Governors

Board of Governors

The Governors at Gillamoor play an important role and have considerable responsibility in setting the strategic direction of the school along with the Head Teacher and senior leadership team. Governors do not manage schools, this is the role of the head teacher and senior leadership team, but we do oversee the development of the school, the main aim of which is always to provide a high standard of education for all pupils of all abilities. In essence as the accountable body for the school, the governing body has three main roles:

provide a strategic view of where the school is heading. This is done by reviewing and agreeing policies, targets and priorities and monitoring and reviewing aims and objectives.
act as a critical friend to the school.The governing body works with the head teacher to create a clear understanding of the challenges faced in managing the school.The governing body should feel able to question and challenge and this is achieved through trust and mutual respect.
hold the school to account for the educational standards it achieves and the quality of education it provides. The governing body uses its collective skills to benefit the children, by gathering views and asking questions to determine what is best for the school.

The Governors have a variety of skills and backgrounds that provide the school with a wide range of expertise and support. What unifies us is our strong commitment to the schools vision and ethos of “‘First the blade, then the ear, then the full grain’ Mark 4:28”. The governors are a mixture of parent governors, school staff, co-opted governors and local council representatives. Parent Governors have a child in school, are elected by parents of the school and serve, as do other Governors, for four years. We meet every half-term to discuss the work of the school and look at where we are going and how we can make improvements.

The governors visit the school throughout the year and most have a link to specific subjects and their teachers or areas of the school such as Special Educational Needs, Finance, curriculum and Safeguarding. This is an important opportunity to see the school in action and governors enjoy the chance to meet staff and children and learn about what makes our school special.

If you are interested in becoming a Governor, the Head teacher will be pleased to provide further details.

Parent Governors

Mrs Emma Smith

Mrs Rachel Simpson

Local Authority Governor

Vacancy

Co-opted Governors

Mr Stuart Patterson (Chairperson)

Mr Paul Normandale

Ellie Sweetman-Roberts

Foundation Governors

Mrs Aniko Sheppard (Vice-Chair)

Rev. Paul Sunderland

Staff Governor

Mrs. Laura James

Headteacher

Mrs Samantha Bond

Clerk to the Governors

Ms. Lydia Waites

If you wish to contact any of the Governors, please send an email to school:

admin@gillamoor.n-yorks.sch.uk

Statutory Governor Information 2023/2024

Name	Appointed	Term of Office	Appointing Body	Category of Governor	Committees/Groups	Special Responsibilities	Business/Pecuniary Interest/ Relationships
Stuart Patterson	03.10.23	02.10.27	Governors	Co-opted	Finance, Capital Projects & Premises, Health and Safety, Communications & External Links	STAFF D APPEALS, COMPLAINTS, HT PERFORMANCE MGT (PAY REVIEW)	None
Emma Smith	17.09.24	16.09.28	Parents	Parent	SEND, Wider curriculum	STAFF DISMISSAL, PUPIL DISCIPLINE	None
Rachel Simpson	06.05.25		Governors	Parent
Paul Sunderland			York Diocese	Foundation	RE & Worship; Pupil Behaviour & Attendance, Ethos Working Group	STAFF D APPEALS, COMPLAINTS	None
Paul Normandale	10.05.22	09.05.26	Governors	Co-opted	Child Protection & Safeguarding. Pupil Behaviour & Attendance,	STAFF DISMISSAL, PUPIL DISCIPLINE	None
Aniko Sheppard	27.09.22	27.09.26	York Diocese	Foundation	Wider Curriculum, Ethos Working Group, Staff Wellbeing	COMPLAINTS, STAFF D APPEALS, HT PERFORMANCE MGT (PAY REVIEW	None
Ellie Sweetman Roberts	11.02.25	10.02.29	Governors	Co-opted			None
Laura James	17.09.25		Staff	Staff		STAFF GOVERNOR	None
Samantha Bond	01.09.25		Governors	Headteacher		HEADTEACHER	None