Bromsgrove School Impact Report 2023

in brief

At Bromsgrove pupils and staff regularly contribute their time, energy and expertise to help others through community service, outreach and charity work and fundraising. What follows is a sample of the range of work we do and the aims we have to develop what we offer and how we interact with our communities and the environment.

aims

Working with the wider community has always been part of Bromsgrove’s DNA. We believe it is important that we are good neighbours to those around us. We want pupils to go on to make their positive mark around the world and preparation for this begins when they are at School. They are encouraged to work with the local and wider community and the School itself sets an example by sharing facilities and collaborating with others for mutual benefit. Many staff volunteer in a variety of different ways. All pupils and staff benefit from the experience of outreach, caring for and connecting with others, and developing a strong sense of social responsibility.

We believe that it is important for the School to play its part in striving for a fairer society and to improve the life chances of children beyond the immediate community of Bromsgrove School. By exchanging ideas and good educational practices we learn and play a part in improving outcomes for all children. By widening access, and removing barriers to entry, we create a move diverse pupil body at Bromsgrove.

As an organisation, we enjoy working with partners and many of the activities covered in what follows have been running for many years. These pages are both a summary of the programme we are delivering and a call to action as we commit to developing this programme in the years to come.

weshare our facilities with the local community have partnerships with other communities support local charities and community groups volunteer to serve in the local community are widening access to our School contribute to the local economy want to be a good employer

we

share our facilities with the local Community

Hosting of BIMC and Young Musicians’ Platform

Tennis Academy and LTA Tournaments

Worcester Road campus available for community use

Swimming lessons - 1100 local children have swimming lessons each week

Hosting the District Athletics & Cross Country

Many organisations use our facilities

Worcester Road campus available for community use

Hosting Worcestershire Winter and Summer School Games

Hosting

Hosting teachmeets for local schools – the most recent one of which was the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Computing Leads with thirty people involved.

of various external Arts events

Activity camps for local children

Welcoming local schools to take part in orchestra

we

Links with Chadsgrove School for Forest School and Science Activities have partnerships with other communities

CCF

LVI cadets and some CCF staff worked with Trinity High School in Redditch to provide their pupils with a number of taster activities, as Trinity looks to set up its CCF contingent.

our cadets led the activities which they had spent a number of weeks planning and practising. We are looking forward to working with Trinity High School CCF as they develop their CCF programme.

Worcestershire Teacher Training Hub Partnership. every half-term we host North Worcestershire Hub trainee teachers.

Links with St Ambrose Primary School

Links with St John’s Middle School for Wellbeing. Year 8 pupils from St John’s Middle School were invited in for a recent presentation on Unlocking Genius by the TV presenter Dr Tharaka Gunarathne (or Dr T).

A science day was designed for Chadsgrove School pupils - Bromsgrove students spent time devising, practising and resourcing experiments. The pupils then visited Chadsgrove where they were paired up with pupils and spent the morning teaching them how to deliver the experiments.

We are part of the ogden Trust’s West Midlands Secondary Partnership, where we promote physics teaching and the study of physics. Recently we shared our facilities to promote best practice in teaching maths skills in physics education with our partner schools and their middle school feeder schools. our partner schools are: South Bromsgrove High, king edward VI Camp Hill school for girls, Aston university engineering Academy and RSA Academy Arrow Vale.

we

support local charities and community groups

Bromsgrove Service visits five local homes for the elderly each week

Flourishing Fivers for Primrose Hospice

Heritage Centre – welcoming members of the public during Heritage Week

Basement Project

Bromsgrove Society Summer School

Charity Fundraising total raised £49,000 Shoebox appeal

Hazeldene House girls donated their easter eggs received from the PA to their house charity Women’s Aid

£29,000 £15,000

£5,000

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support local charities and community groups

Winterfold’s fundraising efforts include:

• 30 movie nights

• 14 Peaks Challenges

• 4 Children Challenges

• Hadrian’s Wall Walk for Shoes that Grow

And many other initiatives.

The Winterfold Charity Committee have organised a wide range of collections to help the local community. Including organising a shoe appeal where children donated their school shoes on the last day of term. These are distributed to local schools in Worcestershire and to Home Start Wyre Forest.

each Autumn the Committee organises a Warm Comforts Collection. Coats, blankets, hats and other warm items are collected and distributed to Home Start Wyre Forest and HeLP a charity providing support to the Homeless in the Wyre Forest.

