Governor Impact Statement

October 2025

Earlsfield's Governing Board has three key responsibilities:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction - they help decide the school’s strategy for improvement. It’s not their job to get involved in the day-to-day management of the school but to focus on key issues that will raise standards and achievement.
Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff - they use their knowledge and experience to support and challenge (in a constructive way) the headteacher and staff so as to get the best possible teaching and outcomes.
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent – they work with the staff to ensure that the school makes best use of its resources.

Impact

It is another big year for the School and Governing Board. We enjoyed a Summer term celebrating the many achievements of our long standing Headteacher who understandably had decided it was time for an extended break.

We were excited to start the school year knowing the school was in such capable hands with our interim Headteacher Mrs Bryde. She is of course not new to the school, having joined Earlsfield as an experienced Deputy for many years before taking over from Mr Trow. It also brought new opportunities for Miss Gowers and Ms Sanders to support Mrs Bryde as Assistant Heads. They are also experienced, long standing members of the school community making them a natural choice in this transition year. We know they share our commitment to continuous improvement, and making the school the best it can be for all our pupils, in all aspects from learning to wellbeing.

We had the opportunity with Mrs Bryde, to identify strategic areas to prioritise for the coming year, to ensure the school remains a first choice for local families. These are some of the areas we are working on with the school:

Critical Thinking: Seeing how this key skill is embedded into the curriculum
Budget: Supporting the school navigating these unprecedented times of uncertainty, balancing an increase in costs whilst maintaining the highest standards
Rights Respecting School practice: As a Gold Award school ensuring RRS language remains embedded, understood by all and clearly visible throughout the school together with the school values. This takes many forms from ensuring negative language is challenged and behaviour expectations are clear and met.
Academic attainment monitoring: Ensuring every pupil continues to achieve their potential whether it be via SEND support or a range of challenging texts to support all learners.
Curriculum diversity review: Supporting the school as it continues to ensure it remains reflective of all members of the community.
Sustainability: Although we have a beautiful but old building, ensuring we are doing all we can to support climate change goals

This takes a number of forms; from visiting the school and speaking to a range of staff and students, attending events from assemblies to learning walks, to hosting surveys and welcome desks to ensure we are able to speak to and learn from a range of contributors to the school community.

We remain impressed and inspired by the endless dedication of every member of the school. The enthusiasm of staff, and the bright and curious minds they inspire and continue to encourage and assist to become the best versions of themselves to achieve their potential.

We are always happy to discuss any aspects of the Governing board in more detail and can be contacted at: governors@earlsfield.wandsworth.sch.uk