Governors

Governance Statement

Governance Statement March 2023

Scott Harding - Chair of Governors

“My name is Scott Harding and I am a Local Authority appointed Governor. I have been a Governor at the School for 6 years in total, 5 of which I have worked as the Chair of Governors. Prior to joining the Governing Body I worked as a Governor in a local Primary School for a number of years.

My relationship with the School started in 1990, when I attended in the Sixth Form and I have had great affection for Malbank ever since – a sentiment which, I think, is shared by many local people who have studied at the School. It has been an enormous privilege to work with the School as a Governor and I have found the work to be hugely rewarding with an opportunity to spend time with some really lovely and professional people. Our Governing Body is deeply committed to ensuring the best outcomes for our students and to generally make a positive impact in our local community.

In terms of my professional background, I have worked as a Solicitor for over twenty years, and I am actively involved in the management of a law firm.

I live locally and am married with two wonderful daughters.”

Suzanne Austin - Vice Chair of Governors and Parent Governor, Responsible for SEND and Safeguarding

I have been a governor at Malbank School and Sixth Form College for over ten years; firstly as a parent governor and now as a co-opted governor. I had previously been a parent governor at the Berkely Primary School in Wistaston. My two boys went to the school and both went on to university to study food science and computer science.

I am a community pharmacist working full time in a number of different roles both in a community pharmacy and supporting all community pharmacies in Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral.

I am used to working with challenging budgets and commissioning set by the NHSE and DHSC which are mirrored with the Department of Education.

I am the lead governor for safeguarding which is something I have to understand and continuously have to keep updated on due to my professional role.

Jodie Heath - Parent Governor

Sharon Yates - Parent Governor, Responsible for Careers and Sixth Form

My name is Sharon Yates and I have a daughter that attends Malbank School and Sixth Form College. I became a Parent Governor in March 2020, and I am a link governor for the Sixth Form. Previously, I have been a co-opted Governor at a High School in Staffordshire, and Chair of Governors at another Staffordshire High School. I work full time at Reaseheath College, in Nantwich, as an Assistant Principal, having worked in the post 16 education sectors for approximately 30 years. During this time, I have predominantly worked with colleges and independent training providers to manage Apprenticeship and Sixth Form College provision. My job has included the financial, quality and performance management of post 16 provision as well as responsibility for safeguarding students and apprentices. I have lived in the Nantwich area for 30 years, and have a good understanding of the community through links with local and regional businesses and community groups.

Declared other business interests - holds a governance role at Sir William Stanier.

Lindsay Smith - Parent Governor, Responsible for Environment and Sustainability

Hello, I'm Lindsay Smith, and I am originally from New Jersey. My daughter is a student at Malbank School and Sixth Form College, and our family has lived in Nantwich since 2009. We feel privileged to belong to such a wonderful school and local community.

I was appointed as a Parent Governor in 2022, and am exceedingly proud to serve on the Governing body, where I am responsible for Malbank's environmental and sustainability initiatives. I also feel lucky to work on this Governing body with so many fantastic people who care just as strongly as I do about the well-being and academic excellence of Malbank students.

Professionally, my career has focused on education and the creative industries. Currently, I am the Education Officer for an international federation. Prior to this, I worked as an Education Manager for a school leader professional development organisation. Additionally, for many years I was a teacher and lecturer, working in senior school, FE and HE in England and Wales.

Robert Edleston - Co-Opted Governor

I first became a Parent Governor over 10 years ago when I had 2 sons attending Malbank, and have subsequently been invited to continue as a Co Opted Governor.

I am Vice chair of The Resources Committee and Link Governor to the PE and RE Departments.

Margaret Smith - Co-Opted Governor

I am Margaret Smith and I have been a co-opted governor at Malbank School and Sixth Form College since 2019. In the past, I have had plenty of experience of being a governor, having filled this role both as a parent and a teacher.

The well-being and the education of our young people are very important to me, and I am really pleased to be able to continue having an input into them in this way. I spent all my working life as a teacher of Modern Languages and, unsurprisingly, my role on the governing body is as governor advocate for languages. I am also a member of the School Improvement subcommittee.

I love spending my spare time in the garden or walking the dogs but, above all, with my two very lively grandchildren.

With the support of my headteacher, I was fortunate to be able to work as a magistrate for over 25 years, which enabled me to promote guidance and care for the young people who appeared in court.

Joanna Wright - Co-Opted Governor, Responsible for Disadvantaged Students and Attendance

Peter Latronico - Partnership Governor, Trustee for NAGS

A retired teacher, I taught at Nantwich and Acton Grammar School and then Malbank School and Sixth Form College between 1970 and 2006, although I did spend one year (1982-83) as a Commonwealth Exchange Teacher at a small high school in rural Ontario, Canada.

For twenty-five years, I was also a GCSE Examiner for one of the leading Exam Boards - initially the Southern Examining Group (SEG) which, following a merger with the Northern Examinations and Assessment Board in 2000 became the Assessment and Qualification Alliance (AQA) - and for ten of those years I was a Senior Examiner.

I am a Partnership Governor as I am currently one of the Trustees of the Nantwich and Acton Grammar School Foundation.

For nearly forty years, I have been a Rotarian and in retirement I became a Trustee of The Wingate Centre in Wrenbury. In my spare time I enjoy walking, travelling and watching professional sport.

Adam Oliver - Staff Governor

Role and responsibilities of the Governing Body.

Statutory Position

To manage the school budget, consider the annual budget plan, approve the budget, consider and approve any proposed revisions to the budget plan.
To decide on how to spend the delegated budget depending on any conditions set out in the LEA scheme within the financial year.
To decide whether to delegate their powers to spend the delegated budget to the head teacher if so, they should establish the financial limits of delegated authority.
To be consulted by the LEA on significant changes to LEA's fair funding.
To make sure accurate accounts are kept.
To determine the staff complement and a pay policy for the school (in accordance with School Teachers pay and Conditions). To act as a ‘critical friend' to the head teacher by providing advice, challenge and support.
To establish a written performance management policy to govern staff appraisal, after making sure that all staff have been consulted.

Financial Management Roles

To set financial priorities through the School Development Plan, 3 year medium financial plan & The annual budget.
To decide on how the school's delegated budget should be spent, in accordance with the SDP and the statutory curriculum requirements laid down by government.
Approving and monitoring the annual budget.Ensure the budget is managed effectively.
Ensure the school meets all its statutory obligations, and through the Head teacher complies with the LEA's financial regulations on standing orders.
Determines virement and expenditure thresholds.
Evaluates the effectiveness of spending decisions.

Governing Body delegated responsibility to Committees

The Governing Body can fulfil some of its responsibilities through a series of committees:

Resources Committee
School Improvement
Impact Committee
Student Discipline subcommittee

Where a committee has been set up the Governing Body will

Define its terms of reference
Define the extent of its delegated responsibility
Ensure it receives minutes of the Committee's meetings

Malbank School
& Sixth Form College