Surplus harvest from Winterfold Gardening Club vegetable garden is donated to the HeLP Charity’s kitchen.

At Christmas a Reverse Advent Calendar saw food items donated to a local foodbank in Stourport.

INTeRNATIoNAL PARTNeRSHIP Winterfold partners with Ncemaneni School in South Africa. Since 2007 Winterfold pupils have raised £115,000 which has given their partner school the opportunity to extend its reach to local young people, enabling them to continue to High Schools.

Staff volunteer to serve the local community

we are an inclusive community

Bring your whole self to Bromsgrove

This is a pupil-driven initiative to make Bromsgrove an even more inclusive and safe environment. There are annual surveys, a CPD programme for staff and an annual action plan implementing the EDI School development plan.

Alliance

Our LGBTQ+ society meets regularly and provides a safe space to discuss all things LGBTQ+ (to do with sexuality and gender identity). External speakers are invited to the meetings.

Pupil Voice

From boarders’ forums to School forums, there are plenty of opportunities for pupils to raise issues, concerns or ideas. There are a number of email addresses for pupils to give feedback:

callitout@bromsgrove-school.co.uk

wellbeing@bromsgrove-school.co.uk myboarding@bromsgrove-school.co.uk buddies@bromsgrove-school.co.uk (Prep) peermentors@winterfoldhouse.co.uk (Winterfold

Cultures Connect

The Annual Cultures Connect concert, largely organised by a committee of pupils, is an excellent celebration of the variety of cultures across our School community. This year, a packed Routh Concert Hall was entertained with stunning dance, poetry, singing, solo and ensemble performances, with twenty-two acts representing eleven nationalities and regions.

Catering

The School catering team visit the boarding houses to get face to face feedback about food and at all other times pupils can email: food@bromsgrove-school.co.uk

are widening access to our School

£187,806

AMouNT RAISeD BY THe FouNDATIoN FoR LIFe-CHANGING BuRSARIeS To YeAR eND 31/08/2022

156

PuPILS oN A BuRSARY ACRoSS THe SCHooLS. 63% ARe 50% oR MoRe (98 PuPILS)

12

FouNDATIoN SCHoLARS

68

STuDeNTS ARe oN LIFe CHANGING BuRSARIeS oF 75% +, oF WHICH 33 ARe 100%

5%

oF ouR INCoMe IS uSeD To FuND LIFeCHANGING BuRSARIeS FoR CHILDReN IN THe LoCAL AReA

contribute to the local economy

we we

BRoMSGRoVe SCHooL CoNTRIBuTeS £43M To THe GDP oF THe uk

STAFF FRoM THe LoCAL AReA WoRk AT THe SCHooL 640

We exPoRT eDuCATIoNAL SeRVICeS To INTeRNATIoNAL FAMILIeS

THe ToTAL SAVINGS To THe uk TAxPAYeR THRouGH PuPILS ATTeNDING

BRoMSGRoVe SCHooL RATHeR THAN TAkING uP A MAINTAINeD SeCToR SCHooL PLACe

want to be a good employer

We hope our staff feel well looked after. We regularly benchmark against pay, conduct regular appraisals and offer training. Free Counselling is offered to any member of staff who would like it and the School Executive are introducing new initiatives to support staff health and wellbeing. We are committed to apprenticeship schemes, taking on local young people and training them.

£43m

£14m

£15m

Sustainability

aims

Our aim is to improve the impact that Bromsgrove School has on its environment. We have a duty to protect the environment for future generations by reducing the carbon footprint of the School.

We also have a responsibility to educate our pupils to ensure that they can all contribute to having a positive impact on the environment and achieving a sustainable future. Our Governors and staff recognise the role that they have in supporting our pupils to understand the challenge of climate change and to be more aware of sustainability.

Teaching about sustainability is a central part of the Geography curriculum at Bromsgrove.

We are aware of the Government’s commitment to achieve net zero by 2050 and its 25 year environment plan to “Leave the environment in a better state than we found it”.

Our current plans are focused on four key areas where the school can have a direct impact on reducing carbon emissions:-

• energy management –the decarbonisation of the estate

• Transport

• Biodiversity

• Waste management

We have eco committees across our Schools and our pupils regularly brainstorm new initiatives related to these key areas of focus. The pupil-led committees run a number of activities to raise awareness about sustainability.

management energy

Our long-term aim is to reduce the amount of energy consumed by the School and therefore lower our carbon footprint.

