Governors

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.

The role of the governing board is absolutely key to the effectiveness of a school. 

What do governors do?

School governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools. Governors appoint the head teacher and deputy headteacher. It is governors who hold the main responsibility for finance in schools, and it is governors who work with the headteacher to make the tough decisions about balancing resources. 

Each individual governor is a member of a governing board, which is established in law as a corporate body. Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the governing board; decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing board.  

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

• set the aims and objectives for 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 (a critical friend)

The Full Governing Body meets at least six times a year but Governors also attend subsidiary committee meetings focussed on Resources.

The Resources Committee is responsible for financial matters . It engages in the setting of the annual school budget and reviews it on a regular basis. Staff appointments, appraisal and pay, and the maintenance of all aspects of the school premises also fall within the remit of this group.

Meet The Governors of Chawton Primary School

Mrs Sarah Addison (Chair)

Appointed by:  HCC

Date of Appointment:  2020

Term of office: 4 years

Type of Governor:  Local Authority Governor

Roles and Responsibilities:  Chair; Safeguarding

Committee membership:  Resources

Howard Bayliss (Vice-Chair)

Appointed by: Diocese

Date of appointment:  2018

Term of office:  4 years

Type of Governor:  Foundation Governor

Roles and Responsibilities:  Resources Chair, FGB Vice Chair

Committee membership:  Resources (Chair), HT Pay review (Chair)

Sarah Goldsworthy (Headteacher)

Date of Appointment: 2019

Type of Governor:  Headteacher

Committee membership:  Resources Committee

Kirsty Blandford 

Appointed by:  GB

Date of appointment:  2019

Term of office:  4 years

Type of Governor:  Staff

Committee membership:  Resources Committee

Briony Cavell

Clerk to Governors

Emma Gosden

Appointed by:  Parents

Date of appointment:  2018

Term of office:  4 years

Type of Governor:  Parent

Committee membership:  Resources Committee

Jenny Perring

Appointed by:  Parents

Date of appointment:  2017

Term of office:  4 years

Type of Governor:  Parent 

Committee membership:  Resources, Pay Committee

Kimberley Hayes

Appointed by:  Parents

Date of appointment:  2021

Term of office:  4 years

Type of Governor:  Parent

Denise Janaway

Appointed by:  GB

Date of appointment:  2019

Term of office:  4 years

Type of Governor:  Co-opted 

Committee membership:  HT pay review

Nic Parkes

Appointed by:  GB

Date of appointment:  2021

Term of office:  4 years

Type of Governor:  Co-opted

Joanne Ryan

Appointed by:  GB

Date of appointment:  2021

Term of office:  4 years

Type of Governor:  Co-opted Governor

Role and Responsibilities:  SEN

Jane Owen

Appointed by:  Diocese

Date of appointment:  2018

Term of office:  4 years

Type of Governor:  Foundation

Committee membership:  HT pay review

Responsibilities:  DTG

Reverend Tony Pears

Appointed by:  Diocese

Date of appointment:  2006

Type of Governor:  Foundation

Committee membership:  Resources, Pay

Responsibilities:  H&S