Board of Trustees
Being a school trustee is a challenging but hugely rewarding role. It will give you the chance to make a real difference to young people, give something back to your local community and use and develop your skills in a board-level environment. You will also be joining the largest volunteer force in the country: there are over a quarter of a million volunteers governing state funded schools in England.
Schools need boards of trustees that have a balance and diversity of knowledge, skills and experience to enable it to be effective. Ofsted (the national inspection body for schools) has repeatedly noted that the most effective schools demonstrate effective leadership and management – including by the board of trustees.
Anyone aged 18 or over can be a trustee (but there are some exceptions) and you do not need to be a parent. There is no requirement for you to have an understanding of the education system, just the necessary skills, character and time to contribute. There is plenty of training available to help you learn about education. Schools needs and benefit from a range of professional knowledge on their board of trustees including education, finance, human resources, legal, marketing and public relations, property and estates management, and organisational change.
As a trustee, you will be able to:
- Use your own experience of education and life beyond school to inform conversations
- Develop and utilise your skills in a board-level environment
- Make a valuable contribution to education and your community
- Support and challenge the school so that it improves for pupils and staff
- Bring your unique experiences, perspectives and insights in to decision-making in the interests of the school community
What trustees do?
The board of trustees provides strategic leadership and accountability in schools. It has three key functions:
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
- Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its students
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
Trustees set the aims and objectives for the school or group of schools and set the policies and targets for achieving those aims and objectives. They monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making and act as a source of challenge and support to the headteacher. In action, this means:
- Appointing and performance reviewing the head teacher and senior leaders, including making decisions about pay
- Managing budgets and deciding how money is spent
- Engaging with students parents and the school community
- Sitting on panels and making decisions about things like pupil exclusions and staff disciplinary
- Addressing a range of education issues within the school including disadvantaged students, students with special needs, staff wellbeing and teacher recruitment
- Looking at data and evidence to ask questions and have challenging conversations about the school
Trustees must be prepared to adopt the Nolan principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
Trustees should also be committed to their role and to young people; confident in having courageous conversations; curious with an enquiring mind; able to challenge the status quo to improve things; collaborative to build strong relationships; critical to improve their own work and that of the board; and creative in problem solving and being innovative.
So….how can we help?
If you would like to consult the board of trustees please contact Gill Kesteven, Clerk to The Board of Trustees. Office@sandhigh.cheshire.sch.uk and she will pass on your request without delay.
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Chair of The Board of Trustees
Miss Ginny Wynn (Term of Office September 2014 – 2018/re-elected 2018 -2022)
Term of Office as Chair ends December 2019
I first walked through the door of Sandbach High School in January 1980 as a teacher of PE and later as teacher of Mathematics. I eventually became Deputy Headteacher with oversight of the school’s pastoral provision and take great pride in having been involved with shaping our school such that it is the caring and well-ordered community that we know today. After retiring from teaching in July 2014 I was delighted to be appointed as a school governor and more recently as Chair of Governors. My passion for the girls of Sandbach High School remains as strong as ever and I am proud to still be part of this outstanding school after 35 years!
