1. Home
  2. |
  3. Our school
  4. |
  5. Governance

Governance

Welcome to the Willow Park Church of England Primary School.

We aim to continue the strong  track records that were in evidence from our predecessor schools – educational outcomes, values based community and individual development.

We’re always excited to welcome new families into our unique and friendly community.

As governors, we work with the headteacher, Chris Larke-Phillips, to help him and the Senior Leadership Team make sure that life and education are the best they can be for children, parents/carers and staff. We come to the school as volunteers from professional backgrounds in fields like education, business, charity, local government… and we know that Willow Park is a place where children can thrive in every aspect of their being.

As a Church school we ensure our community is one where people of all faiths and none are valued as a part of the wonderful world we live in – and that each child is helped to feel that they are immeasurably valuable. We want to make sure that the whole child is nurtured and, whatever our role in the school community, that we all find ways to be the light individually and all together.

Our governing body is responsible for the strategic leadership of our school, working to ensure that we deliver a good quality education. Together with the head teacher who is responsible for the day-to-day management, it sets the school’s aims and policies.

The Governors also carry out a number of other important duties, including:

  • overseeing the school’s budget
  • helping with the appointment of staff
  • making sure school buildings are welcoming and safe
  • setting and monitoring the school’s aims and policies
  • monitoring the performance of the school e.g. in key stage tests
  • advising on school policies and procedures
  • providing a vital means for parents and the community to get their views heard by the governing body as a whole.

In addition as governors of a Church of England school, the Governors support Willow Park’s distinctively Christian ethos and values.

Who are our Governors?

Willow Park C of E Primary School is a Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School and as such we have Governors who have been appointed by the Diocese known as Foundation Governors as well as Local Authority, Co-opted and Parent Governors.

Our Co-Chairs of Governors are Mrs Janet Bremner and Dr Mary Benton.

Please download information about our Governors here:

Governors – Willow Park Primary October 2023

Governor Meeting Attendance October 2023

 

How do our Governors make decisions?

The Full Governing Body meets five times a year and we also have two committees (Resources and School Improvement), who each meet three times a year and a Pay Committee which typically meets just once a year.

Governors take on the following commitments to help make sure our school is well-led:

  • sharing the responsibilities of the governing body as summarised above
  • attending and participating in governors’ meetings. Governors are usually members of a committee as well as the Full Governing Body
  • being willing when needed to take on a ‘named governor’ monitoring role
  • visiting the school
  • undergoing appropriate training

How to contact our Governors

We welcome feedback and ideas about the strategic direction of the school.

Please note that governors do not get involved in the day-to-day functioning of the school and it is not appropriate to contact us about individual children. For these requests, please either contact your class teacher in the first instance or a member of the senior leadership team.

If you would like to contact the governors, please email our clerk:

How to get involved?

Periodically, vacancies arise on the governing body.

The process to fill governor vacancies is determined by the type of governor. Information about the current membership of our governing body is available here.

If you would like more information, or are interested in joining our governing body, we would love to hear from you. Please contact our Clerk, Mrs Leanne Sowersby, on clerk@willowpark.org.uk