The strategic function of our Governing Board can be summarised as:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction

2. Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff

3. Responsible for the overall effectiveness and management of safeguarding, including filtering and monitoring arrangements and the safety and welfare of staff and pupils

4. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

5. Ensuring the voices of stakeholders are heard.

School governors play a vital role in supporting the school’s strategic direction. They bring experience and expertise to strengthen decision-making and help ensure the school continues to improve.

The role of a school governor is strategic, not operational. Governors are not involved in the day-to-day running of the school. Instead, they monitor standards, scrutinise leadership and management, and check progress against the priorities set out in the School Improvement Plan.

Governors do not become involved in individual cases unless legally required to do so, such as serving on a suspension or permanent exclusion panel, or when a complaint reaches the stage where governor involvement is necessary.

Governors contribute by:

· Providing support and advice to the senior leadership team

· Acting as a sounding board for ideas

· Giving feedback on proposals

· Offering help where appropriate

They also provide constructive challenge by:

· Asking informed questions to ensure decisions are based on sound evidence

· Considering alternative options where necessary

Our role is to support the school and work to ensure its success, while maintaining an honest and objective approach when concerns arise.

Responsibilities include:

· Preparing for meetings by reading agendas and papers

· Attending meetings and visiting the school to monitor progress

· Being available at key times in the school calendar

· Completing training, including compulsory areas such as safeguarding and the PREVENT duty, as well as ongoing development

When joining the Local Governing Board, governors agree to:

· Have an interest in education

· Be patient, tolerant, and able to work collaboratively

· Challenge appropriately while respecting others’ views

· Commit to regular training and development

This role is an important part of the leadership of Glossopdale School and Sixth Form, ensuring accountability and supporting continuous improvement for the benefit of pupils and the wider school community.

The Board of Trustees of the True Learning Partnership (TLP) retains its core strategic functions as detailed within the “Scheme of Delegation”. These can be summarised as:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction of the multi-academy trust, and

2. Overseeing the financial performance of the schools and making sure the trust’s money is well spent.

Please refer to True Learning Partnership’s website for full details on the Trust Board and how the Local Governing Board works with the Trust to ensure the vision and values of True Learning Partnership are embedded at a local level. https://truelearning.org.uk/governance

Please refer to True Learning Partnership’s website for key financial information about the Trust https://www.truelearning.org.uk/policies-and-documents

 

Minutes of meetings can be viewed via appointment. Please email clerktogovernors@glossopdaleschool.org.uk if you wish to make an appointment to view minutes of a particular governor meeting.

If you wish to contact any member of the Local Governing Board, please do so through the Clerk to the Governors via the school.

Please note:

· Governors have a strategic role, not an operational one. They are not involved in the day-to-day running of the school.

· Governors do not deal with individual cases unless legally required, such as serving on a suspension or permanent exclusion panel, or when a complaint reaches the stage where governor involvement is necessary.

If you have a concern, please raise it directly with the school in the first instance. Most concerns can usually be resolved informally. If you wish to take your concern further, please refer to the Trust’s Complaints Policy, which explains when governors may become involved.

Governors are volunteers and are not employed by the Trust, so response times may be longer than if you contact the school directly. Governors have work and personal commitments outside their Governor role, but we will respond as soon as possible.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Email: clerktogovernors@glossopdaleschool.org.uk

We currently have the following vacancies on the Local Governing Board.

1 x Parent Vacancy

An expression of interest has been shared with parent/carers of the school community with a deadline of Monday 19th January 2026 to raise an interest in becoming a Governor. Should you wish to express an interest in becoming a Parent Governor please contact clerktogovernors@glossopdaleschool.org.uk by the deadline. Further information can be found in the School Newsletter.

3 x Co-opted Vacancy

We are currently looking for three Co-opted Governors. A co-opted Governor is a member of the local community who, ideally, is not a parent/carer or staff members of Glossopdale School and Sixth Form.

We are particularly interested in members of the community that have experience in school education, finance and health and safety.

If you are interested in joining the Local Governing Board, please contact clerktogovernors@glossopdaleschool.org.uk  and you will be put into contact with the Chair of Governors for an informal discussion.