Governing Body

Our Governors bring a wide variety of expertise from their professional lives. They provide an immense service in directing the school strategically to make sure the educational performance of the students is strong and that the budget is used properly and effectively.

Our Governing Body is made up of 15 governors under 5 categories as follows:

1 Staff Governor
1 Headteacher
1 Local Authority Governor
5 Parent Governors
7 Co-opted Governors

Membership of the Governing Body 2024-2025

Name	Type of Governor	Term of Office	Appointing Body	Responsibility
Mr Mohamed Omer	Co-opted Governor	22.06.23 – 21.06.27	Governing Board	Chair of Governors. Member of Resources Committee. Headteacher Performance Management.
Mr John Tyne	Co-opted Governor	27.09.23 - 26.09.27	Governing Board	Premises and Health & Safety link Governor Member of Resources Committee. Headteacher Performance Management
Miss Lynne Noble	Co-opted Governor	14.06.22 – 13.06.26	Governing Board	SEND Link Governor. Vice Chair of the Resources Committee.
Mr Jay Patel	Co-opted Governor	18.11.24 - 17.11.28	Governing Board	Attendance Link Governor. Equality Link Governor. Member of Curriculum & Standards Committee.
Ms Jessica McQuaid	Co-opted Governor	24.03.25 – 23.03.29	Governing Board	Member of Curriculum & Standards Committee.
Mr Sean Canaii	Co-opted Governor	28.06.25- 27-6.29	Governing Board	Member of Curriculum & Standards Committee. Member of Resources Committee.
Mrs Kelly-Anne Smith-Sinclair	Parent Governor	15.11.21 – 14.11.25	Parent Body	Member of Curriculum & Standards Committee.
Mr Mark Hollebon	Parent Governor	15.11.21 – 14.11.25	Parent Body	Safeguarding Link Governor. Member of Curriculum & Standards Committee.
Mr Nazakat Ali	Parent Governor	15.11.21 – 14.11.25	Parent Body	Careers Link Governor. Member of Resources Committee.
Mrs Sumala Hassan	Parent Governor	21.10.22 – 20.10.26	Parent Body	Member of Resources Committee. Behaviour & Attitudes Link Governor.
Mr Shahidul Hassan	Parent Governor	21.10.22 – 20.10.26	Parent Body	Chair of Curriculum & Standards Committee. Vice-Chair of Governors. Link Governor for Curriculum & Standards.
Ms Joanne Hamill	Headteacher	-	-	Headteacher. Member of Resources Committee. Member of Curriculum & Standards Committee
Mr Joe Griffin	Staff Governor	24.04.23 – 23.04.27	Staff Body	Member of Curriculum & Standards Committee

Organisation of the Governing Body

Meetings and structure

Governors recently conducted a review of governance to ensure there is a greater focus on strategic priorities and to increase efficiency and impact. The whole Governing Body meets every term. Extra-ordinary meetings are convened when required. School improvement is discussed at every meeting. There is a detailed work plan in place for 2024/25. Governors are in the process of agreeing a 3-year Strategic Plan for the school and this helps governors ensure:

the school’s operational plans align with the strategy
performance management is linked to strategic priorities
budget setting and staffing structure is aligned to strategic priorities

Governing Body agendas (focus of meetings) and governor visits align with the strategic priorities.

The Resources Committee meets on a termly basis or more often if required.
The Curriculum & Standards Committee meets on a termly basis.
The Pay Committee meets annually or as required.

The Governing Body has a number of statutory committees as follows:

Pupil Discipline Committee
Complaints Review Committee
Committees to discuss staffing issues (e.g. disciplinary, capability, grievance, flexible working requests)
Appeals Committee

All non-staff governors are appointed to serve on the above committees and are selected on the basis of suitability (no conflict of interest) and availability. Each Committee has terms of reference which determine its remit and delegated power (and are reviewed annually by the Governing Body).

Monitoring

As well as attending meetings, all governors are required to conduct monitoring on a termly basis. Each governor has been assigned a specific role which enables the governing body to carry out its core functions. Through a combination of attending meetings and conducting monitoring visits, governors develop an understanding of the school (the data, the staff, the parents, the children, the community), which is crucial for effective decision making.

Commitment to Reviewing the Quality of Governance

Governors are committed to an annual review of governance which reviews the following 6 features of effective governance:

Strategic leadership that sets and champions vision, ethos and strategy
Accountability that drives up educational standards and financial performance
People with the right skills, experience, qualities, attitudes, behaviour and capacity
Structures that reinforce clearly defined roles and responsibilities
Compliance with statutory and contractual requirements
Evaluation to monitor and improve the quality and impact of governance

Ethical & Accountable Governance

Governing boards must act in the best interests of children and young people. As guardians of the school’s ethos, they must be willing to challenge any unethical behaviours or decisions. Governors also need to be committed to asking school leaders challenging questions in the interests of children and young people. Every Governor is required to sign up to the Code of Conduct on an annual basis.

Commitment to Diversity

“A board composed of governors who bring a diverse range of skills, experiences, qualifications, characteristics and perspectives and who are from different backgrounds and settings will have a positive impact on setting the strategic direction for the organisation” Department for Education. The Governing Body is committed to ensuring that diversity is considered when making decisions about membership. The rich diversity within our Governing Body reflects this commitment.

Commitment to Safeguarding

At Oaks Park High School, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. The Governing Body has overall responsibility for safeguarding and takes this responsibility very seriously. All Governors have undertaken safeguarding training to ensure there is a whole school approach to safeguarding. The Safeguarding Link Governor carries out a range of checks, not least to assure the Governing Body that staff members are compliant with the requirements set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education.

Checks

All governors are appointed in line with safeguarding requirements and suitability checks. All governors must declare any pecuniary or business interests.

Training

All governors are required to attend training sessions, so they are well informed about the school and about their roles as governors.

Skills Audits

To ensure we have a diverse range of skills, knowledge and experience within our Governing Body, Governors are required to complete a skills audit on a regular basis. Any gaps are used for recruitment, succession planning and training purposes.

Name and address of the Chair of the Governing Body

Mr Mohamed Omer
Chair of Governors
Oaks Park High School
(please contact the Chair through our Governance Professional)

Name and address of the Governance Professional

Ms Frankie Chissim
Governance Professional
Oaks Park High School
fchissim@oakspark.redbridge.sch.uk

Complaints

Formal complaints, in the first instance, should be referred to the Headteacher. Matters which remain unresolved will then be dealt with in accordance with the School’s Complaints Policy.

Attendance

Declarations

Declaration of Business and Pecuniary Interests 2024-25

Previous serving members of the Governing Body in the last 12 months

Mr Rahim Hussein – resigned 15-02-25

Mr Keith Gardner- end of tenue 03-04-25

Governing Body Vacancies

There is currently one co-opted governor vacancy.

Learn more about the role of a governor and how to apply here.