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Governing Body

Crockenhill's Governing Body

Mrs Jo Pennell - Chair of Governors

Mrs Karen Dodd - Head teacher

Mrs Louise Bunch - Deputy Headteacher

Mrs Liz Carter - SENCo

Mr John Bunker - Governor

Mrs Teresa Longley - Governor

Mr Robbie Cooke - Parent Governor

Mrs Winnie Yu - Parent Governor

Mrs Fiona Porter - Clerk to the Governors

Mrs Ellen Griffin - Staff Governor

Lynne Groves - Parent Governor

Clowey Bailey - Co-opted Governor

ROCKENHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-2023

Appointed Chair (01.09.22): Mr Laurie Everest, and Appointed Vice Chair: Mrs Isabel Sheppard Fidler

Name

Date of Appointment

Date of Stepping Down (if applicable)

Appointment Details and Relevant Article of Association

Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests

Date Interest Registered

Attendance Record at Meetings

Laurie

Everest

1.9.2022 1.9.2023 Co-opted Governor
  • Chair of Standards & Curriculum Sub-Committee

 

   

Isabel

Sheppard

Fidler

01.09.15

1.9.2023

 

Chair of Governors

Co-opted Governor

 

  • Safeguarding/ Child Protection Governor
  • Single Central Record Governor
  • SEND Governor
  • Member of Standards & Curriculum Sub-Committee
  • Joint responsibility for Head Teacher’s Performance Management

Interests: None

 

 

FGB: Sept, Nov

P&P: Oct

S&C:

SWP: Sept

 

John

Bunker

01.09.15

 

Co-opted Governor

  • Member of Finance & Premises Sub-Committee
  • Health & Safety Governor

Interests: Self-employed contractor

 

27.09.18

FGB: Sept, Nov

F&P:

 

Winnie

Yu

01.09.2017

 

Parent Governor

  • Data Governor
  • Chair of Finance & Premises Sub-Committee
  • Joint responsibility for Head Teacher’s Performance Management

 

FGB: Sept, Nov

F&P:

S&C: Nov

Jo Pennell

01.09.2021

 

Parent Governor

  • Member of Finance & Premises Sub-Committee
   

Robbie Cooke

01.09.2020

 

Parent Governor

     

Karen

Dodd

01.09.2018

 

Head teacher

 

 

FGB: Sept, Nov

F&P:

S&C: Nov

SWP: Sept

P&P: Oct

Liz

Carter

01.09.2015

 

Co-opted Governor

Member of staff

SENCo and SLT member

 

FGB: Sept, Nov

S&C: Nov

SWP: Sept

Louise Bunch

01.09.2022

 

Associate Member

Member of staff

Data Governor

 

FGB: Sept, Nov

S&C: Nov

SWP: Sept

Ellen Griffin

06.09.2021

 

Associate Member

School Office Manager

 

FGB:

F&P:

Teresa Longley 01.09.2019   Staff Governor Member of staff - Teaching Assistant    

Fiona

Porter

 

 

Advisor

Clerk to the Governors

 

P&P: Oct

gLynne Groves     Parent Governor Parent Governor    
CClowey Bailey     co-opted Governor Co-opted Governor    
             

What do Governors do?

School governors are people who want to make a positive contribution to children's education.  Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards.  

School governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools.  Governors appoint the head teacher and deputy headteacher.  Ultimately, it is the governors who hold the main responsibility for finance in schools.   Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the governing body; decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing body.

The role of the governing body is a strategic one, its key functions are to:

  • set the aims and objectives of the school
  • set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
  • set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
  • monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
  • be a source of challenge and support to the headteacher

Who can become a School Governor?

Almost anyone over the age of 18 can become a school governor.  There are no particular qualifications or requirements, other than a willingness to give time to the role and a capacity for working with other people.  At Crockenhill Primary School our governing body is made up of the following categories of governor:

  • Parent:  These governors must have a child at the school at the time they are elected.  When vacancies arise, all parents are invited to express an interest in standing and if there are more parents interested than there are vacancies, an election is held in which all parents in the school have a vote.
  • Staff:  One staff governor post is taken by the headteacher.  Other staff governor posts can be elected by the staff.  
  • Local authority:  These are appointed by the local Authority are tend to be people who have expressed an interest in joining a governing body and have a skills set that would help in its function.
  • Co-opted:  These governors are appointed by the governing body.  they are people who in the opinion of the governing body have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.
  • Associate members:  Associate members are appointed by the governing body to serve on one or more governing body committee.  They may also attend full governing body meetings.  They are not governors and therefore do not have a vote in governing body decisions, but may be given a vote on decisions made by committees to which they are appointed.

The Governing Body meets six times a year (once in each Term) and is made up of twelve (12) Governors:  

  • The Head Teacher;          
  • One (1) Local Authority Governor;
  • Four (4) Parent Governors;        
  • One (1) Staff Governor;  
  • Five (5) Co-Opted Governors.

All Governors serve on at least one of the two Governing Body Sub-Committees (currently Finance & Premises, and Standards & Curriculum) and all have monitoring responsibilities.  The Chair and Vice-Chair are elected annually at the first meeting of the School Year (held in Term 1).  Membership of the Sub-Committees is reviewed and agreed at the full GB meeting held in Term 1.  Governors sign a Declaration of Business Interests form at the full GB meeting in Term 1, and are also required to declare any change of business interests verbally at the start of every full Governing Body and Sub-Committee meeting.  [For full details, see table below]. 

All elected Governors (Parent; Staff; and Co-Opted) will serve a Term of Office of four years.  Membership of the Governing Body will cease immediately should a Staff member leave the School. 

Governors are obliged to disclose the number of employees at Crockenhill Primary School who earn in excess of £100k. There are 0 employees who earn in excess of £100k. (updated March 2022)

Parent Suggestion Form

The Crockenhill School governing body is always looking for ways to be more accessible and accountable to parents and carers. 

Last year all parents/carers received a letter inviting comments on forming a Parent Council. This received a very limited response, but one idea that arose from this suggested that the school should encourage parents to build a bond of trust with teachers and governors. This was discussed at the December meeting of governors and it was agreed a ‘Suggestion Box’ should be made available for parents and carers to comment on things, both positive and negative, about the school, and, to put forward their ideas on how could Crockenhill School could surpass its Mission Statement:

'Learning Together. Working together. Achieving Together.'

The Suggestion Box is located on an outside wall on the walkway just past the office window and opened each term by two Governors. They will then present your ideas and comments at the next meeting. We would like to respond to every comment or idea left, but can only do this if a name is supplied. Anonymous comments will not be taken to the Governing Body.

A form has been specifically created for this purpose and can be downloaded from the link below. Once completed, put it in the box.   Spare copies of the form will also be available from the school office.

The Governing Body values your comments and recognises your commitment to the school and the part you play in making it such a friendly place in which all children can reach their potential. We encourage you to use this resource and help us to make it even better.

Thank you.

Interested in becoming a School Governor?

Becoming a School Governors can be an interesting and rewarding experience. To find out more, please click on the link below:-