Silverwood School Governors

30/7/2021

Latest Governance Structure & Attendance

The governing body meets as a full governing body at least one a term (six terms per annum) – see this year’s meeting dates below.
There are two committees – Standards and Resource each of which also meet five times a year.
Membership of the Committees (along with roles and responsibilities and declared interests) is detailed in the following Governance Structure and Attendance PDF document:
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND ATTENDANCE AS AT MAY 2023

View PDF

The role of the governing body is a strategic one, its key functions are to:
Set the aims and objectives for the school.
Set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives.
Set the target for achieving those aims and objectives.
Monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives.
Be a source of challenge and support to the executive head teacher and leadership team (a critical friend).

Silverwood School is a member of Challenge Partners

Silverwood School is a member of Challenge Partners who are an education charity, led by practitioners, through which schools collaborate to improve each other and the education system as a whole, so all children benefit. For more details please read the following Governance News Article

Governance News

Governor Meetings

2023
Thursday January 18th - Standards Committee meeting
Wednesday January 25th - Resource Committee meeting
Thursday February 2nd - Full Governing Body meeting
Thursday March 15th - Standards Committee meeting
Wednesday March 22nd - Resource Committee meeting
Thursday March 30th - Full Governing Body meeting
Thursday May 10th - Standards Committee meeting
Wednesday May 17th - Resource Committee meeting
Thursday May 25th - Full Governing Body meeting
Thursday 22nd June - Standards Committee meeting
Thursday 29th June - Resource Committee meeting
Thursday July 6th - Full Governing Body meeting

Governor Profiles

Chair:
Aileen Bates - Co-opted Governor

I have been Chair of Silverwood School since its formation in September 2020 and am a
Trustee of the School Fund.
I have worked as a practitioner, manager and trainer in social work, industry and personal
finance and until my retirement was a director of a community based project to integrate
people with learning disabilities, behavioural and mental health problems into normal living
by providing supported living and day occupation.
I enjoy my family, golf and bridge as well as supporting Swindon Town football club.

Joint Vice Chair and Chair of Standards Committee:
Co-opted Governor: Sarah Gunner

I have been involved in teaching and education for the last 24 years, starting as a Science teacher and more recently specialising in supporting vulnerable pupils. My daughter started at Silverwood in Year 7 and her enthusiasm for the school encouraged me to join the Governing body!
I currently lead the Bath and North East Somerset Virtual School ensuring successful education outcomes for all children who are looked after or previously looked after within the county.
In my spare time, I enjoy music, singing, spending time with my family and walking with our golden retriever.

Joint Vice Chair:
Jan Winfield: Co-opted Governor

I am mother to Max, 24, who attended Larkrise Special School and Fairfield Farm College.
I am a retired Advanced Skills Teacher of English, working in both primary and secondary schools across Somerset. I became first a parent governor, then a co-opted governor at Larkrise School, becoming Vice Chair in 2018.
My work as an AST gave me a wide experience of school management, from curriculum planning and implementation to delivery of whole school INSET, teacher training, mentoring and performance management. As an assessor for the Basic Skills Agency, I helped schools to deliver excellence in basic literacy skills. I also wrote and published educational resource materials.
I became involved in the discussions around SEND education in Wiltshire at an early stage and have gained enormous satisfaction from helping to shape its future over the past six years. Teaching and Education have given me a rich and rewarding life and seeing children grow, learn, and develop into young adults, knowing that you have played a part in securing their futures is a special privilege.
I am a keen gardener and I continue to read every day (old habits die hard…) I love the excitement of art and theatre and enjoy café culture.

Co-opted Governor: Charles Burgess

I am a Chartered Building Surveyor who has worked in both the Public and Private sector for over 35 years.
I set up a successful surveying practice in Bath 15 years ago and am involved in the Building Regulations Industry.
Outside work, I enjoy Golf, Rugby and dog walking and I live in Rowde.

Chair of Resource Committee
Co-opted Governor: Jeff Parker

I spent 24 years in the RAF as a Communications Engineer serving in various parts of the world. On leaving the RAF in 1993 I spent 2 years as a Business Consultant and then 18 years with Nortel Networks and then Airbus, a large Aerospace and Defence company, in Business Development.
I retired from Airbus in 2012 and am now an independent consultant specializing in Cyber Security and Business Innovation.
My interests include keeping fit, walking, and reading.

Co-opted Governor: Stuart Hall

I am a parent carer of a young person with complex needs and I am passionate about giving parent carers meaningful opportunities to have their voices heard to help shape, develop and improve SEND services across Wiltshire.
I manage the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council, which is an independent organisation that represents and supports parent carers of children and young people with SEND in Wiltshire. Prior to becoming a governor at Silverwood, I have been a Vice Chair of Governors at a village school and was on the governing body of a large primary school in Swindon.
In my spare time, I enjoy holidays and trips out with my family, and running.

