Governance

Governance at Hayfield Cross Church of England School

At Hayfield Cross, Governance is about more than oversight, it is about partnership, vision and accountability. Guided by our Christian Foundation and values, our governors work alongside staff, parents, carers and the wider community to ensure that every child is nurtured, inspired and empowered to flourish.

Our Governors are entrusted with the responsibility of holding the school to account, setting strategic direction and ensuring that resources are used wisely to deliver exceptional outcomes for all children. Our role is rooted in service: acting as critical friends, champions of inclusion and guardians of our ethos.

Governance at Hayfield Cross is inseparable from our Vision and Values, which call us to live with Bravery, Joy, Fellowship and Integrity. These values shape the way Governors lead, challenge and support. Our work is also guided by the Governor Strategy, which sets out five key threads - Learning, Leadership, Community, Transition and Pastoral - that drive our decisions and aspirations.

Responsibilities of Governance

Our Governing Board has a wide range of responsibilities, including:

Strategic Leadership: Shaping the vision and long-term direction of the school, ensuring alignment with our Christian Foundation and the aspirations of our community.
Accountability: Monitoring standards of teaching, learning and leadership, and ensuring that every child receives the highest quality education.
SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools): Supporting the school in living out its Christian distinctiveness, embedding our values and vision, and preparing fully for SIAMS inspection.
Community Engagement: Building strong partnerships with parents, carers, local churches and the wider Hanwood Park community, ensuring our school is a centre of excellence and a hub of support for families.
Safeguarding & Wellbeing: Ensuring that the safety, dignity and wellbeing of children and staff are at the heart of every decision.
Financial Stewardship: Overseeing budgets and resources to ensure sustainability and transparency.

Meet the Governing Board

The governing board is made up of committed volunteers who bring a wide range of skills, experiences and perspectives to Hayfield Cross. Together, they help to steer the school in line with our vision, ensuring that the school remains ambitious, inclusive and deeply rooted in its Christian Foundation.

Governors work as a team to provide strategic leadership, hold the school to account and champion the needs of children, families and staff.
Each governor has a unique background and expertise, and their profiles below show how they contribute to the life of the school.
Our current Chair of Governors is Simon Hurrell, who leads the board in its responsibilities and represents the governors in formal matters. The Chair can be contacted via the School Office for any governance-related enquiries.

Name	Term of Office:	Committees	Bus. & Pecuniary Interests	Appointed By:	Type
Simon Hurrell	2/2/23 - 1/2/27	HT Pay and Performance Committee	Spouse - Director of BHVA Limited (provide after school activities and support in school) Parent of two children attending the school	Peterborough Diocese and Governing Board Appointed	Chair of Governing Body Foundation Governor
Helen Cracknell	14/7/23 - 13/7/27	HT Pay and Performance Committee SIAMS	Governor at St.Mary's Primary School, Burton Latimer Spouse- PDET Director; DBE Member; GA Primary Geography Consultant;	Peterborough Diocese and Governing Board Appointed	Vice-Chair of Governing Body Foundation Governor
Richard Albert	Ex-Officio		Headteacher		Headteacher
Vacancy					Local Authority Governor
Raj Kapur	2/7/24 - 1/7/27		Children's Social Worker - Milton Keynes City Council. Parent of two children attending the school.	Parent Elected	Parent Governor Safeguarding Governor
Jason Elsom	29/9/23 - 28/9/26		Chief Executive - Parentkind (national membership body for PTAs). Trustee - Caudwell Youth (charity supporting young people). Parent of two children attending the school.	Parent Elected	Parent Governor
Karen Woollard	9/11/23 - 8/11/27		Teaching Assistant in the school.	Staff Elected	Staff Governor
Kate Exall	15/7/23 - 14/7/27	Admissions	Law Lecturer at University of Northampton.	Peterborough Diocese and Governing Board Appointed	Foundation Governor
Michelle Mapurazi-Mufukare	11/10/23 - 9/10/27	SIAMS	Parent of child attending the school.	Peterborough Diocese and Governing Board Appointed	Foundation Governor
Alison Coe	1/9/24 - 1/9/28	SIAMS		Peterborough Diocese and Governing Board Appointed	Foundation Governor
Vacancy					Foundation Governor
Vacancy					Foundation Governor

Governor Profiles
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Compliance and Transparency

Our governance is led by the Nolan Principles of Public Life - selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. These principles underpin everything we do and ensure that our work is conducted with fairness and transparency.

Attendance Records: We publish governor attendance (below) to demonstrate commitment and accountability.
Minutes: Full governing board minutes are available on request via the School Office.

Governor Attendance Overview
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