Volunteer Governor to help us make the most of our new status as an academy school

What will you be doing?

Now part of the Ridgeway Education Trust (RET) it is an exciting time for our school. This brings opportunities for our staff, children and governors to work together with other RET schools increasing our access to resources, shared learning experiences and specialist subject support. We are looking for a new governor to help us make the most of these new opportunities and ensure Long Wittenham School continues to be a thriving and happy place to learn with community at its’ heart. A school governor is a voluntary role. They offer strategic guidance, rather than getting involved in the day to day running of a school. As such their role is largely a thinking and questioning role that demonstrates challenge (‘critical friend’), not an operational/‘doing’ role, as this function will be carried out by school staff. Specifically the role involves:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction; Holding the headteacher and school leadership to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

To achieve these responsibilities, the Governing Board (GB) works with the school(s) on planning and developing polices and keeping the school under review. Its powers and responsibilities must be exercised in partnership with the Executive Headteacher, Headteacher(s) and staff.  Our current board of governors is made up of 2 teaching staff, 4 parents, 1 educational professional and 2 foundation governors. We bring a variety of experiences to the board of governors and all have joined the board in the last 3 years. We enjoy working together and are passionate about delivering improvements for our school.  Over the year you would be expected to attend 6 governing board meetings with reading materials provided prior to these meetings. There may also be up to 3 school visits during the year to monitor progress against an objective, for example, provision for special educational needs, but these are shared amongst the board depending on peoples' availability, the focus of the visit and peoples' specific area of expertise and experience. Training is provided.

What are we looking for?

We are open to diverse skills and knowledge. We would appreciate anyone with governance experience - perhaps you worked in a management role or have sat on a board in your professional life or in another voluntary role. Finance expertise would be useful too. However if you have none of these but are keen and interested then please come and speak to us as most of all we seek people who are passionate about improving children's lives and who are willing to collaborate and work as a team. 

What difference will you make?

Our work directly impacts the children at our school through improved educational outcomes and extra curricular opportunities.