The Stanway School and Thomas Lord Audley School are governed by a single governance committee which reports to The Sigma Trust.
We are seeking to appoint additional governors to the Local Governance Committee (LGC), to ensure we have the right mix of skills and experience to provide the appropriate support and challenge to the schools.
If you feel that you could offer your time, skills and help to make a difference to our schools please consider applying.
This is an exciting time for both schools as we look progress through this new academic year.
Both schools work closely together and support our families through the transition and provide continuity. The LGC works to ensure that the school is functioning well, that the staff members are motivated and working for the wellbeing of the pupils and that the children are happy, settled and achieving their educational goals.
Since 2016, governors across both schools have been working together under one Local Governance Committee to guide and oversee operations.
The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.
What does being a Governor entail?
The Local Governance Committee (LGC) and the role of the Governor:
- The LGC consists of up to 15 governors, including a representative from The Sigma Trust and the Headteachers of both schools.
- Some of the governors are parents and some are appointed by The Sigma Trust for their skills and experience.
- The LGC generally meets at least termly, with meetings lasting approximately 2 hours; however, preparation such as reading reports and policies is necessary.
- Governors are supported by a clerk.
- The role of the LGC is to provide support and challenge to the management teams of the schools and to interface with the community and local businesses to enhance that support.
Each governor is appointed to oversee an area of school improvement.
This could include: safeguarding, children with special educational needs, the curriculum and progress of disadvantaged students. You may also have the opportunity to take on the role of lead governor for careers or health & safety.
Governors will have an induction and access to an in-house training programme facilitated by The Sigma Trust as well as support from the National Governance Association and The SchoolBus.
What are we looking for in a governor?
Previous governance experience is not essential.
We are looking for individuals who will have a combination of relevant skills, in order to strengthen the collective skill-set of the current governors. We are not expecting one person to have all of these skills.
We are currently looking for new governors, ideally with business, local government and, especially, educational experience.
These additional governors will supplement the current LGC members and together the LGC will be able to ask challenging questions of school leaders.
The Local Governance Committee is committed to diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of the community.
The Sigma Trust is an equal opportunities organisation and the LGC wishes to ensure its volunteers are equally welcomed into an inclusive environment.
About The Stanway School
The Stanway School is a popular and over-subscribed 11-16 school located in North-East Essex. We offer a modern learning environment with the latest facilities, including a brand new block opened just 5 years ago.
Dedicated to student success, Stanway consistently achieves positive Progress 8 scores and boasts a team of dedicated and passionate teachers who empower students to thrive and confidently transition to their next step.
Ofsted recently rated us Good in all areas, highlighting our commitment to academic excellence and holistic development.
The Stanway School is a community in which each and every student matters and every student is accountable to our community. We have highly committed and well-qualified staff who encourage students to give their best in all aspects of school life. We are a happy school with students who respond to our high academic, cultural and sporting expectations. Our excellent accommodation and resources help us to ensure that these expectations are met.
We recognise success wherever it occurs and our view is that success is a journey, not a destination, and we stress the view that education is a lifelong process. All members of the school community are expected to achieve their full potential and derive pride from their achievements.
At Stanway, students don’t just succeed in the classroom. We offer a diverse range of clubs catering to various interests, from sports to board games. We also provide exciting opportunities in music and drama, with regular performances and trips and visits for every year group. Through The Stanway Experience, all students have the chance to travel abroad, participate in residentials, and engage in various cultural events.
About Thomas Lord Audley School
The Thomas Lord Audley School is a high performing, over-subscribed 11-16 comprehensive school, situated to the south of Colchester. It
serves a wide and diverse catchment area, including Old Heath, Monkwick, Shrub End, the villages to the south of Colchester and the community of Mersea Island.
The Thomas Lord Audley School is a community in which each and every student matters. We provide a wide variety of learning experiences which help all students to enjoy their lessons and achieve their best. We know that students learn in different ways and therefore, we are careful to match our teaching to help everyone make progress.
We have high expectations with respect to behaviour, attendance and punctuality and we recognise and celebrate success wherever it occurs. We have highly committed and well-qualified staff who encourage students to give their best in all aspects of school life.
We are a happy school with students who respond to our high academic, cultural and sporting expectations. Our excellent accommodation and resources help us to ensure that these expectations are met. We are proud of our Ofsted rating and believe it still to be accurate and we are very pleased with our GCSE results in recent years.
How to Apply
Please contact Sarah Cosham, Clerk to the LGC, via lgcclerk@stanway.school for further details or information.
