Highfields School Governing Board 2019-20

Highfields School is fortunate in the kinds of people who have volunteered to become governors, each bringing a variety of skills and experience to support the school.

The composition of the governing board for 2019-20 is split as follows. Each governor serves a term of office of four years.

Name

Miss Angeline Ellson

Mr Paul Steeples

Mr Rob Atkinson Miss Lizzy Dence Mr Dennis Holmes Mr Andrew Marsh Mr David Matthews Mr Nick Newberry Mrs Antonia O'Donoghue Miss Jodie Rogers Mr Tim Smith

Governor Type Chair of Governors

Parent

Vice Chair of Governors

Co-opted Co-opted Staff Parent Headteacher Parent Parent Co-opted Co-opted Co-opted

Link Governor Area

Leadership and strategy

Inclusion (SEND, behaviour, attendance) - Finance, resources and personnel - - - Safeguarding, H&S, well-being - Standards: Curriculum (intent, implementation, impact)

We currently have co-opted and LA governor vacancies on our Governing Board (see link below) – if you are interested in becoming a governor please contact Angeline Ellson, Chair of Governors (aellson@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk) to find out further information.

Governor vacancy information: http://www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk/pdfs/VacancyPDFs/GovernorRecruitment2020.pdf http://www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk/pdfs/VacancyPDFs/GovernorRecruitment.pps

Full details of Highfields Governing Board can be accessed on the school website: http://www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk/governors.html

Governor Vacancies - Highfields School Governing Board

Are you passionate about future generations? Do you want to make a difference to young people? Would you like to develop your own skills? Do you have some time to give to our community? Have you ever thought about becoming a school governor?

Highfields School is currently seeking new individuals to join our Governing Board as a co-opted or local authority member.

A co-opted governor is appointed by the Governing Board if they match the skill set required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.

Local authority governors are nominated by Derbyshire County Council and appointed by the Governing Board. The local authority can nominate any eligible person as a local authority governor. Anyone interested in applying for the post of LA governor would be required to submit an application form for nomination by Derbyshire County Council.

To be a school governor you need:  An interest in the performance of the school  A desire to contribute to and represent the community  An open and enquiring mind  The ability to look at issues objectively  The confidence to ask questions and join in debate  A willingness to listen and make informed judgements

A Governing Board provides strategic leadership and accountability to the school. It has three main functions:  Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction  Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its students and the performance management of staff  Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

There is training and support for the role including access to external governor training.

As a governor you will be able to:  Use your own experience of education and life beyond school to inform conversations  Develop and utilise your skills in a board-level environment  Make a valuable contribution to education and your community  Support and challenge the school so that it improves for students and staff  Bring your unique experiences, perspectives and insights to decision-making in the interests of the school community

The skills the Governing Board are particularly looking for are in finance, HR, health & safety, property & estate management or curriculum development.

If you are interested or would like to learn more please click this link Governor vacancies, please get in touch with Angeline Ellson (Chair of Governors) at chair@highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk

2019-20 academic year

Term dates:

 3 September 2019 - 25 October 2019  4 November 2019- 20 December 2019  6 January 2020 - 14 February 2020  24 February 2020 - 3 April 2020  20 April 2020 - 22 May 2020  1 June 2020 - 21 July 2020

Bank holidays:

 25 and 26 December 2019  1 January 2020  10 April 2020 (Good Friday)  13 April 2020 (Easter Monday)  Friday 8 May 2020*  25 May 2020 (spring bank holiday)  31 August 2020 (summer bank holiday)

INSET days (no students in school):

 Tuesday 3 September 2019  Friday 6 December 2019  Friday 3 July 2020  Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 July 2020

* Change to May Bank Holliday: Next year's early May bank holiday has been moved back by four days for the whole of the UK to coincide with the 75th anniversary of VE Day. May Day was scheduled to be

held on Monday 4 May but will be put back to Friday 8 May for 2020 only.

In line with government guidelines Highfields School closed from 3.30pm on Friday 20 March 2020 to all students apart from those of keyworkers requiring emergency childcare in response to the outbreak of Covid-19.

2020-21 academic year

Term dates:

 1 September 2020** to 23 October 2020  2 November 2020 to 17 December 2020**  4 January 2021 to 12 February 2021  22 February 2021 to 1 April 2021  19 April 2021 to 28 May 2021  7 June 2021 to 22 July 2021

INSET days (no students in school):

1 September 2020

Remaining dates to be confirmed

** From 2015 schools have been able to consider variations to term dates provided they meet the statutory requirements. With this in mind we have taken the decision to return to school one day earlier for the start of the new academic year (Tuesday 1 September 2020) and finish the autumn term one day earlier (Thursday 17 December 2020). This is to ensure a smooth start to the academic year rather than students starting back with a staggered start on Thursday or Friday.

The start of the 2020-21 academic year is as follows:  Tuesday 1 September 2020 - Staff will return to school on Tuesday that will be designated as an INSET day (no students in school).  Wednesday 2 September 2020 – students in years 7 and 9 only return to school  Thursday 3 September 2020 – all studentsreturn to school

ParentView Survey

We would like to remind you that you have the opportunity to give your views of school through the Ofsted Parent View survey below.

https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk/

The survey is designed by Ofsted and is used by Inspectors when making decisions about which schools to inspect and when.