Federation News

Parent Govenors Needed

Hurst Drive Primary School & Greenfield Nursery School would like to hear from parents because we need to recruit 2 parents to join our governing board!

As you know Mrs Forrest is to become the Executive Headteacher of the Greenfield and Hurst Drive Federation with effect 1 April 2023 and at this point a new governing body will be formed.

If you want to know more about governance have a look at this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoMsVNRg3rc

The governor role is strategic rather than operational. Governors don’t get involved with the day to day running of a school, instead supporting and challenging the schools’ leadership team to drive school improvement.

School governors have a varied and important role in helping the schools run effectively. They have three core functions:

• Planning the strategic direction of the schools;
• Overseeing financial performance of the schools and ensuring money is well spent;
• Holding the headteacher or school leadership to account.

The role is entirely voluntary, governors attend around six meetings a year, usually on a Tuesday or Thursday at 5.00pm.  Governor visits are needed too, up to 3 per academic year as well as meetings with relevant members of staff.  Being a school governor is a commitment and a responsibility but offers you the chance to see first-hand the impact you can make in improving education for children in your community. As a parent governor, your role is to bring a parental perspective to the issues discussed – you're not there to speak 'on behalf' of the parent body.  Free training is available and access to a computer and basic computer skills are necessary.  As a rough guide the commitment is approximately 14 days in a year. 

The Greenfield and Hurst Drive Federation is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We are keen to ensure that the governing board reflects the school community it serves. 

If you are interested in becoming a parent governor and would like to learn more about the role and the duties involved please do not hesitate to contact me at cog@hurstdrive.herts.sch.uk

Alternatively, please submit your application by completing the form attached, including a short personal statement to include:

• Evidence that you have the skills and experience the governing board wants
• Your commitment to undertake training to become an effective governor
• How you may plan to contribute to the future work of the governing board
• If seeking re-election, details of your previous contribution to the governing board

The deadline for applications is 4pm on Friday 10 March 2023, following which there may be an election.

I look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you to the governing body.

Kind regards

Emma Kight

Chair of Governors

We are already beginning to work together with the staff and children of Greenfield Nursery. The children from the nursery have been coming with staff from Greenfield to use our woodland area for forest school on a weekly basis. It has been a delight to see the grounds being used in this way and to observe the expertise of the staff working with the children. In the New Year, we plan to get groups of Hurst Drive children to visit the forest school so that they can also benefit from this experience. It is also going to be a good opportunity for Hurst Drive staff development as they observe and experience how the grounds can be used in this way for wellbeing and learning.