Governance at Sneinton St. Stephen’s C of E Primary School
Our Governing Body plays a vital role in supporting every child’s potential, fostering their strengths, and promoting their holistic growth. Guided by our mission, Together We Can Achieve, and rooted in our values of Love, Joy, Unity, and Hope, our Governors ensure an environment where each member of our community can flourish.

Governance at Sneinton St. Stephen's

At Sneinton St. Stephen’s, governance is about collaboration and ambition. Our Governors provide strategic leadership, balancing support and constructive challenge, drawing on their expertise in areas such as education, finance, safeguarding, and community engagement to school leaders, as highlighted in our recent Ofsted report:

All those responsible for governance fulfil their roles and statutory duties extremely well. There is a shared, ambitious vision for the school, which is fully realised and evident across all areas of the school’s provision.
Ofsted Inspection Report, January 2024

Aligned with our Christian vision, our Governors recognise each individual as unique and valued, supporting inclusive practices and creating a caring atmosphere for all. This commitment was also noted in our recent SIAMS inspection:

There is a real awareness of people of faith encompassed by God’s love as you enter Sneinton St. Stephen’s. Togetherness and encouraging others to be the best they can be is at the heart of all relationships.
SIAMS Inspection Report, January 2024

Partnerships and Development

Our Governing Body benefits from our partnership with Transform Trust and connections to the Challenge Partners network, enhancing governance quality and best practices. Initiatives like the Transform Trust Chairs Forum and NGA membership ensure our Governors lead with insight and accountability, aligning with our school’s values of Unity and Hope.

We are committed to continuous development, supporting Sneinton St. Stephen’s in delivering a world-class education. This includes developing inspiring leadership across all levels and fostering an environment where the entire school community can flourish.

Transform Trust

As an academy within Transform Trust, we collaborate to enrich the lives of our pupils and foster strong community engagement. Transform Trust empowers each school to pursue its unique journey of improvement, while focusing on local community needs. As a charitable company limited by guarantee, Transform Trust ensures transparency and accountability through its governance.

For more information about governance at Transform Trust, visit their website:

Core Functions of the Governing Body

Our Governing Body provides strong strategic leadership to the school, ensuring:

• Clarity of vision, ethos, and strategic direction.

• Accountability for educational performance and staff management.

• Effective oversight of financial performance to ensure resources are well-spent.

Meet Our Governors

Each Governor brings unique skills and experience to our Governing Body. We will continue to develop our Governor profiles on an ongoing basis.

To contact our Chair of Governors, please email: 

Matt Jones at matt.jones@sneinton.nottingham.co.uk 

New Governors

New Governors undergo a Transform Trust induction and complete safeguarding training, as well as requirements like eligibility checks, a skills audit, and a declaration of interests. We also expect all Governors to conduct an annual self-evaluation to assess their effectiveness.

Governance Structure and Meetings

The Governing Body meets at least once every half term. A termly report is provided by the Headteacher, and link Governors report their observations to the Governing Body to inform strategic decision-making.

Clerking

Our Clerk, Ruth Palmer, ensures that our Governing Body meets its statutory duties efficiently. Ruth provides valuable support to keep the board focused on its core priorities and ensures smooth governance operations.

To contact our Clerk, please email:

Ruth Palmer at ruth.palmer@transformtrust.co.uk