Our main role as governors of Dr Challoner’s Grammar School is to work with the Head to set the strategic direction and guiding principles of the school. We are also responsible for:
As a Governing Body we work at a strategic rather than operational level and discharge our responsibilities through the Head and his Senior Leadership Team (SLT).
We also provide specialist skills, e.g. financial, legal, project management, Human Resources, to help the Head and his senior team develop the school and to provide support to the teachers and staff.
As Governors, we put the education and welfare of the pupils at the heart of everything we do. We monitor the work, standards and performance of the school and provide a link with parents and our local community. We work together as a group and offer our time and effort on a purely voluntary basis because we are proud to be associated with an outstanding school and are dedicated to its continuing excellence.
Jane Penton, Chair
Members of the governing body are all local people with a strong interest in the school. Over half the governors are current or former DCGS parents.
The term of office of all Governors is four years excepting:
In general Governors are replaced as and when they reach the end of their four year term (shown in brackets). Subject to remaining eligible to be a particular type of Governor, any Governor may be re-appointed or re-elected.
Governors whose term of office has ended:
Mik Anderson (16 December 2017), Richard Gledhill (1 January 2018), Toni Nichols (1 January 2018).
The Members of the Academy Trust:
Governors are appointed to the Governing Body via a number of different means:
Community Governors are appointed by the members (two of whom are parents) of the Dr Challoner’s Grammar School Academy Trust.
Co-opted Governors are appointed by the governing body of Dr Challoner’s Grammar School.
Parent Governors are elected by ballot of the parent body of Dr Challoner’s Grammar School.
Staff Governors are elected by the staff of Dr Challoner’s Grammar School.
Student Observers, normally the School Captain and his two deputies, are invited by the governing body to attend Full Governing Body and sub-committee meetings in a non-voting capacity.
Whatever their means of appointment, all governors have an equal voice and do not represent any particular group.
Much of the regular business of the school is considered by governors in specialist committees which take reports, analyse information, discuss the issues in detail and provide advice to the Headmaster and his staff. They meet each term and report back to Full Governing Body meetings with actions and recommendations.
Historic attendance of Governors at Full Governing Body meetings can be seen in our Statement of Accounts.
Committee and responsibility gridMembership: Chair and Vice Chair of Governors, Chairs of other committees and the Senior Leadership Team.