Team of ‘expert’ governors sought

By Kelly Eve Education reporter

Last updated 05:35, Friday, 01 August 2008

A TEAM of 13 governors is being formed to oversee the running of Carlisle’s two academy schools.

Peter Noble: ‘The governing body will run on business lines’

The first four have been chosen to sit on the Richard Rose Federation’s governing body, which will be in charge of the Morton and central academies.

They are businessmen sponsors Brian Scowcroft and Andrew Tinkler, education consultant and retired headteacher Roger Alston and Evlyn Goddard, marketing director at Kingmoor Park.

Three posts will have elections in September to choose parent, student and teacher representatives.

This week adverts have been placed to attract three more from the primary school, further education and business sectors.

It is expected the University of Cumbria’s Dr Neil Simco, dean of the faculty of education, will also take a seat around the table as will a representative from the local education authority, namely Cumbria County Council.

School governing bodies usually have between nine and 20-plus members. The academy federation is looking for a smaller group in a bid to have a more streamlined process with less bureaucracy.

The governors, all voluntary, will be in charge of a £15m annual budget.

Federation chief executive Peter Noble says the organisation is looking for those who can bring a wealth of experience in their fields, not just on a local level but nationally or internationally too.

The federation announced this week that the first pupils will start at the Morton and central academies on September 4.

There will be a staggered introduction, with year seven among the first to start, followed by others on September 8, to allow children to settle in.

Both sites will also hold open days on August 27-29 to allow parents, pupils and visitors to have a look around the new academies.

It will also be the chance for new uniforms to be collected.