The long-term strategy for the Bromsgrove sites is linked to a project being led by Bromsgrove District Council to introduce a Central Heat Network using ground source heat pumps as a sustainable source of energy. We are working with the Council to discuss the feasibility of this long-term solution.

In the interim, our strategy is to seek sustainable solutions whenever we build new buildings or undertake significant refurbishment or maintenance (subject to capital constraints).

Our primary aim will always be to seek to enhance the thermal performance of the building and our secondary aim will be to install sustainable energy sources for heating and lighting.

achievements so far our

100% of the electricity supplied from the grid across the four School sites comes from renewable sources.

The thermal efficiency of many of our buildings have been improved through recent refurbishment projects. Exterior walls and roofs have been insulated and high-performance windows have been installed. The refurbishment of Wendron-Gordon in the last year involved insulating the roof and installing new windows to avoid heat loss.

Our strategy is to seek sustainable heating and lighting solutions whenever possible. Recent improvements include:-

• Air Source Heat Pumps - all heating in Routh Hall, the Prep Headmaster’s house and the elmshurst flat is provided from air source heat pumps.

• Dining Hall - an array of solar PVs have been added to the roof to facilitate c18% of the electricity being used in the building coming from a renewable source.

• Wendron-Gordon - Solar thermal tubes have been added to the annexe roof ensuring that two thirds of the hot water used for showers comes from solar energy.

• Millington - new boilers and windows installed to reduce energy loss.

The LED lighting replacement programme continues. In the last year, LED lighting has been introduced to Kyteless, Wendron-Gordon, the Admin block and the Pre-prep School.

The Estates department have a Building Management system (Trend) which allows them to centrally control maximum temperatures for heating systems. Currently 72% of our buildings are on this system. Smart meters are also installed across the site.

Plant rooms have been reviewed and additional lagging has been installed.

emissions carbon

We have data for each School building of both the gas and electric carbon emissions. Through various building improvements, careful control of the School’s Building Management System and through a shared aim within the School community, we have seen further reductions in our emissions in the last year.

electric carbon emissions = 603t co2e

(Prior year 668t c02) a 9.7% ReDuCTIoN

Gas carbon emissions = 1045t co2e

(Prior year 1,086t c02e) a 3.8% ReDuCTIoN

Note: The gas performance has been distorted by an exceptional cost in 22/23 relating to a meter reading error in the Prep School. Once the costs are reallocated to the prior year, the underlying reduction is 7.0%.

our

plans for the future

With regard to our current building developments:

• Winterfold Penryn Hall - a new hall is being built to provide facilities for all of the Arts. The building works will be completed by August 2024 and the new design will have high thermal efficiency and a heat source pump in order that Winterfold can reduce its dependence on oil.

• The Senior School Swimming Pool is the highest user of both gas and electricity across the four sites. We are exploring opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint of the pool including the possible installation of a solar array and an air source heat pump. This will be a high priority for the 23/24 academic year. In the meantime, we will install inverters to the boilers to reduce energy use.

• Page House requires external maintenance to the cladding and windows of the “White building”. The windows will be replaced with new energy efficient double glazed units and the cladding has been replaced with a sustainable Living Green Wall.

• Laundry and Grounds - both of these buildings have been identified as future net zero buildings. Plans will be developed to consider options.

We will continue to comply with all ESOS and SECR reporting requirements.

We will continue to review all radiators around the School and add temperature monitoring valves where possible to allow local control (maximum temperatures will be set by BMS).

We aim to undertake thermal image surveys and obtain EPC ratings for our buildings to ensure that we remain focused on the highest priorities.

transport

This includes:

• Staff and families travelling to and from School

• School transport for games, trips, activities

• estates and Grounds Transport

Whilst our families and our staff will make individual decisions about sustainability, the School needs to support them by providing opportunities for carbon reduction wherever possible.

As technology develops with minibuses, buses and grounds equipment, the School will continue to review all vehicle and equipment provision to ensure that sustainable changes are made.

our

achievements so

far

The Estates team use an electric van to distribute post and parcels across the School campuses. The Catering team also use an electric vehicle.

The Grounds team have a replacement policy to replace chainsaws, leaf blowers and hedge cutters with electric equivalent. All gardening equipment is now electric, with one of the large diesel mowers used on the sports pitches having been replaced with an electric equivalent this year.

plans for the future our

The School transport team and the Sports teams will seek to reduce carbon by sharing transport wherever possible for sports fixtures and avoiding the situation where large buses are used to transport a small number of pupils.

