On Friday, November 10th, 2023, our Collis school council met with our dedicated Collis governors. During this meeting, our pupils shared their thoughts on school safety, their happiness, the lessons they're learning, and their love for reading.

Purpose and role of the Governing Body

The purpose of the Governing Body is to help Collis provide the best possible education for its pupils. Its role has three aspects:

1. To bring a strategic perspective. This includes developing the vision for the school and setting the school development plan and monitoring its implementation.
2. To act as a critical friend. This includes supporting but also providing challenge to the senior leadership team, who are responsible for the day-to-day running of the school.
3. To ensure accountability to pupils, parents, staff, the wider community and the Local Authority. This includes ensuring effective communication in order to build trust and mutual understanding between all stakeholders.

Membership of the Governing Body

There are 14 members, each of whom is appointed for a four year term, after which time they may seek re-election.

Full members are drawn from four areas of the school community:

1. Parents of current pupils – two members.
2. Staff – the Head teacher and one member of the teaching staff.  
3. Local Authority – one member appointed by the Local Authority.
4. Co-opted – nine members co-opted for their useful skills.

Associate Members may also be appointed.   

It is important to note that, although these members are representative of the school community, they are not intended to represent the views of the particular community from which they are drawn. Once elected or appointed, members should always act in what they consider to be the best interests of the school and bear in mind the seven principles of public life, which are:

1. Selflessness
2. Integrity
3. Objectivity
4. Accountability
5. Openness
6. Honesty
7. Leadership

Governors must also accept collective responsibility for all decisions taken, regardless of whether they personally voted for them and ensure that the detail of discussions in meetings, including the votes of individual governors, remain confidential. This latter point is crucial for ensuring mutual trust, which is essential for effective school governance.

The current members of the Governing Body are:

Chair - Michael Bailey 

Vice Chair - Helen Samuel

Co-opted Governors – Michael Bailey, Wendy (known as Alison) Beardon, Trent Bulgin, Thomas Dawson,  Graham Hogben, Johanna Kitson Cooke, Penelope Madoc-Jones, Oliver Tucker and Amy Vogel

Parent Governors – Donna Littman and Helen Samuel

Staff Governors – Kevin Hogston and Katharine Lawrence

Local Authority Governor – Hannah Mackenzie

Associate Members – Tri Bannister and Penny Hamilton

Clerk – Rebecca Clake

Should you be considering standing for election to the Governing Body, we recommend you contact the Chair of Governors to arrange to attend a meeting before election so that you can reach an informed decision about whether you wish to be involved in school governance.  

Meetings of the Governing Body and Committees

The full Governing Body meets at least once a term.  Parents and staff are welcome to approach the chair to ask for an invitation to attend meetings as observers, except where confidential matters are to be discussed.

Much of the work of the Governing Body is done through committees, which meet once or twice per term.  Governors usually sit on one committee but may also join a further committee.

1. The Curriculum Committee - this monitors the effectiveness of the implementation of the curriculum, assessments and performance data, behaviour and pupil welfare.  
2. The Resources Committee – this oversees the efficient and effective use of all the school’s resources, including staff, finance, premises and equipment.

The Chairs of these Committees are appointed at the first meeting of the academic year.  

If you would like to view the minutes from a Governor meeting please visit our school office to request a copy.

Contacting Governors

Normally, any issues concerning the running of the school should, in the first instance, be addressed to a member of Collis staff or the Senior Leadership Team (Kevin Hogston, Sophie Macartney, Melissa Humphries). However, should any issue be unresolved via this route or should an issue arise which you would prefer not to discuss with a member of staff, you may contact a governor on the following email address: info@collis.richmond.sch.uk. Messages may also be left for governors at the school office.