I have a confession. When I joined the school’s Governing Body two and a half years ago I had no idea what I was getting into! Of course I had my own ideas about what was involved but the reality was very different.
I should add the surprise has been on the upside. I’ve learned about the education system generally, the workings of Challon-er’s specifically and made friends and acquaintances both in and outside the school. So if you’re wondering what we do, in the style of Alan Roe, here are five key activities from my first year as Chairman.
Doing what is best for our girls is at the heart of everything. We are there to ensure the very best outcomes for their wellbeing, education and preparation for life after DCHS. To make sure we know what the girls themselves might think, each year we invite the Head Girl and two of her team to join us. Their comments are always considered, perceptive and smart. This week we welcomed Evie Vennix, Ellen Gamble and Kizzy Mussenden as our new student representatives.
We help define the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction. We’ve been doing a lot of work to review this with the senior leadership team this academic year…
…and this term we are planning out the detail of what we want to achieve over the next 3-5 years. We’ll be telling you about these plans in the Autumn term once we have…
… worked out the costs and allocated money to deliver this. Overseeing the school’s financial performance and ensuring we spend money wisely is a major focus. As Debbie Grimsdale, the school’s Business Manager, wrote in Headlines a couple of weeks ago, after a few diffi-cult years we’re hopeful the inequality in school funding is being addressed but we’ve also strengthened our Development team to help us source funds for specific projects. The Courtyard Café is a great example of what is possible when everyone is focused on achieving a particular result.
At governor meetings we review how the school is performing. DCHS does well in exam league tables but the school supports the girls to achieve much more than pure academic success. Increasingly it is qualities such as self-confidence, teamwork and resilience that will open doors and help the girls achieve whatever it is they put their minds to. Of course we want them to have fun while they are doing it!
A couple of our governors are stepping down shortly and we will be looking to replace them. We’re particularly interested in hearing from anyone with property or building experience and qualified accountants. Governors need to attend three or four meetings a term as well as help represent the governing body at parents’ evenings and other school events. Full training is available. It is serious stuff but rewarding. Whatever you might expect from being a governor, I’m confident you will enjoy it.
Please contact me at [email protected] if you are interested and want to find out more.
Pip Wood
Chair of Governors
