School Governors - The William Henry Smith School

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The William Henry Smith School
Casual. Required as soon as possible
Numerous
The William Henry Smith School, Boothroyd Lane, Brighouse, West Yorkshire HD6 3JW
 
Voluntary
Voluntary

Kirklees Council are advertising this role on behalf of The William Henry Smith School.

The William Henry Smith School are looking for new governors to join our friendly, successful and hardworking Governing Board. Our governors come from a range of different backgrounds, have diverse skills and experience, and all share a commitment to providing the best possible education, care and health for all our children and young adults.

Are you interested in special education, and the wellbeing and progress of children and young people who face social, emotional and mental health challenges?

Are you community spirited and would you like to play a vital part in an organisation with an outstanding reputation, which is continually looking to further improve?

Do you have an enquiring mind and the confidence to ask questions and debate issues that impact upon the school and its growing and developing services?

Our offer:

  • An opportunity to contribute to improving the lives of children, young adults and their families
  • A chance to develop skills in strategic management
  • The opportunity to work with our team of governors and staff in further improving our organisation and its services
  • A sense of achievement in making a difference 
  • The pleasure of helping students reach their potential, and receive the education, health and care they deserve 
  • Personal health and fitness training, and a financial advisory service
  • Travel expenses

“The residential special school provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the school contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people.” (Ofsted Care Inspection 2022).

The Smith Foundation is a registered charity that operates our outstanding special school, a bespoke education, support and tuition service, and a children’s home, all for children and young adults experiencing social, emotional and mental health challenges (SEMH).

The William Henry Smith is a non-maintained residential special school for boys aged 5-19. Our students have a breadth of special educational needs, including learning difficulty and disability. We are a not for profit charitable organisation providing ‘Ofsted Outstanding’ education, health, therapy and care. The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Opportunities for success are provided through a diverse programme of bespoke 
individual learning pathways and life skills across the 24 hour curriculum, which serve to develop resilience, skills and accreditation for life-long learning, happiness and an improved quality of life. The school has a strong ethos and culture, built upon firm foundations that underpins all our work on improving quality of life outcomes for all our students and their families, through our strong focus on key working, developing relationships with students, and partnerships with parents and carers.

The school operates across 2 sites, ‘the main school site’ and from our satellite provision in Elland. This provision – BEST (Bespoke Education, Support and Tuition) is an extension to the school, providing much needed ‘specialised’ support to children and young adults who have struggled to flourish as a consequence of complex needs, and/or significant time out of any school/education provision.

The school has a wealth and breadth of professionals which form an integrated team around students, including Psychotherapists, Speech and Language and Occupational Therapists, School Nurses, a Social Worker and a Family team. Residential Care and Teaching and Learning staff play a vital part in children’s lives, progress and quality of life.

Our recruitment process is further embedded, ensuring our commitment to Safeguarding and our alignment with the Safer Recruitment procedure. The process aims to create and maintain a safe workforce and contains robust vetting procedures. The successful applicant will be appointed subject to references and enhanced DBS check (this is a position working in regulated activity). The successful candidate will be subject to a rigorous safer recruitment process and must adhere to a strict code of conduct regarding behaviour at all times.

What is the Governing Board’s role?

The Governing Board of our school plays a key role in: 

  • Setting targets for raising standards of educational achievement, and supporting care, and health and wellbeing.
  • Monitoring progress towards meeting these targets.
  • Supporting and challenging the performance of the Principal and the Senior Leadership Team.
  • Deciding policy and future development plans.

As well as attending meetings 6 times a year, governors are asked to look at specific areas of the school’s work in more detail to help with monitoring residential care and teaching and learning, and attend Open Days 3 times a year. To support governors, everyone has access to training to help build on existing skills and to develop new ones. 

If you are interested, please complete an application form and return to Vanessa.Talbot@whsschool.org.uk

Application forms can be found on our School Website.

Links that may be of interest:

The school values equality and diversity across its workforce and aims to ensure our staff community is reflective of the diversity of the children and young people within our care. We are also committed to promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of both students and staff, and one which reflects life in modern Britain.

For further information and to arrange an essential visit as part of the recruitment process, please contact Sonia Stewart (Head of HR) at the following email address: Sonia.stewart@whsschool.org.uk. Application packs can be downloaded from the school website or alternatively please contact reception on 01484 710123 (please note we do not accept CV’s).

11 December 2022, 11:55 PM

This vacancy is closed to applications.