Governors

What do governors do?

Governors are essential to the work of the school and are legally responsible for it.  They are not; however, involved in the day to day running of the school which is managed by the Senior Leadership Team.  This leaves governors free to focus on their core functions of:

  • ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
  • holding the Headteacher to account for the education performance of the school and its pupils and the management of staff
  • overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent

Governors act as a sounding board for issues being reviewed within the school and work with the senior leaders to raise standards of achievement.  They approve the school budget and appoint the Headteacher. They work as a team and make collective decisions, abiding by an agreed code of conduct. As you would expect they need to gain an understanding of the school and its overall performance in order to explain its decisions and actions.  This is done by attending regular meetings and carrying out school visits.  They also attend training in order to keep up to date with the requirements of the role.  More information about the role of governors can be found here. 

 

The Governing body at Carden Primary School

Constitution

The governing body reconstituted in March 2015 and the number of governors on their instrument of government is now set at 12. This twelve is made up of different categories of governors.  There are 7 Co-opted governors, 1 Headteacher staff governor, 1 staff governor, 1 Local Authority governor and 2 parent governors.  The term of office for each governor (other than Headteacher) is for four years, although being a voluntary position, governors may resign at any time.

The Structure of the Governing Body

The majority of the work of the governing body is delegated to committees and at Carden Primary there are three:

 The latest terms of reference showing the work covered by each committee may be viewed by clicking on the relevant committee. There are also two associate members, appointed by the governing body to assist them should a panel of governors be required to hear a case.

 

Meetings

The full governing body meet at least once a term as do each committee. The minutes from each meeting, showing who attended and what went on, will be posted in this section when they have been agreed at the next meeting. Just click on the date. Non-confidential agenda papers may also be available to view. Please refer enquiries to the Clerk of Governors via the school office.

Meetings 2018/19

Full Governing Body                                 8th October 2018      4th February 2019   20th May 2019 7.45am   16th July 2019 4pm

Development and Resources            28th November 2018    25th March 2019 8am   18th June 2019 8am

Curriculum Learning and Achievement  6th December 2018     19th March 2019 8am   9th July 2019 8am

Health Safety and Welfare                    17th October 2018    12th February 2019 8am   7th May 2019 8am

 

Meetings 2017/2018

 Full Governing Body:                             12th September 2017    12th December 2017    20th March 2018    18th July 2018 4pm

Development and Resources                   4th October 2017          16th January 2018 4pm     8th May 2018 4pm

Curriculum Learning and Achievement     31st October 2017       6th March 2018              11th July 2018  

Health Safety and Welfare                       7th November 2017       22nd February 2018 8 am    7th June 2018 8 am

 

Meetings 2016/2017

Full Governing Body:                                 8th September 2016     19th January 2017        26th June 2017 

                                                                   23rd  March 2017 (Confidential) attended by SB, JH, JN, HLH, PSD,PS

Curriculum Learning and Achievement    17th November 2016

Development and Resources                   15th November 2016       9th February17             4th May 2017

Health Safety and Welfare                           11th October 2016      28th February17             9th May 2017

 

Meetings 2015/2016

Full Governing Body                                       8th September 2015   10th December 2015    24th March 2016    7th July 2016

Curriculum Learning and Achievement         10th December 2015   17th March 2016             27th June 2016  

 Development and Resources                        16th November 2015   11th February 2016           5th May 2016

Health Safety and Welfare                             23rd November 2015    23rd February 2016         10th May 2016

 

Governors - current and in the last 12 months

 

Name   Category  Term of Office  Roles of Responsibility and Committee Membership 
Helen Longton-Howorth     Staff Headteacher   2.9.14 to -

• Headteacher
• Member all committees
Alistair McNair Co-opted 08.10.18 - 07.10.22

       To be allotted
Samuel Baker Co-opted   18.7.18 - 17.7.2022  To be allotted
Samantha Beal Co-opted 19.01.17-18.01.21  To be allotted
Co-opted Vacancy  
Hayley Mallipoudy Parent 12.3.18 -11.3.2022

      To be allotted
Jeff Nixon Local Authority

 

13.10.17 -12.10.21
  • Vice Chair of Governors 
  • Chair Curriculum Learning and Achievement Committee
  • Health Safety and Welfare Committee member
  • Development and Resources Committee member
Amanda Mortensen Co-opted 12.9.17 - 11.9.21
  •  Chair of Governors
Sophie Wadleigh Parent 20.3.18 - 19.3.22
  •  Chair Health Safety and Welfare Committee 
  • Curriculum Learning and Achievement Committee Member
Peter Sandeman.  Co-opted 20.3.18 - 19.3.22 • Development and Resources Committee Chair
Co-opted  vacancy

Natasha Sothcott Staff 12.1.18-11.1.22 To be allotted


Retirees or Stepped down in last year

  

 

 
Kevin Cunningham

Co-opted

  

10.12.15 - 22.5.18

 
John Hull

Co-opted 

 26.3.15 -20.8.18

 
Paul Smith

Co-opted 

 26.3.15 - 18.7.18

 
Daniel Holmes

 Co-opted

 10.12.15 - 18.7.18

 

   

How are governors appointed?

The majority of governors are now in the 'co-opted' category.  When vacancies arise, new governors can be appointed by the governing body as co-opted governors based on the skills they offer.  Co-opted governors can come from the general public and may include those eligible to stand for other categories, although there is a limit on the numbers that can be drawn from the staffing body.  At present the governors would be particularly interested in applicants who either self-identify with the BME community, have experience in the building industry or who might aspire to become a Chair of Governors.  Training is provided.   An application form is available here which should be completed along with a skills form here and returned to the Clerk to the Governors via the school office, or to the Chair of Governors amandamortensen@carden.brighton-hove.sch.uk  who would be happy to answer any queries.

The staff governor is elected from and by the staffing body.

Parent governors are elected from and by the parent/carer body.

The Local Authority governor is chosen then appointed by the governing body from candidates put forward by the Local Authority.

The Headteacher decides whether to take up the Headteacher staff governor position. Associate members are appointed by the governing body.

All governors and associate members need to meet certain eligibility criteria and confirm annually that these continue to be met.

Register of Interests

Governors and associate members declare any pecuniary or other interest, which includes membership of other governing bodies, at the time of application or appointment, annually and at each meeting.  Should the governing body consider there would be a conflict of interest that governor withdraws from that part of the meeting and does not vote on that item.  The register of interests is reviewed at least annually and  is published here. It includes the term of appointment for any associate members.