Governors

What is a Governor?

School governing bodies are responsible for working with the school to ensure that it delivers a good quality education. Together with the headteacher, who is responsible for day-to-day management, they set the school’s aims and policies.

 

Governors work with senior leaders in the strategic development of the school and in raising standards of achievement. Duties include setting the school’s vision, aims & objectives, approving the school budget and appointing the Headteacher.

 

Governors must both support and challenge the Headteacher, so need to gain an understanding of the school’s overall performance in order to explain its decisions and actions. They do this by attending regular meetings, carrying out school visits and meeting with senior leaders. They also attend training in order to keep up to date with the requirements of their role. Governors work as a team and make collective decisions.

 

Why does the school have a governing body?

The school has a Governing Body to ensure that it has the capacity to improve and raise overall standards.

 

Ofsted considers the governing body to be part of the leadership and management of the school. However governors do not manage the school. That is the job of the headteacher and management team. Governors are there to be “a critical friend” to the headteacher and the school.

 

The Governors achieve this by:

• Receiving information about the school’s performance and comparing it with past performance, national averages and ‘similar schools’
• Contributing to the school self-evaluation process
• Establishing where the school’s strengths and weaknesses are
• Deciding the priorities for improvement
• Discussing and approving the school’s targets and timescales
• Ensuring that the school has a School Improvement Plan (SIP) that sets out all the actions to be taken
• Monitoring that implementation of the SIP, largely by receiving reports from the head teacher
• Evaluating progress and achievements

Our Governors

 

 

Meet our Governors 

Mr B Grimes

Hi everyone,

 

I’ve had the privilege of being a governor at St. Michael’s since September 2019 and am honoured to be the Vice Chair. My areas of extra responsibility are in Maths, English and Year 6. I am a foundation governor representing the diocese, but also have 2 children in our school.

 

During my time on the board, it has been a real pleasure to get a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the wonderful work our staff do. Despite working in education myself, I am often amazed at the incredible lengths so many of our teachers, TAs and support staff go to on a very regular basis to ensure our young people have the best possible school experience every day.

 

If you ever have any questions or comments about our work as governors, or anything else regarding the school, please don’t hesitate to approach me on the playground or email me at bgrimes@st-michaels.medway.sch.uk.

 

God bless you all,

 

Barry

Mr J Foreman

Hello, my name is Jamie Foreman. I am a parent governor, with 2 children in the school. I have been teaching secondary school science for 20 years, before which I have had careers in car retail & service and as an independent health & fitness consultant. I bring a broad range of education and business experience to board and look forward to supporting the students at St. Michael's school

Mr M Bialek

 

Hello, my name is Maciej Bialek and I am a Foundation Governor with one child in the school.

In my personal life I am work on the back of the publishing sector as Factory Manager of a business who deal with unsold copies of Children/Teens Magazines like CBeebies, Thomas and Friends or Go Girl. My team and I work very hard every day to retain good gifts/toys from magazines and make them reusable again instead of buying new plastic toys. I bring to the board business and health and safety experience, and I look forward to continuing to support St Michael’s students and staff.

Mrs C Hales

 

Hi! My name is Constance,  I come from France and have been living in England for the last 12 years. My husband Mark and I have 4 children, with 3 currently in the school. I work around vulnerable people and I am also a strong advocate for those with Down syndrome. I look forward to being more involved in our super duper school!

Mrs M Murphy

 

My name is Maddy Murphy, and I have been appointed to be a Foundation Governor.

As a teacher, headteacher, parent and grandparent, my association with the school is both long and deep. Beneath the names of my family, you will find St. Michael’s written on my heart.

Ms P Mawoyo