Governing Body

The Role of School Governor


The Role of School Governor

The Governing Board at Great Bardfield School is made up of a range of volunteers from the community, parents and teaching staff who work together to ensure the best possible education for every child at the School. The Governing Board works with the Headteacher and her senior leadership team to set the strategic direction of the school, aspiring to ensure the optimum progress for all our pupils.

The governors bring a wealth of skills and experience to the Board from various sectors including finance, education and the law. All governors undertake training and have specific responsibilities, including safeguarding, financial management, special educational needs, equality and health and safety.

The role of School Governor can be challenging but always rewarding, striving to provide the best educational opportunities for all the children by working in partnership with parents, teachers and governors.

Governors have a statutory obligation to:
• hold the Headteacher and the school management team to account
• help evolve and agree the school’s Strategic Plan
• ensure that all relevant policies are up to date, fit for purpose and adhered to
• agree the annual budget and monitor income and expenditure throughout the year
• agree the School Improvement Plan (which details the school’s educational priorities for each academic year and how they will be achieved),
• agree the progress and attainment targets for our pupils
• monitor and review results regularly.

With an annually elected Chair and Vice-Chair, we operate under a committee structure, the main ones being the:
• Full Governing Board – it meets four times a year (occasionally five dependent upon the timing of the budget)
• Curriculum Committee – which covers all aspects around the delivery of the school curriculum and meets every term.
• Resources Committee – which covers finance, premises and HR and also meets termly.

There are a number of other committees which meet to discuss areas of responsibility such as Data, Pay and Conditions and Safeguarding.

Our role is strategic and whilst we work to support the headteacher and the success of the school, we do not run the school on a day-to-day basis – this is done by our headteacher, Elizabeth Crow.

To contact the Chair of Governors please email, write or telephone via the school office.

 


Chair

Jane Tillotson

Vice-Chair of Governors

Susannah Mercer

Resources Chair

Susannah Mercer

Curriculum Chair

Janet Dyson

Headteacher

Elizabeth Crow

Staff Governor

Emma White

Co-opted Governors

Christopher Barr

Julia Collins

Janet Dyson

Geoff Gardner

Johanna Goldsmith

Julie Lowe

Susannah Mercer

Sheree Reilly

Jane Tillotson

Christian Young

Local Authority Governor

Sonia Strickland

Parent Governors

Sheree Reilly

Associate Governor – Health and Safety

Darren Hockley

Clerk

Debbie Rogers

Previous Governing Body Members who have served in the past 12 months

Natalie Pitt – Stepped down October 2022

Vivien Tattersall- Stepped down April 2022

IMPORTANT GOVERNOR DOCUMENTATION

Governor Code of Conduct 2021/2022 v1.1

Great Bardfield Primary Sealed Instrument of Government

Governor Details – Terms, Responsibilities & Business Interests 2021/ 2022 (1)

Governor Meeting Attendance 2020/2021


We encourage all parents to use the Ofsted ‘Parent View’ link https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk to express your views on our school? Your feedback is essential for continued improvement. Every September the previous year’s comments are erased for the new academic year. So, if you have not used the service since September 2021, please take a minute to do so and give your valued feedback on our school, it is much appreciated. The more submissions the better and do note that BOTH parents can submit their views (from separate e-mail addresses). Thank you.


Meet the Governors


Jane Tillotson

jtResponsibilities: Chair, Leprechaun Class Governor, Strategic Planning, Governor Handbook, Governor Calendar, HT Peformance Management Review.

Service started: June 2010

Service ends: July 2023

Message to Parents: Having previously been a parent governor, while my two children went through the School, I am now a co-opted governor. I live in Great Bardfield and truly believe we are very privileged to have a school, at the heart of our community, offering a good education. The school likewise ensures that every child is encouraged to develop in to a respectful, responsible and resourceful individual.

My wish is to encourage all our parents and carers to focus on how much their children can gain from providing the school with their support, a positive attitude and mutual respect.

