Introducing the Governing Body of Selby High School Specialist School for the Arts & Science

 “As governors, it is both our responsibility and our aspiration that all pupils leave Selby High School having been challenged to be the best they can possibly be”.

Our Board of Governors comprises 14 governors:

Co-opted governors: 8
Parent governors: 3
Local Authority governor: 1
Staff governor: 1
Principal:  1

Governors are drawn from a variety of backgrounds and bring with them a wealth of individual and personal experience; in taking up this challenging and demanding voluntary role, they are tasked with three core functions that underpin all activities of the Board of Governors. These are:

  • Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
  • Holding the Principal to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
  • Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction

The makeup of the Board ensures that views from both the school and community are understood, enabling it to discharge its duties with integrity, objectivity and honesty, with the best interests of the school at the heart of all that it does. It seeks to ensure it achieves success in its three core functions each academic year via:

  • Six Full Governing Body Meetings
  • Four Pay and Finance Committee Meetings
  • A comprehensive schedule of Link Governor Meetings in school

The focus of every Full Governing Body Meeting is a detailed Principal’s Report, which provides regular updates on all key aspects of the School Development Plan. Throughout the year, all senior leaders, together with other key leaders, present at a Full Governing Body Meeting.

The Pay and Finance Committee oversees the preparation of annual budgets and three-year plans, providing strategic input with regard to the agreed priorities of the school. Additionally, it supervises Performance Management processes, including ratifying all pay recommendations.

Link Governors cover all key aspects of the school’s work and quality assure senior leaders’ judgments about progress towards achieving the aims of the School Development Plan. Individual governors have at least one Link role with the school. Link Governors’ reports are presented at meetings of the Full Governing Body.

“Governors know the school well. They recognise that, since the last inspection, they have developed into a more resolute group. They ask suitably challenging and incisive questions of senior leaders, ensuring that leaders are focused on improving the school for the benefit of the pupils and the local community. Governors have acted on the review of governance that they commissioned with care and consideration. They have great confidence that the changes you have made since your appointment are improving the school“ (Ofsted, July 2018).

Andy Reed
Chair of The Board of Governors
Selby High School


Exams

Chair of Governors

 
 
 
Andy Reed, Co-opted Governor

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Andy Reed

A Governor at Selby High School since 2006, I worked in retail banking from 1978 until 2020, when I retired from full-time employment. Professionally qualified since 1983, I bring financial and business skills to the governing body and chaired the Finance & Pay Committee for several years, until being elected Chair of Governors in 2020. I have been married to Gill since 1996 and our two children both attended the school, with the youngest leaving in 2011. In my spare time, I like to read (mainly crime fiction & thriller/mysteries), walk in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales and Lake District. I am also a long-time follower of Castleford Tigers in rugby league’s Super League.

Term of Office:  June 2022 - June 2026

Committees: Att. Disciplinary & Arbitration, Pupil Discipline Panel, Governor Intervention Panel, Principal's Review Panel, Finance & Pay Committee

Chair/Vice Chair:  Chair of Board

Other Governor roles: Chair of Hambleton Primary School. 

 

LA Governor

 
 
 
Grant Gibson

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Grant Gibson

I joined the Board of Governors in 2003 as a parent governor. In 2005 I became the Chair of the Board. I first joined the governing body as a parent governor with my daughter being a student in year 10. I have now moved in to the role as a co-opted Governor. My daughter also moved on but returned to the school in 2016 as a teacher. In 2012 I retired from North Yorkshire Police after 26 and half years as a specialist Road Policing Officer. Since this time I have re–trained as a teacher myself and returned to a full-time teaching role in Further Education. I rely on my personal, professional experiences and knowledge when presiding over disciplinary issues and when sitting on the Governor’s Intervention Panel. I see my governing role as ensuring the Governing Body’s affairs are conducted efficiently and in accordance with the law. Helping and moulding the Governing Body to work as a team, supporting and challenging the Principal and Senior Leadership Team in developing and creating an outstanding environment for teaching and learning and therefore providing opportunities that allow students to achieve their full potential.

When I have some spare time, I enjoy reading, cycling and high level mountain walking/climbing.