We believe that it will not be long until electric minibuses are introduced on the market. We are watching this development closely as we have a significant number of minibuses used for the daily School home transport service. The Grounds team are also monitoring the market for developments in electric (or hydrogen) tractors and sit on mowers.

As and when Estates and Grounds vans need replacing, we will consider replacing with electric models. We are encouraging teams to walk rather than use vehicles whenever it is possible.

We will continue to encourage our families to share school runs or to use the School transport service.

We will continue to promote the tax efficient “cycle to work” scheme for all staff and we will be investigating the Electric Vehicles Scheme for staff.

biodiversity

We are extremely fortunate as we have beautiful natural grounds across our four Schools. We also have a Grounds team who are totally committed to managing, protecting and enhancing the natural habitats across our estate. They are also very active in developing planting schemes to offset the carbon generated across the site.

• We have a number of wildlife meadows across the School and we continue to create wildlife corridors.

• our pupils are also very engaged in biodiversity projects through the eco Committees, the Gardening Clubs and the Forest School activities.

• The School has a number of wildlife ponds which have been developed by our Gardeners in partnership with our eco-Committees to encourage pond life.

• one significant ongoing achievement is that all grounds waste is composted and recycled across our four sites.

• We have living sedum roofs on both the Sports Arena and the Senior Dining room.

• DT are working with the Grounds team to make and install bird boxes for the grounds.

• Design Technology are using waste generated in the department to make Bromsgrove School keyrings which will be sold in the School Shop and given as promotional gifts on overseas trips. Profits will be donated to Charity.

plans for the future our

A new living wall has been added to the Prep Boarding House

Our grounds team have a number of projects planned for 23/24 and it is hoped that at least 800 new hedgerow plants will be planted. Planned planting schemes include the Ryland Centre, Page House, phase two of the woodland area next to the Transport Office, the woodland area around the old swimming pool at Winterfold, landscaping around the new Penryn Hall at Winterfold, and further planting of fruit plants by the LRC.

We will also be installing House Martin nesting boxes around the cricket pavilion.

forest school

Forest School has been a staple at Bromsgrove School for many years.

It continues to provide the pupils with the opportunity to spend time in the natural world where they witness changes in seasons and weather. Badgers and buzzards have been seen making this area their home, along with many other insects and mammals. Pupils from Year 3 and 4 have benefitted from their weekly sessions, developing their skills and building upon what they have learnt.

Forest School allows pupils the chance to reflect, socialise, work as a team, build confidence and selfesteem. Pupils are in charge of their own learning, deciding which tasks they want to undertake and assessing and managing their own risks, all key skills in life.

gardening club

Throughout the year, Gardening Club participants have harvested their runner beans, leeks, potatoes and pumpkins. During the winter, they spent some valuable time enhancing the soil with their home-grown compost, adding much needed nutrients ready for the spring.

Prep Gardening Club

This year, the pupils decided to grow runner beans, courgettes, potatoes, spring onions and popcorn, they also planted some herbs.

During the Summer term, pupils used the strawberries to make jam. Our School gardeners taught the pupils how to prune the fruit correctly including the grape vine, apple tree and red currants. We were also delighted to achieve the RHS Level 4 School Gardening Award.

RHS Green Fingers Project

Winterfold have achieved the Level 5 RHS Award - the recently opened polytunnel gives those involved the chance to work with a local care home and schools and will see the pupils planting out the plants and produce they have nurtured.

Pupils are helping to develop the gardens at Foley Grange Care Home in Kidderminster. Regular visits have seen planting workshops with residents and pupils. Children have built a bird garden in the care home grounds, planted hedgerows and scattered seed bombs, with a three year plan of developments lined up.

School provide a full time member of the Gardening team to work with the four gardening clubs across all the School sites.

own produce our

During 2023/24, the School purchased its own apple press, with production of the first batch of ‘Gordon’s Apple Juice’ taking place in October 2023.

This initiative is led by the pupils on the eco-committee, using apples from our own orchard at Bromsgrove.

We also have a beekeeping society, with our own hives in the School garden producing honey.

Green Flag Award eco school

Prep School is an Eco School, holding the Green Flag Award.

Current Eco Initiatives include:

• earth Day is supported through various pupil activities.

