Menu
Home Page

The Oaks Primary School

From Little Acorns Grow Mighty Oaks

Meet the Governors

Catherine Griffiths - Chair of Governors

My involvement with The Oaks started 8 years ago when I finished working in the National Health Service. I began as a volunteer with Beanstalk, a charity which promotes literacy in primary schools. I work with children to give them more confidence in reading. I was delighted to become a Governor 6 years ago so that I can now make a wider contribution to the excellent work of the staff.


I value the Oaks’ approach to inclusiveness and supporting all children to make progress and feel a sense of achievement. The Governors are able to ensure funding is targeted to areas of most need and that it has good impact.
I enjoy helping out at a local Beavers Group which works with 6-8 year olds providing lots of outdoor experiences. 

My interests include travelling, learning French, swimming and walking. I have nearly completed a B.A in Arts and Humanities  with the Open University

Mark Newton - Vice-Chair of Governors

I am a retired property professional with expertise in all aspects of general property management. I have a background of legal training and management expertise in different commercial environments. As a property manager I was responsible for managing the property portfolios of Dollond & Aitchison Opticians, Boots Opticians and Barclays Bank and led small and dedicated teams of Estate Managers and Administrators.

 

In retirement, I’m a Pension Trustee of the Dollond & Aitchison Pension Scheme and I also volunteer as a guide for the blind and partially sighted with the Guide Dogs for the Blind. My interest in education stems from my family background, with both parents and two brothers either teaching or in an education authority and I am pleased to have this opportunity to make a contribution towards the development of The Oaks and its children.

 Adam Hickman - Co-opted Governor

I joined the Governing Body at The Oaks Primary School in September 2018 and I am currently Chair of the Learning and Achievement Committee. I really enjoy the variety of the role and supporting the school to ensure all pupils access a high-quality education full of opportunity. 

 

I have been working in education since 2008 and I am currently Deputy Head of the Music Service at Services For Education. I am also a qualified primary school teacher and I conduct several local and regional music groups. 

Rosalind Venables - Co-opted Governor

I have been working voluntarily at The Oaks since September 2020 with individual pupils in Year 1 and 2 to support their reading development.  Pupils are keen to learn and the staff I have met are caring, dedicated and ambitious for ALL pupils so I am very happy to become a governor. 

 

I have always worked in education, as a Head of Modern Languages,  school senior leader, then as a Schools Consultant supporting the improvement of teaching and learning in middle and high schools in Worcestershire.   I also led the introduction of foreign languages to primary schools in Herefordshire.  I have taught English as a second language both abroad and to mothers at a primary school in the inner city.  I train prisoners who can read to teach prisoners who can’t.

 

I hope my experience will enable me to offer support to the school, the parents and pupils.

Angela King – LEA Governor

I have worked for Birmingham City Council for over 25 years in Children's services .I am now a Registered Manager for a Children's Home working with children with Disabilities.  I sit on the resource committee and take an active role in setting and monitoring the schools budgets. I am also link governor for special Educational Needs.

 

I believe we owe it to our children to try to provide them with the very best chance to lead a happy, healthy, fulfilled life.

A good Primary school has an essential part to play in developing firm foundations which what attracts me to a school like The Oaks.

Julie Secker - Staff Governor

I am an Early Years Lead Teacher with a passion for early years education and early reading. I have enjoyed working at The Oaks Primary School since 2013. 

 

I have been working in the education sector since 2000 and teaching since 2006.  This is my third governor role as I have previously been a parent governor as well as a staff governor at a previous school.

Andi Arsenie - Parent Governor

I have been living in Birmingham since 2016 when me and my wife decided to swap the busy and stressful London for a better and quieter place.  In 2017 we moved to Druids Heath and started looking for a nursery/school for our boys, and that was when we decided to choose The Oaks Primary School and Nursery.

