What is the role of the Governing Body?

The governing body have responsibility for raising school standards through their three core strategic functions of:

a. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

b. holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;

c. overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money well spent.

It works in close and balanced partnership with the Headteacher, who is responsible for day to day management issues. There are up to 14 governors including the head teacher, a staff governor, two parent governors, an LA governor and nine co-opted governors.

Who are the School Governors?

There are different types of governors listed on the governing body.

The Headteacher always has the choice whether to be a member of the governing body or not.

Our parent governors are elected by parents and carers of pupils registered at school.

Our local authority governor is appointed by the Local Authority (Leeds city council).

Our staff governor is a paid member of staff who has been elected by the staff.

Co-opted governors have been appointed for the skills and expertise they bring to the Governing Body.

Our Governors:

• Chair of Governing Body: Lee Arnell
• Vice-Chair of Governing Body: Nik Rutherford
• Head of School: Jordan License (ex-officio)
• Staff Governor: Uzma Ditta & Chloe Normanton (elected)

Parent Governors:

• Emma King (elected)
• Nick McLoughlin (elected)

Co-opted Governors:

• Rachel Muers (LGB appointed)
• Lee Arnell (LGB appointed)
• Stephen Roberts (LGB appointed)

Local Authority Governor: 

• Nik Rutherford (LGB appointed)

Associate Member: 

• Joe Wilson (LGB appointed)

(An Associate Member is not a Governor, but has been voted in by the other Governors to be part of meetings, due to their specific expertise and skills. As an Associate Member he doesn't have voting rights)

Governors' Register of Interests

Name	Date of Appointment	Term Ends/ended	Business Interest	Other establishments governed	Relationships with staff or other members of the Governing Body
Jo Ward	1.9.22	31.8.26	Spelling Shed	None	None
Nik Rutherford	15.12.22	14.12.26	None	None	None
Lee Arnell	14.7.22	13.7.26	None	None	None
Jordan License	1.2.24	31.1.28	Director of Playscheme @	None	None
Rachel Muers	7.10.21	6.10.25	None	None	None
Emma King	28.4.22	27.4.26	None	None	None
Nick McLoughlin	20.7.23	19.7.27	None	None	None
Joe Wilson	20.7.23	19.7.27	Employed by Owlcotes Multi Academy Trust (OMAT)	Observer at Primrose Hill PS, Calverley Parkside PS, Armley Park PS, OMAT Trust	None
Stephen Roberts	5.10.23	4.10.27	None	None	None
Robin Phelan	6.12.18	31.7.23	None	None	None
Jackie Campbell	17.2.22	31.7.23	None	None	None
Hayley Atkins	17.2.22	31.7.23	None	None	None
Stephen Davies	5.12.19	31.7.23	None	None	None

The full governing body meets five times a year. 

There are special committees, convened only when required:

• Headteacher’s Performance Management/Pay Committee: Lee Arnell, Nik Rutherford

Some governors also have special responsibilities:

• Child protection / LAC governor: Emma King
• SEND governor: Stephen Roberts
• Attendance: Emma King
• Teaching & Learning: Dan Kelly
• Complaints Governor: Rachel Muers
• Health and Safety Governor: Nick McLoughlin
• Pupil Premium Governor: Lee Arnell
• EYFS Governor: Rachel Muers
• Equalities Governor: Chloe Normanton
• Staff Wellbeing Governor: Uzma Ditta
• OPAL Governor: Nik Rutherford
• Behaviour Governor: Nik Rutherford

Some of our Governors are linked to areas of the curriculum:

• English: Rachel Muers
• Maths: Stephen Roberts
• Wider Curriculum: Jagdeep Dhaliwal

We have a rolling programme of reviewing all the school policies. Many policies are available on this website and all policies can be viewed by contacting the school by phone or the Headteacher, Mr Jordan License, by email j.license@springbank.owlcotesmat.org

How can I become a School Governor?

If you'd like to find out more about being a school governor and which schools have vacancies there are a number of ways to do so:

• You can contact a school directly to ask if they need a new governor.
• You can contact Governors for Schools https://governorsforschools.org.uk/
• You can contact Leeds City Council https://www.leeds.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-governor
• National Governance Association https://www.nga.org.uk/about/become-a-governor-trustee/

If you wish to contact the governors, you can speak to them directly or leave a message for any of them at the school office on (0113) 204 3120.