THE governing board at Holmes Chapel Primary School has been highly commended in the National Governance Association’s (NGA) Outstanding Governance Awards.

The school board was named runner-up in the outstanding governance in a single school category, an award recognising improvement over time and impact on pupils.

Eleven other governing boards and five clerks were presented with awards by Lord Nash, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the School System.

Announcing Holmes Chapel Primary School as runner-up, judges Duncan Haworth and Siddique Hussain described the governing board as ‘relentless in its ambition to achieve the best outcomes for all pupils’, adding ‘all governors play a significant role in the life of the school’.

‘Highly focused leadership by the chair’ was also praised by the judges.

Joanna Longman, chair of governors at Holmes Chapel Primary School, said: “We are all incredibly proud of this award which is a fantastic testament to the whole team.”

Head teacher Helen Scott said: “I am delighted that my governors’ tireless dedication to making our great school the very best it can be has been recognised in this way.

“Our community is very fortunate to have a team so dedicated to providing excellent support and robust challenge in all that we do and this award has recognised the high impact their work has on the learning of every child in our school.”

The awards ceremony was held in the House of Commons earlier in September, with the awards handed out just once every two years.

Emma Knights, chief executive of the NGA, said: “Our finalists all demonstrate how good governance and clerking can be.

“They show how they make a real difference to the achievement of and opportunities for children and young people. It takes commitment, skill, teamwork and clarity of direction to do what these people do and we are proud to celebrate them at the House of Commons.”

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