GOVERNORS

Governors are the strategic leaders of our schools and have a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education The core purpose of the Governing Body is to take an active role in both challenging and supporting the school ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction; holding the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Upton Cross has a large and thriving Governing Body.  There is a good level of support and challenge at Governing Body meetings, governors engage well with professional development.  In June 2013, OfSTED stated 

Governors are highly skilled and their work with school leaders is exceptional and has been essential in the drive to remain an outstanding school. They have an excellent understanding of information on pupils’ progress, and use the very latest available to make comparisons with other schools nationally.

Governors are committed to enhancing their own skills and have even received training from subject leaders in the school. They make regular visits to check directly on key areas of the school’s work, have instigated governor open days, and also ensure that financial resources are efficiently managed including pupil premium funding and how this impacts on pupils’ achievement. They have noted the improved attendance since the appointment of an attendance officer and subsidising breakfast club places for pupils.

Governors see that targets to improve the performance of staff are reviewed carefully and that teachers’ pay is linked to how well pupils are doing. They check that the breakfast club is well run and that safeguarding meets requirements.

The full Governing Body meets 6 times a year.  Meetings start at 18:00, last for two hours and are based at one of our two sites.  We also have a finance committee that meets 6 times a year.  Those meetings start at 09:00, last for one hour and are based at our Churston Avenue site. 

Vacancies for parent governors are advertised through the school and authority vacancies via Irfan Mustafa (Governor Services – Newham Partnership Working (NPW) (http://www.npw.so/services/governor_services/becoming_governor/index.html). All Governors are expected to attend at full governing body meetings, be involved in governor committees, be engaged in governor development activities and training and to participate in school events.  

Declaration of Pecuniary Business Interests

The chair of governors, Ms. Urum-Eke can be contacted via the school office at either of our sites. 

Governors' pen portraits

After working at the school for a number of years, I wanted to have a better understanding of the running of the school and what happens behind the scenes. Gemma Bull,  Teacher Governor

 I joined the governing body to feel more of a connection to my community” Aoibhinn Lynch Co- opted Governor