The Local Governing Body of Longwick C of E Combined School
ODBST (Oxford Diocese Bucks Schools Trust) is governed by a Board of Trustees who is responsible for overseeing the management and administration of ODBST and all the academies run by it including Longwick. The Trustees are accountable to external government agencies including the Charity Commission and the Department for Education for the quality of education they provide. They are required to have systems in place through which they can assure themselves of quality, safety and good practice. As Longwick is a Church of England school the Trustees are also accountable for ensuring that the academy provides an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice. In order to discharge these responsibilities the Trustees appoint people who are locally based to serve on a local governing body which has been established to ensure the good governance of the school.
The strategic functions of the governing body are ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction: holding the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school, its pupils and the performance management of the staff: overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
The governing body is made up of 12 members: the Head Teacher; the Rector of St Mary’s Princes Risborough (ex officio); 2 Foundation governors appointed by the Diocese; 4 trust governors drawn from the local area, selected because of their skills and interests; 1 staff governor elected by staff members and 3 elected parent governors. With the exception of the Head Teacher, governors all hold office for a period of four years.
On conversion to an academy within the ODBST on 1st July 2018 all governors’ terms of office came to an end. All were reappointed as members of the Local governing body at that time and it was agreed that the expiry date of the original term of office would be observed to facilitate orderly succession planning.
Governor appointments and terms of office
| Mrs Diane Kerwood | Foundation Governor Appointed 17 Jun 2020 | Expires 16 Jun 2024 |
| Mrs Deborah Cadwallader | Trust Governor Appointed 16 Jun 2019 | Expires 15 Jun 2023 |
| Mrs Claire Randall | Trust Governor Appointed 13 Mar 2021 | Expires 12 Mar 2025 |
| Miss Clare Smith | Trust Governor Appointed 17 May 2020 | Expires 16 May 2024 |
| Mrs Valerie Stattersfield | Foundation Governor Appointed 04 Nov 2017 | Expires 3 Nov 2021 |
| Mrs Sophie Marshall | Trust Governor Appointed 30 Nov 2017 | Expires 29 Nov 2021 |
| Rev David Williams | Ex Officio Appointed 1 Jul 2018 | Expires 30 Jun 2022 |
| Mr Chris Birley | Parent Governor Appointed 17 Jul 2020 | Expires 16 Jul 2024 |
| Mrs Alicia Vieira Nunes | Parent Governor Appointed 6 May 2021 | Expires 5 May 2025 |
| Mrs Jan Martin | Executive Headteacher Appointed 1 Sept 2020 | Expires 31 Dec 2021 |
| Mrs Lucy Hendley | Parent Governor Appointed 17 Jan 2019 | Resigned 31 Aug 2021 |
| Mrs Sophie Elkins | Staff Governor Appointed 5 Nov 2019 | Resigned 31 Aug 2021 |
Governor Roles and Responsibilities
| Mrs Claire Randall | Chair of Governing Body; Education Committee; Performance Management Committee; School Development Plan |
| Mrs Deborah Cadwallader | Vice Chair of Governing Body; Education Committee; Performance Management Committee; Development Governor; School Development Plan |
| Miss Clare Smith | Chair of Resources Committee (formerly called Finance & General Purpose) |
| Mrs Sophie Marshall | Chair of Education Committee; Safeguarding; School Development Plan |
| Mrs Diane Kerwood | Resources Committee; School Development Plan; SEN |
| Mrs Valerie Stattersfield | Education Committee; Performance Management Committee; School Development Plan |
| Mr Chris Birley | Resources Committee |
| Mrs Alicia Vieira Nunes | Education Committee |
| Mrs Carole Green | Clerk to Full Governing Body |
| Mr Jim Cadwallader | Clerk to Resources Committee Clerk to Education Committee |
The Governing Body meets twice each term and occasionally more frequently if there is urgent business that needs attention. The work is divided between 2 main committees: the Education committee oversees the curriculum and pupil welfare and also reviews most of the school’s management policies: the Resources committee (formerly called Finance & General Purpose committee) has responsibility for the school’s finances, setting the school budget and reviewing the school’s financial performance. In addition the committee monitors staff performance management as well as having responsibility for pay and other HR matters, Health & Safety and premises. The agendas and minutes of all governing body meetings are available to read in school.
Contacting the governors
Governors welcome suggestions, feedback and ideas from parents. Please contact the Chair of Governors, Claire Randall, through the school office or by email to governors@longwick.bucks.sch.uk