Ferring Church of England Primary School
GOVERNORS
Governing Body Vision for Ferring CE School
There should be expectation of the highest possible achievement and attainment for all children, as a result of consistently good/ outstanding teaching of a broad balanced curriculum enriched by extra curricular activities. This will be achieved, in part, by the children's good behaviour and attitudes to learning which should be taught, modelled and expected.
Within the principles of inclusion and equality, underpinned by our Christian beliefs and values, children will feel safe and well prepared for life in modern Britain.
Our children will learn within a safe, stimulating environment which is well resourced and led by motivated and effective staff.
Children will benefit from the school's strong relationship with all stakeholders and collaborative locality working with other schools.
MEMBERSHIP OF GOVERNING BODY
Headteacher (ex officio): 1 x governor
Ms. Naomi Welsh
Start date: 1 September 2021
Staff Governor (elected by staff): 1 x governor
Mrs. Jane Jones
Start date: 9 November 2023
(4-year term of office ends 8 November 2027)
Foundation Governors (appointed by the Diocese): 3 x governors
Mrs Sue Pratt
Start date: 1 January 1989
(current 4-year term of office ends 31 Aug. 2025)
Rev. Shirley Tupper (ex officio)
Start Date: 9 February 2023
Mrs. Margaret Butler
Start date: 13 November 2023
(4-year term of office ends 12 November 2027)
Parent Governors (elected by parents): 2 x governors
Mrs. Claire Didcott
Start date: 8 November 2023
(4-year term of office ends 7 November 2027)
(currently 1 vacancy)
Local Authority Governor (appointed by West Sussex County Council): 1 x governor
(currently 1 vacancy)
Co-opted Governors (appointed by the Governing Body): 4 x governors
Rev. Robin Brenchley
Start date: 12 October 2022
(4-year term of office ends 11 October 2026, one year term of office as Chair ends 31 August 2024)
Mrs. Karen Godfrey
Start date 12 October 2022
(4-year term of office ends 11 October 2026)
Mrs. Dawn Kennett*
Start date: 7 November 2023
(current 4-year term of office ends 6 November 2027)
*formerly a Parent Governor
Mrs. Valerie Simpson
Start date: 18 October 2023
(4-year term of office ends 17 October 2027)
Total membership = 12 governors
Associate Member: Andrew-Ledgerton-Lynch OBE (appointed October 30 2023), no voting rights
The Chair of the Governing Body is Rev. Robin Brenchley
The role of Vice Chair of the Governing Body is currently vacant
The Chair can be contacted via the school
The governing body has established working groups as follows:
Ethos (Behaviour/Attitudes/Personal Development/Worship): Sue Pratt (chair), Rev Shirley Tupper, Dawn Kennett, Claire Didcott, Margaret Butler.
Curriculum (Leadership and Management/Quality of Education): Rev. Robin Brenchley (chair), Karen Godfrey, Valerie Simpson, Jane Jones, Margaret Butler, Andrew Ledgerton-Lynch (Associate)
Finance/Premises/Health & Safety: Dawn Kennett, Sue Pratt
Worship: Rev. Shirley Tupper, Rev. Robin Brenchley, Sue Pratt
Naomi Welsh joins all as Headteacher
Declarations as at 1 September 2023 (and updated on 17 November 2023)
Other Governorships: Mr. Peter Byrne (former Co-Opted Governor) was also Headteacher and Governor at St. Oscar Romero's Catholic Secondary School. Mrs. Janes Jones is also Chair of the governing body of East Preston Infants School.
Pecuniary Interests: None.
Relationships between Staff and Governors: None.
Attendances at Full Governing Body Meetings in the academic year 2022-23
Peter Byrne (former Co-opted Governor): 5 out of 6
Mark Gatenby (former Parent Governor): 6 out of 6
Karen Godfrey: 6 out of 6
Rev. Robin Brenchley: 6 out of 6
Dawn Kennett: 6 out of 6
Sue Pratt: 5 out of 6
Jennie Teakle (former Staff Governor, was on secondment to another school for the Spring & Summer Terms 2023):
2 out of 6
Jenny Trace (former Local Authority Governor): 6 out of 6
Rev. Shirley Tupper (term of office began on 9 February 2023): 2 out of 3
Naomi Welsh: 6 out of 6
Click here for the Governing Body Impact Statement 2022-23
Lead Governors:
Wellbeing: Jane Jones
Safeguarding: Claire Didcott
Special Educational Needs/Disabilities (SEND): Valerie Simpson
Attendance: Jane Jones
Health & Safety / Premises: Dawn Kennett
Finance: Sue Pratt
Collective Worship: Rev. Shirley Tupper
Leadership & Management: Andrew Ledgerton-Lynch (Associate)
Curriculum / Teaching & Learning: Karen Godfrey & Margaret Butler
Ethos / wider life of the school: Revs. Shirley Tupper & Robin Brenchley
WHY BECOME A GOVERNOR?
Because:
You care about the education children receive
You want to make an important contribution to your local community
You enjoy a challenging and rewarding role
You are keen to help all children do better at school
You want to help strengthen the link between schools and their communities
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO GOVERNORS NEED?
There are no formal qualifications, either academic or otherwise, needed to become a school governor. The one essential requirement is an interest in, and commitment to, the education of children. Governors have to be over 18 years of age.
Governors are ordinary people, drawn from many areas of society. They need to be able to devote time to getting to know the school well and be available to support it.
A governor must be a good listener, and someone who is able to read and assimilate information easily. A governor must be able to:
Raise questions and to participate in discussion and decision-making
Be discreet, open minded and fair
Be a source of ideas and a good communicator
Be enthusiastic about the work of the school
Be prepared to participate in its life
WHAT DO GOVERNORS DO?
Governors play an important part in overseeing the running of the school in the interests of the community it serves. Individual governors have no power or responsibility. It is only the full governing body which has legal duties and powers. All governors share in that corporate responsibility. The day-to-day management of the school is the responsibility of the headteacher and staff. The philosophy for running the school is a shared responsibility worked out by common consent.
Governors govern rather than manage. They are there to give direction and focus by performing a vital strategic role. Governors work with the headteacher making decisions about, for example, educational standards and targets, finance, staffing, and policies.
TERM OF OFFICE
The usual term of office is four years. However, governors are volunteers who can leave at any time and can similarly be re-appointed or re-elected. Governors can be disqualified for failing to attend a main meeting of the governing body for six months from the date of the first meeting missed.
WHAT KINDS OF HELP AND SUPPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE?
A great deal of professional advice and support is available to help governors with their duties and responsibilities, and all new governors are offered an induction course.
HOW DO I EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN BECOMING A GOVERNOR?
Get in touch with our headteacher or chair of governors.
Have a look at the West Sussex County Council website and search for 'Governors'.
Click here to see the West Sussex County Council booklet "Becoming a School Governor"
