Ecclesall Infant School Election of Parent Governor

13th February 2017

Dear Ecclesall Infant School Parents,

Ecclesall Infant School Election of Parent Governor:

I am writing to invite you to take part in a Parent Governor election to the school’s governing body. Six parents have been nominated. In alphabetical order they are:-

1. Richard Gould, whose daughter is in Y1.
2. Andrew Johnston, whose daughter is in Y1.
3. Grazina Manchester, whose daughter is in Reception.
4. Alex Miller, whose daughter is in Y2.
5. Dipak Patel, whose son is in Reception.
6. Vicky Weston, whose son is in Reception.

Only one of the candidates above can be elected.

All people who have parental responsibility for a child at the school are entitled to vote. You should only vote for one of the candidates. No-one is allowed to cast more than one vote per candidate but each parent has the opportunity to vote.

The parent who gets the highest number of votes will win the election. In the event of a tie the votes will be recounted but if the votes are then still equal, the candidate with the youngest child at the school will be elected.

The school governors play an important part in the life of the school and can have a real influence on the education of your child so please do use your vote.

Please vote by replying to the parent governor text with the name of your chosen parent governor. If both Parents want to vote, then please indicate on the text reply. You may only vote for 1 candidate and your voting reply must be returned to the school by Monday 6th March 2017.

To make sure the election is fair, we are using the text messaging service. This will allow us to keep a check on who has voted but keep the way they voted a secret.

On the next page are the supporting statements from both all six parents to read before voting.

Kind Regards

Emma Hardy Nicole Ramsey Kevin Corke

Executive Head Teacher Head of School Chair of Governors

1. Richard Gould - Expression of Interest for Parent Governor

Married to Julie for ten years, father of two, Evie who is in Blue Whales, and Matilda who is two years old, and we hope will attend the new Ecclesall Primary School. I was born and grew up in Sheffield, attending Coventry University to study Automotive Engineering Design. For the last fifteen years I’ve held various positions at The University of Sheffield’s, Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC) within their metal castings division. Working in engineering R&D, Operational Management, and latterly Business Development and Large Projects, creating world class manufacturing and engineering facilities. I very recently took on a new career challenge at MetLase Ltd, a Rolls Royce and Unipart joint venture based in Sheffield, to help them grow their business. Broadening my engineering background, I became a Pension Trustee ten years ago.

I have a passion for helping young aspiring engineers progress in their careers and have mentored numerous enthusiastic apprentices.

I want to join the Ecclesall Infant School board of Governors to contribute positively to the development and growth of what is clearly something already very successful. The new challenges that face the team during the period of transition from an Infant to Primary School is something that I would relish.

1. Dr Andrew Johnston: Expression of Interest for Parent Governor

My interest in becoming a parent governor stems from my interest in education. I work in the higher education sector; I am a Principal Lecturer in Economics and International Business at Sheffield Hallam University, with 15 years’ experience of teaching. I firmly believe that education is the means to the promotion of understanding and tolerance in society; allied to this is a belief in social inclusion and providing the best opportunities for all members of society at all stages of life. I aim to achieve this in my professional life through both the transfer of my knowledge and expertise to others but also promoting their empowerment through developing critical thinking and reasoning. It is this passion for education and the education system that leads me to put myself forward as a potential parent governor.

In my professional role, I lead a group of 26 academics (plus 10 adjunct faculty). This role means I am familiar with a range of HR issues relating to employment, well-being, and recruitment as well as taking an active role in the running of my department through taking responsibility for the staff development budget for the team, as well as being part of a leadership team that deals with the wider departmental budget. Furthermore, I am also able to work with people from a diverse range of backgrounds; I can play a leading or supporting role as necessary, and always try to offer a reasoned and insightful opinion on every issue. These are all traits I can bring to this role.

I believe the school plays a crucial role in the local community as a focal point for a wide range of activities. I am aware that the school is presently going through a programme of fundamental change and would like to support this process in the future. Since my daughter joined the school I have been very impressed by the school’s ethos and the learning environment within it. I would like to offer my skills, expertise, and passion to support the school to sustain and continue to develop these.

1. Grazina Manchester: Expression of Interest for Parent Governor

Having received an email regarding a request for school governors, I would like to put my name forward as a nominee.

My daughter has just recently started in the reception class at Ecclesall Infants, and with a younger son who also hopefully attend EIS, I see myself being actively interested and involved with the school's progress and performance for many years.

I currently work at Sheffield Hallam University as an Assistant Management Accountant, with my responsibilities including producing monthly accounts, analysing data, monitoring research project budgets and preparing information for audit. I have worked in various aspects of finance for ten years, including audit and have been at the university since 2009. As such I have some understanding of the pressures of government funding regulations for schools and universities.

I am Chair for the Finance Directorate’s charity board, in charge of organising annual fundraising activities for our designated charity. Following a recent resignation, I am also undertaking the responsibility of treasurer until we have a volunteer for the role.

I would love the opportunity to be a parent governor, to represent the views of parents and to help shape and influence the future of EIS and be more involved in the school community.

1. Alex Miller: Expression of Interest for Parent Governor

I have a daughter in year 2 and a son who I hope will start in reception in September 2017. I am currently a member of the management committee for the Ecclesall Kids Club, which provides wrap around care at both the infant and junior schools.

