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.  

Governors attendance report - Live link

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

My name is Nnenna Urum-Eke. I am the chair of governors at Upton Cross Primary School and I have been a governor since 2010. I became a governor because I wanted to positively contribute to the education of my children, in particular, and all children in general. I think being a governor is important because I am able to support the school through collaborative working and challenge to enable attainment\achievement and install the joy of learning in our children. I am currently the link governor for year 2.

My name is Nick Turvey.  I have spent all of my teaching career in the east end of London and Essex.  Since 2007, I have been head teacher at Upton Cross Primary.  I am passionate about ensuring that all children are given the very best chances to achieve.  I believe this is best realised through building a dedicated and highly skilled staff team who work collaboratively towards shared aims of achievement and excellence,.  This approach has led to our school being deemed as outstanding in all areas during our last two consecutive OfSTED inspections.  It is also an approach that I use in my work as a National Leader of Education working with schools in challenging circumstances in and beyond our local authority.