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.

Click here to see the Governing Body Impact Statement for the academic year 2024-2025. 

MEMBERSHIP OF GOVERNING BODY

Headteacher (ex officio): 1 x governor

Mr. James Cox
Start date: 1 January 2025

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 governor

Rev. Shirley Tupper (ex officio)
Start date: 9 February 2023

Mr. David Gibbs
Start date: 21 October 2025
(4-year term of office ends 20 October 2029)

x1 Vacancy 

Parent Governors (elected by parents): 2 x governors

Ms. Sona Starkova
Start date: 30 September 2024
(4-year term of office ends 29 September 2028)

x1 Vacancy 

Local Authority Governor (appointed by West Sussex County Council): 1 x governor

x1 Vacancy 

Co-opted Governors (appointed by the Governing Body): 4 x governor

Rev. Robin Brenchley
Start date: 12 October 2022
(4-year term of office ends 11 October 2026, term of office as Vice Chair ends 31 August 2026) 

Mrs. Dawn Kennett*
Start date: 7 November 2023
(current 4-year term of office ends 6 November 2027, one year term of office as Chair ends
31 August 2026)
*formerly a Parent Governor

Mr. Tom Compton
Start date: 22 October 2025
(4-year term of office ends 21 October 2029)

Mr. David Munro
Start date: 22 October 2025
(4-year term of office ends 21 October 2029)

Associate Member (appointed by the Governing Body)
Mr. Alistair Spencer
Start date: 3 November 2025
(4-year term of office ends 2 November 2029)

Total membership = 12 governors plus 1 Associate Member

The Chair of the Governing Body is Dawn Kennett
The Vice Chair of the Governing Body is Rev. Robin Brenchley

Declarations as at 1 September 2025

Other Governorships: Janes Jones is also Chair of the governing body of East Preston Infants' School.

Pecuniary Interests: None.

Relationships between Staff and Governors: None.  NB: Alistair Spencer (Associate Member) is married to 
Natalie Foggett (Teaching Assistant).

Attendances at Full Governing Body Meetings in the academic year 2024-25

James Cox (Headteacher appointed 1 January 2025): 7 out of 7 (attended 2 meetings as a guest during Autumn Term 2024)
Keeley Houston (Interim Headteacher for Autumn Term 2025): 3 out of 3 
Rev. Robin Brenchley: 6 out of 8 
Dawn Kennett: 7 out of 8
Melissa Seager: 6 out of 7
Sona Starkova: 7 out of 7
Sue Pratt (term of office ended 31 August 2025): 7 out of 8
Rev. Shirley Tupper: 6 out of 8
Andrew Ledgerton-Lynch OBE (resigned 29 January 2026): 7 out of 8
Jane Jones: 7 out of 8
Margaret Butler (resigned 2 September 2025): 5 out of 8

Lead Governors:

Wellbeing: Jane Jones
Safeguarding: David Munro
Special Educational Needs/Disabilities (SEND): David Munro
Attendance: Rev Robin Brenchley
Health & Safety / Premises: Dawn Kennett
Finance: Tom Compton
Collective Worship: Rev. Shirley Tupper
Leadership & Management: Dawn Kennett
Curriculum / Teaching & Learning: (to be advised)
Ethos / wider life of the school: Revs. Shirley Tupper & Robin Brenchley

 

PROPOSED Governing Board Committees and Link Governors - March 2025/26

Committee	Link Governors & Staff Involved
Leadership and Management	Dawn Kennett Rev. Robin Brenchley Headteacher SLT when required

 

Ethos and Vision

Rev. Shirley Tupper Rev. Robin Brenchley David Gibbs Headteacher RHSE lead when required

 

Finance

Dawn Kennett Tom Compton Ali Spencer (Associate Member) SBM Headteacher

 

Link Governor Roles	Governor/Staff
Link Governors Safeguarding	Melissa Seager DSL’s

 

Link Governors Health & Safety

Sona Starkova  SBM Premises Manager

 

Link Governors Quality of Education

David Gibbs David Munro Tom Compton All teachers

 

Link Governors SEND, Inclusion & Disadvantaged

David Munro Dawn Kennett SENDCo All teachers

 

Link Governor Training

Sona Starkova  Headteacher Clerk

 

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"