Author: jtmatrsnary

In April 2022, my monthly blog was entitled “Eyes on, hands off” and was devoted to the importance of effective governance for our schools and our Trust.  I focussed on the pivotal part forensic scrutiny and questioning plays, together with an overarching tone of support for the vision and values of the organisation, and the appetite to see it develop and succeed.  I closed the blog with the following acknowledgement:

“I want to close with a huge “thank you” to those governors and directors who are generous with their time, their insights and their expertise.  School governance is the single biggest act of volunteering in this country and without it our schools and their communities would be much the poorer.  I know that many governors find the experience rewarding and engaging, and certainly my own experience as an infant school governor for ten years was something I remember with great fondness and positivity.

Our Trust thrives in no small part due to the work of its governors – individually and collectively – and this blog is in a small way recognition of that.”

In relation to recognition, our volunteer governors, trustees and members do not seek it and nor do they expect it – but of course they welcome it.  School governance is the epitome of selflessness, when we define it as “concern more with the needs and wishes of others than with one’s own” (OED).  Whether this is via pre-reading and digesting important strategic information, actively engaging in meetings, supporting facets of school life and specific colleagues as link governors, constituting panels for disciplinary, complaint hearings or other matters or merely being visible advocates for the school at summer concerts and shows, open evenings and in the wider community, our governors put their own needs and wishes on hold for a greater good and, again, I thank them here for all they do and all they give.

I will highlight in this context the role of our Chair of Members and formerly Chair of Trustees Gareth Moss.  As those of you who follow us on social media may well be aware, Gareth was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for his services to education.  For almost two decades, Gareth has been actively involved in John Taylor governance – from High School committee chair, through Chair to trustee and Chair of the Trust to now his role as Chair of Members.  He has given active support – often of critical importance – to the growth of the Trust and helped us ensure that however large we grow we do not lose sight of the values and moral framework that guides us. 

We will all know, through either personal experience or through notable news stories, what can happen when an organisation or institution loses its way.  Governance, at every level, is our best defence against that.  For that reason, all our governing bodies seek to actively support the interests of those we serve through parent, staff and the wider community representation – and we take the expression of those interests very seriously indeed.

In response to the awarding of his MBE, Gareth said:

“One of the guiding principles of the Trust has been our focus on the best teaching and learning, to provide students with the foundations to make a difference with their lives. To have that recognised in this way is indeed an honour and I am delighted. Serving the Trust has been both hard work but a pleasure, and it makes me proud to see the success continue.”

We look forward to further success too with Gareth, and all those connected with our governance, front and centre of it. 

If you are interested in becoming a school governor with us, why not get in touch?  If you contact our brilliant Director of Governance, Sarah Boyce via s.boyce@jtmat.co.uk, we’d welcome a conversation.

Thanks, as always, for reading.

Mike.