Nov.06 Stogursey School Governors.

Half term is now over and the staff have to progress with as much teaching and learning as possible, before the children get into Christmas mode. One of our main aims is to ensure that every child matters. You may be interested to know that every child is given an educational target, dependent on her or his ability. This target is monitored and adjusted throughout the child`s school life, by the Head and by an independent person. The objective is for the children to do as well as their capability allows. Clearly the intent is to raise the standard, as the child progresses through school.

Sadly we have to cope with staff changes. Margaret Mead needs to adapt to changing family pressures and has resigned as from Christmas. Margaret has given the school so much more than the job requires. She is the driving force behind our success with table tennis, she is an excellent teacher, so very good with the children, and also a governor. We wish Margaret, and her family, happiness and fulfilment in her future life. Thank you Margaret for your excellent contribution.

Every sadness has its good side. We welcome Sarah Harding who will help to teach the senior children. We have interviewed for another part-time teacher this week. We are fortunate that good teachers wish to teach in our school. We also welcome Teaching Assistants Karen Payne and Jenny Arend, and Anne-Marie Mallett who replaces Lynda Davies as lunchtime supervisor (thank you Lynda for your services). We thank our Headteacher for coping with all these changes.

Governors have roles and responsibilities, which I intended to discuss in this article. However it would now end up too long. In short we spend the Autumn Term setting up what has to be done throughout the year. We put systems and people in place to monitor school policy, finance, curriculum, health and safety, performance and standards, future development, child safety and interests, and of course teaching and learning. We do not actually do these things but do our best to ensure that they happen. Thankfully we have a Headteacher and staff who are ever willing to help and usually to forgive us our trespasses.

The pace of school will speed up as Christmas approaches. School is a happy but exhausting time at Christmas. As a Church School we try to teach the children its proper Christian value. For that reason, and because we have lovely children and staff, some of the joy rubs off on all who visit us at that special time. We welcome you all to the Christmas Play at 1030am in Church and 6.30pm in school on 12 Dec.06 and also to Christmas songs around the tree on 19 Dec.06, which is also last day of term.

Thank you all for your interest,
Peter Farmery for the School Governors.