Governors
Kingsweston and Claremont Schools Federation
On 1 February 2023 the previous separate governing bodies of Claremont and Kingsweston Schools ceased to exist and a new Federation Governing Body was established to govern both schools.
In partnership with the Executive Headteacher, the Governing Body provides strategic leadership to the school.
Strong governance is a key part of a successful school. The Federation Governing Body has a strong focus on three core functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its learners and for the performance management of staff
- Overseeing the financial and other resources of the school, making sure that money is well spent and that the school environment is developed and maintained.
As in all schools, the Federation Governing Body acts in the best interests of children and young people, and is willing to challenge any unethical behaviours or decisions. The Governing Body has a code of conduct, and adheres to the Nolan principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
Our Governors
All governors are volunteers with the exception of the Executive Headteacher who can choose to become a governor on appointment. They are either appointed by another body, elected by parents/carers (or appointed on their behalf), elected by staff (or appointed on their behalf) or co-opted by the existing governing body. There are regulations which determine the overall composition of school governing bodies but there is freedom within the regulations that allows each governing body to determine its own membership in order to best meet the needs of the school. The Kingsweston and Claremont Federation Instrument of Government provides for 17 members. Our Executive Headteacher is one of these governors. At any one time we may have one or more vacancies. Governors are normally elected or appointed for 4 years.
In order to ensure continuity, the two previous Chairs of Governors agreed, and were appointed, to be Co-chairs of Governors of the Federation, at least for the remainder of the school year 2022-23. The Governing Body has its own Clerk, who can be contacted by email: liz.jahn@claremontbristol.org.uk.
Contact with any member of the Governing Body can be made through the Clerk via this email or addressed to the school. The Clerk or the Chair of Governors can also provide more information about the work of the Governing Body in the first instance.