Our Governors
The Board of Governors comprises 20 members including:
- the Principal
- two student members
- one member of the teaching staff
- one member of the non-teaching staff.
Our external Governors are drawn from a range of backgrounds and experience. Our Governing body works as a team to set the strategic direction of the college.
Their responsibilities are to:
- Determine and periodically review the educational character and mission of the institution and oversee its activities.
- Approve the college’s quality strategy.
- Ensure the effective and efficient use of resources, the solvency of the college and the corporation and safeguarding assets.
- Approve the annual estimates of income and expenditure.
- Appoint senior postholders and determine a framework for the pay and conditions of service of all staff.
The Governing body has scheduled meetings. In addition, if there are pressing matters they may call special meetings. The number of issues Governors need to discuss is immense, so to ensure that all of them are given proper consideration a committee system is used.
There are 5 standing committees as follows:
1. Audit
2. Resources
3. Curriculum and Student Matters
4. Search and Governance
5. Remuneration.
Board meetings usually take place four times in an academic year and in addition there is a strategic workshop. The other committees will meet three times a year. All Governors are expected to attend and participate in as many meetings of the Board as possible and to join and attend one of the committees. Meeting are usually held at 5pm. Governors are also involved in college life through link visits and attendance at college events such as award evenings and exhibitions.
In accordance with Department for Education’s statutory guidance, the College commissioned an external governance review through the Association of Colleges. A statement on the outcome of the Review can be found here.
Members of the Governing Board
PRINCIPAL
INDEPENDENT GOVERNORS
STAFF GOVERNORS
STUDENT GOVERNORS
Engineering Student - Term of Office until July 2027
Committee served: Curriculum and Student MattersA Level Student - Term of Office until July 2026
Committee served: Curriculum and Student MattersCO-OPTED GOVERNORS
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNANCE
To find out more about the Governing Board or to contact any of the College’s Governors, please email the Director of Governance (j.platt@wigan-leigh.ac.uk)
Becoming a Governor
Do you have an interest in education and training? Would you like to play an important role in becoming part of a progressive, innovative and expanding educational establishment committed to meeting the needs of the community it serves? Being a Governor is a highly rewarding voluntary role working with others to ensure that the college meets the needs of the community it serves.
The essential requirements for joining us are a commitment and interest in contributing to the leadership of first class educational and training opportunities for young people and adults in Wigan and Leigh. Corporation members are comparable with the non-executive directors of a public company but instead of being accountable to shareholders, they are accountable for public funds.
This governance role is separate from the operational management of the college. Corporation members define the college’s mission, values and strategy and while they monitor performance, they don’t become involved in the day to day activity of the college, which is the responsibility of the Principal supported by the management team.
We’re keen to involve people of all ages and cultural backgrounds, who can bring a variety of skills and experience to the role and have the qualities to support the college in its goal to become ‘outstanding’.
Your commitment as a Governor:
Attending meetings of the Board
Reading papers in advance of meetings
Participation in discussions and debates
Gaining experience through membership of Board Committees
Participation in training events and attending various social events
We also appoint Co-opted Governors with specific skills to serve on just one committee, usually Audit or Resources Committee, which requires less commitment in terms of time. Co-opted Governors just attend three meetings each year, of the Committee to which they are appointed and aren’t members of the Governing Board (or Corporation). If you’re interested in finding out more about becoming a Governor or a Co-opted Governor, please contact Joanne Platt – Director of Governance (j.platt@wigan-leigh.ac.uk)