Susannah Mercer

Responsibilities: Vice-Chair, Dragon Class Governor, Maths Link Governor

Service started: September 2018

Service ends: September 2026

Message to Parents:

I am very pleased to be a co-opted governor for Great Bardfield Primay School.  My three sons attended the school between 2002 and 2010 and I believe we are very lucky to have such great primary education at the centre of our community.  I look forward to helping to ensure that all the children at the school reach their full potential with a happy and nurturing environment.

Christopher Barr

Responsibilities: Finance Governor

Service started: May 2019

Service ends: May 2023

Message to Parents: Chris Barr was appointed Financial Governor in Spring 2019. He is a partner of Morrel, Heard and Barr having previously worked at a number of investment banks for 30 years, specialising in Asian Equities. Before that, he held a graduate position in the petroleum industry for 3 years.

Chris lives locally, is married with three adult children and runs his smallholding. He and his wife Sophie have recently launched a Christmas tree and decoration business and a wedding venue at their home, just outside Steeple Bumpstead.

Julia Collins

Responsibilities:  Unicorn Class Governor and EYFS Link

Service started:  September 2021

Service ends: September 2025

Message to Parents: I am an accountant and have lived in Great Bardfield for 18 years.  I worked in the education sector in the latter part of my career and have been a governor in a secondary school and a university.  The school is incredibly impressive, and I am delighted to be part of this vital part of the community of our village.

Elizabeth Crow

Responsibilities: Headteacher,  Chair of Data Committee

Service started: September 2022

Nature of interest: Employed by school

Job: Headteacher

Message to Parents:

My role, as part of the Governing Body, is to meet with the Safeguarding Governor to discuss any safeguarding concerns, report to the different committees that link into the Full Governing Body and welcome all Governors into the school as supportive and critical friends. I believe that the collaborative partnership between the Headteacher and the Governing Body is intrinsic to moving the school forwards to provide the best care and opportunities for our children. Our dedicated governors help to cement our links within the community and put our school at the heart of the village. Together we will help your child to reach their full potential, embracing all that is special and unique to them.

Emma White

                                                                             

Responsibilities: Deputy Headteacher, Year 6 Class Teacher, Deputy Safeguarding Lead

Nature of interest: Employed by school

Job: Deputy Headteacher, English Leader, History Leader

Message to Parents:

I joined Great Bardfield Primary School in 2015 as a trainee teacher and loved it so much that I’ve stayed. I currently teach Phoenix (year 6 class) and I have also taught year 3 and 4. Although year 6 is a busy year, I really enjoy the challenge and the conversations with my class. My personal interests are reading and history and I love sharing this with my children.  I became the staff governor in 2020 and I really enjoy being part of the school community and the governing body.

Julie Lowe

Responsibilities:  Inclusion, Special Educational Needs, Pupil Premium

Service started: June 2019

Service ends: May 2023

Job:  Lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy

Message to Parents: My involvement with Great Bardfield Primary School began many years ago when all four of my children had a wonderful primary education here. I became a parent governor when my youngest child was in the school, and have for many years been the governor with responsibility for monitoring the school’s special educational needs provision.

Over the years I have seen the school manage many structural and procedural changes and challenges without ever losing sight of the core responsibility to educate our children in the fullest sense: to be thoughtful, enquiring, responsible and caring.

We are very lucky to have a new dynamic head teacher who has already demonstrated an extraordinary level of commitment to maintaining this caring perspective alongside an explicit determination to work with her staff to raise standards of attainment across the school.

Janet Dyson

jdResponsibilities: Chair of Curriculum, Equality and Diversity/Race Equality, HT Performance Management Review

Service started: June 2019

Service ends: June 2023

Message to Parents: I have been connected with the school for 40 years as a teacher, parent of three children and as a governor. I enjoy being a governor and believe that we have a major role in ensuring that the school provides the best education for our children. I have a particular interest in links with the community and feel that we are fortunate to have such a successful primary school at the heart of this lively village.

