Our School Governing Body
Governors are a voluntary body of people who guide and support the strategic direction of the school. They are members of the school team and their contribution to the running of the school is highly valued.
School Governing Body
The instrument of government states that the governing body shall consist of:
The role of the governing body is a strategic one, its key functions are to:
Mik Shinn - Co-opted governor
Responsibilities/Committees: Chair, Standards & Pupils, Resources, Headteacher
Performance Management, SEND/Inclusion & Communication Resource Link Governor
Date appointed: 16/1/19 until 15/1/23
Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: Spouse works at school
Governance roles in other institutions: None
Meetings attended in the last academic year: 6 out of 6 Full Governing Body
Hi – I am the Chair of Governors at Northfield Primary. I have been on the governing board for the last several years. I started as a governor while three of my children attended Northfield. Two of them have since moved onto Minsthorpe Community College. I have remained a governor and in the last few years I have taken on the additional responsibility of Chair.
Being a governor is immensely rewarding as you can see the positive impact the school staff and volunteers have on the lives of the children attending. It also gives you great insight to the inner workings of a local authority maintained school and a great appreciation for the amount of work that all the school staff and volunteers dedicate to educating, academically and emotionally, our community’s children.
One of my initial drivers for becoming a governor was to ensure that the children of Northfield were receiving the best education available to them. This, as a governor, is achieved through challenging the decisions made by the school. Over the years, I’ve realised it is equally important, as I do in my professional life, to work collaboratively with the school to ensure we strive for the best outcomes for the children from the start through defining the right strategies, financial budgeting, policies and procedures.
As a governor you get to share in the immense pride that staff feel as they watch the children transition through early years to year 6 watching them achieve success, grow in confidence and make many friendships through their time at Northfield.
Natalie Dawson - Co-opted Governor
Responsibilities/Committees: Standards & Pupils, Resources, Headteacher
Performance Management, Safeguarding Link Governor and Curriculum Link Governor
Date appointed: 22/11/20 until 21/11/24
Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None
Governance roles in other institutions: None
Meetings attended in the last academic year: 6 out of 6 Full Governing Body
I have been fortunate to hold a position as a parent governor for a number of years at Northfield Primary; holding responsibilities for resourcing, curriculum, performance but predominantly safeguarding of all our pupils. I have been so lucky to meet a broad range of pupils, staff members and parents over the number of years I have been governor. I feel very privileged and fortunate to be able to give back to our school and this, our local community. It gives me huge satisfaction seeing our pupils develop and all at Northfield proactively working with parents to ensure that our pupils are given the best foundation of education preparing them for their next school journey. We work with a number of children requiring additional support and who have a number of challenges to face and I strive to work with the team here at Northfield to help every single pupil that comes through our school gates. I hope to continue for as long as I am able to add value and help in any way I can.
Claire Bedford - Co-opted Governor
Responsibilities/Committees: Resources, Curriculum Link Governor
Date appointed: 19/3/19 until 18/3/23
Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None
Governance roles in other institutions: None
Meetings attended in the last academic year: 6 out of 6 Full Governing Body
I am a newly appointed Governor and I really wanted to get involved because my eldest daughter attends Northfield. The experience that children have during their time at school is something that I really care about. I have also been appointed to the Resources Committee which covers many aspects of school such as budgets, funding and policies.
I have worked for Wakefield Council for 23 years in a number of roles, including working in the Chief Executives Office and Caseworker for Elected Members.
I am really looking forward to being involved in the future of Northfield School.
Miriam Abbott - Parent Governor
Responsibilities/Committees: Vice-Chair, Standards & Pupils, Headteacher Performance Management, Link governor for Pupil Premium and Health & Safety
Date appointed: 17/2/17 until 16/2/21
Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None
Governance roles in other institutions: None
Meetings attended in the last academic year: 3 out of 6 Full Governing Body
I enjoy being a parent Governor for Northfield Primary School and am the nominated Governor for the Health and Safety aspects of the school and for Pupil Premium. It is my first time being in the role of a school Governor and I have had to attend training to help me to understand what is expected of a governor and how a school should adhere to policies and run effectively. I feel that as a governor I can cast an independent eye over the workings of the school and then through my school visits and supporting the school through volunteering for school trips, I have seen how the school works on a day to day basis to provide me with a greater knowledge of the school. As Governors we are asked to challenge decisions made by the school and I feel I am able to do this from my knowledge of school and also from my professional background.