Vice Chair of The Board of Trustees
Mr Gerard Heath (Term of Office May 2018 – May 2022)
Term of office as Vice Chair ends December 2019
Trustees
Mrs Anna Condliffe (Term of Office December 16 – December 20 – Appointed FGB meeting 06/12/16)
Mr Dom Graham (Term of office February 17 – February 21 – Appointed FGB meeting)
Mrs Cathryn Houghton (Term of Office December 15 – December 19 – Appointed FGB meeting 1/12/15) – resigned July 2019
Mr Ben Hunt (Term of Office December 15 – December 19 – Appointed FGB meeting 1/12/15)
Mr Tom Jones ( Term of Office April 18 – April 22 – Re-appointed FGB meeting 20/3/18) – resigned September 2019
Mr Alan Bell (Term of Office September 18 – September 22 – Re-appointed FGB meeting 03/07/18)
Mrs Deborah Broad (Term of Office September 18 – September 22 – Re-appointed FGB meeting 03/07/18) – resigned Septemb er 2019
Mrs Stephanie Owen (Term of Office October 18 – October 22 – Re-appointed FGB meeting 03/07/18)
Mrs Ella Brett (Term of Office September 18 – September 22 – Re-appointed FGB meeting 03/07/18) – resigned May 2019
Mrs Sharon Joyce (Term of Office September 18 – September 22 – Re-appointed FGB meeting 03/07/18)
Mrs Joanne Pressler (Term of Office September 18 – September 22)
Mr John Leigh (Headteacher)
Mrs Sara Halstead (Term of Office July 18 – July 22 – Appointed FGB meeting 03/7/18) – resigned September 2019
Miss H O’Rourke (Term of Office July 18 – July 22 – Appointed FGB meeting 03/7/18) – resigned September 2019
Mrs H Hulse (Term of Office September 18 – September 22 – Appointed FGB meeting 20/9/18) – resigned September 2019
Clerk to The Board of Trustees
Mrs Gill Kesteven
| Meeting Attendance for Academic Year 2017-2018 | ||
| Governor Name | Full Board Meetings | Resigned |
| Mrs J Astins | 5/5 | 31/8/2018 |
| Mr A Bell | 5/5 | |
| Mr A Bradley | 3/4 | 8/6/2018 |
| Mrs E Brett | 1/5 | |
| Mrs D Broad | 2/5 | |
| Mrs A Condliffe | 4/5 | |
| Mr A Ford | 4/5 | 31/8/2018 |
| Mr G Heath | 5/5 | |
| Mrs C Houghton | 4/5 | |
| Mr B Hunt | 5/5 | |
| Mr T Jones | 3/5 | |
| Mrs S Joyce | 4/5 | |
| Tracey Edwards | 2/5 | |
| Mr J Leigh | 5/5 | |
| Mrs S Owen | 4/5 | |
| Mr D Graham | 2/5 | |
| Miss A Whalley | 2/5 | 31/8/2018 |
| Mrs J Wilkins | 0/2 | |
| Miss G Wynn | 4/5 | |
| Meeting Attendance for Academic Year 2018-2019 | ||
| Governor Name | Full Board Meetings | Resigned |
| Mr A Bell | 5/5 | |
| Mrs E Brett | 3/3 | 2/5/19 |
| Mrs D Broad | 2/5 | |
| Mrs A Condliffe | 5/5 | |
| Mrs T Edwards | 0/0 | 20/9/19 |
| Mr D Graham | 4/5 | |
| Mrs S Halstead | 5/5 | |
| Mr G Heath | 5/5 | |
| Mrs C Houghton | 4/5 | 1/7/19 |
| Mr B Hunt | 5/5 | |
| Mrs S Joyce | 5/5 | |
| Mr T Jones | 5/5 | |
| Mr J Leigh | 4/5 | |
| Mrs S Owen | 5/5 | |
| Mrs H Hulse | 3/5 | |
| Miss H O’Rourke | 4/5 | |
| Mrs J Pressler | 4/5 | |
| Miss G Wynn | 5/5 | |
Attendance at sub-committee meetings 2017-2018
Attendance at sub-committee meetings 2018-2019
Finance & Leadership sub-committee – Sharon Joyce (Chair)
Environmental & Premises sub-committee – Ben Hunt (Chair)
Learning & Teaching sub-committee – Anna Condliffe (Chair)
Pupil Progress sub committee – Joanne Pressler (Chair)
Staffing sub-committee – Steph Owen (Chair)
REGISTER OF BUSINESS INTERESTS
Mr Gerry Heath has made a declaration of business interest – further details on request to the Clerk
REGISTER OF PERSONAL INTERESTS
The Following Trustees have children/grandchildren at Sandbach High School & Sixth Form College
Mrs S Joyce, Mrs J Wilkins, Mr B Hunt, Mrs A Condliffe, Mr D Graham