Would you like to be a governor?

Governor elections are held annually in September, but we welcome enquiries at any time. Some general information can be found on this page but please get in touch if you are interested in learning more about the role of governor or becoming a governor for The Swanage School. Our Clerk to Governors, Sue Fletcher, can be reached on suefletcher@theswanageschool.co.uk.

Governance

The Swanage School is a locally accountable academy run in accordance with cooperative principles.

Our school is run by the Headteacher and staff, overseen by the Governing Body, who are appointed by the Academy Trust, Education Swanage. Any member of the community is able to join the trust for a £1 annual fee as long as they agree to the trust’s values.

Members of the Trust appoint the majority of Governors, who have an overall responsibility for the school.  The Governing Body also contains the Headteacher and two Staff Governors, and at least two Parent Governors. Governors are subject to DBS checks (formerly CRB). All posts last for four years, and if Governors want to serve again they must stand for re-election.

The Governing Body welcomes input from the wider community and will also take advice from the Student Council, which will have members appointed by the students. By adopting cooperative principles of openness and democracy, Education Swanage seeks to make the Trust as locally accountable as possible and to embed The Swanage School in the heart of the community.

Governor Elections and Education Swanage AGMs

Appointment of the Swanage School Governing Body will be in line with the standard Department for Education Memorandum and Articles of Association. In summary:

• The Head Teacher will be a Governor
• Parents will be asked to vote for at least 2 Parent Governors. These Parent Governors must be parents of pupils when they are elected
• Members of Education Swanage can vote for up to 12 Governors
• Staff will be asked to vote for at least 2 Staff Governors
• The Governors themselves can co-opt up to 3 extra Governors

Governors are appointed for up to four years and may stand for re-appointment at the end of their term.

All Governors are also Directors of Education Swanage.

Associates

The Governors may appoint Associates to help with the work:

• The Associates need not be members of Education Swanage
• The Associates do not need to obtain a CRB check
• Associates may attend and participate in discussion at Governors’ Meetings, but may not vote.

Constituencies

There are various groups who will be able to choose the Swanage School Governors, and Education Swanage want to involve people more widely if possible.

Education Swanage Members

• Members pay an annual membership of £1 (mainly to keep track of who is a member)
• Education Swanage Members vote for up to 12 Governors
• The Governors appointed by Education Swanage do not need to be Members of Education Swanage
• Any Governor appointed by Education Swanage will need a CRB check (which will be paid for by the school)
• New members are appointed by unanimous vote of members. Anyone can apply to become a member. There is a presumption that new members will be appointed as long as they sign up to Vision and Ethos.

Staff Constituency

• The Staff Constituency comprises all employees (teaching and non-teaching staff)
• The Staff Constituency will vote for two Governors, who are members of staff (employees)
• A Staff Governor will cease to be a Staff Governor when employment as a member of staff ceases
• In addition, staff may be appointed as Governors by Members of Education Swanage or co-opted as Governors by the Governors, though the number of Governors who are employees (including the Principal) must not be more than one third of the total number of Governors
• The Staff Governors, with the Head Teacher, will act as a conduit between the Staff Constituency and the Governing Body. This is in addition to the day to day management structure of the school.

Parent Constituency

• The Parent Constituency comprises parents of pupils of the school
• ’Parents’ includes step-parents, adoptive parents and any person who stands in the position of primary carer of a pupil of the school
• The Parent Constituency will vote for two Governors, who are part of the Parent Constituency
• Parent Governors must obtain a CRB check (paid for by the school)
• Parent Governors may continue to be Governors for their full term even if the pupils who are their children have left the school
• The Parent Governors will act as a conduit between the Parent Constituency and the Governing Body. This is in addition to the day to day open door policy of the school.

Student Constituency

• The Student Constituency comprises all pupils at the school
• Students do not vote for Governors on account of their age
• Students cannot be Governors on account of their age
• The Student Constituency will vote for a Student Forum
• The Student Constituency will set its own rules for electing and running the Student Forum (subject to approval by the Governing Body)
• The Governing Body would like students to have a voice in the running of the school and we intend to seek their opinions on meaningful issues
• The Governing Body would like students to give feedback on teaching and learning at the school
• The Governing Body would like students to assist with the recruitment of staff
• The Governing Body would like the Student Constituency to feel that their constructive opinions are valued, and that they are part of the team that makes the Swanage School a success. As part of this, the Student Forum will act as a conduit between Student Constituency and the Governing Body.