• Half termly litter picks

• Termly eco/Gardening club sale (50% going to eco charity this time to WaterAid)

• Half termly Holroyd Howe our Sustainable World assemblies

• Switch off Fortnight incorporating no screen day for the first time this year

• World Water Day

• Planting snowdrops in Forest School

• Beeswax candle making with Senior School eco Committee, for the eco sale

In May pupils will be attending the Malvern Show, they have designed their garden and are now busy growing and building the various elements, supported by the Gardening team.

management waste

None of our waste goes to landfill sites. We have a reputable waste management partner, B&M Waste who assist the School in ensuring that all of our waste is disposed of responsibly.

achievements so far our

• All recycled waste goes to a recycling Centre

• All food waste goes to an Anaerobic Digestion Waste Management site.

• All metal is recycled by a local metal contractor.

• All cardboard is compacted on site and 100% recycled. This includes a significant amount of packaging from catering and boarder deliveries.

• All general (non recycled) waste goes to incineration and generates refuse derived fuel (rDF).

• No waste goes to landfill.

We have installed recycling stations in to the Prep School and all Senior Day and Boarding Houses to encourage the community to recycle. Plastic drinking bottles have been banned from School.

We have installed recycling stations across our Schools to encourage the community to recycle. Plastic drinking bottles have been banned from School. Reusable mugs have been introduced in to the Café 1553.

We have improved the digitalisation of the School which has had a significant impact in reducing the volume of paper waste.

Whilst our carbon is low due to responsible recycling, we remain concerned about the volume of general waste not being recycled at source

It can be seen that the largest waste type continues to be household waste

It is very pleasing to note that food waste has reduced significantly in the last year. This demonstrates that the various initiatives across the School have resulted in positive outcomes.

We set ourselves a target of reducing waste by 5% in the year; this has been achieved.

plans for the future: our

Our Eco Committees are committed to trying to reduce plate waste. There will be a number of new initiatives in 2023/24 led by our pupils to encourage their peers to act responsibly and avoid food waste.

All food waste will continue to be separated from general waste to go to the School’s Anaerobic Waste site. All other products eg tins, boxes are recycled to minimise the volume of general waste.

Our catering partners are introducing new initiatives regarding portion sizes to encourage our pupils to avoid plate waste. Our overall aim is to continue to reduce waste by 5% in the 2023/24 year.

Our Catering partners, Holroyd Howe are committed to reducing food preparation waste. They are monitoring, recording and tracking waste to inform menu production planning.

They are also looking to re-use products which are wasted in other recipes eg bananas, potatoes, leaves.

governance

our background

the governing body

The School was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on 1 September 2003 under charity number 1098740. The Governors, as the Trustees of the Charity, are responsible for the overall management and control of the School and meet at least three times a year. The School is a Charitable Trust governed by a Board of Trustees (Governors). The Governors of Bromsgrove School give their time voluntarily, receiving no payment for their time and expertise. The Governing Body is made up of specialists in education, law, finance, property and health and safety.

Mr Michael Luckman Chairman of Governors

Michael Luckman recently retired from the UK Board of an international law firm based in Birmingham, the City and eight other locations worldwide. He now works as the firm’s chief relationship manager with the Government and led the firm’s team to deliver the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022. He also sits on the firm’s Paris Board. All three of Michael’s children attended Bromsgrove through each section of the School. He says of his appointment to the Board, “I was delighted to become a Governor of Bromsgrove School. I wanted to repay Bromsgrove for all it gives our children and hope my experiences can support its valuable work”.

Dr Clare Lidbury Vice Chair of Governors

Dr Clare Lidbury has many years’ experience in Higher Education, including roles as a member of senior management teams, head of department, admissions tutor and personal tutor. She has led curriculum development in dance, drama and music, overseen research across the performing arts and continues to work as a dance academic and practitioner. Dr Lidbury is the parent of two Old Bromsgrovians.

the governing body

Dr Mark Ballard

Col Mark Ballard is a consultant radiologist and the Military Clinical Director at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine. Prior to this he was the Defence Consultant Advisor in Radiology to the Surgeon General - the lead radiologist to the MOD. An expatriate as a child, he boarded at independent schools in the UK, later spending time as a ‘gap’ student at a preparatory school - experiences he feels lend him some understanding of that which pupils at Bromsgrove may encounter. Mark is a parent of two day pupils at Bromsgrove and enjoys the opportunity governorship affords to help where he can within the School.