I am very proud to be a governor and just like every parent at Northfield Primary School, I want the very best for my child, hence, I can always bring a parent's perspective to every meeting. I feel it is important that every child at Northfield Primary School is happy, safe, confident and strives to become the very best they can be.
Lynne Whitehouse - LA Governor
Responsibilities/Committees: Link Governor for Attendance
Date appointed: 16/1/19 until 15/1/23
Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: District Councillor (Wakefield), Town Councillor (South Kirkby and Moorthorpe)
Governance roles in other institutions: None
Meetings attended in the last academic year: 2 out of 6 Full Governing Body
I am proud to have been selected as a Governor at Northfield Primary, I have a great affinity with the school, having been a pupil there myself. My three children were all educated at the school, and whilst they were there, I was a parent Governor too. I am a Town and District Councillor, and look forward to working with the staff, my fellow Governors and parents in helping our school achieve the best education for all our children.
Dawn Booth - Co-opted Governor
Responsibilities/Committees: Standards & Pupils, SEND and Inclusion
Date appointed: 16/1/19 until 15/1/23
Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: Team Manager at the Communication Resource
Governance roles in other institutions: Governor at Newlands Primary School
Meetings attended in the last academic year: 5 out of 6 Full Governing Body
Hi my name is Dawn Booth. I currently work for the local authority. I am Team Manager for the Communication and Interaction Team and I work with children with special educational needs. I have been a teacher for 25 years. I have worked in a mainstream high school for 17 years as a Head of department, SENCo and Head of Student support. I have also been a Teacher in Charge of a resource provision that specialises in providing support for children with profound social communication difficulties. I am passionate about improving the life chances and opportunities of all students in particular those who have additional needs. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing a child flourish and achieve their goals in education or in a social setting. I am honoured to be a governor at Northfield. I love the school and I visit often to support the on-site resource provision. I work closely with the SENCo and I look forward to working even more closely with the school and governors to support them as it strives to deliver better results and outcomes for all their students.
Vanessa Vaughan - Headteacher
Responsibilities/Committees: Standards & Pupils, Resources
Date appointed: 1/9/18
Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: Member of staff
Governance roles in other institutions: None
Meetings attended in the last academic year: 6 out of 6 Full Governing Body
I have been Headteacher at Northfield since September 2018. I was delighted to join a group of Governors who are so dedicated to providing the children at Northfield with the very best opportunities to enjoy and excel. The care and well-being of children and staff lies at the very heart of the Governing Board. I have been pleased to join this team and to work alongside the Governors to make Northfield the school that the children and their families deserve. It is a great place with some great people.
I am particularly passionate about books and reading and love exploring new books with the Reading Ambassadors. I love sport and art and hope to bring back Northfield’s amazing history of musicals and performance. Watch this space………
Katie Grimshaw - Staff Governor
Responsibilities/Committees: Standards, School lead on SEND/Inclusion
Date appointed: 14/11/17 until 13/11/21
Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: Member of staff
Governance roles in other institutions: None
Meetings attended in the last academic year: 5 out of 6 Full Governing Body
Hi – I’m the SENCO at Northfield and I have been on the governing body since 2017 as the staff governor. I enjoy being on the governing body as Northfield is very important to me – I have worked here since September 2009 and have taught across Key Stage 2. I feel that being a governor allows me to have a wider view of the school and to be part of the strategic development of the school. It also enables me to be part of a team who want to ensure Northfield strives to provide the very best for its pupils.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, going for long walks, baking and shopping!