Community Constituency

• Members of the wider community are not directly involved in running the school
• Members of the wider community will not vote for Governors (unless they are members of Education Swanage)
• Members of the wider community may be appointed as Governors by members of Education Swanage or co-opted as Governors by the Governing Body
• The Governing Body hopes that the school’s relationship with the community will be good for both the school and the community, would like the wider community to feel that their constructive opinions are valued, and that they are part of the team that makes the Swanage School a success. As part of this, the Governing Body proposes that there should be a Community Constituency which will include any person or business with premises inside the catchment area of The Swanage School.
• The Governing Body would like to hear their feedback on a regular basis and intend to hold meetings for the Community Constituency once or twice a year, where information and views will be shared
• The Governing Body hopes that some businesses, organisations and individuals in the community will be involved with school clubs, work experience, and community service
• The Governing Body wants the school to be an asset to the community, and hope that the community will be able to use the school’s facilities at a modest charge (with any profits going to The Swanage School)

The Governing Body:

Paul Angel, Parent Governor and Chair of the Community & Engagement Committee, returned to the governing body in 2019 (having been one of the School's founding governors). Paul lives in Swanage and runs a family bookshop business in Westbourne and Wimborne.  

Peter Collins, Governor, is a retired Police Inspector and has held a number of roles volunteering for the Church and Council. He also volunteers at the School. 

Alex Duke, Staff Governor, is the Design & Technology Teacher and is committed to developing Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) and cross-curricular initiatives. Prior to teaching, Mr Duke worked in industry.

Mark Hatto, Parent Governor (parent link), is the Minister at Emmanuel Baptist Church, having previously been a Youth and Community worker. He is Trustee of local charity "The Wave Youth & Children's Ministry" and works with local schools in a variety of ways. Mark and his wife are foster-carers and live in Swanage.

William Knight, Chair of the Finance & Premises Committee, has a background in IT and senior management and has been a school governor for 30 years, including at St George’s Primary School. He lives in Langton.

Jenny Maraspin is the Acting Headteacher and sits on the board in an ex officio capacity.

Tim Marcus, Chair of Governors, is an IT expert (and is our e-safety link) His digital agency has a niche in developing websites for the education sector. Tim also advises UK government departments on IT strategy and spending. He lives in Swanage with his wife and two children, who attend the School.

Vanessa Millman, Governor, is a consultant in emergency medicine and a Lifeboat Medical Adviser for Swanage RNLI. Vanessa has previously been a governor at St George's VA Primary for a number of years. She has a son at the School. 

Nicola Newman, Governor and careers link, is a strategic communications expert with a particular interest in education and sport. She is CEO of Ansbury Guidance, a careers and employability service. Nicola lives in Swanage.

Helen O'Connor has been co-opted  to the governing body this year. Helen has a wealth of educational experience and is an Area Director at Teach First, a not-for-profit organisation that supports trainee and NQT teachers and promotes leadership development. 

Amanda Rowley, Governor, is one of the founding governors of the School and. She runs an advertising and marketing company. Her daughter completed GCSEs at the School in the 2018 cohort, and her son still attends. Amanda lives in Swanage.

Jessica Starmer, Governor (H&S link), works as a pilot for British Airways. She has also been involved in developing human factors, performance and peer support, with a particular interest in mental health and emotional response.

Alison Stephens, Vice-Chair of Governors (and safeguarding, mental health & SEND link), is a teaching assistant at St Mark's Primary School. She was a Governor at Swanage Primary School for several years. She lives in Swanage with her partner and their two children, one of whom attends the school.

Carl Styants, Chair of the Staffing Committee, is a magazine editor and journalist. He lives in Swanage with his partner Elaine and two children, both of whom attend the School.

Nicky Taylor, Staff Governor (pupil premium link), will be known to all students and parents due to her role as the School receptionist, which gives her a useful insight into the views of students, staff and parents over a wide range of issues. She lives in Swanage with her twins who have recently "graduated" from the school.

Isobel Tooley, Chair of the Student Committee, is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and uses her business, analytical and finance skills to support and challenge the school’s leadership team. She lives in Langton with husband Steve and their two children.

Contact the Governing Body

You can contact any of the members of the Governing Body by emailing the Clerk, Sue Fletcher, on clerk@theswanageschool.co.uk or by writing to them c/o The Swanage School, High Street, Swanage BH19 2PH.

Further Information about the Governing Body

Register of Interests

Governing Body Meeting Dates and Minutes

Governor Roles and Meeting Attendance

Scheme of Delegation