Charles Cameron

Charles Cameron is a Chartered Accountant with a successful career in business, including over twenty-five years as CF0 in Listed and Private Equity backed companies, latterly in residential healthcare where he had an excellent track record in improving operational performance. He and both his children went to boarding school. Charles was Deputy Chair of Governors at Winterfold and took a leading role in the merger of the two schools. He chairs the Strategy and Risk sub-committee and has responsibility for Boarding and BIST (Thailand). He is also a member of the Investment and Finance and Property sub-committees.

Mr John Campion

John Campion is the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia. As Commissioner he has the responsibility for the totality of policing in Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Telford & Wrekin. He sets the policing priorities, appoints and holds the Chief Constable to account for operational policing, and oversees the deployment of the £270m police fund. John’s focus has been ensuring victims services improve, crime reduces, police resources are spent more efficiently and that communities feel safe.

John has previously served as a Wyre Forest District and Worcestershire County Council Councillor where he served in several senior governance roles, including Leader of Wyre Forest District Council. John has nearly two decades experience in elected governance and oversight roles. John is an old Bromsgrovian (Elmshurst 1989-94).

Mrs Anne Cleary

Anne Cleary was, until her recent retirement, the Deputy Head in charge of Prep and Early Years for twenty-eight years at Priory School in Edgbaston. She has almost forty years teaching experience and was a governor at Winterfold for twenty years.

the governing body

Dr Deborah Cunningham

Dr Debbie Cunningham is a lecturer in Biological Sciences at the University of Birmingham. She began her scientific career in the pharmaceutical industry before moving to the University of Birmingham almost twenty years ago. Her field of research has a focus on understanding abnormal events which occur within human cells and can cause cancer. Debbie is Deputy Director of Education for the College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University, with responsibilities for the development and delivery of the College’s education strategy, with a particular focus on quality assurance and enhancement of the students’ educational experience. She is also a Senior Tutor, providing guidance and leadership to Personal Tutors and acting as the academic lead for liaison with student wellbeing services. Dr Cunningham is a current parent at Bromsgrove School.

Dr Annette Daly

Dr Annette Daly is the Chief Executive Officer of YMCA Worcestershire. Annette began her career as a primary school teacher in Belfast. After achieving a PhD she spent fifteen years in higher education as a senior lecturer and as a programme director. Annette then took up a new challenge with the role of Diocesan Director of Education (DDE) in the Diocese of Monmouth with the responsibility for supporting and developing church schools. Her collaborative work with head teachers, local authorities, Estyn (Welsh equivalent of Ofsted), the Education Workforce Council and other DDEs helped to improve and enhance the Christian ethos, leadership and performance in these schools. Annette is the Bishop of Worcester’s nominated governor.

Mrs Jenny Loynton

Jenny Loynton (LLB Hons) is the founder of Loynton and Co, one of the biggest Chinese law firms in the West Midlands. Jenny has over twenty-five years commercial law experience, specialising in cases of business acquisition and restructuring, property investment, commercial disputes and foreign investment and financing. She represents British enterprises. Jenny is a member of the Law Society and was previously a member of Birmingham City University’s Board of Directors and an adviser to the Wing Yip Brothers Group, the largest UK based Chinese owned company. Mrs Loynton is one of the youngest Deputy Lords Lieutenant for the West Midlands and sits on the Board of the famous Ikon Gallery.

Mr David Morton

David Morton is Headmaster of The King’s School, Gloucester, having previously worked at Bedford School, Kingston Grammar School, Alleyn’s School and King Henry VIII School. He trained as a Geography teacher and has also coached sport, led World Challenge expeditions and run the Duke of Edinburgh Award during his teaching career. David counts himself fortunate to have received an assisted place to attend an independent school in Worcestershire and has always been committed to supporting initiatives to broaden access to independent schools as well as partnerships with the local community.

the governing body

Mr Bill Roden

Bill Roden is the Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Albert E Sharp, a leading investment management and stockbroking firm in the Midlands. He has over twenty years of investment management experience and worked for a number of years in the City for AXA, one of the world’s largest investment managers. In 2002 he was nominated for Investment Manager of the Year by Investment Week for the performance of a flagship Emerging Market fund. Bill is a Chartered Financial Analyst, the highest industry qualification, and an Associate of the Institute of Investment Management and Research. Bill’s primary role is to provide commercial advice and to overseas the investment management of the School’s portfolio. Bill is an Old Bromsgrovian (Lyttelton 1978–89).

