The Governing Body of Baskerville School is composed of representatives from all the key groups involved in our school – parents, staff, the Local Authority and co-opted members from the local community. Some Governors are appointed and some are elected. All serve the school on a voluntary basis.

The governors are the strategic leaders of our school and have a vital role to play in making sure every student gets the best possible education. In Baskerville School, the Governing Body places a strong focus on the following functions:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

• Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff;

• Monitoring the performance and progress of our students;

• Working with the staff to ensure a high standard in the teaching and caring of our students;

• Planning ahead so that the performance of our students and our school continues to improve; and

• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

The full Governing Body meets together at least five times over the school year. Five Governors have been appointed to monitor the school's finance, safeguarding, pastoral, school improvement and residential provisions. They report regularly to the full Governing Body. School Governors also regularly carry out unannounced inspection of the school's residential units.

The Governors are always keen to hear the views of parents, carers, members of staff and students so please feel free to contact any of Governors if you have any concerns, suggestions or positive comments about the school.

I joined the Governing Body of Baskerville in September 2022 and am privileged to have been asked to become Chair. I am looking forward to getting to know the school, as well as working alongside a committed and experienced Board of Governors.

Having had a successful career in industry and commerce, I moved into education and have supported Primary, Secondary, Special, Maintained and Academy Trusts at both an operational and strategic level. I aim to adapt my knowledge and bring a professional perspective to the specific needs of each setting I work with.

I have been the Local Authority governor for Baskerville School since 2017 and I have a particular interest in the quality of education at the school.

Every time I visit Baskerville I am impressed by the calm atmosphere, the dedication and expertise of the staff, and the way each student is seen as an individual with unique capabilities and needs. Seeing the school join the Cooperative Trust was a very positive move. It is important to support small and specialised schools as they move forward in challenging times.

Being semi-retired I am often able to attend school events, and it is always a delight to meet parents, teachers and children, and to hear about their experience of Baskerville.

I am a Professor of English Language at the University of Birmingham. My career continues to take me all over the world.

Chair of the Finance Committee

I have been governor for Baskerville School since 2016. I was appointed as Chair of governors by the Local Authority, a role I carried out until 2022. During that time the school underwent two full OfSTED inspections and was graded “good”. I was also part of the panel that appointed the current headteacher, Jackie Smith. It has been a pleasure working with her since. I voluntarily stood down a Chair due to increasing family commitments (three grandchildren!) but am continuing on the Governing Body. In September 2022 I was elected Chair of the Finance Committee.

It has been an honour to be associated with Baskerville, to work with the head and staff to improve the quality of education, in partnership with parents on behalf of the fantastic students.

Before retirement, I was a teacher for 40 years, teaching mainly history. For the last 18 years I was a secondary headteacher in two different schools. I believe this experience has enabled me to contribute to the development of Baskerville

“I am proud to be a Parent Governor at Baskerville. I want to do my best to help everyone; teachers, support staff, students and their parents so that there is constant improvement to the experience of school, including extracurricular activities and the residential facility. I’m happy to hear the views of other parents and students.”

I am an enthusiastic and dedicated Deputy Head Teacher, PGCE qualified and educated to degree level, with a solid background in implementing change and overhauling existing teaching and working operations to improve performance in the educational sector. I have a sound background in successfully working with a diverse range of students including SEN and looked after children. I value mentoring, coaching and training to staff, and has a verifiable record in achieving significant improvements to examination results and student performance.

Joined March 2019

I became the Headteacher of Baskerville School in September 2018. It is a privilege to work alongside a talented, committed staff with great students.

I am passionate about autism and SEN provision and education. I have worked with Special Needs all my teaching career (26 years) in mainstream and special schools as a teacher, Assistant Head, Senior Deputy and Acting Head Teacher.

Working in partnership with parents and carers, we can achieve the best possible outcomes and lives for our students.

I am very excited to have been elected as a parent governor for Baskerville School. My daughter is now in Key Stage 5 having had a great Key Stage 3 and 4 before this. I think Baskerville School has a lovely atmosphere, a kind and dedicated staff, fantastic grounds and forward-looking pathways for ‘Beyond Baskerville’. I have a deep interest in special educational needs, having worked as a mainstream class teacher, specialist SEN teacher, SENCo (all within mainstream) and now as part of Birmingham City Council’s Access to Education team. Although there is still a long way to go, autism is understood much better than even ten years ago, with more options rightly available to all. I’m looking forward to learning about the ways in which Baskerville School supports our children as they explore their choices and grow into adulthood, and I hope I can play a useful part in this as a member of the governing body.