I am a civil servant and currently work at the Department for Education. I am a statistician and in my current role I am responsible for analysing and publishing data about schools, pupils and school funding. I have previously worked on school performance tables and national curriculum assessments (SATs).

The role of the parent governor is to represent the views of parents on the governing body. I see this role as representing the views of all parents – not just my own personal opinions. In order to do this effectively I will seek to gather views from parents on aspects of the school.

1. Dipak Patel (Father to Taran, Koalas): Expression of Interest for Parent Governor

I would welcome the opportunity to become parent governor at Ecclesall Infant School. As well as becoming a new parent to this school, l have a daughter who currently attends Ecclesall Junior School and another who has recently left the Juniors to attend Silverdale.

I have taken a keen interest in their learning by becoming a Parent and now Co-Opted Governor at Ecclesall Juniors for over 4 years contributing to both the Resources and Achievement & Learning committees as well as the Full Governing Body.

As a parent governor the interests of all children has been foremost at governing body meetings representing all parents/carers interest and concerns. I have and continue to support the governing body and Executive Head Teacher in continuing to build effective two-way communications with parents/carers that raises parents/carers awareness of all the good things that the school delivers, help increase feedback and dialogue, and increase parents/carers involvement with school activities.

My involvement with the Achievement & Learning Committee has required me to keep abreast of the national curriculum and how it is being implemented through the school’s creative curriculum, be familiar with the relevant curriculum policies including transition arrangements (between key stages and between schools) and how these are being implemented (both school and national policies), keeping up to date with information from other sources (e.g. Local Authority, OFSTED, Government) relating to the curriculum and measures of attainment.

I have kept up to date with information on year group progress, key stage attainment and trends in achievement, including understanding the many data outputs from the Senior Leadership Team and externally from both local and national bodies. This has been essential in my role as a Governor to support the governing body in delivering their statutory responsibility in challenging and holding the Head Teacher and senior leaders to account to ensure targets are met / exceeded and standards continue to rise whilst meeting the individual needs of each child.

My involvement with the Resources Committee has been to offer advice and guidance to the Head Teacher on all matters relating to the school environment, premises and grounds, security, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Personnel/Performance Management, and Finance. I have been involved in the development and review of school policiesincluding those relating to personnel matters, and the school’s financial management policy. I have supported training provision and skills audits of the Governing Body, undertaken Health & Safety reviews of the school and consulting with the teaching staff to understand the challenges of the new curriculum and resource requirements.

Whilst managing work and family commitments, I have maintained attendance at each of the Governing Body committee meetings, including the joint committee meetings with Ecclesall Infant Governing Body; demonstrating my commitment to the schools and more so during the expansion proposal of the schools in the Ecclesall area, attending the consultation meetings with the Local Authority, community and parents. The expansion proposal has implications for me as a parent and a local resident as well as a Governor, and so I have been keen to ensure that the proposal meets the needs of the children whilst having an awareness of other factors.

With a child in the Infants and with the transition to primary school I have a vested interest in the future of Ecclesall Infants School and this opportunity would enable me to become more involved with the school and support the Head Teacher and Governors to maintain its excellent teaching and culture, and its development into a Primary School.

As an NHS Manager at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, I am responsible for developing and implementing strategy and policies with duty of care to clients and patients. My role includes both budgetary and HR responsibilities. I am on the Board of Directors for a Limited Company which too involves management and budgetary decision making. I have a variety of management and coaching skills and experience, as well as the wealth of experience from being a Governor at the Juniors, that I feel would be a valuable contribution to the Ecclesall Infants School governing body and help set the strategic direction of the school.

1. Vicky Weston: Expression of Interest for Parent Governor

Having received your email, I would like to be considered for the role of Parent Governor at Ecclesall Infant School. We have recently moved into the area and I would like to get more involved in the local community, in particular in the schooling of our children. I have one son (Oliver Noon) already in Panda class and my daughter, Libbie, who will hopefully be starting in Reception in September 2019. For this reason, the development of the school is a very high priority for me and I would be very happy to be part of this future alongside the staff and other governors, especially given the upheaval that is likely to be taking place over the next few months. I have already taken a very active interest in the consultation process for the proposed new Primary School, having attended most of the relevant meetings to date, and would enjoy playing a more active role in helping to smooth this process, together with any other aspects of the education provided by Ecclesall Infants School for its children, be it academic, physical or social. Following a degree in Biochemistry and Genetics at Sheffield University I worked in administration within the NHS for a number of years, after which I undertook a PGCE and worked as a secondary science teacher at Brinsworth Academy in Rotherham. I feel this experience will give me some insight into the ups and downs of school life so hopefully I can contribute positively within this environment. Since the birth of Ollie 5 years ago I have not worked. For 2 of these years we were in Canada where my husband was doing a fellowship. I am currently a “stay at home mum” and I am therefore in a good position to attend evening meetings and help out with activities during the school day. I am extremely organised!! And what is more I enjoy organising!! Just before Christmas I arranged a Panda Mums night out so we could socialise together and get to know each other better. I am both a good communicator and community person – I enjoy meeting and getting to know new people and being part of the school and the wider community. I look forward to hearing from you. With kind regards, Vicky Weston