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The Governing Body

We are committed to finding skilled and diverse governors through an independent organisation, Governors For Schools. The quality mark below should be seen as an assurance  that the board values diverse governance and is doing all it can to make governance as robust as possible. 

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 ten times a year and meetings include all aspects of school governance.

Meet The Governors of Cheriton Primary School:

Name Governor Type Term From Term To Roles/Responsibilities
Mrs Elizabeth Brett Co-opted governor 26th January 2023 25th January 2027

Chair of Governors

Development and Training Governor

Safer Recruitment

Class 2 Link Governor

Revd. Christopher Durrant Co-opted governor 15th September 2021 14th September 2025 Wellbeing and Mental Health Governor
Ms Julie Ferguson Co-opted governor 7th March 2024 6th March 2024  
Mr Tom Legge Co-opted governor 7th September 2023 6th September 2027  
Mrs Caro O'Brien Parent governor 13th July 2023 13th July 2027

SEND and Inclusion Governor

More Able Children Governor

Wellbeing and Mental Health Governor

Class 4 Link Governor

Mrs Ruth Gent Staff governor 14th December 2023 13th December 2027  
Mr Nicholas Parmley Co-opted governor 30th September 2020 30th September 2024

Vice Chair

Finance Governor

Forum Representative

Mrs Nicola Pitts Co-opted governor 15th May 2023 14th May 2027  
Mrs Jennifer Reeves Parent governor 24th November 2022 23rd November 2026

Attendance Governor

Cyber Security Governor

Pupil Premium Governor

Safeguarding Governor

Safer Recruitment

Sustainability Governor

Class 3 Link Governor

Mrs Tamsin Sillars Interim Headteacher 15th April 2024    
Mrs Julia Wright Parent governor 7th March 2024 6th March 2028  
Mrs Rhona Hatchley Clerk to Governors 21st June 2022