About The Governors

Welcome to the Governance section of the Poltair School Website. The Governing Board of Poltair School are all volunteers who represent the community and help shape the direction and aims of the School. Some are elected directly by parents and staff, while others are selected by the Local Authority or co-opted by the Governing Board.

The Governing Board have a number of functions, some of which are delegated to committees or to the Headteacher. Primarily our role is to support and challenge the school, its staff and students, to achieve the very best quality of secondary education. Groups of governors:

attend Full Governing Board meetings – 3 each year
undertake bespoke training and attend LA organized events
attend committee meetings
undertake staff interviews
visit the school and monitor the delivery of school policies
undertake the performance review of the headteacher
deal with serious matters of complaints and issues of capability and disciplinary nature

For more details please review the sections below and/or contact us through our Clerk to the Governing Board, Mrs Hilary Dipper, [email protected]

List Of Governors

The Clerk to the Governing Board is Mrs Hilary Dipper.

DOCX

Construction of LGB & Pecuniary Interests

Information for Parents January 2021

Governor Committee Structure

Governors’ committees have delegated powers and functions, while working and task groups prepare recommendations for consideration by the full governing board.

There are currently 5 standing committees:

Personnel Committee: the primary purpose of this committee is to ensure that the school operates within the bounds of current employment law relating to all staff issues, including appointments, training and development, pay and conditions and grievance, disciplinary and capability.

Resources Committee: the primary purpose of this committee is to ensure the quality of education provision by making the most effective use of resources (except personnel). Responsibilities include advising on and monitoring the school premises, health and safety, catering and finance, operating within statutory and Local Authority regulations for schools.

Behaviour, Attendance & Safety Committee: the primary purpose of this committee is to consider policies on Behaviour, Attendance and Safety for approval by the Governing Body and to monitor reported data and trends with regard to Behaviour, Attendance and Safety. Responsibilities include monitoring the delivery of Special Education Needs Provision and ensuring the maintenance of awareness of staff safeguarding policies e.g. Safeguarding, Anti Bullying and Drug Misuse. Also to ensure that all learners, not only feel looked after and safe, but have the opportunity to be successful and fulfilled.

Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Committee:: the primary purpose of this committee is to review the delivery of the curriculum, ensuring that it is broad based, appropriately challenging and meets pupils’ needs, allowing them to make progress, and be prepared for adult life. It will monitor the quality of teaching and learning and review the performance development of teachers.

Pupil Progress Committee: the primary purpose of this committee is to monitor the progress and attainment of pupils. Responsibilities include advising the Governing Body on the quality of academic outcomes in comparison with national data. Also ensuring appropriate targets, assessments and interventions are set for all cohorts and reported on.

Other Statutory Committees: these are convened when needed – for example, the appointment of staff, the appraisal of the Headteacher, to consider a disciplinary matter or hear an appeal against a pupil exclusion.

How To Contact A Governor

All communications with members of the Governing Board should be made Care of...

By post:

Mrs Hilary Dipper
Clerk to the Governing Body
Poltair School
Trevarthian Road
St Austell
Cornwall
PL24 4BZ

By email:

[email protected]

Feedback & Concerns

All feedback and concerns will be taken very seriously. We also like to hear when you are pleased and you may wish to use the Parent View facility on the front page of the website.

The Governors will hear complaints about the School, but only after all efforts to resolve the problem have been exhausted.

Step 1: Contact your child’s tutor or subject teacher or the member of staff responsible for that area of the school to discuss the problem. If you are unsure who that is, the office staff will be pleased to point you in the right direction. If you remain unhappy, the Head of Faculty or Head of Year can be contacted.

Step 2: If previous efforts to help resolve the position have not worked, please contact the Head’s PA, Mrs E Pennell. A member of the Senior Leadership Team, usually the Deputy Head or one of the Assistant Heads will be assigned to investigate. If the issue remains unresolved, the Headteacher will follow up and get back to you.

Step 3: If further action is required, you may contact the Governors through their clerk, Mrs Hilary Dipper, as detailed above.

Please click here to view the Complaints Policy

How To Become A Governor Or Associate Member

Each Governing Body in England is required to have an “Instrument of Government” which lays out the membership. Regulations introduced in 2012 changed the format in response to Department for Education policy to reduce the number of Governors for each school. Our Governing Body was last reconstituted in June 2015.

Parent Governors are elected by the parent board as and when each Parent Governor Term of Office finishes. These are staggered so that elections are held in most years. They have a four year term of office. We have two Parent Governors. Any vacancies will be advertised on the website and a letter sent out to parents.