 

We've been so pleased and impressed with staff members at the nursery, and later on by those in the school, that when I had the opportunity to join the governing body last year, I did it, hoping that in this way I would have the chance to give back to the school at least a little of what they are trying to do for my children and yours.

 

To be a parent governor is a privilege and I will give 100% in the role to assist the school with its progression and to assist all the teachers and children at The Oaks so that they have the best time spent in primary school.

Sophie Symington - Co-opted (Staff) Governor

 

Mary Cummins - Clerk to Governors

I have been part of The Oaks staff team since 1997. I'm currently the School Business Manager and have been clerk to governors for 12 years.  


I have seen huge change here over the last 25 years, however the special ethos and caring community has remained consistent and that is why I love this school.  The skills and experience I have developed as SBM transfer to my position as clerk, and I really value being able to support the governors in their role.  


Outside school I enjoy playing badminton, pub quizzes and travel.  As a product of 2 teachers, I have always had great interest in education and giving the best opportunities possible to young people.

Constitution:

The Oaks Governing Body has a constitution made up of 11 governors:

6 x co-opted governors

2 x parent governors

1 x staff governor

1 x LEA (Birmingham) governor

1 x Headteacher

 

All governors serve a 4-year term of office with the exception of the HT who remains on the GB as long as he/she is in post

 

The GB is able to appoint additional Associate Members to improve its skills and expertise in specific areas.  Associate Members do not serve a set term of office and are not able to vote in full GB meetings; in all other respects however they contribute in the same way to the GB.  The Oaks currently has 1 Associate Member.  The GB appoints a clerk to take responsibility for administration and taking the minutes for all meetings.

 

Governors serve the school on a voluntary basis with the exception of the clerk who is paid a termly fee. 

 

  • Parent governors are elected by school parents following a nomination process
  • Staff governors are elected by staff members following a nomination process
  • Co-opted governors are appointed from the local community by the GB in relation to their skills and expertise
  • LEA governors are recommended to the school by the LA following a central appointment process

 

The Full Governing Body meets 4 times per year

The GB has sub-committees to take responsibility for specific areas:

  • Resources Management committee (premises/finance/staffing) - meets 4 times per year
  • Learning & Achievement committee - meets termly
  • Pay committee - meets as required (minimum annually)
  • HT performance review panel - meets as required (minimum twice a year)
  • Hearings committee - meets if required
  • Appeals committee - meets if required
  • Exclusions panel - meets if required

 

  • All governors are required to sit on either the Resources Committee or the L&A committee and the HT sits on both.  Governors sit on other committees as required (restrictions apply to staff and parents). 
  • Governors are allocated specific responsibility areas where required
  • We currently have one parent governor vacancy

 

Our Governing Body details - please see document below:

THE OAKS PRIMARY SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY ARRANGEMENTS

Governor Name

Date of appointment

Term of Office

End date (where applicable)

Governor Type

Responsibilities

Committee Membership

Attendance record 2021/22

 Rosalind     Venables  13/07/20214 yrs Co-opted
  • Curriculum
  • Staff wellbeing
  • Learning & Achievement
100%
Sophie Symington  14/12/20214 yrs Co-opted (staff)
  • English
  • Learning & Achievement
100%

Catherine Griffiths

22/03/2016

reappointed 22/03/2020

 4 yrs

 

 

Co-opted

  • Chair GB
  • Chair Pay cttee
  • Publication of key achievements
  • Resources
  • L&A
  • Pay (Chair)
  • HT Perform Management

92%

Angela King

14/07/2015

 reappointed

14/07/2019

4 yrs

 

Co-opted

  • Safeguarding
  • Resources
  • HT Perform Management

88%

Mark Newton

09/01/2018

reappointed

09/01/2022

4 yrs

 

Co-opted

  • Vice-Chair of GB
  • Chair of Resources committee
  • Premises 
  • Staff wellbeing
  • Resources (Chair)
  • Pay

