Dear Parent/Carer,

Parent/Carer Governor for Jesmond Park Academy

A school's role in the community extends beyond education. They act as a vital hub for social cohesion and community engagement. Schools educate students, foster social connections, offer community services, and contribute to the local economy. They also play a role in emergency response and civic engagement.

We are seeking nominations to fill one parent/carer governor role on the Governing Committee (GC). The term of office will be four years. This GC serves Jesmond Park Academy, which is part of the Gosforth Group multi-academy trust.

Governors are volunteers from a wide variety of backgrounds, who have an interest in children’s education in their local community. Parent governors help to support stakeholder engagement at a local level. You will work together as a group to:

• Monitor and review school performance
• Build relationships with senior staff to provide effective support and challenge
• Undertake termly visits to school to gain assurance that strategies are working
• Engage with pupils, staff, parents and the wider school community to understand their views.

As a parent/carer governor, you have an opportunity to take a full and active part in the work of the committee. However, it is important to understand that you would be a representative of the whole parent body and not representing the parent body or any particular group of parents.

The nomination process

Please find below a nomination form. When submitting nominations, the following points should be noted:

• To be eligible to take part in the nomination / election process, an individual must be included on Jesmond Park Academy’s admissions register as being the parent or carer of a child currently registered at the school. So long as your child is registered and due to attend, they do not have to be a current pupil.
• You can put yourself forward by completing the attached nomination form and by asking a parent/carer of another child currently at the school to second your nomination. You should also complete the personal statement. All nominations (including the personal statement) must be returned to Mrs Helen Dougal, PA to the Executive Headteacher & Head of School by 12 noon on Friday 3 October 2025.
• Individuals who are bankrupt or have certain criminal convictions may not serve as school governors. These and the other circumstances disqualifying individuals from holding office as governors are set out in the Trust’s Articles of Association. Further information is available from Steph North, Head of Governance and Compliance at Gosforth Group on governance@gosforthgroup.org.uk

Additional useful information

The structure of the Governing Committee (GC) is:

• 2 parent governors
• 2 to 5 community governors
• 2 staff governors
• Ex-officio members (Executive Headteacher/Principal)

The GC is scheduled to meet four times during the academic year (September – July).

Nominations are now sought. We warmly encourage you to meet with Roger Edwardson, Chair of the Governing Committee to find out more about the role and ask any questions you might have. You can contact Roger Edwardson via governance@gosforthgroup.org.uk At the closing date, if there is more than one eligible nomination, an election will be held, and further details will be circulated at the point.

If you have any queries in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact Steph North, whose contact details are above.

Yours faithfully

Chris Nicholson | Chair of Trustees

Please find below:

• Parent/Carer Nomination Form
• Governing Committee Terms of Reference
• Role Profile