Governors

Caldew School is fortunate to be supported by a dedicated and well qualified governing body. Governors all work voluntarily to ensure the school delivers the highest possible standards of education for our community.

“Governors bring a good range of skills and experience to their roles. They understand how well the students are performing in relation to all schools. They hold leaders closely to account.”
Ofsted April 2013

The Role of the Governing Body

The main aim of the governing body is to maintain and improve the school’s standards of education. Its work can be divided into three key areas:

  • Setting the school’s vision and strategic aims, agreeing plans and policies, and making creative use of resources.
  • Monitoring and evaluating performance, acting as a critical friend to the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team to support and challenge them in managing the school.
  • Ensuring that the school is accountable to the children and parents it serves, to its local community, to those who fund and maintain it, as well as to the staff it employs.

The Responsibilities of the Governing Body

The responsibilities of the governing body are defined by legislation.

‘The Governors’ Handbook addresses governors’ responsibilities and can be viewed through the Department for Education website.

The main areas addressed in the guide are as follows:

  • The role of governing bodies
  • Constitution and procedures
  • Education and inspection
  • Pupil wellbeing
  • Teachers and support staff
  • Organisational changes and the use of school premises
  • School finance
  • Information sharing

List of Governors

Chair of Governors

  • Jennie Wilkinson MBE, JP.

Clerk to the Governors

Company Secretary

  • Dave Foulkes

Members/First Governors

  • Bryan Craig
  • Johanne Doherty
  • Jennie Wilkinson (Chair)
  • Vicki Jackson (Headteacher)
  • Kerry Richardson

Parent Governors

  • Pam Abba
  • Rachael Mason
  • Louise Atkinson
  • Keith Ross

Staff Governors

  • Alex Bradshaw
  • Karen Cavanagh
  • Brendan McArdle

Community Governors

  • Rob Charlton
  • Diane Shirvinton
  • Michael Smillie (Vice-Chair)
  • Tazeem Abbas

Students make good progress because of the typically strong standard of teaching.

Ofsted 2018

Students’ outcomes are good. A significant proportion of students typically attain the highest grades, including at A* to B, at A Level.

Ofsted 2018

Leaders’ plans to support the pastoral transition of pupils from primary school are thorough. Year 7 pupils with whom Inspectors spoke were positive about the school.

Ofsted 2018

The support for pupils with an education, health and care (EHC) plan is matched to their specific requirements. Consequently, these pupils typically make good progress and move on to next steps in education and employment.

Ofsted 2018

Leaders have taken positive steps to widen pupils’ participation in the range of cultural, creative and sporting activities that take place beyond lessons, including for the significant proportion of pupils who do not live locally.

Ofsted 2018