior leadership team (SLT) in the work of the school.

In September we were saddened to receive the resignation of the headteacher Amanda Burnell with effect from December 2023. Amanda had worked at Sherington with huge commitment and dedication for over twenty years. During the Autumn Term we advertised the position but were unable to shortlist at that point. However, a second advertisement which was published early in 2024 brought a large response. Following a rigorous selection process, we were delighted to have been able to appoint Mrs Hannah Freeman who took up the post this September.

During the Autumn Term we also underwent an Ofsted inspection – the first in over a decade. Ofsted evaluates how effectively governors challenge and holds senior leaders to account for all aspects of the school’s performance and ensure financial stability, and judge the effectiveness of governance Overall we were delighted that the inspectors recognised the school’s strengths in supporting children’s personal development and in offering a broad curriculum placing a strong emphasis on the arts and literature. The high standards of achievements across core subjects were also recognised but inspectors felt there was insufficient emphasis on support for children with SEND. The school had regarded this as a priority, before the inspection and since then senior leaders have continued this focus for development.

In the interim period, following Amanda Burnell’s departure and before Hannah Freeman’s official arrival, we were fortunate to have the support of Elspeth Geden. Elspeth is the substantive head of Montbelle Primary School and supported Sherington as executive headteacher. She set up a number of informal meetings with groups of parents, focusing on SEND and on the school improvement plan. The development of provision for children with SEND was a key issue arising from the OFSTED inspection during the summer term 2023. One of the key issues raised by parents was wrap-around care. Elspeth undertook investigations on behalf of the school and this preparation enabled Hannah Freeman to take a firm decision – following discussion with the chair and vice chairs of the governing board. before she was actually in post – to extend after school provision. This has got off to a good start. Elspeth was also instrumental in helping staff to become more engaged with other local schools and networks.

The governing board is looking forward to another successful year, working with our new headteacher – in conjunction with staff, children and parents..

How do we ensure effective governance?

• Through regular attendance at governors’ meetings, where we receive full updates on achievements, staffing, resources. We take on the role of critical friends, supportive of the school’s ethos and taking an important role in evaluation of the school’s work. Processes for ensuring the safety and well-being of children and staff, and equality for all are monitored.
• By getting to know the school, visiting at regular intervals to see the school in action, to meet parents and children and to celebrate achievements across the curriculum. Visits may be informal or designed to focus on a specific area of the school’s work.
• Governors are involved in the appointment of new staff, particularly at a senior level. In cooperation with a local authority advisor governors are also involved in headteacher appraisal.
• All governors undertake training. We must all undertake annual training on safeguarding but the authority offers a range of courses which many board members attend.

Head Teacher Appraisal

The governing body carries out the headteacher appraisal annually. Several governors have undertaken headteacher’s appraisal training, and with expert assistance from an independent educational advisor through the Local Authority, the appraisal is carried out. The appraisal process allows us to look closely at the performance of the headteacher, have discussions about areas of strengths, and where necessary, areas for development. New targets are then set against criteria which the headteacher’s performance will be evaluated.

Training

All members of governing body have and continue to have significant training. All members have undergone safeguarding and safer recruitment training. Alongside the whole governor body training, governors attend individual courses and training.

Please click here for attendance of meetings for the last completed school year.

All terms of office are 4 years unless otherwise noted.

Our Clerk is Lucy Davies, provided by Royal Greenwich Governor Services.

F&P = Finance & Personnel, L&A = Learning & Achievement, P = Premises, Pay = Pay Committee

ROI = Register of interests

The Governing Body including the Head are required to register any business interests on appointment and at every governors meeting.  The Register of Interests is held in the school office. 

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