Governors

Governance for Watling Park School

Watling Park School is overseen by a Local Governing Body (LGB) which has a strong focus on three strategic functions:

• Ensuring the school is governed following the Trust & school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding the headteacher and senior leadership team to account for the educational performance of the school, its pupils and the performance management of staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school, ensuring value for money is achieved.

These functions have been delegated to the LGB by the Bellevue Place Education Trust, which is the maintaining authority for the school.  Visit the BPET website for information on BPET’s governance structure and how this links with Watling Park School.

Free Schools are schools funded by the government with the freedom to govern independently – but all are accountable to the Secretary of State for Education. To share resources and best practice, Watling Park benefits from the Trust – a network of schools under one legal body.

BPET responsibilities are set out in the two following documents that are contracts between BPET and Secretary of State for Education:

• Master Funding Agreement – a contract with BPET, as a multi academy sponsor
• Supplementary Funding Agreement– a sub contract of the above for Watling Park School

The delegation for Watling Park School is set out in the BPET Scheme of Delegation.  To support BPET Governors, all are provided with a Governance Handbook that set out the terms of reference, structure along with a code of conduct for BPET governors.

This means that Watling Park School governors are able to concentrate on the things that really matter – educational strategy, school outcomes and aspiration.

Watling Park’s LGB is made up with the following appointments:

• • Three community governors appointed by BPET, which usually includes the Chair – these are governors with a local connection or interest who are committed to supporting educational opportunity in the area.
  • Two staff governors – an elected staff member and the Headteacher (as an ex-officio appointment)
  • Two parent governors (elected)
  • A governor’s term of office is 4 years and no governor will be expected to serve more than two terms.

The LGB meets six times a year.

All governors are required to complete a Declaration of pecuniary and personal interest every academic year.  For 2017/18 declarations, click here.

Governor newsletter – Spring 2018

Current Governors

Dhanmita Boodhna – Chair of Governors

Dhanmita has worked for over 10 years in the event industry and has been integral in launching and establishing GFC Media Group as a business. Now working as a consultant, she specialises in launching start-ups, recruitment and HR, business development and event management.

Having a keen interest in the community, Dhanmita was appointed a Community Governor in the summer of 2015 and elected to Chair of Governors in September 2016. She felt the experience she had gained in the private sector would lend themselves to helping launch a new school in the area. Her daughter now attends Watling Park.

Anna Mechlinska – Parent Governor

Anna is a founding parent and has two boys now enrolled in Watling Park. Anna became a Parent Governor in 2015, with a background in hospitality industry, and ran a business for 4 years.  Anna has a strong commitment to lifelong learning, and is now enrolled in a further education herself to change her career into legal profession.

“Wherever possible I support the school on a voluntary basis to ensure the provision for children is as good as it can be. I want to help ensure that all the children in Watling Park school receive quality education in a safe and happy environment”.

Yaacov Goldin – Community Governor – appointed January 2018

Sharma Ruddock has recently been elected as parent governor for Watling Park School. Sharma has one child at Watling and is a working parent, who works as a Business change advisor for a housing association.  Originally from Manchester but ventured to London in 2009, Sharma now lives close to the school.

Sharma says “My aim as parent governor is to ensure every child’s experience at Watling Park is positively happy, safe and supported in receiving the best possible education. I will help to do this by supporting Watling Park School’s Ethos to Learn, Enjoy and Succeed”.

Caroline Gerstein – Community Governor – appointed January 2018

Caroline has worked at North London Collegiate School for 20 years. She is a Junior School Deputy Head and is in charge of the Early Years and Key Stage One.

Caroline has a real passion for child development a commitment to offering the children she works with the best possible education.  As a mother of 3 now adult daughters she says that ‘education was the best gift we could give our children to help them build their own futures.’

She is excited to be a part of Watling Park and was attracted to the role as the aims and ethos of the school reflect her own values. Caroline hopes that her experience as an educator and parent will enable her to make a valuable contribution to the school.

Mark Greatrex – Trust Rep

Sonia Mallick – Acting Headteacher

Eve Watson – Staff

Laura Collinson – Deputy Headteacher – (Non voting observer)

The clerk to the LGB is Sarah Beaumont

Governor Appointment and Attendance Record

All schools are required to publish each governors appointment date, type of governor, term of office and attendance record.

LGB Meeting 1 – 10th October 2017

LGB Meeting 2 – 12th December 2017

LGB Meeting 3 – 30th January 2018

LGB Meeting 4 – 30th March 2018

Below is a table that outlines the attendance record of Watling Park governors for 2017-18.

Below is a table that outlines the attendance record of Watling Park governors for 2016/17.