Trust Governors are elected by the St Austell Co-operative Trust. They have a four year term of office.

Co-opted Governors are people with particular expertise and skills (for example in finance, running a business, higher education) who are co-opted onto the governing body with the approval of the full Governing Body. They have a four year term of office. They may be parents, staff, or members of the wider community. There are currently six Co-opted Governors.

The Staff Governor is the single member of staff elected by all staff working in the school. They have a four year term of office.

The Headteacher is also a Governor and remains a Governor unless he resigns or retires from the post.

In 2015/16 we have introduced Associate Members to the Governing Body. These are additional parents, staff and members of the community who will be appointed to join a committee for one year as a non-voting member. The aim is to enhance the required Governor skills that we have identified through our own self-evaluation process.

In 2015/16 we introduced Associate Members to the Governing Body. These are additional parents, staff and members of the community who will be appointed to join a committee for one year as a non-voting member. The aim is to enhance the required Governor skills that we have identified through our own self-evaluation process.

Cornwall Council

Local Authority

Instrument Of Government: Foundation Schools

The name of the School is Poltair School.
The School is a foundation school with a foundation/ a qualifying foundation school (i.e. a Trust school).
The name of the governing board is "The governing board of Poltair School."
The governing board shall consist of :
1. 2 parent governors
2. 1 Local Authority governor
3. 2 staff governors
4. 5 co-opted governors
5. 2 foundation/trust governors
The total number of governors is 12.
Foundation governors will be appointed by the 'St Austell Educational Trust'.
The term of office of all categories of governor is four years.
This instrument of government comes into effect on 4th June 2015.
This instrument was amended by order of Cornwall Local Authority on 10 June 2015.

Code Of Conduct For School Governors In Cornwall - Poltair School

Accepted by Poltair School Governing Board in September 2016

In ensuring that they support the aims and objectives of the School and that they fulfil their legal responsibilities Governors will work within the following broad principles of good practice:

Understanding that the principle concern of the Governor is the strategic leadership and welfare of the School, maintaining the focus on school improvement and raising standards of educational provision for the pupils including all five outcomes for children and young people identified in the Children Act 2004.
Prioritising as far as possible attendance and participation at all meetings and showing a commitment to the School by involvement in School life.
Ensuring, in all actions and decisions, that the safety of young people is paramount.
Recognising the responsibilities of the headteacher for the day to day leadership and management of the School.
Acting in accordance with School policies and protocols, including those relating to Governor visits to the School.
Respecting the confidentiality of the work of the Governing Board and particularly those items which the Governing Board decides from time to time should remain confidential.
Ensuring diversity and equal opportunity across the School community and treating all members of the School and Governing Board with respect and sensitivity, listening and responding to alternative views.
Declaring any personal interest or potential personal gain from service as a Governor, and withdrawing from discussion or decision-making when it may directly or indirectly benefit self, family or business associates.
Undertaking personal development as a Governor and engaging in appropriate training to keep knowledge and understanding at a level which best serves the interests of the School.
Showing loyalty to the School by promoting its positive reputation in the wider community and exercising collective responsibility for decisions of the Governing Body.
Developing effective working relationships with other Colleges, the Local Authority and relevant agencies to meet the needs of every child in and beyond the School.

Pen Portraits

Dilys Vincent (Acting Chair of Govs & Chair of Behaviour, Attendance and Safety Comm)

I have been a Governor at Poltair School for seven years, I am currently Chair. I have previously been a Governor at Bugle School for twelve years being the Chair for eight before I decided to step down last year. Prior to this I was teacher Governor at Gorran. I therefore have a range of experience as a Governor to bring to Poltair.

I have worked within the education system within Cornwall for 33 years, initially as a teaching assistant at Bugle, then training and working as a teacher in various schools in Cornwall. I went on to work as a Special Educational Needs advisor for Early Years and I have been the Headteacher for the Truro, Bodmin and Launceston Child Development Centres for the last 7 years. We support assessment and intervention for children from 3 – 5 years old with long term and complex needs.

I am married to Nick who attended Poltair School and I have two boys Lee and Jack. Lee who have both attended Poltair, Lee is at university and Jack is on a work training course.

I enjoy being part of the Poltair community and supporting the school in its journey to raise aspirations and improve outcomes for all children. As a member of the governing body I feel able to challenge and support the school where there is a real ethos of commitment and dedication to a common goal. I work with the SEN team at the school and I am link governor to the Tregrehan House.

In my spare time I enjoy travelling, reading, crafts and walking.