The Role of the Governing Body
As part of Cumbria Futures Federation, our Governing Body covers both Beacon Hill Community School and also Solway Community School.
In accordance with the government’s requirements for all governing bodies, the core 3 strategic functions of our Governing Body are:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money well spent.
The Governing Body of Cumbria Futures Federation is made up of 15 Governors: 1 Parent Governor, 1 LA Governor, 1 Staff Governor, 1 Headteacher and 11 co-opted Governors. Our Chair is David Davidson.
The full Governing Body meets at least once each half term.
Because of the size and nature of the schools, we operate a single Federation Governing Body over both Solway and Beacon Hill School, with a Finance Committee (chaired by David Davidson), and convene special committees, such as dismissal, behaviour and so on, as needs arise. Each Full Governors meeting takes place at least once every half term, and includes information on data and progress within school in order to ensure our Governors can challenge and support the progress and attainment of our students.
If you wish to attend a meeting or review minutes of any of our meetings, please contact our Clerk for details and to make arrangements. Please email clerk@beaconhill.cumbria.sch.uk.
2025 Governance Update from the Chair of Governors, David Davidson BEM:
The Governing Body acknowledges and appreciates the hard work of staff, students and parents/careers that allows for the continued evolution of the Federation and positive outcomes for our students.
Reviewing the recent Ofsted Judgements for each school, the new Ofsted framework, which is to be introduced this academic year, and each schools’ individual self-evaluation forms and school improvement plans we have identified our key areas of focus for the academic year ahead.
A sustained drive to improve attendance is showing very good results across the federation. We will however continue to remain vigilant and continue to closely monitor attendance and introduce new strategies where necessary to ensure this improvement is sustained.
We continue to critically evaluate our safeguarding practices, ensuring we maintain the highest of standards.
We target our improvement activities effectively by knowing accurately how well our students are progressing and learning; improving oracy, assessment and feedback, literacy and numeracy skills across our schools; continuing our focus on growth and development of our staff; and continuing our successful work in removing barriers for students.
Across both schools the Federation actively promotes inclusion, diversity and equality and provides a properly equipped learning environment where students feel welcomed, encouraged, challenged and, most importantly, want to learn and succeed.
We have a whole federation approach to mental health and wellbeing that involves the whole federation community working together to build and embed processes and strategies that develop wellbeing for pupils, staff and stakeholders. To work, a whole federation approach requires collaborative work between senior leaders, teachers and all staff as well as parents, carers and the wider community. Mental health and wellbeing are part of the fabric of the federation and its culture and ethos.
The Federation leadership team and governing body have both vision and ambition for each school and always ensure that each school is taken forward in a way that secures the best possible outcomes for students, staff, parents/careers and the communities they serve. We continue, to inspire our students, raise aspiration and expectations, allowing our students to proceed to the next stage in their life’s, leaving the federation with the skills, knowledge and ambition to contribute positively to society.
We are acutely aware of the need for the schools in the federation to exploit the benefits of working collaboratively whilst at the same time respecting and embrace their individuality.
David Davidson BEM, Sept 2025
The Governing body is made up of volunteers who work together to help ensure that the students in our Federation not only receive the highest possible level of education, but also feel that school is a safe, enjoyable place to be.
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