The Governors of the Rochester Learning Partnership Governing Body

Chair of Governors	Mr Terence Brown (Acting)
Headteachers	Mr Paul Jackson (Thomas Aveling)
	Mrs Belinda Beckhilling (Warren Wood)
Staff	Mrs Thelma Donnelly
	Mrs Kathryn Duncan
	Ms. Lucy Gorf
	Mrs Lorraine P. Naughtin
	Mrs Debbie Simmonds
	Mrs Thelma Taylor
Parents	Ms. Emma Hardy
	Mrs Lorraine Hattrait
	Ms. Sue Hilling
	Mr John Kanes
	Mrs Yvonne McCarthy
	Mrs Angela Tink
	Mrs Sarah Woods
Community	Mrs Gill Colcough
	Mr K R Gulvin
	Rev Paul Kerr
	Ms Lynne Last
Foundation	Ms Helen Buckingham
	Mr Andy Gay
	Mrs Isabelle Sawtell
Local Authority	Mr David G Stoddard
	Mr Raymond Wells
Clerk	Mrs Lauren Marwood

Curriculum

The range of responsibilities for the curriculum are shared between the headteacher, the governing body, the LA and the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. Within this, the governing body has an extensive range of responsibilities that they share with the headteacher and which include:

Ensure the school fulfils its statutory obligations and provides a curriculum that is inclusive
Set pupil achievement targets
Inform all appropriate bodies of public examination results and national curriculum assessments

Finance and Personnel

Establish procedures for the appointment and management of staff
Deal with all matters relating to staff conduct, staff discipline and staff grievances
Manage the school budget
Determine the number of staff required to enable the school to operate efficiently
Ensure that the school complies with Ofsted recommendations

The Role of the Chairman/Vice Chairman

The Chairman holds a key position and it is important that the governing body appoints the right person for the post. The Chairman has the responsibility to:

Ensure that the business of the governing body is conducted properly
Ensure that meetings are run effectively, focusing on priorities and making the best use of time available; ensuring that all members have equal opportunities to participate in discussion and decision-making
Establish and foster an effective relationship with the Headteacher based on trust and mutual respect for each other's roles. The Chairman has an important role in ensuring that the governing body acts as a sounding board for the Headteacher and provides strategic direction
Act in cases which may be deemed urgent, where a delay would be seriously detrimental to the interests of the school, a registered pupil, their parent or person employed to work at the school

Training

Training for all governors and Clerks is necessary for a governing body to operate effectively and to keep informed of the latest developments that may affect the school or their role as a governor.

Minutes of the Governors meetings are available upon request. Please write to:

The Clerk to the Governors
The Thomas Aveling School
Arethusa Road
Rochester
Kent
ME1 2UW