Job Introduction
School Governor
Permanent
Suggested 20-30 hours per term
At The Westgate School, we are seeking to appoint a School Governor. As a community of learning, we are always seeking new expertise and insight. We are seeking to recruit to the Board an independent, co-opted governor with particular experience in:
- Building and construction
- Business skills
The Westgate School is a warm, vibrant and forward-thinking community where colleagues and pupils learn together. As an Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ school, we are proud of our culture of academic excellence.
At The Westgate School we link governors to specific School Development Plan objectives as written by the School’s leadership team as well as to curriculum areas or phases; some governors also have a special responsibility, for example, Development and Training, Safeguarding or Health and Safety.
Why join us?
Working at The Westgate School means becoming part of a friendly, skilled and supportive team invested in your success. With 1,620 pupils across our two phases, we are lucky to have excellent teaching facilities, including science laboratories, computing suites, and a purpose-built art and sculpture block. We take pride in a lovely environment for teaching and learning.
The Westgate School is the lead school for the Winchester Schools Training Alliance (WSTA), working with 21 other schools in the Winchester district to train the next generation of teachers. Support colleagues employed by The Westgate School wanting to go on to apply for the WSTA training programme will automatically be offered an interview providing the course requirements are met.
Benefits of working at The Westgate School:
- Full induction programme including training and mentoring to ensure your success in the role
- Ongoing personal development in one of Hampshire’s top schools for progress and attainment
- A friendly and welcoming school community
- Automatic enrolment to a generous local government pension scheme
- Benefits of local government sick pay
- On-site parking and access to EV charging stations
- Free use of health and fitness facilities
- Preferential nursery places in the on-site nursery at a reduced price
- Preferential admission to The Westgate School for colleagues' children (after 2 years of employment)
- Work for a school accredited by the SSAT Leading Edge Network - the only national network exclusively for high-performing schools.
What we’re looking for:
We are seeking an individual who will:
- Efficiently organise prior reading of paperwork and the preparation of questions before meetings
- Give complete attendance at full governing body meetings (6 per annum)
- Review school quality assurance activities
- Attention to detail when reviewing policies and the school’s use of resources
- Attend governor training
- Be a member of Disciplinary Panels/Governors hearings.
- Have expertise in architecture and/or building and construction
- Be passionate about the school community and want to give back
The Role of a School Governor:
- Governing bodies have a strong focus on three core strategic functions: Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and direction of the school
- Holding leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance of employees
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and ensuring money is well spent
- Each individual governor is a member of a governing body and all decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing body.
- No one governor is expected to know it all. The strength of a governing body lies in its ability to attract and rely upon members from a wide variety of backgrounds, share out the duties amongst its members, and be able to take decisions as a group and in partnership with school leaders.
- GCSE grade A-C or equivalent in Maths and English
Safeguarding:
The Westgate School and Hampshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.
Pre-employment checks:
All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks, which will include an online search to identify any incidents or issues that have happened and are publicly available online, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education recommendations.
Child Protection Policy:
You can find The Westgate School’s Child Protection Policy document on our policies webpage.
Equal Opportunities:
In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.
AI:
We encourage applicants to avoid using AI for their application and if doing so, please state this in the application. Please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own as it forms part of the basis upon which future employment may be decided.
How to apply:
Job descriptions and application forms are available at www.westgate.hants.sch.uk/vacancies.
Please send completed application forms to the HR team recruitment@westgate.hants.sch.uk
Please note, only submissions on the Hampshire County Council application form will be accepted.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and we may close the advert early, so we encourage early applications.
Safer Recruitment
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
