About the Governing Body
Since the introduction of the Education Act (1988), governors have played an increasingly important part in overseeing the running of schools. It’s our role to ensure the school acts in the best interest of the pupils and the communities they serve. Good governance is vital to every school, and in these changing times, more is expected of the governing body than perhaps ever before.
The Chair of Governors may be contacted via the school office, on 01484 605441. All enquiries will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.
So what do we actually do?
Governors govern. The governing body are there to help shape the strategic direction and focus for the school.
The governing body has a legal responsibility to ensure the school to gives our children the best possible education. We do this by acting as a critical friend to the school’s leadership and staff. We ask challenging, sometimes difficult, questions. We provide oversight and together with the senior leadership team, help shape the long-term direction of the school.
We do this by:
- encouraging the highest possible standards of education
- helping to set the strategic aims and objectives of the school
- making sure the curriculum is balanced and broadly based
- establishing realistic, achievable targets
- monitoring and evaluating the school’s performance against these targets
- making sure the school’s aims, values and culture are reflected in what the school does
- ensuring proper management of the school’s finances
- communicating openly with parents, the local community and the local education authority
- acting as a critical friend to the head teacher
- discuss and ratify school policies.
| Name (Governor position) | Period of Appointment | Roles & Responsibilities |
| Mrs Sian Hyett-Allen (Co-opted) (Chair) | 16/10/19-Ongoing |
Equality, Inclusion and Diversity Staff CPD Staffing and Performance Management |
| Mr Terry Sigsworth (Co-opted) | 01/09/18-31/08/22 |
Health & Safety Outdoor Provision and Extra Curricular |
| Miss Donna Barker (Headteacher) | 1/9/20 ongoing | |
| Mrs Karen Howgill | 15/10/23 - ongoing | |
| Mrs Rebecca Breeze (Staff Governor) | 7/2/24 - ongoing | |
Previous Governors
| Mrs Sarah Greene (Co-opted) (Vice Chair) | 19/10/18-26/1/21 |
| Mrs Jan Ansell (Co-opted) | 16/10/19-26/1/21 |
| Dr Andy Williams (Trust Appointed Governor) | 22/04/20-26/02/22 |
|
Mrs Caroline Stevens (Parent Governor) |
08/10/20-10/10/23 |
| Ms Katie Hutton (Staff Governor) | 2/11/20 - 10/10/23 |
| Mr John Thompson (Parent Governor) | 30/09/20-18/5/24 |
Governor Visits
We also take part in governor visits to the school. These allow us to get a sense of the school itself by seeing how the children are responding to their work, to each other and the staff. It also serves as a reminder how governorship helps the school as a whole, and why we do it.
This first-hand experience of school is vital in informing our thinking and strategic planning.
Meet the Governors
Sian Allen
Chair of Governors
Having only joined in October last year, I am still relatively new to the school. But feel it really is a privilege to support, yet challenge, the Headteacher and her team. By working together, we ensure that all pupils are encouraged to achieve their best and perform to their full potential by providing them with a broad, balanced and creative curriculum in a safe and welcoming environment. I am also enjoying learning more about your small but big-hearted Birdsedge community. I have been involved in educating children for the past 35 years and have been both a parent and staff governor. So now, as Chair of Governors, I am able to draw upon and utilise my many and varied teaching experiences, as well as learn and develop new skills alongside both Birdsedge and MAST governors. Working part time work is a revelation and I can now make more use of our National Trust membership. Walking around the beautiful grounds, we see some amazing gardens, nature and wildlife. My new hobby is attempting to replicate the amazing bakes on The Great British Bake off. Some disasters but the babka was a great triumph!
Terry Sigsworth
Community Governor
Hello! I first became involved with Birdsedge School through working at the out of school club, when it started up in 2002. I really enjoyed working with the children of the school and loved that it was small enough for everyone to know and care for each other, which creates a special identity for the school and a wonderful learning environment. I soon joined the governing body to help with the running of the school. Although I left the out of school club around 10 years ago to work on the canals, I still enjoy being on the governing body. I am educated to postgraduate level, and both my parents are retired teachers, so am well aware of how important learning is to giving children the best start in life. I have two children of my own.
Phil Marshall
Trust Appointed Governor
I've been a governor at BFS since May 2022. I'm also the Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Mast Academy Trust and as such, I am a Trust-appointed governor at BFS. I have the same responsibilities and duties as the other governors and similarly I take the lead on a particular area of responsibility. Currently I lead on financial matters. I was brought up and educated in the HD8 area and now live in Penistone, just a few minutes' drive from the school. I believe passionately in the ethos of the Mast Academy Trust which enables our schools to provide high quality education and safe environments for our children to learn, play and develop. I'm also Chair of Trustees for a mental health advocacy charity in the West Midlands and Vice Chair of the Board at the National Coal Mining Museum for England. I enjoy volunteering for several conservation charities including the National Trust and for a local community garden near Holmfirth.
Karen Howgill
Community Governor
I am very happy to be a co-opted member of the Birdsedge First School Governing Body. I have always worked with children, intitally as a paediatric nurse, and latterly as a teacher for the last twenty plus years. During my teaching career I was SENDCo for several years and always the Science Coordinator! I am now a supply teacher and have worked in many of the local schools including all age groups at Birdsedge. I love the nthusiasm of all the staff and children and how welcoming and helpful they have been to myself. The ethos of the school has constantly impressed me and how supportive the children and staff are to each other. I feel extremely privileged to be able to use this opportunity to make a positive contribution to the future of this school and to all the very talented children that attend.
Governor Attendance 2022- 2023
Register of Interest
Governor Register of Interest 2023
Governor Meeting Approved Minutes
A copy of governor meeting minutes may be requested at any time from the school office.
If you would like to contact the chair of governors in writing please use the following details:
FAO: Sian Allen
Birdsedge First School
Penistone Road
Birdsedge
HD8 8XR
Individual Governors can also be contacted by their email address shown on the 'Meet the Governors' tab.