Welcome from the Chair

Mrs Vicky Coxhead

Chair of Governors

 

A Welcome from the Chair 2022

 

 

I would like to introduce myself.  My name is Vicky Coxhead and I have been involved with the Pencalenick School since 2011 when my son joined the school as a pupil.  I enjoyed our journey so much that in 2013, I decided to get more involved, and I have been a Governor ever since.  Over the years I have since the school develop and I am truly excited and feel proud to be supporting Gary and the inspirational team that making Penalenick such a special school. 

Pencalenick School is a unique school specialising in children with Complex Learning Disabilities with associated anxieties and social needs.  The school is a part of The Special Partnership Trust (SPT).  Being within the SPT means that we are partners with three other special schools, and four Area Resource Bases (ARB).  Working together in this wider circle enables us to share ideas, knowledge, and training opportunities with each other, working together, expanding our skill set and achieving more, to benefit the pupils.

The school operates through our Local Governing Body who work closely with the headteacher, Gary Oak and senior leadership team to ensure that the school functions at the highest level and all pupils are a part of school days to be proud of.   

We recognise that effective governance is an essential part of the success of Pencalenick School. We have a key role in decision-making and both support and challenge our strong Senior Management Team, with whom we have an excellent relationship. This, we believe, will ensure the School is providing the best education and care for its pupils. We also support the pastoral management team, who run our excellent boarding facility.

The Local Governing Body meet once a term to support the strategic business of the school, this meeting enables the Governors to liaise with the CEO and Trustees of the SPT who hold overall responsibility and accountability.  Aside from this meeting, Governors meet twice a month, once for a Cabinet meeting and once for a Governor workshop meeting. The Governor workshop is an open meeting where staff and pupils are welcomed to attend.  The Governors are also involved in monitoring visits. Further details of Governance can be found under the Governance section on the website.

We are all proud and privileged to be part of this very special school where we provide a flexible, broad, challenging and ambitious curriculum, where our pupils can thrive in a safe, happy and enriching environment, supported by the hardworking, caring and dedicated staff.  By the time our pupils leave us at the end of Year 11, we aim to have given our young people, not just academic achievement, but also the skills and confidence to move on to their Post 16 lives because they deserve the very best!

 

Vicky Coxhead

Chair of Governors 

vcoxhead@pencalenick.org

c/o Pencalenick School, St Clement, Truro, TR1 1TE