Governor Newsletter October 2022
Dear Parents,
We hope you’re keeping well and your children have settled into the new school year. A warm welcome to our new parents joining Winkfield St Mary’s this year.
As Governors our role is to plan the strategic direction of the school. We monitor the effectiveness of the school’s performance and finances by challenging existing processes to drive improvement. This is achieved by working with the Headteacher and leadership team.
On that note, we would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new Headteacher, Mrs Tomkins, and say thank you and farewell to Miss Evans who retired in July. Miss Evans led Winkfield St Mary’s for six years, most notably taking the school to a ‘good’ Ofsted rating in 2019, and supporting pupils, parents, and staff through covid and online learning. We send her our very best wishes for the future.
As we look forward to the next year, we have been working closely with Mrs Tomkins on the school’s priorities. The Full Governing Body meet six times a year with the first of these held at the end of September. At the meeting we discussed the work needed to develop our curriculum, particularly with the new ‘deep dive’ element to Ofsted inspections. This is a closer look at several subjects to make a better judgement about the quality of education.
We will also be continuing to closely monitor the school’s finances. Along with many other schools, our budget is a concern especially with the external pressures of energy prices and pension contribution changes. Thank you for your continued support through the PTA, school contribution and new birthday book scheme. Some key work is needed on the school site too. We are working with the local authority, Bracknell Forest Council, on these issues.
Most important of all is that the children at Winkfield St Mary’s achieve their best. Governors will be visiting the school this term and, in conjunction with staff, looking at the curriculum; our special educational needs (SEN) provision; early years (Reception class) setting; and safeguarding. We also continue to support school events, so please do come and say hello.
Lastly, we have two vacancies for co-opted governors. Co-opted governors are from the local community and may also be parents. If you are interested in joining the Governing Body and supporting the school in this voluntary role, please contact Gemma Lenton, Clerk to the Governors, clerk@wsmschool.org for more information.
With best wishes,
Hilary Smethurst-Evans
Chair of Governors, on behalf of the Governing Body