From preserving historic sites to supporting vital community care, the DTM Legal Team is passionate about giving back. This time, we’re highlighting Ed Barnes, Head of Corporate & Commercial, for his role as Vice Chair of Governors and Chair of the Pastoral Committee at Christleton High School.
A Personal Connection to the School
For Ed, volunteering at Christleton High School is a natural fit. All three of his children have attended the School, one of whom is still a pupil, and he wanted to support an institution that means a lot to him.
“I was interested to find out more about how it operates and wanted to give something back to an organisation that has played a big part in the lives of our family and my three children in particular,” Ed explains.
Since November 2022, he has been involved in a wide range of activities: attending full governors’ meetings, overseeing the pastoral work that supports pupils’ safety, health, and wellbeing, sitting on disciplinary panels, meeting with heads of department, and participating in careers days, open evenings, and concerts.
Why It Matters
As Chair of the Pastoral Committee, Ed hears directly from pupils of all ages, ensuring their voices feed into the wider decisions of the Governing Body. This close connection to the student experience is one of the most rewarding aspects of his role.
“Meeting pupils from all kinds of backgrounds and seeing how they develop through the school is a real inspiration and privilege,” he says.
Ed also recognises the wider impact of the Governing Body’s work:
“The School’s performance is better because of the checks and balances of, and improvements fostered by, the Governing Body, and this in turn benefits the local community where the children live and, often, go on to work.”
Lessons Learned
Ed describes his volunteering experience as challenging, surprising, and rewarding, and admits it has given him a new appreciation for the work that goes into running a large secondary school.
“The number of hours dedicated by fantastic staff, not just to helping students learn, but also to non-teaching work, particularly supporting an increasing number of pupils with SEND, is staggering, especially when this often coincides with a decrease in local authority support or School budgets.”
A particularly memorable moment was the School’s most recent Ofsted inspection which is naturally a period of intense preparation and high pressure that required commitment from everyone involved.
And while the role is serious, it’s not without lighter moments:
“It’s always entertaining when students at Pastoral Committee meetings let loose and give honest feedback on school life, especially with the headteachers and other staff present!”
Advice for Aspiring Volunteers
For those considering volunteering, Ed suggests starting with conversations.
“Talk to people who currently volunteer to find out what might suit you best and where you can add the most value. Be realistic about the time commitment and choose an area you are passionate about. It’s best to go in with your eyes wide open.”
Get Involved
Christleton High School often looks for new parent and community governors with diverse skills and backgrounds.
Christleton High School – christletonhigh.co.uk
