Governors
The Crossways Schools have one governing board that provides oversight to both the Crossways Infant School and the Crossways Junior School in the federation, collectively referred to as “Crossways’.
Chair of Governors: Emma Aiken-Jones
Vice Chair: Sarah Wickett
Clerk to the governing board: Michelle Galliott
For the full list of governors and the latest attendance and pecuniary information please see the attached files.
The governing board consists of staff, parent and community governors; ensuring stakeholders across the Crossways community are represented.
The Chair of Governors and the Vice Chair are appointed annually.
Responsibilities
The governing board have three core functions:
The governing board fulfil these responsibilities through the Full Governing Board, its committees and governors focusing on individual priorities (referred to as link governors), which are align with the School Development Plan and agreed annually.
In addition, governors review and approve the policies used by Crossways to ensure that they reflect the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the schools, aswell as ensuring compliance with statutory requirements.
The day-to-day operational and strategic leadership of Crossways are the responsibility of the Federation Head Teacher and the other members of the Federation Leadership Team.
Name | Status |
Emma Aiken-Jones | Chair of Governors, Co-opted (Parent) |
Dominique Ayotte-Reader | Associate (staff) |
Alan Bucke | Co-opted (Parent) |
Claire Clarke | Federation School Business Manager, Co-opted (Staff) |
Philip Clarke | Chair of Pupil Development, Co-opted (Parent) |
Katey Dowdeswell | Co-opted (Parent) |
Katy Eales | Co-opted (Parent) |
Paul Gardiner | Chair of Finance & Resources, Co-opted (Parent) |
David Jenkins | Local Authority |
Paul Medlicott | Federation Head Teacher |
Emma Mitchell | Federation Deputy Head, Co-opted (Staff) |
Helen Mitchell | Parent |
David Vernon | Co-opted community |
Anthony Phillips | Co-opted community |
Michelle Galliot | Clerk to FGB & all committees until 31/08/22 |
Rachel Beattie | Clerk to FGB & all committees from 01/09/22 |
Structure of the governing board
The Full Governing Board meet as a group at least five times a year.
In addition, the governing board has the following committees which meet on average at least four times a year:
Federation Head Teacher performance management is carried out by a separate panel of two to three governors (supported by a local authority educational specialist) that report into the Pay Committee.
Safeguarding and Staff Wellbeing are two areas that are reported directly to the Full Governing Board.
Full details of the scheme of delegation are set out in The Governing Board Protocol, see the document attached. Each committee also has Terms of Reference which are approved by the Full Governing Board annually.
From time to time working parties of a small number of governors will be established to complete work in a particular area of focus.
Individual areas of focus (Link governors)
For the current academic year we have link governors which include the required roles, as well as those areas chosen by the governing board to align with Crossways’ School Development Plan:
Area of focus |
Governor responsible |
Safeguarding |
Emma Aiken-Jones |
Whistleblowing |
Emma Aiken-Jones |
Health and Safety |
Helen Mitchell |
GDPR and computing |
Alan Bucke |
Inclusion (including SEND and Pupil Premium) |
Sarah Wickett |
Children and Staff Mental health and wellbeing |
Phillip Clarke |
Curriculum, with emphasis on: English, Maths, History, and Geography |
Cori Davies, Dave Vernon, Anthony Phillips |
Quality of teaching, pupil attainment and progress |
Anthony Phillips |
Chair of Governors Annual Statement
The governors keep the Crossways community updated on their work through contributions to newsletters during the year and an annual statement. Please find attached the most recent annual statement.
Governor Contacts
We encourage everyone to use the established methods of communicating with school for day to day matters. However, if you would like to raise a matter with the governors, please contact the Chair or Governors Emma Aiken-Jones by email: emma.aikenjones@crossways.org.uk.