Governors
Governing Body
Chair's Welcome
On behalf of all Governors, a warm welcome to Giles Junior School.
As school Governors, we have an important role in monitoring the safety, welfare and education of all of our children. We work collectively and strategically as a corporate body to drive forward the school’s vision.
Governors do not manage the school; this is the role of the Headteacher and the Senior Leadership team. Instead we oversee the development of the school by working closely with them to monitor and provide supportive challenge, ensuring our children receive the best.
These are some examples of some of our areas of responsibility:
- Monitoring pupil achievement, progress and pupil safety
- Ensuring statutory requirements are met and achieved
- Financial oversight
- Setting strategic priorities for the school’s continued development and improvement
- Safeguarding of children and staff
The members of the Governing Body are proud and privileged to be able to contribute to the leadership of Giles Juniors for the benefit of all children, parents and staff. We hope you will take time to get to know your Governing Body and please feel free to get in touch at any time.
Your commitment as a Governor
Our Governors give significant amounts of time and energy. They involve themselves actively in the work of the governing board, attend regularly and accept their fair share of responsibilities, including service on committees or working groups. There is one full governors’ meeting a term, but this depends very much on need e.g. setting the budget might require an additional meeting. Meetings last between 2 - 2½ hours and are usually held on Wednesdays in the evening. You will be asked to join a committee; the committee meetings also take place once a term and may be in school time, the late afternoon or early evening. These meetings are held in school or online as appropriate.
Governors are expected to visit the school during the school day at least once a term, preferably more often, in order to become familiar with the school, understand how it operates and get to know the staff and children. There is also a considerable amount of reading involved including reports, data and reviewing policies. The Governors Code of Conduct and Charter will tell you more (you will find this in the Statutory Information/Policies section on the school’s website).
Overall, being a governor will need, on average, about 6 hours of your time every month.
Under law to you are entitled to ’reasonable time off’ to undertake public duties which includes school governance. This is not defined and you will need to negotiate with your employer who is not obliged to pay you for this time. Please note that we do not pay Governors' travel expenses.
You will be assigned a mentor from the governing body to help you. The Clerk to the Governors will contact you to explain procedures of our Governing Body and to send documents for completion and signature. The Local Authority values the contribution of its governors and aims to provide good training and support. New governors are required to attend Induction, Safeguarding, Exclusion and Prevent training courses, which at present can all be done online. Other courses to increase knowledge and understanding of educational issues can be taken as required.
Next Steps
If you are reading this and think you may be able to offer your expertise to our Governing Body, we would be delighted for you to join us and look forward to meeting you.
For more information about applying to become one of our governors, please contact admin@gilesjm.herts.sch.uk or follow the LINK here to watch a short video about the role of Governors.
If you decide you wish to apply to become a governor please note that you will be required to have an interview with a few of our Governors, to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, and to supply references.
The governing body of Giles Junior School is composed of parents, representatives of the local community and the local authority and school staff. Governors have legal powers, duties and responsibilities. Our role is to work strategically with the school’s senior leadership team, challenging and questioning the school, identifying priorities for improvement and ensuring that these have a positive impact.
Who we are
Our Governing Board should comprise 15 members of which 3 are Parent Governors, 9 are Co-opted Governors, 1 is a Local Authority Governor and 1 is a Staff governor and Miss Whitby, our Head teacher, is also a Governor.
Parent Governors are elected by the parents of the school. These may be parents or carers of pupils registered at Giles Junior School. They represent the parents and ensure other Governors are kept in touch with the concerns and issues of most importance to our parents. They are not there to promote the interests of their own children but of all the children attending the school.
Co-opted Governors are appointed by the Governing Board. Some are former parent Governors whose children have left the school but continue to support the school and have a contribution to make. Some may be teachers or other members of staff who help to bring a school and educational perspective to the Governing Board. Some are members of the local community who have an interest in education and also bring other skills.
L.A. governors are appointed by the local authority.
Staff Governors represent all the people who work within the school.
The term of office for all governors is 4 years.
All governors have equal status and their overriding concern is the success and welfare of the school as a whole.
Our governors make a positive contribution to the school and the education of the children and were commended for this by Ofsted at the last inspection. They work in close partnership with the Head Teacher to promote continuous improvement in the performance of the school.
You can see profiles of our current governors here.
Why be a School Governor?
Anyone over 18 can be a school governor (unless they are disqualified), and you do not need to be a parent of a child who is at the school (see above - the types of governors). Being a governor means you will be making a positive and rewarding contribution to the school and local community, and your skills will help the governing board to be more effective, which leads to improvement for the school and to the pupils’ education and development.