 

Term of Office:  June 2022 - June 2026

Committees: 
Redundancy Appeals, Governor Intervention Panel, Governor Attendance Panel, Principal's Review Panel, Finance & Pay Committee

Business & Pecuniary Interests:  
Daughter employed as a teacher

Co-opted Governor

 
 
 
Alan Watson
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Alan Watson

I worked for 27 years at Selby College, taking early retirement in 2010 as Vice Principal. I have experienced major curriculum and organisational changes, including GCE A levels, Vocational courses, Diplomas, and Young Apprenticeships. I hold a firm view that my role as a Governor is to enhance the interests of the school and its’ students and I am glad to advise the Governors on matters relating to progression post-16. As a curriculum manager, I have been pleased to be able to bring an overview of current educational issues to the Governing Body, as well as supporting on specialist issues. My experience includes work for Awarding Bodies such as checking the quality of assessment and curriculum processes at schools and colleges for BTEC, and as an examiner for AQA for Advanced level Biology. In addition, I have non curriculum experience including human resource and organisationally related issues and have been able to complement the skills of other Governors in these matters. I seek to bring a balanced view of current issues to the Governing Body based on my long experience of education, of Selby High School and of the needs of the Selby area.

Term of Office:  June 2022 - June 2026

Committees:   Att. Disciplinary & Arbitration, Pupil Discipline Panel, Redundancy


Co-opted Governor

 
 
 
Nick Midgley
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Nick Midgley

With over thirty years post graduate experience in the engineering industry with Babcock, and now Doosan, I am a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. I have a particular interest in supporting the development and growth of all things relating to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) both in the school and in North Yorkshire as a whole; we at Doosan believe it is vital that young people are made aware of the opportunities available to them in Engineering and Technology at the earliest possible stage. Hailing from Harrogate I very much enjoy the town and surrounding North Yorkshire countryside with its stunning National Trust properties; particularly when I've got my camera in hand. Other interests include film, technology, gardening, wildlife, cooking and karate ... they do all go together, honestly!

Term of Office:  June 2022 - June 2026

Committees:  Att. Disciplinary & Arbitration, Redundancy Appeals

Business & Pecuniary Interests: Careers curriculum event - business links


Co-opted Governor

 
 
 
Keith Edmondson
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Keith Edmondson

Following a period of work with the police in London I worked for a Risk and Security Management company before moving to the Home Office where I was involved in policy making as a civil servant. I moved to Yorkshire in 2005 and am now involved in operational planning and risk assessment. I am the ‘Link Governor’ for Geography.

 

Term of Office:  June 2022 - June 2026

Committees:  Governor Attendance Panel, Pupil Discipline Panel, Redundancy Appeals



Co-opted Governor

Joanne Carter-Mills
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Joanne Carter-Mills

Currently Vice Principal but I have worked at Selby High School since September 1999 in various roles.

I feel very privileged to be a co-opted governor and I hope that I can use my passion for education and the knowledge I have gained as a teacher for 22 years to help support the school's on going journey to becoming an outstanding school.

I have two children, who keep me very busy! I enjoy watching my son play football and my daughter competing in Taekwondo competitions.  In my spare time I like to keep fit by going to the gym and walking the dog. 

Term of Office:  September 2023 - September 2027

Committees:  Finance Committee 

Business & Pecuniary Interests: Vice Principal

Co-opted Governor

 
 
 
Colin Hunter
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Colin Hunter

I have worked in the public sector as a fire officer in North Yorkshire for over 27 years in a variety of roles and I am currently based in York. One of my specialisms is fire investigation and I am a member of the UK branch of International Arson Investigators and the Institute of Fire Engineers. I was also a primary school governor for over 10 years which has included specific responsibilities for safeguarding, staff appeals and health and safety. I have trained, assessed and verified people for many years to NVQ level three, additionally I am qualified to level seven in witness testimony, statement writing and evidence gathering. I believe that these specialisms, along with a broad knowledge of employment law gained through my work in the Fire Officers’ Association, will complement the Governing Body skill set at Selby High School. I am happily married to Angela and two of our daughters have already achieved great successes at Selby High School, whilst another daughter has just started in year seven this term. I am a very active person and like watching and playing most team sports, I also enjoy socialising, walking and skiing.

Term of Office:  September 2024 - September 2027

Committees:  Chair of Finance Committee, Pupil Discipline Panel, Governor Intervention Panel

Business & Pecuniary Interests: Wife employed as a Year Manager. One daughter employed as an Advanced Teaching Assistant. One daughter employed as a General Teaching Assistant.

