Dear Parent/Carer,
We have a Parent Governor vacancy which we need to fill as soon as possible. Larkspur Primary School has always aimed for a partnership with parents, which undoubtedly brings great benefits to the children. One of the most significant ways you can help in promoting this aim is to volunteer to be a Parent governor.
The governing body's main tasks are:
to ensure that the school has a clear vision, ethos and strategic direction;
to hold the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;
to oversee the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
Parent governors are welcomed as valued members of the team and play a vital role in ensuring the governing body is aware of the views of parents and the local community. We feel sure that there are parents prepared to take on this important role and give their time and commitment to helping us to continue to improve the school's performance.
In looking to fill this vacancy the governors of the school have identified the following skills, experience and attributes that they feel would help strengthen the governing body:
Willing to devote time, enthusiasm and effort to the duties of and responsibilities of a governor.
Has a commitment to Larkspur Primary School and the work of the governing body; participates in the work of the governing body by preparing for meetings, attending, contributing at meetings and taking agreed actions.
Have ability to question and challenge, working as part of a team to identify viable options through collective decision making.
Have an awareness of your own strengths and weaknesses and be committed to personal development.
Training and support will be available to help you develop into the role. This will include in-house mentoring and support as well as access to external governor training from Gateshead Council.
Our governing body expects governors to:
attend three termly meetings of the full governing body per year
be a member of at least one committee and attend three termly committee meetings per year
visit the school formally for monitoring purposes at least two times a year
visit the school informally at least three times a year
commit to attend training courses, and undertake additional independent research as required to ensure you are able to function efficiently as a governor
If you feel you can help in this capacity please complete the attached nomination form which will need to be returned to the school by the closing date on Friday 5th October.
Please note that if successfully elected, the School Governance (Constitution and Federations) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 states that “Where a governor is elected or appointed on or after 1st April 2016 and does not hold an enhanced criminal record certificate, the governing body must apply for such a certificate in respect of that governor within 21 days after his or her appointment or election”. Failure to apply for a DBS check within 21 days will result in disqualification and removal from the governing body.
If there are more nominations than vacancies, we will hold a ballot which will close on Friday 19th October, and you will be sent a voting paper in due course.
Yours sincerely,
Returning Officer, Mrs S Jackson,
on behalf of the Head Teacher,
Larkspur Community Primary School