Governors
Welcome to this section of the website where you can find out more about our school's governors and the work of the Governing Body.
Governance Statement
The Governing Board has three core functions, as set out in the Department for Education’s Governance Handbook.
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school
- Ensuring financial health, probity and value for money
Governance Arrangement
The governing body meet together as a full governing body every term and visit school at least termly to ensure vision is being turned into reality, ethos is being embedded and progress is being made against the strategic plan.
The Governing Body consists of:
- Four Parent Governors
- One LA Governor
- One Staff Governor
- The Headteacher
- Four Co-opted Governors
Working Together
Parents, staff, governors and the wider school community – working in partnership to ensure that every child can succeed and reach their full potential. To achieve this, and to carry out our role as governors effectively, we need to know what issues are important to you (so we remain responsive) and ensure that you know what issues the governors are discussing (so that we remain accountable).
Keeping in Touch
The website is a good way of keeping up to date with all aspects of school life. If you have a concern or a point of view to share, please come and speak to us.
We welcome your views. You can contact us by email via the school website or by dropping a note in at the school office.
Becoming a Governor
Being a school governor is an important role but you do not need to have any particular skills, knowledge or experience to become a governor. What you need to bring is: a commitment to school life; the ability to work with others; patience and enthusiasm; a willingness to learn; a commitment to working openly and democratically; and, most importantly a willingness to spend what time you can offer getting involved in school life. Our governors typically spend about 10 hours a term contributing to school life (attending meetings, undertaking training, visiting school, participating in school events and much more) but some do less and you can do a lot more if you choose.
The most important thing to note is that governors are a team, not a collection of individuals or groups with separate agendas. However much we may differ in our opinions and experiences we are united by our commitment to the school and the responsibility we share for its long-term success. In short, we have a common purpose. If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a school governor please get in touch with any of our governors.
Name | Type of Governor & Responsibility | Committee Membership | Start Date | End Date |
Karen Haworth | Head teacher |
Teaching and Learning Annual Budget Pay Review |
01/09/2018 | |
Jemma Scott (Kells) |
Parent Governor Governor for Behaviour and Safeguarding |
Performance Management of Headteacher Teaching and Learning |
04/12/2023 | 04/12/2027 |
Maria Stewart |
LA Governor Governor for SEND
|
Teaching and Learning Annual Budget Pay Review Conf Pay Minutes
|
04/11/2022 | 03/11/2026 |
Kristina Penny |
Chair of Governors Parent Governor Governor for Leadership and Management
|
Teaching and Learning Annual Budget
|
27/02/2023 | 27/02/2027 |
Stephen Poole |
Co-opted Governor Governor for Resources |
Pay Review Annual Budget |
10/03/2024 | 10/03/2028 |
Rachel McDowell |
Staff Governor Governor for Personal Development |
Teaching and Learning Annual Budget |
18/10/2024 | 17/10/2028 |
Hayley Gardiner |
Co-opted Governor Governor for Curriculum and Assessment |
CONF Pay Minutes Pay review Annual Budget |
19/03/2021 | 20/05/2025 |
Diane Whaite |
Co-opted Governor Governor for Wider Curriculum |
Performance Management of Headteacher Teaching and Learning Annual Budget |
17/11/2023 | 17/11/2027 |
Michael Sjollema |
Co-opted Governor Governor for Behaviour and Attitudes |
Teaching and Learning Annual Budget |
17/11/2023 | 17/11/2027 |
Rebecca Sandford-Jones |
Co-opted Governor Governor for Behaviour and Attitudes |
Local Authority Governor |
22/11/2024 | 22/11/2028 |
Governor Documents
Contact the Governing Body
If you would like to contact the Governing Board with any comments, concerns or compliments please address your correspondence in writing to the Chair of the Governing Body, C/O the school (marked private and confidential).
Name |
Governor Role |
Focus |
Link Teacher |
Link Contact |
Term |
Meeting |
Kristina Penny |
Leadership and Management |
Staff Wellbeing CPD |
Karen Haworth |
karen.haworth@woodlands.blackpool.sch.uk |
Summer 2024 |
Karen Haworth Charlotte Weber |
Jemma Scott | Safeguarding | Evolve - Risk Assessments Single Central Record (SCR) |
Georgia Wharrier | georgia.wharrier@woodlands.blackpool.sch.uk |
Summer 2024 |
Georgia Wharrier |
Michael Sjollema | Behaviour and Attitudes | Attendance LPPA Award |
Charlotte Weber | charlotte.weber@woodlands.blackpool.sch.uk |
Summer 2024 |
Charlotte Weber |
Hayley Gardiner | Curriculum and Assessment | Curriculum Pathways | Hannah MaLeod | hannah.macleod@woodlands.blackpool.sch.uk |
Summer 2024 |
Hannah Macleod Joanne McConnell |
Stephen Poole | Resources | Health and Safety Audit of school | Georgia Wharrier | georgia.wharrier@woodlands.blackpool.sch.uk |
Summer 2024 |
Georgia Wharrier Andy Cox Jacob Nkuah |
Diane Whaite | Wider Curriculum | Enrichment Offer | Hannah Macleod | hannah.macleod@woodlands.blackpool.sch.uk |
Summer 2024 |
Hannah Macleod Joanne McConnell |
Maria Stewart | SEND | Pupil Premium Enrichment |
Toni Fairholm | toni.fairholm@woodlands.blackpool.sch.uk |
Summer 2024 |
Toni Fairholm Sarah Peachey Charlotte Weber |
Charlotte Weber | Personal Development | Careers | Joanne McConnell | joanne.mcConnell@woodlands.blackpool.sch.uk |
Summer 2024 |
Joanne McConnell |