Governing Bodies’ Core Functions
The department has high expectations of governing bodies. They are the strategic leaders of our schools and have a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education. For maintained schools this is reflected in the law, which states that the purpose of maintained school governing bodies is to ‘conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement at the school’
In all types of schools, governing bodies should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
This amounts to a demanding role for governing bodies. Evidence suggests that those that deliver it well do so by:
understanding their strategic role – building a productive and supportive relationship with the headteacher while holding them to account for school performance and taking hard strategic decisions in the light of objective data;
ensuring governors have the necessary skills and commitment, including to challenge the school to bring about improvement and hold leaders to account for performance;
appointing an effective chair to lead and manage the governing body.
appointing a high quality clerk to advise them on the nature of their functions and duties and ensure the governing body operates efficiently and effectively;
evaluating their performance regularly in the light of Ofsted expectations and other good practice and making changes as necessary to improve their effectiveness;
Effective governing bodies also think carefully about how they are organised. This includes thinking about whether and how to use their powers to delegate functions and decisions to committees or individual governors. Governing bodies may decide to task individual governors to take an interest in a specific area, such as SEN, safeguarding or health and safety, but there is no legal requirement for either maintained schools or academies to do so. There are many different models and governing bodies are best placed to decide for themselves what will work best in their own circumstances. It is the overall governing body, however, that in all cases remains accountable in law, to Ofsted and to the local community for the exercise of its functions. The department expects every governing body to focus strongly on its core functions and to retain oversight of them.
Steff Gleeson – Headteacher
I am Steff and have worked at St George’s for 12.5 years. In September 2022 I took on the role of Headteacher, this was never an ambition of mine, however when Sue Holman announced her retirement after 16 years I felt very strongly that I wanted to continue the improvement journey for St George’s. So after 12 years as the Deputy Head I decided to apply for the role of Headteacher.
It has been so much more than I expected and I am genuinely enjoying every moment, the challenges, the new elements to my role, working with such a dedicated team of staff, and most importantly the wonderful students.
My experience as a Governor previously has been as a member of the Island Learning Centre Management Committee. During my time at St George’s I have always attended and contributed to the Governing Body but this is the first time I have actually been a member of the Governing Body. I meet with Dave the Chair of Governors weekly and communication and interaction between the governors and school staff is good. There is also a high governor presence at all school events which is very positive.
As most of you know Poppy the school dog is mine, I am very proud of the fact that I trained her as a Pets as Therapy dog when she was young. She has been coming to St George’s since she was 8 weeks old, she is nearly 8 years old. Unfortunately she has arthritis and is quite stiff and getting slower (and more stubborn) but she still enjoys her role at school and loves spending time with the students.
When I am not at school I enjoy spending precious time with my family and looking after my animals. I have horses and they take up a lot of my spare time but also provide me with an enjoyable hobby.
Steve Hollinghurst – Chair of Governors
My role is to lead St George’s School Governors to both support and challenge the school in all aspects of its work to get the best outcomes for young people.
I have worked in special education for over 40 years. I retired in 2019 as an executive head of two special schools. I then did teacher supply work for 2 years. I also did some consultancy. I am now fully retired but enjoy the voluntary position of supporting a special school. I believe that all children deserve the best provision and I aim to help the staff at St. George’s to do this. I have many years’ experience as aschool governor. I was head of a special school for 8 years and an executive head of 2 special schools for 3 years.
April Newton – Vice Chair
Hello, my name is April Newton and I am a co-opted Governor at St George’s. I was appointed in the summer of 2021 and was previously a governor at a local primary school.
I have been a qualified Solicitor since 1997 and am currently an Associate Solicitor at Glanvilles Damant.
I am enjoying getting to know St George’s – the staff, and especially the students. I look forward to contributing to the continued success of the school and getting to know it better.
Maria Lortal
Hello! My name is Maria and I am a governor at St George’s.
I enjoy my current role as an English lecturer at the Isle of Wight College teaching GCSE, Functional Skills and ESOL programmes.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and exploring the island.
I believe in giving everyone the best chance and appropriate support. I am keen to give back to the community by building links between different stages of education.
I look forward to contributing to the high levels of standards of support and care, and educational provision of the school.
Amy Milford-Wood
Hi, my name is Amy and I am a new parent governor at St George’s, having joined the Governing Body in January 2026. My son is in year 10 and is really benefiting from everything St George’s has to offer, so I thought I should do my best to help the school in return!
I am a senior commissioner in the NHS, specialising in secure inpatient provision for adults with a learning disability and autistic adults in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. I love my job as I am really passionate about ensuring people – both adults and children – get what they need to succeed, whatever that looks like for them.
In my spare time, I am a co-director of Isle of Wight SEN Support, a community of volunteer parents, carers and people with lived experience of disability.
I hope to attend school events as often as possible, so please do come and talk to me if you see me!
Karen Cassford – Staff Governor
I have been at St Georges school since 2017 and over the years have progressed from an LSA to currently holding an instructor position supporting pupils with PMLD and SLD. During this time, I have developed a strong understanding of inclusive practice, safeguarding and personalised learning. I have previously been Chair of Governors at a local primary school where I developed confidence in analysing information, asking questions and providing constructive challenge to help ensure the best outcomes for pupils.
Having lived and travelled in countries including India, Australia and Japan, I bring a broad understanding of diversity, inclusion and different perspectives. As a parent of two children in secondary education, I also offer a valuable parental perspective on wellbeing, curriculum and transition.
I hope to continue progressing in my career and aspire to become a qualified teacher in the future.
Katie Chauhan
I am a Class Teacher at St George’s School and have been part of the school community for the past two years. Prior to joining St George’s, I worked in two SEND schools and three mainstream primary schools, gaining experience as both a Teaching Assistant and a Teacher. This varied background has provided me with a broad understanding of the diverse needs of pupils and the importance of inclusive education.
I became a Staff Governor because I wanted to develop my understanding of how decisions are made within a school and the wider impact these decisions have across the whole school community. I recognise the important role of a Staff Governor as a link between school staff and decision-makers, and I am committed to proactively sharing the lived experiences of the classroom to help inform the school’s strategic direction.
My particular area of interest is communication and ensuring that it is delivered in ways that meet the needs of all learners. I am passionate about supporting approaches that enable every pupil to access learning and achieve their full potential.
Outside of school, I enjoy horse riding, which provides me with opportunities to challenge myself, develop resilience, and spend time outdoors.
It is essential that governing bodies recruit and develop governors with the skills to deliver their core functions effectively. However, it is equally important to emphasise that the skills required are those to oversee the success of the school, not to do the school’s job for it. For example, a governor with financial expertise should use their skills to scrutinise the school’s accounts, not to help prepare them. If a governor does possess skills that the school wishes to utilise on a pro bono basis, then it is important that this is considered voluntary work and not governance, and steps should be taken to ensure that this does not blur lines of accountability.
St George’s School Governing Body is set up in the following way:
Parent Governors are elected by other parents at the school
The Staff Governor is elected by all the school staff
The Headteacher is a member of the Governing Body by virtue of their office
The Local Authority Governor is nominated by the Local Authority but appointed by the Governing Body
Co-opted Governors are appointed by the Governing Body
Instrument of Government (constitution) for St George’s School sets out the following:
1 Local Authority Governor
1 Staff Governor
1 Headteacher Governor
2 Parent Governors
9 Co-opted Governors
Minutes of FGB Meetings can be obtained on request by email to the clerk April.newton@stgeorges.iow.sch.uk