Parent Governor: Amberline Bewley

Profile coming soon.

Parent Governor: Vacancy (from 06/07/22)

Staff Governor: Claire Peter

Profile coming soon.

LA Governor: Lisa Fryer

I am a qualified secondary school teacher and have held several leadership positions within schools in Gloucestershire since the 1990s. Since 2016, I have been a voluntary LA Governor at a Gloucestershire primary school. For 4 years I was the Locality Education Officer (East) within Wiltshire’s 0-25 SEND Service. This role enabled me to work across the SEND System to ensure appropriate provision for all children and young people with EHCPs. As SEND Link Officer for Rowdeford School, Downland School and two Primary Resource Bases, I gained a deep understanding of both the opportunities and the challenges within county specialist provision. Since May 2020, I have moved into a new role working across the entire SEND System.
My last school-based position was as an Assistant Head Teacher within an inner-city Secondary School with high levels of deprivation. As a senior leader, the considerable experience I gained at an operational and strategic level informs my work as Governor. As an Education Officer within the Wiltshire SEND Service, I have wide knowledge and understanding of the Wiltshire ‘Local Offer’ and work closely with many different stakeholder groups. I have a deep understanding of statutory SEND processes and the regional as well as national SEND landscape. I am supportive of SEND System innovation where this brings both improvements in standards and improved self-efficacy on the part of learners. As the historic Link Officer for Rowdeford School, I became involved in the discussions around the creation of a new Special School in Wiltshire at an early stage. I therefore welcome the opportunity to participate further as LA Governor for Silverwood School.
I am a keen walker, and I am currently part way through completing both the Cotswold Way and South West Coastal Path. Quality time spent with family and friends at home or in North Devon is also a passion of mine. Currently, I am deriving great pleasure from re-organising my garden into a space my husband and I can enjoy more for larger amounts of the year. This could take some time!

Executive Headteacher
Ex Officio Governor: Sean McKeown

Since 2001, I have worked within the education sector. As Headteacher and Chief Executive of a Multi-Academy Trust, I have gained a wide range of leadership experience across secondary, primary, and special schools. Throughout my teaching career, I have been fortunate to work with some amazing colleagues who have influenced my practice, inspired me, and kept me professionally challenged. I have a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Innovation and have a passion for developing leaders and raising outcomes for all pupils.
My aim is to lead Silverwood School in an exciting period of development, ensuring we work in an inclusive System of Excellence where all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities can thrive in an outstanding provision. Moreover, I am keen to work and influence education with colleagues across the county and beyond the boundary of the Local Authority.
I have three daughters and in my spare time, I enjoy running, photography and watching sport - from a safe distance!

Associate Member: Jane Boulton

I have worked with children all my career since 1985, throughout this time I have worked with children with SEN and in the early years sector for the majority of time. I have previously worked for Wiltshire local authority supporting primary children at risk of exclusion and then with the early years team supporting the inclusion of children within mainstream settings and school. I believe in the positive inclusion of all children within their local communities is achieved through collaborative partnerships and effective transition processes. I was a governor previously for St Nicholas Special School in the early 2000s.
I am currently the manager of Springboard Chippenham, a charity for pre school children with SEN/D and their families. I have a Masters in Childhood and Youth and am currently studying for a Masters In Business Administration.
Springboard is one of four District Specialist Centres commissioned by Wiltshire Council to deliver some services on their behalf. We work in partnership with the council to offer early support to families, our youngest was a month old! I have been at Springboard since 2011 and have enjoyed the benefits of working with inspiring families. I am proud of the work we have done to support parents and the increase in provision we have been able to make through fundraising.
We are a cricketing family and between studying, work and dog walking I enjoy nothing better thane being at a cricket ground on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Note I do note always watch – I spend time catching up with friends and family on the boundary line.

Clerk to the Governors: Michelle Hocking

I have been clerking since 2013 (including for St Nicholas School from 2016) and clerk a number of schools in addition to Silverwood.
Copy of minutes can be obtained by contacting me.
I can be contacted on: clerk@silverwood.wilts.sch.uk

Instrument of Government

1. The name of the school is Silverwood School

2. The school is a community special school

3. The name of the governing body is "The governing body of Silverwood School"

4. The governing body shall consist of:

Three parent governors
One LA governor
One staff governor
One executive headteacher
Six co-opted governors

5. Total number of governors is Twelve

6. The term of office of co-opted governors is one year in the first instance, increasing to four years thereafter

7. This instrument of government came into effect on 1st September 2020 and was revised on 18th November 2020

8. This instrument was made by order of Wiltshire Council on 23rd November 2020

A copy of the consolidated instrument must be supplied free of charge to every member and associate member of the governing body