The Governing Body of Cirencester Deer Park School has been awarded the prestigious Governor Mark Award for the second time in recognition of the quality of the leadership it demonstrates and the clear future strategy which it has for the school.

The governors work closely with headteacher, Chiquita Henson, and the school’s leadership team. They provide both support and challenge. This ensures activities are relevant, purposeful and focused. 

Governor Mark is a national kite mark, similar to Investors in People, which is awarded to Governing Bodies of Schools which can demonstrate real impact. Governing Bodies need to effectively demonstrate strategic vision, accountability in the way the school is managed, and invest to raise the standards in the school. The Award lasts for 3 years before the need for a re-accreditation.

The Governor Mark national assessors praised the Governors’ ‘highly developed vision for the future of the school and their active leadership in the development of a multi-academy trust with other local schools’. Assessors also highlighted the ‘open and transparent’ way in which the Governing Body operates and ‘take appropriate and direct action to make an impact’.

The Award comes soon after Cirencester Deer Park School’s OFSTED Inspection in May 2017 in which the Inspectors reported that ‘the Governing Body is a strength of the school with a strong understanding of the school and capacity for strategic leadership’.

Graham Russell, Chair of Governors, said, "Being awarded Governor Mark is national confirmation that Cirencester Deer Park School has strong and effective leadership working for the benefit of pupils who attend the school. Governors are committed to providing every young person who attends the school with the best possible opportunities to create successful futures. We are currently investing over £2m in the quality of our facilities, forming a multi academy trust with other local schools, and so to be recognised as a leading school is very positive endorsement of the difference which we are making."

It is a privilege to work with such a dynamic and informed governing body. I am very pleased the quality of governance at Deer Park has been recognised again in this way and, while membership of the Board has changed since the last review, its reconstitution has ensured the skills and expertise governors bring are utilised effectively.

Chiquita Henson, Headteacher