Geoff Gardner

Responsibilities:  Building Project Link

Service started: September 2020

Service ends: September 2024

Message to Parents:I live in the village and I’m grandad (and my wife is grandma) to two boys, and soon a girl, who are pupils at Great Bardfield School. I am a planning consultant and was Head of Planning at Essex CC.  Having spent many years in Local Government I hope I bring some relevant skills to the Governing Body. My objective is to support the Head and the team in any way I can, who are doing a fantastic job running a very good school.  I see the school as the centre of this community (and the Coop – obviously!).’

Darren Hockley

Responsibilities: Associate Governor with Health and Safety and Premises Link

Service started: September 2021

Service ends: August 2022

Sonia Strickland

Responsibilities: Local Authority Governor, Science and Computing Link Governor

Service started: September 2022

Service ends: August 2026

Message to Parents:

I have recently retired following a long career in education and I am keen to offer voluntary support to a school near to where I live. The local authority put me in touch with your governors and after meeting with them and senior leaders at the school, I was delighted to be asked to join the board from September 2022. As a teacher, SENCo and headteacher I have been a passionate advocate of the value of successful, small schools in thriving rural communities. I hope that the knowledge and skills I have acquired over the years can be shared and put to good use in your community. I look forward to being part of your community, building on your recent successes and supporting the new headteacher and her team.

Christian Young

Responsibilities:  Safeguarding Governor

Service started: May 2019

Service ends: May 2023

Message to Parents: I am a solicitor who works in Cambridge. I am married and have two children who have now left home. I know the school as my wife’s sister lives in the village. I love the role of a governor and the ability to help the school and its pupils.

Jo Goldsmith

Responsibilities:  Class Governor Leprechaun Class

Service started: September 2021

Service ends: September 2025

Message to Parents:

I currently work part time as a Humanities teacher in a local secondary school. My specialist subject is Geography. I have worked in a variety of schools in my career so far, a boys school, a girls school and 2 mixed schools. I worked my way up to Head of Humanities and did this job for a few years until I had my first child. I now have three young children and I work part time. I have extensive experience of organising and leading school trips, from day trips to residential trips abroad.

Before teaching I used to work abroad, in France, for a holiday company. I was a resort manager, managing their operations and their staff in a few different French ski resorts. I love sports, particularly skiing and cycling.

I recently moved to Great Bardfield (from Stansted) so I am new to the community. I am very pleased to be a Governor at Great Bardfield Primary School.

Responsibilities: Phoenix Class Governor, English Link Governor

Service started: November 2020

Service ends: November 2024

Message to Parents: I feel very honoured to be a co-opted Governor at Great Bardfield and it is a great school to be a part of. Since becoming a Governor, I have been enthused with the commitment of parents, teachers and Governors to providing the best education possible for our treasured pupils. The pupils leave Great Bardfield with a broadened knowledge of the world around them and with a mature, responsible attitude; eager to build on their knowledge at secondary.

 I have an educational background and I am an Assistant Headteacher in an East-London Secondary school, with a Masters degree in Education. I find it absolutely fascinating to Govern at the primary stage and as someone who used to be a Head of Year 7, in charge of Transition, I have a particular interest in the transition phase from primary school to secondary school and I work collaboratively with the school to offer my expertise and experience.
As an English and Drama teacher I am passionate about literacy and ensuring that The Arts is given the importance it needs in the curriculum. I believe that learning should be challenging, fun and made relevant to the world in which our young people are entering.
Teachers are charged with working alongside parents and carers to raise the next generation – a position that carries both privilege and responsibility, in equal measure. I think that Great Bardfield Primary School is doing a fantastic job and I see it as my role to help to ensure that such a professional and positive approach is maintained and adapted where necessary. The school is central to the vibrant community of Bardfield and I feel that the ‘magic potion’ for a successful school is a community ethos.