Mr Ian Stringer

Ian is a Principal and past Midlands Regional Managing Director of a leading international firm of commercial real estate consultants. He is a Fellow of The Royal Institution of Charted Surveyors with over 40 years experience in property and the built environment. Ian’s primary role is to oversee the consistent annual investment in the School’s buildings, grounds and facilities with the aim of continually improving quality and standards, and helping to drive sustainability and carbon reduction initiatives. Both of Ian’s children are former pupils at Winterfold and his daughter at Bromsgrove.

Mr Christopher Thompson

Chris Thompson is an experienced M&A and insurance professional whose previous roles include corporate finance advisory as well as corporate development and strategy roles at an international insurance company. Chris founded a specialist transaction liability insurance business that is now one of the largest players in Europe, having underwritten more than £25bn of insurance cover to M&A transactions. Chris is a director of several regulated insurance companies across Europe and holds professional qualifications in accounting, banking and insurance.

Chris has three children at Bromsgrove School and has previously been a governor of two local authority schools.

Mrs Deborah Waltier

Deborah Waltier is a Partner with St James’s Place, the FTSE 100 Wealth Management Business, and has many years of experience in providing investment and financial advice to Companies and Private Clients. As the mother to two Old Bromsgrovians she says, “with close ties to the School as a former parent, it is an honour to be able to contribute to the future growth and direction of this great School, building on the core values it fosters in its pupils”.

the governing body

Mr Alastair Wilcox

Alastair is a former pupil of Bromsgrove School. He read French and Hispanic Studies at the University of Liverpool before embarking upon a law conversion course to qualify as a solicitor. He spent the early years of his career in private practice specialising in employment law before moving to the Solicitors Regulation Authority where he is a senior manager in the Legal and Enforcement Department. He is fluent in French and Spanish and in 2021 was awarded the DELE C2 by the Instituto Cervantes, on behalf of the Spanish government. He is delighted to have been appointed a governor of Bromsgrove and is very much looking forward to working with his fellow colleagues on the governing body.

James Sommerville

Company Secretary and Clerk to the Governors and Foundation Trustees

James Sommerville is Head of Litigation and Employment Department of Star Legal Solicitors (formerly Thomas Horton LLP) who have a continuous association with the School since 1816. As solicitor in private practice for more than forty years, James brings a commercial yet human perspective to his work as Clerk to the Governors. James has family links to the School.

co-opted governors

Our co-opted governors give their expertise to support the governing body.

Mr

Matthew Taylor

Mr David Bridge

governance

the president and vice presidents

The President and Vice-Presidents of the School act in an advisory capacity to the Governing Body and the School. They offer a wealth of experience of both the School and the educational system. The President in particular works closely with the Governors and the School Executive, attending meetings of the Board of Governors.

The role is largely honorary and ceremonial although the President will be responsible for assessing and reviewing the operation and performance of the Governance Committee and shall be notified of and entitled on reasonable notice to attend any Governance Committee meeting.

The Governors may ask the President for advice and allocate such duties as presiding over Commemoration, particularly the Prizegiving and Speeches. The President will be invited to attend all Full Governors’ Meetings and other special occasions. The president may be asked to help resolve any disputes and to monitor the performance of the Governors.

Mr Steward Towe President

Dr Vivian Anthony Vice President

Mr Norman Birch Vice President

Mr Matthew Horton Vice President

Mr Rupert Lane Vice President

Mr Richard Brookes Vice President

Also Vice President, Mr John Hall.

governance

the governance structure and committees

The work in reviewing strategy and confirming that policies and regulations are being adhered to is carried out by the various sub committees of Governors:

• education Committee

• Finance and Property Committee

• Safeguarding and Wellbeing Committee

• Strategy and Risk Committee

• Investments Committee

• Buildings Committee

• eSG Committee

• Audit Committee

• Commercial Projects Committee

There is a full board meeting once a term, plus an annual strategic planning day with the Exec team. Each sub-committee meets at least once a term. The membership of the committees is supplemented by senior staff at the School.

The Governing Body is responsible for determining the overall aims and strategy of the School. It reviews policies, strategies and procedures to ensure the best possible education and outcomes for current and future pupils.

Bromsgrove’s Board of Governors continue to be balanced between supervision and compliance, between strategic evolution and operational excellence, between supporting the Headmaster, the Executive and other Senior Managers and challenging future plans and short-term execution.

