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Governance

The Governing Body at Ifield Community College

The Full Governing Body (FGB) consists of 12 Governors and 1 Associate Governor:

  • 1 Headteacher
  • 1 Staff Governor
  • 5 Co-opted Governors 
  • 4 Parent Governors 
  • 1 Local Authority Governor 
  • 1 Associate Governor (no voting rights)

There are six meetings throughout the academic year, with additional meetings as necessary. In addition, there is a Finance Committee which meets three times a year and a Pay Committee which meets once a year. 

What is the role of the Governing Body

School governors are the strategic leaders of our schools and have a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education within a safe, stimulating and highly professional environment.

To ensure effective governance we focus on three core strategic functions:

  1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
  2. Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff.
  3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
  • Provides a strategic view of the school by establishing a vision and setting the purpose and aims of the school within an agreed policy framework. It appoints and performance manages the Headteacher, agreeing the school development plan which includes setting targets with supporting budgets and staffing structures
  • Monitors and evaluates the work of the school by reviewing the performance of the Headteacher, the effectiveness of the policy framework, progress towards targets, and the effectiveness of the school development plan

  • Reviews the school self-evaluation process and actively participates in the school development plan and any Ofsted reports. In addition, it holds the Headteacher to account for the performance of the school and ensures that parents are involved, consulted and informed as appropriate, with information to the community being made available when required

  • For governors gain knowledge of how the school operates they need to receive training, by attending meetings, and by getting to know the school community, for example through visits to the school during the school day

  • Governors work together as a team, under the leadership of the Chair of the Governing body. All of our governors are required to adhere to a Code of practice.

Register of Governors' Business  and Pecuniary Interests 2022-23

Governor name and post Register of Business (or Pecuniary) Interests Declarations

Rob Corbett,

Headteacher

None

Angela Daniels,

Local Authority Governor

None

Dave Birkenhead, 

Staff Governor

None

Ritchard Burrows,

Co-Opted Governor

None

Amanda Parsonage,

Parent Governor

None

King Abeyie,

Parent Governor

None

Simon Gaule, 

Co-Opted Governor

None

Charlie Bright,

Parent Governor

None

Graciano Soares

Chair of Governors
Co-Opted Governor

None

Richard Boyle

Associate Governor

None

Caron Brown

Clerk to Governors

Personal Assistant to the Headteacher

Meet the Governors 

Graciano Soares

Chair of  Governors
Co-Opted Governor
Link Governor to Miss Heath, Director of Assessment, Recording and Reporting. 

I taught in further education for many years and led an advisory support service to help colleges improve their use of technology. Looking at the state of some colleges and staff capabilities, I would like to continue to support college leaders in their strategic development to deliver better learning spaces for their students. I am also a former chair of a London-based charity with some experience of board governance.

Angela Daniels 
LA Governor 
Link Governor to Mr Laundon, Safeguarding

Awaiting personal statement 

Rob Corbett
Headteacher

I am Rob Corbett, Headteacher here at ICC. I started in September 2014 and have loved being part of this fantastic school community.

I was previously Headteacher at Tideway School in Newhaven for five years and Deputy Headteacher at Oakmeeds School in Burgess Hill with all my experience previous to that in London schools. I have a firm belief in education serving the local community, and we strive to be the school of choice for local parents.

I believe schools should be a warm, welcoming and positive environment where students are supported and encouraged and there is honest, open dialogue with parents. I strive at all times to do the very best for the students here both now and for their futures.

David Birkenhead
Staff Governor & Health and Safety Governor
Link Governor to Mr Hambling, Director of Exams and Communication

I am the staff representatives on the board of governors. I joined the geography department of ICC in 2004, and later moved across to my current position in science 4 years ago. 

I am one of ICC's qualified mindfulness practitioners and has taken an active role in an Oxford University study to look at the mental well-being of teenagers. 

I am the lead ICC representative on the Ardingly Ifield Solar project that has seen the team travel to Belgium, France and Australia. This involved building a solar-powered car every Saturday with some of our students. They are currently designing a flat-packed car for use in developing countries. 

I live locally and i believe strongly in the community aspect of ICC. I can be seen walking his dog in the many green spaces in and around Crawley. 

Ritchard Burrows
Co-Opted Governor
Link Governor to Mr Pittaway, Assistant Headteacher - Curriculum and Assessment

Amanda Parsonage
Parent Governor 
Link Governor
Member of the Health & Safety Working Party 
Link Governor to Mr Ward, Director of Sixth Form

I have been a parent governor at ICC since 2019. I was born in Crawley and have lived here all my life. I have two children at ICC.