Helen Woodgate - Co-opted governor
Responsibilities/Committees: Deputy Head, Standards & Pupils, School lead on Pupil Premium and Safeguarding
Date appointed: 14/11/17 until 13/11/21
Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: Member of staff
Governance roles in other institutions: None
Meetings attended in the last academic year: 5 out of 6 Full Governing Body
Hi – I’m the Deputy Head at Northfield and have been on the governing body since I joined the school, firstly as an observer and then as a Co-opted governor since 2017. I enjoy being part of the governing body as Northfield is very close to my heart, as well as being my job. I feel that being part of the governors brings me closer to the community aspect of school and gives me a wider view of school than I would otherwise have. I enjoy working with a team of people whose only objective is to give Northfield and its pupils, the opportunity to be the best that they can possibly be.
In my free time, I read voraciously, eat enthusiastically and cook, bake and knit when I get the chance!
Emma Simon - Parent governor
Responsibilities/Committees:
Date appointed: 10/11/20 until 10/11/24
Business, Personal & Pecuniary Interests: None
Governance roles in other institutions: None
Meetings attended in the last academic year: NA
I am a newly appointed governor at Northfield, and was keen to get involved as a parent governor due to both my children attending the school. It will give me the opportunity to become more involved within the school, and enable me to give back to the local community. My primary objective is to support the school and management team in the excellent work they do. I care about the school's ability to continue to provide an environment where children are motivated to learn and where they feel safe. I am passionate about ensuring all children are provided with the best possible opportunities in order to be successful and achieve the best they can.
My professional background for the past 15 years is banking and financial services, however, I am currently undertaking numerous training courses within the education sector. This will help me in my role as a governor, and give me a greater knowledge and understanding.
I am looking forward to getting involved at Northfield and helping wherever I can.
Meetings for the 2019-20 Academic Year
All meetings take place at 5pm and are preceded by a meeting of the Resources Committee at 4pm.
Meeting planned for the 2020/21 Academic Year:
22 Sep 2020
10 Nov 2020
12 Jan 2021
16 Mar 2021
11 May 2021
6 Jul 2021
Governor Training in 2020/21
15th September - What Does Governance Look Like? as delivered by Vanessa Huws-Jones, Independent Consultant and School Advisor
4th February - Governor update on Home/Remote Learning by Deputy Head, Helen Woodgate
Multiple meetings to review and document strengths, development areas, evidence, progress and next steps in a number of key areas of school have been held on:
6th October
13th October
3rd November
Committee Structure
Full Board Meeting
The full board meeing takes place every half term.
Chair: Mr Michael Shinn
Clerk: LA Clerk
Further details about this committee are outlined below.
Resources Committee
The resources committee meets every half term
Chair: Mr Michael Shinn
Clerk: Mrs R Mitchell
Further details about this committee are outlined below.
Standards and Pupils Committee
The standards and Pupils Committee meets every term
Chair: Mrs Natalie Dawson
Clerk: Mrs Claire Bedford
Further details about this committee are outlined below.
Resources Committee
Purpose of the Committee
Procedures
Financial Management & Planning
Financial Monitoring
Premises and Health & Safety
Staffing Planning
Standards and Pupils Committee
Procedures
Achievement & Challenge
Engagement
Headteacher Performance Management Working Group
The Governing Board is responsible for carrying out the Headteacher's appraisal. It is good practice, however, for the task to be delegated to a sub-group consisting of two/three members of the Governing Board and this is stated within the DfE and LA model appraisal policies.
To carry out the Governing Board’s statutory responsibilities for the Performance Management of the Headteacher.
Quorum
Procedures
Headteacher Appraisal
To carry out the performance review of the Headteacher in accordance with legal requirements and the school’s Appraisal Policy. This must include, before, or as soon as practicable after, the start of each appraisal period:
To, following completion of the performance review, make a recommendation to the Resources Committee on whether pay progression and/or a discretionary payment for the Headteacher should take place (if possible within the remit of the Governing Board’s agreed Pay Policy