Governance

The Governing Body exists to provide strong strategic leadership to a school, ensuring accountability for its educational and financial performance. It is made up of members of our community, parents, staff and stakeholders. Effective governors do not need educational expertise but do need to be committed to our amazing school, willing to ask questions, to both challenge and support the headteacher. They also need to be able to devote the time necessary to work as an enthusiastic member of the governing body team, and to attend meetings and get involved in the life of the school.

The Board of Trustees is the accountable body for the performance of all schools within Oak Learning Partnership. Trustees work to:

  • Ensure that the Trust has a firm strategic direction, well-defined aims and objectives, and a strong ethos
  • Ensure that the CEO accounts to them for the educational performance of the schools and their pupils, and for staff performance.
  • Scrutinise the financial performance of the Trust, ensuring financial probity and value for money.

For full details of our Trustees please visit the Oak Learning Partnership governance page here.

Our governors

Current governors
Name Appointed by Office Date of Appointment Term of Office Business Interests Financial Interests
Mrs Lidia Gardner Ex officio Headteacher 1 Sep 2024 N/A N/A N/A
Mrs Suzanne Smith Crosshill Co-opted Link Governor & Safeguarding 27 Sep 2022 26 Sep 2026 N/A N/A
Miss Laura Jackson Crosshill Staff N/A 27 Mar 2021 26 Mar 2025 N/A N/A
Mrs Siobhan Mercer Local Authority N/A 8 Feb 2021 7 Feb 2025 N/A N/A
Mr Mohammed Mizan Governing Body Chair
Link Governor
1 Mar 2022 28 Feb 2026 N/A N/A
Mrs Janet Knowles Co-opted Disadvantaged 9 Dec 2022 29 Nov 2026 N/A N/A
Mrs Michelle Plaiter Parent governor N/A 21 Apr 2023 20 Apr 2027 N/A N/A

Governor Attendance at Meetings

Attendance 2024/25
Name Meetings Attended Total Meetings
Mrs Lidia Gardner
Mrs Suzanne Smith
Miss Laura Gamble
Mrs Siobhan Mercer
Mr Mohammed Mizan
Mrs Safiya Balu
Mrs Rachel Hadfield
Mrs Janet Knowles
Mrs Michelle Plaiter

 

Diversity information

The governors of Crosshill School believe it is important that boards reflect the diversity of the school communities they serve. Diverse boards promote inclusive school environments and provide diverse role models for staff and young people.

The governors are currently collecting data on the diversity of the board, including data on age, gender and ethnicity. They will use that data to inform their recruitment and training needs and ensure there is a diverse range of perspectives around the table to support robust decision making.

Due to our relatively small governing body we do not publish this diversity data online as individual governors could be identified and we have a legal obligation to protect their personal data.