I have worked in both primary and secondary schools and have recently graduated from university to gain my degree and a PG Cert in children's mental health.

My hobbies include drawing, running and taking my two dogs out for walks.

King Abeyie 
Parent Governor
Link Governor to Mr Corbett, Headteacher - Overall effectiveness, Leadership and Management

My eldest child recently joined ICC, and I’m hoping to use my experience as a Civil Servant to support, challenge and drive ICC to become an excellent school. Alongside my day job, I also Chair my Department's Social Mobility Network with the aim of providing opportunities for those in the most deprived places across the UK. I have over 10 years’ experience in the finance, telecoms and retail industries. With that said, I don’t think I have any special skills beyond an ability to make time, a willingness to listen, learn and a focus on delivering continuous improvement. I would genuinely relish the opportunity to contribute to ICC and the wider community. 

Simon Gaule
Co-Opted Governor
Link Governor to Mrs McIver-Wren -  Community 

As a father of three and having lived in Crawley since I was eleven, I attended Ifield Community College as a student, as have all my children, and have witnessed growth and improvement.

Having worked in a number of professional roles, including the care industry, security and, as a joiner, I feel I bring a breadth of knowledge across a diverse social and ethical background.

Currently, I work at ICC, as the Cover Coordinator and have an in–depth understanding of how the school and staff operate. I am committed to improving the education and welfare of all pupils and staff as well as to equal opportunities and the promotion of diversity at ICC. 

I am privileged to be involved with the award-winning (TES) solar car project. Helping students to work on the car in question, taking students abroad and, recently, a tour of our country. Most recently hosting an inaugural, prestigious car rally here at ICC.

I am passionate about my community and the future of the next generation. I believe that, now more than ever, the future is uncertain and the youth of today will shape the world of tomorrow. To be a part of that process here at ICC and help both the individual and the collective to achieve, would be an exciting honour.

Charlie Bright
Parent Governor
Link Governor to Mrs Murphy-Dunn, Assistant Headteacher -Personal Development. 

I am a trustworthy person who is eager to learn new skills. I am in my seventeenth year of my railway career, working for Southern and now Gatwick Express. 

My hobbies include football coaching, where I am currently the manager/coach for Redhill u-18's. I am very passionate about helping young people and helping guide them on the right path. 

Along with my coaching, I have been a member of the Redhill Football Club Committee for the last seven years, undertaking many roles and responsibilities, meaning I have some idea about how meetings and working parties work. 

I am very keen on helping shape the future of the school, with Mia and other family members at ICC and being a former pupil myself. 

Governing Body Diversity Indicators 2023-24

 

Gathering this data will allow the board to reflect on its gender diversity and the extent to which this offers a healthy difference of perspectives.

Gender Number of Board Responses (/11)
Female

1

Male 7
I prefer not to say 0
Other 0

Gathering this data will allow the board to reflect on its gender diversity and the extent to which this offers a healthy difference of perspectives.

Age Groups Number of Board Responses (/11)
18 to 40 1
41 to 60 7
61 and over 0
I prefer not to say 0

 

This data will allow the board to reflect on how its composition reflects the communities it serves and society as a whole.

Ethnic Group Number of Board Responses (/11)

English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British

6
Black, Black British, Caribbean or African 1
Asian 1

This data will allow the board to evaluate which faith groups are represented among its membership and where additional support and insight may be needed.

Religion Number of Board Responses (/11)
Christian (including Church of England, Catholic, Protestant and all other Christian denominations) 2
Muslim 1
No religion 5

Survey taken September 2023. The survey was not completed by all members of the governing body.

2023-24 Full Governing Body Meeting Dates

Full Governors' Meetings

autumn

spring

summer

 

Thursdays 6pm

28th September

23rd November

18th January 2024

14th March 2024

16h May 2024

13th June 2024

 

Governor Vacancies

Thank you for your interest in the governing body at ICC, at present there are no vacancies on our governing board. 

For more information if are interested in becoming a Governor, please see the following links. 

Becoming a school Governor
So you want to a school Governor?
Your personal development and involvement in Governance 

 

Email at ClerktoGovernors@ifieldcc.co.uk  Alternatively, letters can be posted to ICC where they will be forwarded on to the Chair.

Ms C Brown
Clerk to the Governing Body
C/O Ifield Community College
Crawley Avenue
Crawley
West Sussex RH11 0DB