Governing Body

About the Governors
The governors of Cumberland School are volunteers drawn from the school’s community. It includes parents, representatives of the staff, representatives of the local authority and others with particular skills and experience to contribute.  As a group, the governors are committed to the school as a vital part of the local community and to helping it provide the best possible education for our young people. The governors share and endorse the vision of the school to equip every Cumberland pupil with the knowledge and skills to develop as individuals, to contribute as citizens and to build happy and fulfilling lives.
 
In its most recent report on the school Ofsted said, “Governors are rigorous in performing their statutory roles and fully involved in the strategic direction of the school.”
 
Governor responsibilities
At Cumberland School the governors make important collective decisions and our governing body is answerable to parents and the wider community. Governors are responsible for helping to provide an environment in which a good quality education can be delivered. The specific responsibilities fo the governing body include:
·         Promoting high standards of education and achievement
·         Planning the school's long-term future
·         Setting the school's aims and values
·         Appointing senior staff, including the headteacher
·         Budgetary allocation and control
·         Acting as a critical friend to the headteacher by providing support and challenge
 
Governors are not involved in the day-to-day management of the school; that is the responsibility of the headteacher.
 
The governing body meets each term and relies on committees to advise their decisions. The governors are expected to attend termly meetings and serve on one or more of the committees where they have an interest or can add value. At Cumberland our committees address issues such as:
 
·         Students + Standards
·         Strategy + Communication
·         Resources (including budget and finance)
 
Membership        
 
Parent Governor (6):
Julian Geoghegan
 
 
Dawn Davison
 
 
Nicola Manners
 
 
Christine Skuce
 
 
Amadou Jammeh
 
 
1 Vacancy
 
 
 
 
Authority Governors (4):
Martin Warne (Vice-Chair)
 
 
Elizabeth Jones
 
 
Cllr Forhad Hussain
 
 
Susan Young
 
 
 
 
Community Governors (4):
Lucy Watson
 
 
Doreen Fletcher (Vice-Chair)
 
 
Sharon Higgins (Chair)
 
 
Fiona Miley
 
 
 
 
Staff Governor (4):
Mr John Bradshaw (Headteacher)
 
 
Mr Thierry Jamin
 
 
Ms Jo Doyle
 
 
Mrs Sharon Murphy (Support)
Total membership: 18
 
 
Becoming a School Governor
School governance is the most important volunteering role in education.  An effective governing body is a source of enormous strength to a school and being a school governor is a rewarding way of making an important contribution to education.
Anyone aged 18 or over can become a school or college governor.  No specialist qualifications are needed and people from many different backgrounds volunteer for the role.
 
Enthusiasm, commitment and an interest in education are the most important qualities. You don’t need to have a family member attending a school or college to become a governor.
 
Being a governor is an enormously challenging and rewarding opportunity.  The personal benefits can be summarised as:
·         A sense of satisfaction through knowing children will benefit from your efforts
·         The opportunity to develop new skills and to strengthen existing ones
·         The opportunity to gain understanding in key areas such as finance, personnel and strategic planning
·         The opportunity to gain awareness of the education system as a whole.
 
If you would like to apply to become a governor, you can find more information by clicking on this link

 

Cumberland School Governing Body Committee Structure 

Complaints
Mr Julian Geogeghan
 
 
Mr Martin Warne
 
 
Ms Elizabeth Jones
 
 
Ms Lucy Watson
 
 
 
 
Resources Committee
Mr Martin Warne
 
 
Mr Julian Geogeghan
 
 
Mrs Sharon Murphy
 
 
Mrs Sharon Higgins
(Chair)
 
Ms Doreen Fletcher
 
 
Ms Fiona Miley
 
 
Cllr Forhad Hussain
 
Strategy and Communication
Mr Martin Warne
(Chair)
 
Ms Jo Doyle
 
 
Ms Nicola Manners
 
 
Mr Thierry Jamin
 
 
Ms Dawn Davison
 
 
Ms Fiona Miley
 
 
 
 
Students and Standards
Mrs Sharon Higgins
(Chair)
 
Ms Susan Young
 
 
Ms Christine Skuce
 
 
Mr Thierry Jamin
 
 
Ms Elizabeth Jones
 
 
Ms Lucy Watson
 
 
 
 
Pupil Discipline
Mrs Sharon Higgins
 
 
Mr Graham Lane
 
 
Mr Julian Geogeghan
 
 
Mr Martin Warne
 
 
Mrs Susan Young
 
 
Ms Doreen Fletcher
 
 
Ms Elizabeth Jones
 
 
Ms Lucy Watson
 
 
 
 
Staff Disciplinary, Grievance and Appeals
Mrs Sharon Higgins
 
 
Mr Graham Lane
 
 
Mr Julian Geogeghan
 
 
Mr Martin Warne
 
 
Mrs Susan Young
 
 
Ms Doreen Fletcher
 
 
Ms Elizabeth Jones
 
 
Ms Lucy Watson
 
 
 
 
Staffing
Mrs Sharon Higgins
 
 
Mr Martin Warne
 
 
Ms Doreen Fletcher
 

 

Curriculum Link Governor

Subject
Teacher in Charge
Line Manager
Link Governor
ICT/Bus Studies
Helen Lewis
Caroline Kelly
Amadou Jammeh
PE
Steven Murrell
Jo Doyle
Fiona Miley
Science
Vez Pawluczyk
John Bradshaw
Martin Warne
English
Michelle Pitt
Caroline Kelly
Lucy Watson
History/Sociology
Graham Tanner
Janet Moore
Dawn Davison
MFL
Thierry Jamin
Marie Healy
Nicola Manners
Maths
Gus Mwaramba
Janet Moore
Doreen Fletcher
Music
Oliver Craze
Steve Bowes
Sharon Higgins
Media Studies
Simon Rowat
Christina Raines
Elizabeth Jones
DT/Graphics
George Lewis
Janet Moore
Julian Geogeghan
Religious Studies
Korkor Adjei
John Bradshaw
Martin Warne
Drama
Scott Wallis
Steve Bowes
Sharon Higgins
Geography
Virginia Lowe
Jo Doyle
Julian Geogeghan (temp)
Art
Liz Millward
Caroline Kelly
Sharon Murphy
Food Technology
Bianca Wright
Janet Moore
Nicola Manners
Health & Social Care
Becky Brotherston
Steve Bowes
Susan Young
Performing Arts
Scott Wallis
Steve Bowes
Sharon Higgins
EAL Serena Buchan Marie Healy
Susan Young