"Members of the governing body have a very broad range of skills and a thorough knowledge of provision and performance. They ask searching questions and are robust in discharging their statutory responsibilities, ensuring that the views of all stakeholders are considered in any decision they make."

Ofsted, November 2011.

Balshaw Lane Governing Body

The Governors play a vital role in the school community. They challenge the leadership team in order to evaluate the school's progress and to drive forward school improvement. Our governors are experienced, proactive and highly committed to the school. Several have experience from their own work which is valuable to the school, for example, with financial expertise. Many of them were governors during the last inspection when the governing body was judged to be outstanding.

Please see below to see further details of the governors' roles and responsibilities.

The aims of the Governing Body

• To challenge the leadership team of the school to ensure that standards are continually high.
• To drive forward school improvement.
• To ensure that legal regulations are met.
• To ensure that safeguarding measures are effective and children are safe.
• To monitor and evaluate learning provision.
• To ensure that the curriculum is engaging, vibrant and prepares the children for modern life.
• To recruit the very best staff.
• To make best use of all available funding, focused on learning outcomes.
• To develop the school site and buildings to meet the needs of the children.

Meetings

The full Governing Body meets once a term, receiving reports from all the committees. Action points are followed up and further action proposed where necessary. The full GB meeting has an agenda informed by the local authority in order to keep updated with national and local developments. These full GB meetings are minuted by the clerk from the local authority.

Minutes of the full GB meetings are on display in the entrance area of school. Please feel welcome to read them.

Extraordinary meetings may be called if required.

There are three main sub committees which meet at least once a term: Resources (Finance and staffing), Curriculum & Standards (Teaching, learning and welfare of pupils), Premises (Buildings, health and safety). Please see below for members of these committees. There is also a Pay Committee and a Headteacher's Performance Management Committee.

Monitoring Visits

The governors visit school each term to observe actions which are being taken towards School Improvement Plan priorities. They use their observations and increased awareness to ask the leadership team challenging questions in committee and full GB meetings.

Head and Chair's Surgery

Mr Fielding and Ms Gregson hold an 'open surgery' at least once a term. This is a drop-in session for parents to come and discuss any concerns they may have in an informal way. Any concerns are taken seriously and, where necessary, followed up with staff.

Please check the newsletter for the next surgery date.

Our school governors are:

Mr K Fielding (Chair of Governors)

Mrs J Gibson (Vice-chair of Governors)

Mrs M Collings

Mrs G Ford

Mrs M Klavins-Bridge

Mrs J Barker

Mr R Mellor

Mr R Browne

Miss R Bond

Headteacher  Ms H Gregson
Deputy Head  Mr W Woodrow (observer)

Pen portraits of the governors

Keith Fielding

I have been Chair of Governors at Balshaw Lane for over 12 years and was the Chair during the Ofsted inspection in 2011 when we were graded Outstanding. I am also Chair of Governors at Parklands High School: the two roles complement each other well because of the strong relationship between the two schools.

I thoroughly enjoy being able to challenge and support the school leadership team in order to further improve our children's education. I am proud to work with our forward-looking governing body and staff to achieve the very best outcomes for our school community.

I live locally and my wife works as a teaching assistant at the school.

Jade Gibson

I have been a parent governor at Balshaw Lane Primary School for a number of years; my oldest child has recently left the school to attend secondary school and my youngest child still attends in the infants. I have worked in education for 15 years, previously as a teacher, and now as an Assistant Principal in a Further Education college. I am passionate about helping young people achieve their potential through education and ensuring they have the best opportunities to succeed whilst growing into responsible and caring individuals. I really enjoy my role as a governor and the opportunity it provides to work with the children, staff and families within the Balshaw Lane School community.

Rick Browne

I am the staff governor, elected by my staff colleagues. I am delighted to be involved in the governing body, helping to make strategic decisions about the future of the school. Taking on this role has enabled me to gain a wider view of the leadership and planning of the school, understanding how our school vision is put into action.

Machala Collings

I am a parent governor with two children at the school. I am also a primary school teacher at a local school so I enjoy sharing my curricular knowledge to drive school improvement forward. It is really rewarding to be involved in governor work which secures the best education for our children at Balshaw Lane.

Jayne Barker

My role is as the local authority governor for the school. However, I am also a parent with a child at Balshaw Lane. I teach at a local primary school and enjoy using my knowledge of the curriculum and learning to support the children at Balshaw Lane. I feel proud to be part of the governing body, planning for the future of the school community.

Rebecca Bond

I am proud to have been elected as a co-opted governor at Balshaw Lane Community Primary School.   

During my third year at The University of Central Lancashire, working towards a degree in ‘Dance, Performance and Teaching’, I decided that I wanted to become a primary school teacher. The ability to make a difference and become a role model to many young children was a passion of mine. After graduating, I gained a place on the SCITT programme in Skelmersdale and began my school-centred training. I am now in my sixth year of teaching, I have taught across the primary age phase (year one, three and six) and am currently subject leader of Mathematics.  

As a primary school teacher, I fully understand the importance of a good quality education and have an awareness of how this translates into classroom practice. I am confident that I can share my knowledge of the curriculum, assessment and many other aspects of school life with others.  

In my free time I enjoy teaching dance - a childhood hobby of mine, going to the gym, playing netball and walking my dog, Henry.  

Bob Mellor

I work for Fujitsu, a large, multi-national Digital Transformation company where I help organisations transform their operation, culture and delivery to meet the needs of a digital-savvy population. I am a Fellow of the British Computer Society, and part of their extended Leadership team, advising and consulting with various agencies and organisations on societal integration of IT. 

I have been involved in Information Technology all my adult life, including working for multi-national companies, working for small companies, working for myself and even working abroad. Between 1986 and 2005, I was also heavily involved in Scouting.  The combination of the two brought out an interest in education provision for young people, and this led to my first becoming a School Governor in Trafford in the late nineties.  I left the country in the mid 2000s, and upon my return I sought being a Governor once more, and was appointed in Salford in 2012.
My background in IT provided the school with confidence in their IT decision-making and boosted their appetite for accelerating technology-based learning, and I hope to continue this at Balshaw Lane, helping them to strive to make the technological learning environment the very best that it can be for our pupils. 

My desire to give something back to the community is derived from my background in Scouting and technology. I believe passionately that access to technology should not be dependent upon the depth of one’s pockets, and I work – like many other IT professionals – towards a day when access is ubiquitous for all.

I am very honoured to be co-opted as a Governor at Balshaw Lane.

Helen Gregson

I was appointed head of our school in September 2010 and love my job here at Balshaw Lane. Prior to this role, I was Deputy Head at Lostock Hall Community Primary and acting head at Eccleston Primary.

I find it hugely rewarding to see our children thrive academically and socially. I also love supporting all our families, getting to know them individually and working together as a whole community.

I am proud of how our governing body works together to support and challenge the school. The governors and staff share a clear vision of how the school will continue its success.

Governing Body Roles and Responsibilities 2022-23                                       

Governors' Attendance at Meetings 2016-17