The Local Governing Board of Portway Junior School
The Odyssey Collaborative Trust have chosen to have a Local Governing Board in each of the schools across the MAT. The LGB is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions of the school. A key role is to act as a ‘critical friend’: to support, to challenge, to ask questions and ultimately to represent the school community.
The LGB works in close partnership with the Headteacher, staff and the trustees. Whilst the Headteacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are involved with such decisions such as staffing, curriculum, school buildings and finance. It ensures the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives.
Local Governing Board meetings
The Local Governing Board has a minimum of six meetings a year to meet and review the progress of the school. The remaining meetings for the 2020/21 academic year are as below:
24/02/2021
31/03/2021
12/05/2021
30/06/2021
Nominated Governors
A number of governors are also ‘Nominated Governors’ with responsibilities to review curriculum and other areas of the school’s role. Each nominated governor meets staff in school who are responsible for that area.
Interested in Becoming a Governor
We are often in the need of governors at the school. If you are interested in finding out more details, please click here to email the Chair.
Local Governing Board Information
The standard term of office for a governor is four years. The Chair and Vice-Chair are elected annually at the first meeting of the academic year.
The Chair of Governors is Mrs Elizabeth Dark who can be contacted via the school. The Vice Chair is Mr Andrew Ward.
Head of School, Emma Wilkinson, is a member of the LGB by virtue of her position.
The Local Governing Board is made up of nine governors divided into four governor categories
All Governors have full voting rights. | Appointing body | Start and End Date
| Attendance – 4 FG meetings in 2019/20 | Personal and Pecuniary Interest declared in 2020/21 including governance at other schools
| Subject/Link to Curriculum Area | Membership of Committees | |
Mrs Elizabeth Dark
Chair of LGB
| Co-opted Governor
| Local Governing Body | 10.4.19 - 9.4.23 | 4/4 | None | Link Governor for Child Protection, Safeguarding, anti-bullying & LAC
| Headteacher Appraisal |
Miss Emma Wilkinson | Acting Head of School
| Ex-officio | N/A |
| Employed as Acting Head of School at Portway Junior School |
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Mr Dave Semararo | Co-opted Governor | Local Governing Body | 10.4.19 - 9.4.23 | 3/4 | None | Link Governor for SEND and Numeracy
| Headteacher Appraisal |
Mr Andrew Ward
Vice-Chair of LGB
| Co-opted Governor
| Local Governing Body | 10.4.19 - 9.4.23 | 2/4 | Related by marriage to an employee of Portway Junior School |
| Finance Committee |
Mrs Joanne Barnett | Staff Governor
| Elected by Staff | 1.4.19 - 31.3.23 | 4/4 | Teacher at Portway Junior School
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Mr James Flint | Parent Governor
| Elected by Parents | 3.5.19 - 2.5.23 | 1/4 |
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| Finance Committee |
Mrs Grace Hoskins | Parent Governor
| Elected by Parents | 3.5.19 - 2.5.23 | 4/4 |
| Link Governor for Pupil Premium and Quality of Education – including standards, curriculum, behaviour, attendance and assessment
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Mr Jeremy Gibson | Co-opted Governor | Local Governing Body | 25.5.20 - 24.5.24 | 1/1 |
| Link Governor for Personnel, including HR & Mental Health
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Mr Chris Kelly | Co-opted Governor
| Local Governing Body | 30.6.21 – 29.6.25 |
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Mrs Karen Puszczynska | Headteacher until 31.8.20 | Ex-officio | By virtue of office | 4/4 |
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At the meeting held on 10 April 2019, Governors agreed membership of 9 Governors
1 x Headteacher
1 x Staff Governor
4 x Co-opted Governors
2 x Parent Governors
In attendance at LGB meetings are Mr David Blackwell (Executive Head Teacher) and Miss Amy Mitchell (Office Manager).
The Clerk to the Governors is Mrs Sarah Hand
LGB Minutes
The minutes of this academic years LGB meetings can be found below. Minutes of meetings prior to these can be requested under the Freedom of Information Act, by emailing sbm@portwayj.derby.sch.uk