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Governing Body

Crockenhill's Governing Body

Jo Pennell

Chair of Governors

Karen Dodd

Head teacher

Louise Bunch

Deputy Headteacher

Liz Carter

SENCo

 

Teresa Longley

Staff Governor

Ellen Griffin

Staff Governor

Robbie Cooke

Parent Governor

Lynne Groves

Parent Governor

John Bunker

Co-opted Governor

Clowey Bailey

Co-opted Governor

 

Fiona Porter

Clerk to the Governors

 

CROCKENHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL GOVERNING BODY ACADEMIC YEAR 24-25

Name

Date of Appointment

Appointment Details and Relevant Article of Association

Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests

Attendance Record at Meetings

Jo Pennell

 

01.09.2021

Appointed Chair 01.09.2023

Chair of Governors 

Finance & Premises Sub Committee Member

Pay & Personnel Sub Committee Member

 
Karen Dodd 01.09.2018 Head Teacher

Member of Staff

Finance & Premises Sub Committee Member

Standards & Curriculum Sub Committee Member

Pay & Personnel Sub Committee Member

 
Louise Bunch 01.09.2022 Associate Member 

Member of Staff

Deputy Head

Data Governor 

Standards & Curriculum Sub Committee Member

 
Liz Carter 01.09.2015 Associate Member

Member of Staff

SENCo

SLT Member

Standards & Curriculum Sub Committee Member

 
Teresa Longley 01.09.2019 Staff Governor

Member of Staff

Standards & Curriculum Sub Committee Chair

Pay & Personnel Sub Committee Member

 
Ellen Griffin 01.09.2021 Associate Member

School Office Manager

Finance & Premises Sub Committee Chair

Pay & Personnel Sub Committee Member

 
Robbie Cooke

01.09.2020

Appointed Deputy Chair 01.09.2023

Parent Governor

Deputy Chair of Governors

   
Lynne Groves 01.09.2023 Parent Governor

Finance & Premises Sub Committee Member

Standards & Curriculum Sub Committee Member

 
John Bunker 01.09.2015 Co-opted Governor

Health & Safety Governor

Finance & Premises Sub Committee Member

 
Clowey Bailey 01.09.2023 Co-opted Governor

Finance & Premises Sub Committee Member

Standards & Curriculum Sub Committee Member

Pay & Personnel Sub Committee Chair

 
Fiona Porter   Advisor Clerk to the Governors  

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:-