Governors

Introduction from the Chair of Governors, Rev. Mike Smith

School Governors work in partnership with the Headteacher and her staff to ensure that our children receive the very best education and whole school experience at Hartford Church of England High School. Our shared ambition is to meet our legal aim, namely to serve [our] community by providing education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice (HCEHS Instrument of Government).

Governors are responsible for the strategic leadership of the school, especially the preservation and development of its Christian character; we are not responsible for the school’s day-to-day management. Governors are drawn from different walks of life, and each one brings their own experience and expertise. We are all volunteers.

Staff, parents and the Local Authority all have elected representatives on the Governing Board, but as a Voluntary Aided school, the majority are appointed by the Church of England, shared between the Diocesan Board of Education and the Parochial Church Council of our parish church, St John’s Hartford. Some governors are co-opted onto the Board for their particular skills.

Governors in a maintained school like ours have three core functions which can be summed up as ensuring the clarity of the school’s vision, Christian ethos, and strategic direction, the accountability of the Headteacher in the performance of her responsibilities and the scrutiny of the public funds used to fulfil our purpose.

In the latest Ofsted report in 2023, governance was included in the “good” rating for leadership and management. The inspectors concluded, “Governors bring a range of skills to the school. They provide leaders with appropriate support and challenge.”

If you are interested in serving as a governor, or have any questions about governance in our school, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me or any of the governors.

On a personal note, this is my twentieth year of serving as a governor in our school. It continues to be a huge privilege to work with our fantastic staff and governors and even more wonderful children both in my role as a governor and as the local vicar. Your children will know me through my regular assemblies and our school’s visits to St John’s. I’ve now been here so long that some current staff and parents were once students in my assemblies! All four of my own children either are or have been students here, so both personally and professionally, I am committed to the thriving of our school and this community.

If you ever wish to speak to me, please contact me through my church office on 01606 872255 or by email to msmith@hartfordhigh.co.uk.

Are you interested in becoming a Governor?

Governors do not need to have any special skills or qualifications and the Local Education Authority provides the necessary training. If you think you might like to become a parent governor you will need to be a parent of a student in the school.

There are currently no Governor vacancies.

Contacting the Governing Body

The Chair of Governors can be contacted via the Clerk at jwhite@hartfordhigh.co.uk.

 Terms of Reference

The Governing Body delegates many of its functions to committees, which meet according to a planned schedule.

In additions, sub-committees are convened when required. These include:

• Pay Appeals
• Staff Discipline
• Staff Discipline Appeals
• Exclusion Review

Governors Membership