Our Governing Body
What does a school governor do ?
Governors are responsible for overseeing the management side of a school: strategy, policy, budgeting and staffing. They enable their school to run as effectively as possible, working alongside senior leaders and supporting teachers to provide excellent education to children.
Being a school governor is a commitment to attending governing body meetings which consider issues such as setting the school vision, mitigating financial risk and scrutinising educational outcomes. They are also involved in the school community, acting as critical friends to the headteacher and senior leaders.
Governors bring a wide range of skills and expertise from their professional lives to the governing board and schools benefit greatly from working with skilled volunteers, for example anyone with experience of finance, law, premises management or human resources. A governor with business know-how can transform the running of a school.
Core governor responsibilties
Setting the strategic direction
Governing bodies are the key strategic decision makers in every school. Along with the Head Teacher, it is the job of a governing body to set the school’s aims and objectives around how the school will develop and improve. They set policies, formulate plans and agree targets to help the school achieve these objectives, as well as regularly reviewing their strategic framework in light of that progress.
Creating robust accountability
The governing body is there to support and challenge the school’s senior leadership team. They play a crucial role in holding the Head Teacher to account for securing the best possible outcomes for pupils. Governor accountability includes challenging key decisions and asking pertinent questions about the school’s performance data including policies. Governors delegate operational management of the school and daily processes to the Headteacher. Governors aim to support and develop high standards in education.
Ensuring financial probity
Governing bodies have a strategic role in the financial management of schools. Their key responsibilities include, setting financial priorities through the school development plan, 3 year financial plan and the annual budget. They also decide on how the school’s delegated budget should be spent in accordance with the school improvement plan and statutory curriculum requirement.
Commitment involved
Term of Office - most governor appointments are for a term of four years.
Liability - governors are not individually liable. Liability is collective and held by the governing body as a whole.
Time - governors are expected to attend 6 full governing body meetings during the school year. Some preparation is required for these meetings and these meetings are held during the school day. Other involvement such as ad hoc panels and learning walks are not complusory to attend, but we would strongly recommend you attend as many as possible to maximise your impact as a school governor.
Governor vacancies
We currently do have Governor vacancies at St Michael's Church School and recruitment will commence after Acadimisation.
Our Governing Body
Getting to know
Becky Smith
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Becky Smith
Headteacher Governor
Term of Office: 05.09.18 to Present
Getting to know
Mikala Dainter
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Mikala Dainter
Chair
Term of Office: 12.03.2020 to 11.3.2024
Getting to know
Rev Andrew Avery
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Rev Andrew Avery
Vice Chair ( Foundation )
Term of Office: 30.01.2020 to 30.01.2024
Getting to know
Simon Owen
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Simon Owen
Staff Governor
Term of Office:01.01.24 to 01.01.28
Getting to know
Rev Carol Avery
As well as being a Governor I am a Pioneer Priest in the parishes of Stanground, Farcet and Fletton and love being part of our communities. I am married to Andrew, am a mother of 6 children and grandmother of 4 (so far!) and enjoy spending any spare time with our family, our dogs and in the countryside. I also love to bake and I cook for up to 150 people each week in our community cafe in Mace Road.
As a Governor I hope I can support the school community in enabling all children to reach their full potential as unique and special human beings.
Rev Carol Avery
Foundation Governor
Term of Office:05.12.2019 to 04.12.2023
Getting to know
Jonathan Wood
My name is Jonathan Wood. I started my professional life as a schoolteacher in 1980, eventually becoming the head of P.E.at a school in Leyton, East London. I changed careers fairly dramatically by entering the Christian ministry, working at churches in different parts of the country. I headed up a group of us who started Cardea Community Church in 2014, reentering my first profession as a supply teacher. The church, which started meeting each Sunday in St Michael's school in November last year, began in a room in Morrison's and then in the Cardea Sports Pavilion. I have taught regularly over recent years to all ages in St Michael's School.
Jonathan Wood
Co-opted Governor
Term of Office:16.03.23 to 16.03.27
Getting to know
Kate Ferris
Hi my name is Kate Ferris and I am delighted to be a new Foundation Governor at St Michaels Church School. I have lived at Cardea since 2011, moving here before the school was built along with a handful of families- some of whose children were among the very first pupils here. Community is something that myself and my husband hold very dear and we have been involved in various projects since moving here. We have grown up children who have flown the nest and now live with our two dogs so we are often seen out and about walking them. Some of you may know me already, I worked in the school for a time helping run the afterschool club also with my husband I ran a youth club held at the school and have helped organise many community events over the years including the Santa visits and fun days. I also wrote a column in the Stanground Gazette while it was in print. We are active members of St Michaels Church and I was Children & Families Minister there for a time which bought me into school for collective worship which I very much enjoyed and so I am looking forward to doing this again. My “day job” is now working with a Christian housing charity supporting people who were homeless before coming to us. It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to contribute towards the running of the school and to do what I can to ensure the children have strong Christian foundations to build upon.
Kate Ferris
Foundation Governor
Term of Office:16.03.23 to 16.03.27
Getting to know
Morgan Walton
I'm excited to have recently become a governor at St Michael's Church School, where my child is currently in year four. As a local business owner and parent, I'm passionate about education and ensuring that all children have access to a safe and supportive learning environment. I wanted to become a governor to help make a positive difference in the lives of the children and the wider community. I'm looking forward to working collaboratively with the other governors and the school leadership team to help ensure that all children at St Michael's Church School have the best possible education and opportunities to succeed.
Morgan Walton
Parent Governor
Term of Office:16.03.23 to 16.03.27
Getting to know
Laura White
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Laura White
Clerk