Governance

"Governors are very active in school and show a passion for raising standards and supporting the school to improve." 

(Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools, September 2017)

If you wish to contact a member of the AGC, please contact the school office (school.office@southamstjames.covmat.org) and they will be pleased to forward your query or question to the governors. 

The school is part of the Diocese of Coventry Multi Academy Trust and the Academy Governance Committee (AGC) is part of the governance structure of the Trust which is responsible for overseeing strategic decisions of the school. The governance structure for the trust as a whole is outlined in the governance structure documents here.

As an Academy Governance Committee we work in close partnership with the Headteacher and senior leadership team to ensure the best quality education is provided to every child. It is our responsibility to support, challenge, ask questions and ultimately represent the school community. The Academy Governance Committee acts as a ‘critical friend’ to the senior leadership team, questioning and challenging decisions in a constructive and professional way.

Academy Governance Committees have key roles in relation to: providing support, monitoring and challenge around educational experience and performance; church, community and stakeholder engagement and supporting alignment with Trust strategy, approach, ethos and values. The AGC Members meet regularly, visit the school when possible and during special events.  As a team, we are able to support the school to function well and strive to provide a high standard of education.

As a Church of England Academy (part of the Diocese of Coventry Multi-Academy Trust) all the AGC Members support the school in being a place of inclusive welcome and education for everyone.

We feel that Southam St. James CofE Academy is privileged to have such a caring, well-resourced school with a highly skilled and enthusiastic teaching staff that creates a stimulating and exciting learning environment within a strong Christian framework. The happy atmosphere in the school and the enthusiasm with which the children approach their work, as well as the high quality of work achieved, makes us very proud of our school.  We have the greatest confidence in recommending our school to you for your child, and hope that you will come to experience for yourself all the good things we have to offer.

List of AGC Members including term of office and appointment details.

                                                                                      Term of Office

Judy Groves, (Community AGC Member)                 21.07.2023 - 21.07.2027

Sara Wisniewski, Parent AGC Member                     22.11.2021 - 21.11.2025

(Parental & Community Engagement Lead)

(elected by parents) (Joint Chair of Governors)

Contact:- sara.wisniewski@southamstjames.covmat.org

Roderick Clark, Foundation AGC member               01.11.2019 -  31.10.2027

(nominated by PCC, appointed by DbE) (Joint Chair of Governors)

Contact:- Roderick.Clark@southamstjames.covmat.org

Rachael Williams (Staff Governor)

Laura Constable, Staff AGC Member                   22.09.2020 - 21.09.2024

(elected by staff)

Belinda Hewer, Foundation AGC Member            22.02.2020 -  21.09.2024

(nominated by PCC, appointed by DbE)

Valerie Copley, Foundation AGC Member             07.02.2020 - 06.02.2024

(nominated by PCC, appointed by DbE)          

Trish Lamb, Parent AGC Member                      01.05.2023 - 30.04.2027

Training and Development Officer   

Clerk:

Katy Thomson, contact via the school office

Governors who have resigned in the last 12 months.

Mrs Lucy Vials, Parent AGC Member                            Date of resignation 16.9.2021

(elected by parents)

Mrs Kate Gordon, Governor (Vice Chair)                      Date of resignation 16.9.2021

(chair of the Performance and Standards Committee)

Mrs Debs Brown, Community AGC Member                 09.10.2020 - 08.10.2024

(Chair of Governors) 

(Nominated by AGC, Appointed by the Trust)

Mr Ankur Sharma, Community AGC Member                20.11.2019 - 08.11.2022           

(Nominated by AGC, Appointed by the Trust)

Mr Robert Strang, Community AGC Member                02.02.2021 -  13.01.2023

(Nominated by AGC, Appointed by Trust)

Mrs Linda Blunt, Staff AGC Member                            26.11.2020 -  05.12.2022

(elected by staff)

Mrs Jennie Cooke, Parent AGC Member                       01.09.2020 - 05.07.2023

(Safeguarding Responsibility)

(elected by parents)