Governors are assigned specific responsibility for key areas of School life including:

Boarding

Mr Charles Cameron

Safeguarding, including online safety

Mrs Anne Cleary

eYFS

Mrs Anne Cleary

Curriculum

Dr Clare Lidbury

The Clerk to the Governors ensures that meetings are accurately minuted, papers are circulated in a timely fashion and advises on Governance issues. All Governors declare any conflicts of interest, and these are recorded. In addition, on occasions Governors seek professional advice from the School’s lawyers, accountants and surveyors. Moving forwards, Governors have requested that there be more presentations from staff and pupils to committees to increase their knowledge of the impact of governance. The School has invested in BoardEffect, to share papers more easily, to streamline training for Governors and to make it easier to update policies.

The education Committee

Senior staff report to this committee which also hears reports from pupils. The Committee reviews the quality of education provided to pupils and is concerned to ensure that this is the best possible.

The Finance and Property Committee

This Committee takes a medium-term view of the School’s finances and resources to ensure that they support the educational needs of pupils, current and future.

The Safeguarding and Wellbeing Committee

The Committee has responsibility for ensuring that all safeguarding regulations and standards are met. Governors on this Committee will also regularly check the Safer Recruitment procedures with the HR Manager and the Single Central Register. The Chair of the Safeguarding Committee reports to the Board on safeguarding matters at each Board meeting. At the October 2022 meeting, the committee heard reports from staff responsible for leading on Health and Wellbeing, PSHE and RSE. The Board has a nominated Boarding Governor, (currently Charles Cameron), who regularly visits the Boarding Houses and meets with boarders and Houseparents.

The Strategy and Risk Committee

Its remit is to make proposals for the oversight and review of the School’s strategy together with identification and management of risk.

The Investments Committee

Ensures that the School stewards its resources wisely so that they can be used to fulfil the objectives of the charity.

The Buildings Committee

Members regularly visit School buildings to ensure that they support the needs of pupils and their education.

The eSG Committee

Its role is to review the Environmental, Social and Governance performance of the School.

The Commercial Projects Committee

This committee explores other revenue streams for the School.

governance structure

Board of Governors

education Committee

Chair:

Michael Luckman

Mark Ballard

Charles Cameron

John Campion

Anne Cleary

Deborah Cunningham

Annette Daly

Clare Lidbury (Vice Chair)

Jenny Loynton

David Morton

Bill Roden

Ian Stringer

Chris Thompson

Deborah Waltier

Alistair Willcox

Chair: Clare Lidbury

Anne Cleary

Deborah Cunningham

Michael Luckman

David Morton

Deborah Waltier

Headmaster

Deputy Head (Teaching)

Deputy Head (Academic) Senior School

Headmaster (Prep and Pre-Prep)

Headmistress (Winterfold)

Finance and Property Committee

Chair: Charles Cameron

John Campion

Michael Luckman

Bill Roden

Chris Thompson

Matthew Taylor

Headmaster Bursar

Safeguarding and Wellbeing Committee

Chair: Anne Cleary

Mark Ballard

Charles Cameron

Clare Lidbury

Michael Luckman

Alistair Willcox

Headmaster (Prep and Pre-Prep)

Deputy Head (Pastoral) Senior School

Headmistress (Winterfold)

DSLs

Director of Health and Wellbeing

Strategy and Risk Committee

Chair: Charles Cameron

Clare Lidbury

Michael Luckman Headmaster Bursar Assistant Head

Investments Committee

Chair:

Bill Roden

Charles Cameron

Deborah Waltier

Matthew Taylor

Bursar

environmental, Social and Governance (eSG) Committee

Chair:

Michael Luckman (G)

Mark Ballard (G)

Charles Cameron (G)

Annette Daly (lead on S)

James Sommerville (G)

Ian Stringer (lead on E)

Stewart Towe (G)

David Walters (G)

Building Committee

Chair:

Ian Stringer

Jenny Loynton

Alistair Willcox

David Bridge Headmaster

Bursar

Commercial Projects Committee

Chair: TBC

Jenny Loynton

Michael Luckman

Chris Thompson

David Bridge

James Sommerville Headmaster

Bursar

Committee Cameron Luckman Head

governance

governance considerations

Our Governing Body strive to ensure that they have the correct skills and structure in order to support the School in its aims.

We are delighted that our Governing Body has agreed as part of the School’s strategic aim around Governance to work towards attaining the Good Governance Award as jointly awarded by HMC and AGBIS. Both AGBIS and HMC wish to support and provide recognition of high-quality governance in HMC member schools. This Good Governance Certificate if achieved is retained for three years.