You do not need to have knowledge of the education system – you will quickly learn about this as you settle into your role – and you don’t need to be ‘a professional.’ Of course you will receive training, which will extend your continuing professional development, providing you with new skills and understanding. There are many aspects to school leadership where skills outside of the education sector are invaluable, such as human resources or finance.
Committees
Curriculum & Standards Committee
The Curriculum and Standards Committee is responsible for ensuring that Giles Junior School provides a balanced curriculum which promotes the development of children and prepares them for future opportunities, responsibilities, and experiences. We monitor teaching and pupil achievement to maintain and improve standards and ensure high expectations. Our work includes:
- Monitoring progress in children’s books
- Receiving and analysing data on attainment and progress
- Holding the Senior Leadership team and teachers to account to ensure they maintain high standards by asking challenging questions
- Monitoring lessons
- Talking to children to gain their views
- Ensuring the school allocates pupil premium funding and sports funding to good effect
- Supporting learning in the classroom
Resources Committee
The Resources Committee is responsible for four main topics – money, people, the premises (buildings and grounds) and safeguarding (children and staff, including Health and Safety).
The committee works with the school to ensure that it is able to make the most of its staff, finances and facilities, and that it is a safe and stimulating environment for our pupils, staff and visitors, through a range of activities including:
- Setting the school’s budget and ensuring that the school’s priorities are included
- Regularly monitoring income and expenditure and ensuring that all financial risks have been considered and minimised
- Ensuring that the school gets the best possible value for the equipment and services we purchase
- Producing and implementing policies and standards for financial management (including those for Lettings, Charging and Remissions, Debt Recovery ), personnel, Health and Safety and Safeguarding (including Accessibility, Attendance, Behaviour, Child Protection, Equality, First Aid, Safer Recruitment and Whistleblowing)
- Determining and implementing the school’s staff pay and performance management policies
- The recruitment of teaching staff
- Managing the school’s assets, including the school buildings and grounds.
Governor Profiles
Kim Hedley - Chair of Governors
I was a governor at Giles many years ago when my daughters were both pupils at the school. I was extremely proud to be asked to consider joining again. I know the value we (the governing body) can add as a group and individuals to the achievements of all the pupils who attend our school. I believe that we add value and help the pupils and the staff by supporting the school. I joined the governing body in autumn 2018 as a co-opted governor. I am a scientist at Lister Hospital, Stevenage, where I work full time, I am also a member of the Trusts staff side exec, which gives me a different insight into how policies and procedures can work this helps me make a different contribution to the governing body.
Matthew Dimond - Vice-Chair
I was appointed as a co-opted governor in 2021. I have been a teacher since 2011 and I am currently an Assistant Headteacher at a secondary school in Luton with a current responsibility for Key Stage 3 and 4 Assessment and Progress. I have a real passion to ensure that all students have the opportunity to progress regardless of their starting point. Being a governor at Giles is a great opportunity to pass on my expertise in data analysis and progress. I am looking forward to supporting the school and providing a positive contribution to the governing body. Away from education, I enjoy taking part in a range of sports and spending time out in the countryside.
Ric Euteneuer - Local Authority Governor
I have been a governor at Giles Junior since 2003, representing Hertfordshire as a local authority nominee. In my working life I am employed by Southwark Council as a pupil place planner - ensuring there are sufficient school places now and in the future for all pupils to have a place and choice of schools. Prior to that I have worked across London in a similar role and in rural Cambridgeshire in strategic housing. All of this has given me a "joined up" view of the provision of education in Stevenage and the role of this governing body and individual governor in the support and scrutiny of the senior leadership team.
Nichola Mead - Co-opted Governor
TBC
Edward Kaahwa - Parent Governor
I am a parent governor and a proud parent of a child at the school. I work as a senior leader in a large secondary school in London, with responsibility for educational technology and staff wellbeing.
I am passionate about supporting high-quality education, strong leadership, and a positive school culture. As a parent governor, I am committed to representing parents’ views and supporting the school in making decisions that are in the best interests of all pupils.
Manisha Khan - Staff Governor
Currently on Maternity Leave
Anne Wells - Health & Safety Governor
Bio coming soon ...
Georgia Lyme - Co-opted Governor
As a lifelong resident of Stevenage, I am proud to join the Giles Junior School governing body. My professional background is in the education sector, where I have spent the last nine years partnering with Hertfordshire schools to manage their staffing and recruitment strategies. I am particularly passionate about staff well-being and retention, and I hope to offer practical support and clarity to the board. Away from work, I have a real passion for trying new recipes and experimenting with food. I also always have a book on the go, and I am the proud owner of two miniature schnauzers!