100%

Adam Hickman

18/09/2018

4 yrs

 

Co-opted

  • Mathematics
  • Curriculum
  • Chair of L&A committee
  • Learning & Achievement (Chair)

88%

Vacancy

     Parent

 

  • Learning & Achievement
n/a

Julie Secker

16/01/2019

4 yrs + 4 yrs

 

Staff

  • Pupil Premium
  • Resources (vice-Chair)

75%

Andi Arsenie

03/05/2022

4 yrs

 

Parent

  • Parental engagement
  • Resources

 

100%

Vacancy

 

4 yrs

 

Co-opted
  • SEND
  • L&A

 

Janine Dodds

20/04/2020

N/A

 

Headteacher

 

  • Resources
  • Learning & Achievement

50%

Mary Cummins

23/01/2009

N/A

 

Clerk

 

  • All

100%

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended  End date    
Adele Kershaw24/03/20204 yrs15.04.2023

Co-opted

  • S.E.N.D.
  • Learning & Achievement
43%

Gemma

O'Neill

  16/10/2018

4 yrs21/07/2022  Parent
  • Parental engagement
  • Learning & Achievement
71%

Michelle Calloway

14/10/2013 reappointed

14/10/2017

4 yrs

13/10/2021

Co-opted (staff)

  • The Arts
  • Learning & Achievement (Vice-Chair)

n/a

 

Register of Governor Pecuniary and Business Interests

Summary of Business / Pecuniary Interests Register

For The Oaks Primary School Governing Board 2022-23

 

Name

Category of membership

Positions of responsibility

Term of office (start/end dates)

Date stepped down

Committees appointed to

Business Interests

 

Attendance at GB meetings 2021/22 %

Andi ARSENIE

PAR

 

03/05/2022

02/05/2026

 

Resources

None

100

Mary CUMMINS

Clerk

 

23/01/2009

n/a

 

 

Employed at The Oaks Primary as School Business Manager.  GB clerking fees invoiced to school

 

100

Janine

DODDS

 

Headteacher

 

20/04/2020

n/a

 

Resources

L&A

None

50

Catherine GRIFFITHS

 

CG

CoG

Chair Pay ctee

22/03/2016

21/03/2024

 

Resources

Pay

HT Perf Management

None

92

Adam HICKMAN

CG

Chair L&A committee

18/09/2018

17/09/2026

 

L&A

Pay

Deputy Head of Birmingham Music Service (supplying services to the school)

Member NASUWT

88

Adele KERSHAW

 

CG

SEND

24/03/2020

23/03/2024

 

L&A

Teacher at COBS (supplying services to the school)

43

Angela

KING

 

LA

Safeguarding

14/07/2015

13/07/2023

 

Resources

HT Perf Management

Vice Chair of 2nd Generation of Barbadians & Friends

88

Zoe MITCHINSON

 

AS

Deputy

Headteacher

15/09/2020

n/a

 

Resources

L&A

None

n/a

Mark

NEWTON

 

CG

Chair Resources cttee

Vice-CoG

09/01/2018

08/01/2026

 

Resources

Pay

Director / Trustee of Dolland & Aitchison Pension Trustees Ltd

 

100

Sophie SYMINGTON

 

 

CG (staff)

 

14/12/2021 13/12/2025

 

L&A

None

100

Julie

SECKER

 

 

STF

 

16/01/2019

15/01/2023

 

Resources

None

75

Rosalind VENABLES

 

CG

 

13/07/2021

12/07/2025

 

 

L&A

Voluntary team leader of Read Easy South West

Volunteer for Shannon Trust @ HMP Birmingham

Teach 1 day pw at Stoke Prior First School

 

100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbreviation

Governor category

Appointed by

AS

Associate Member

Governing board

CG

Co-opted

Governing board

LA

Local authority

Governing board

PAR

Parent

Elected or appointed by governing board

STF

Staff

Elected

 

>
Top