Governors
‘Governors understand the context of the school. They are well informed because the headteacher provides a wealth of information about the work of the school. Governors come into school to look at improvements first hand and feel fully involved in the life of the school. The governors are deployed to the different committees on the basis of their skills and knowledge. This ensures that leaders are supported and challenged effectively.’ Ofsted 2017
The everyday priorities of the school change from year to year but the long-term focus does not. The role of the governing body is to ensure that the school has high expectations, develops good relationships, challenges complacency and provides a practical policy framework within which the school can operate. They can try to do this through an annual cycle of work that gives structure to meetings and the work that they need to achieve.
Our Governors
Mrs Melanie Goodall (Headteacher)
Headteacher – Member of the Governing Board by virtue of her office and has no Term of Office
Membership of Committees:
Finance
Personnel and Curriculum
Premises
Pay Committee
Mr Stephen Paul Swatton (Chair of Governors)
Co-opted Governor – Appointed by the Governing Board
Term of Office – Appointed 01/09/2021 for 4 years to 31/08/2025
Membership of Committees:
Finance (Chair)
Headteacher Performance Management (Chair)
Premises (Chair)
Staff Dismissal Appeals (Discipline Appeals)
Selection Appeals
Mrs Tracey Wilde (Vice Chair of Governors)
Co-opted Governor – Appointed by the Governing Board
Term of Office – Appointed 01/09/2021 for 4 years to 31/08/2025
Membership of Committees:
Headteacher Performance Management
Personnel and Curriculum (Chair)
Selection
Staff Dismissal (Discipline)
Pay Committee
Mrs Deborah Verdiani
Co-opted Governor – Appointed by the Governing Board
Term of Office – Appointed 30/01/2024 for 4 years to 29/01/2028
Membership of Committees:
Finance
Mr Warren Webb
Co-opted Governor – Appointed by the Governing Board
Term of office – Appointed 30/01/2024 for 4 years to 29/01/2028
Membership of Committees:
Personnel and Curriculum
Pay Committee
Staff Dismissal (Discipline)
Mrs Clare Webb (wife) is employed at the school as a Teacher.
Jackie Colclough
Co-opted Governor – Appointed by the Governing Board
Term of Office – Appointed 15/2/2021 for 4 years to 15/2/2025
Membership of Committees:
Personnel and Curriculum
Employed at the School as a Teaching Assistant
Colleen Bradeley
Co-opted Governor – Appointed by the Governing Board
Term of Office – Appointed 02/05/2021 for 4 years to 01/05/2025
Laurence Gibson
Local Authority Governor – Appointed by the Governing Board
Term of Office – Appointed 18/10/2023 for 4 years to 17/10/2027
Membership of Committees:
Personnel and Curriculum
Pay Committee
Staff Dismissal (Discipline)
Alex Hire
Co-opted Governor – Appointed by the Governing Board
Term of Office – Appointed 26/05/2020 for 4 years to 25/05/2024
Membership of Committees:
Finance
Staff Dismissal (Discipline)
Paul Johnson
Co-opted Governor – Appointed by the Governing Board
Term of Office – Appointed 30/01/2024 for 4 years to 29/01/2028
Membership of Committees:
Personnel and Curriculum
Pay Committee
Shanice Harris
Parent Governor – Elected by the parents or anyone with responsibility of the school’s pupils
Term of Office – Appointed 11/11/2021 for 4 years to 10/11/2025
Laura Ames
Parent Governor – Elected by the parents or anyone with responsibility of the school’s pupils
Term of Office – Appointed 11/11/2021 for 4 years to 10/11/2025
Heather Evans
Co-opted Governor – Elected by the school staff
Term of Office – Appointed 11/03/2021 for 4 years to 10/03/2025
Membership of Committees:
Personnel and Curriculum
Finance
Employed at the School as a Teaching Assistant
Mr Ashley Ball
Parent Governor – Elected by the parents or anyone with responsibility of the school’s pupils
Term of Office – Appointed 23/05/2023 for 4 years to 22/05/2027
Mrs Katharine Melvin
Parent Governor – Elected by the parents or anyone with responsibility of the school’s pupils
Term of Office – Appointed 23/05/2023 for 4 years to 22/05/2027
Register of Governors Interests Sept 23.pdfRegister of Governors Interests
Notes
No Ravensmead Primary School Governor governs at any other educational establishment.
All relationships between Governors and School Staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives) have been declared under the name of the Governor.
There are committees that are only required in certain circumstances and therefore meetings are not held on a regular basis. Governors will be requested to be available to make up the required number of members required for the committee if and when there are meetings.
What is a link governor?
Although not a statutory requirement, most governing bodies have a link governor to act as a link between the school and local education authority (LEA) to advise their governing body of training opportunities available and on topical developments within governance.
As a model, the subject link governor, in support of the subject co-ordinator or head of subject, could undertake some or all of the following:
Become informed about relevant documents and legislation; OfSTED criteria for evaluating the subject provision; local and national issues impacting upon the subject.
Liaise with the subject co-ordinator or head of subject in order to become informed about staffing arrangements and training; the condition and availability of resources; curriculum and timetable arrangements; special needs provision; reference to the school development plan; assessment and recording procedures for the subject; which visits and visitors are planned.
Establish and maintain effective lines of communication between the subject co-ordinator and the governing body; report back to governing body meetings.
Help to keep parents informed via the school prospectus and newsletter.
Ravensmead Link Governor Responsibilities.pdfLink Governors
Committees
There are committees and working parties that can meet at different times. Some meet regularly and others only when the need arises (for example, matters of discipline).
Finance committee
To discuss and monitor the school budget and other financial issues.
Pupil discipline committee
To deal with matters of pupil discipline (exclusion) as and when necessary.
Staff dismissal committee
To deal with matters of staff discipline as and when necessary.
Staff dismissal appeals committee
To meet if the decision of the staff discipline committee is disputed.
Headteacher
To agree the targets for the headteacher to work at during the year.
Premises
To discuss and review the school premises and Health and Safety issues, making appropriate recommendations to the governing body.
Personnel and Curriculum Committee
To discuss and review the school curriculum and personnel topics, making appropriate recommendations to the governing body.
Terms of reference
Curriculum Committee Terms of ReferenceCurriculum Committee Terms of Reference
Child Protection Governor Terms of Reference Child Protection Governor Terms of Reference
Headteacher Performance Management Committee Terms of Reference Headteacher Performance Management Committee Terms of Reference
Looked After Children Governor Terms of Reference Looked After Children Governor Terms of Reference
Finance Committee Terms of Reference Finance Committee
Terms of Reference
Item 9a Personnel Committee Terms of Reference - Approved By The Full Governing Board 031023.pdfPersonnel Committee
Terms of Reference
Premises Committee Terms of ReferencePremises Committee
Terms of Reference
Governor Attendance at Full Board meetings 2022-2023
Attendance at Full Board meetings 2022.23.pdf