It is a privilege and an honour to serve as a Trustee of Park View. The school has a long, highly successful and distinguished record since establishment on its town centre site in 1911, serving all of Chester-le-Street and neighbouring communities. Since then, it has expanded on to its North Lodge site where all students in Years 7 & 8 are educated – an arrangement universally endorsed by both children and parents as a more ‘gentle introduction’ to the overall secondary school experience. More recently, the school has taken the opportunity of close proximity to the International Cricket Ground to successfully launch an Academy of Sport for 16-19 year olds. The school is now among the largest in Northern England. Additionally, Governors opted to move to single Academy status in 2011.
The Board of Trustees are absolutely clear that the school forms a vital part of Chester-le-Street life and enhances this position through maximum use of the extensive facilities, including a theatre, two sports halls and outdoor pitches, by both pupils and the community. The school is sole owner of Park View Community Centre (a licensed charity) with several Trustees serving as Trustees of the Charity.
Trustees play an important role within the school and work alongside the Headteacher, senior leaders, teachers and associate staff to assist in the pursuit of the single, dominant aim of Park View: to provide the highest possible quality of educational experience – academic, pastoral, cultural, sporting, international – to every single child and student throughout their time at the school. For trustees, the success of everyone is vital; the preparation for the next steps in employment, education and experience in the wider world pre-eminent.
Trustees also work closely with the Headteacher and staff through overseeing the schools finances, maintaining the school estate to the highest possible standards, and all issues related to Health & Safety and pupil welfare. At least one trustee is present at every teaching staff appointment; all governors for the most senior staff appointments.
Trustees enjoy and encourage meeting with parents to obtain their views on the school and will always try to ensure their voice is heard through appropriate feedback.
Trustees come from a variety of backgrounds, some elected by fellow parents, others invited to join on account of the experiences they bring to enhance the overall expertise of the body. They meet regularly at school both in formal meetings as well as discussions with the Headteacher and senior staff, in order both to challenge and support their work in determining, prioritising, planning and resolving both day to day and longer term challenges.