 

Co-opted Governor

 
 
 
Beth Parker

Apart from my time at university, I have lived nearly all my life no more than a mile from Selby High School. I attended Brayton Primary, then went to Selby High School to complete my GCSEs before going to Selby College to study physics, maths and further maths at A Level. By this time I knew I wanted to study astrophysics. I was successful in my application for a bachelor's degree course in Physics with Astrophysics at the University of Leicester where I graduated with a 1st Class Honours degree. I was initially surprised when approached to be a governor, but I soon realised that my more recent experiences could be an asset to the Governing Board and to the school. I am deeply passionate about my love of all things STEM and shall share this enthusiastically with anyone who will listen to me.

Term of Office:  November 2023 - November 2027

Staff Governor

 
 
 
Michael Hainsworth
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Michael Hainsworth

A teacher of Life Development since 2018, I completed my Initial Teacher Training on placement in the LD department at Selby High School and was given the opportunity to stay with the school as a member of the teaching staff. Before teaching, I worked in the education sector for 5 years, fulfilling roles within an Ofqual-recognised Awarding Organisation including External Quality Assurance and Qualifications Development. It was in this capacity, developing a suite of qualifications aimed at providing opportunities for NEET young people, that I decided to enter teaching and hope to use this experience and expertise in my role as Staff Governor.

 

Term of Office:  September 2019 - September 2027

Committees: 

 

 

 

 

Parent Governor

 
 
 
 
Andrew Copley
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Andrew Copley

I graduated with a Mathematics degree from the University of Leeds in 1986, before starting out as an Accountant. Since then I have spent over 30 years working in Information Technology, holding various roles from Programmer, Test Analyst, Business Analyst, Programme Manager and to Group Software Manager. 

I have managed teams of up to 80, with staff spread across Europe, Asia and America. 

The vast majority of my working life has been within Financial Services. 

My objective as a Parent Governor is to help enable the pupils of Selby High to get the best start in life, preparing them for the opportunities out there. 

Outside of work I enjoy playing golf, skiing and watching football (too old to play now). 

I live in Wistow with my wife, daughter and labrador Lotte.

 

Term of Office:  October 2020 - October 2024

Business & Pecuniary Interests: Child attends Selby High School.

 

Parent Governor

 
 
 
 
John Barton
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John Barton

I am the Technical Director of a software company in York, and I am accountable for all technical matters within the company. I help shape the company's strategic direction and ensure accountability.

My objective as a Parent Governor is to help enable all students of Selby High, regardless of their background, get the most out of school and are well prepared for the changing world of work.

Outside of work I enjoy running, cooking and spending time with my family.

I live in Selby with my wife, 2 children and 3 cats.

Term of Office:  March 2021 - March 2025

Business & Pecuniary Interests: Child attends Selby High School.

Ex-officio by virtue of office as Principal

 
 
 
 

 

 
Nick Hinchliffe

Clerk to the Governors

 
 
 
 
 
Paul Gregory
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Paul Gregory

Having spent over thirty years in Financial Services I am now partially retired and occupy some of my free time with providing clerking services, primarily to all Governor’s meetings at Selby High School. I have been a Magistrate for the last 14 years and I am currently serving as Deputy Chairman of the North Yorkshire Bench looking after the judicial and pastoral interests of almost 200 JPs. I have three adult children, now in their 30’s and I still take a great interest in how education has changed since my own school days and then, more recently, as a parent worrying about their progress and GCSE, A Level and Degree results. I hope that my work with the Governing Body records the tremendous amount of life experience and dedication that exists amongst the Governors; who all share, with the Principal and Staff, a determination to see their school as one of the very best (if not the best!) secondary establishments that local families can rely upon for their children’s education, both academically and in preparation for their adult lives.

 

 

 

Register of Business Interests 

Please contact the school if you would like to see a copy of the Governor meeting minutes.

Link Governors & Expectations 2022-2023

Historic (left within last 12 months)
Suzanne Banks, term of office ended 19th January 2023
Caroline Carter, term of office ended 7th October 2023






Financial Information

There is one member of staff at Selby High School who is paid between £100,000 and £110,000.

This is a link to the School Financial Benchmarking website.