Governance & Policies

Westminster School is an incorporated association under the Associations Incorporation Act, South Australia 1985. In addition to the requirements of this Act, the School’s governance role is further defined by the School Rules.

In accordance with the School Rules, the School is governed by a School Council. Council members are appointed by the SYNOD of the Uniting Church, with membership comprising the Principal, a representative of the Moderator of SYNOD and up to ten ordinary members, at least one of whom is a member of the Uniting Church.

The governance and control of the School is vested in the School Council who then delegate the management and day-to-day running of the School to the Principal and his staff. In conjunction with the Principal, the School Council sets the strategic direction for the School, determines the mission and purposes of the School, monitors the School’s performance in line with the School’s objectives and ensures compliance with a number of key regulatory and legislative requirements.

In addition to oversight of these critical functions, the School Council also has responsibility to:

• Set and approve the annual recurrent and capital expenditure budgets
• Set and approve School fees annually
• Appoint the Principal and Director of Corporate Services
• Adopt annual audited financial statements

The School Council also provides leadership in areas associated with the School’s Master Plan, Building Program and Risk Management and meets a minimum of eight times each year.

The members of School Council are professionals within their chosen fields, with individuals appointed with specific expertise and skills. Some Council members have had a long association with the School either as Old Scholars, current parents and/or grandparents.

The School Council considers annually the skills and capabilities required to govern the School, also taking into account gender, demographic and independence issues. Current members comprise professionals with expertise in governance, business, education, finance, law, infrastructure, media and technology. Council members generously volunteer their time, knowledge and expertise to uphold the Mission of the School.

The Director of Corporate Services is the appointed Public Officer for School Council.

There are five advisory committees that assist the work of the Council. These are:

• Education & Wellbeing
• Finance & Building
• Engagement & Enrolment
• Scholarships & Remissions
• Governance

In addition to the School Council, the other major governing or management bodies are:

• Westminster School Foundation
• School Leadership Team (“SLT”)

The School Council has delegated its fundraising and funds management powers to the Foundation.

Westminster School Foundation

Established by John H Ellers in 1988, this is the School’s fundraising and friend raising body. The Foundation also coordinates the investment and appropriate allocation of the School’s scholarship, endowment and building funds. In raising and allocating those building funds the Foundation takes account of requests made by the Council to assist in various building projects. The Foundation works with the School’s Development Office, particularly with the Advancement & Marketing Manager and Community Relations Officer.

In conjunction with the Development Office, the Foundation raises funds through the Total Development Program of Friend-raising, Annual Giving, Major Gifts, General Donations (including voluntary building fund and deposit donations), Bequests and Special Events.

The annual School fees paid by parents provide the funding for the ongoing operations of the School Foundation, including staffing and maintenance costs.

The funds raised by the Foundation allow the School to continually upgrade its infrastructure facilities and buildings and allow our students to benefit from having access through the scholarship program to some of the State’s most outstanding school facilities.

Similar to the School Council, the Foundation delegates various aspects of its functions to sub–committees, including:

• Investment Sub-Committee, which manages the overall investment of the Westminster School Foundation funds.
• Bequests Sub-Committee, which promotes and encourages membership to the Arthur Kelly Society, established to recognise bequests made to the School.
• Special Events Sub-Committee, which involves one Special Event fundraising activity biennially to raise a minimum of $50,000 and organises other functions to generate a required profit.

School Management Group

Within the policy framework set by Council the ongoing management of the School is delegated to the Principal. Supporting the Principal in managing the day to day operations of the School is a number of senior managers who together form the School Management Group.

The School Management Group comprises:

• Principal
• Head of Senior School
• Head of Preparatory School
• Director of Advancement and Marketing
• Director of Learning
• Director of Corporate Services
  
• Head of Activities
• Director of Boarding
• Head of ICT
• Property Services Manager
  
• HR Manager
  
• Head of Wellbeing
• Head of Finance
• Communications Manager
• Staff Representative

Under delegated authority by the Principal, each member of the School Management Group (or SMG as it is usually called) assumes management authority for his or her respective portfolio. The SMG meets regularly to coordinate management processes and to provide advice and assistance to the Principal.