- 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:
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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:
- Health Safety and Welfare Committee
- Development and Resources Committee
- Curriculum Learning and Achievement Committee
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 2021/2022
Full Governing Body: 16th September 8.30am 2nd December 8.30am 24th March 5.00pm 7th July 5.00pm
Development and Resources 12th October 8.30am 9th February 8.30am 25th May 8.30am
Curriculum Learning and Achievement 11th November 8.30am 3rd March 8.30am 21th June 8.30am
Health Safety and Welfare 21st October 5.00pm 25th January 4.30pm 10th May 4.30pm
Meetings 2020 / 21
Full Governing Body 29th September 2020 December 10th 2020 11th March 2021 16th July 2021
Development & Resources 6th October 2020 11th February 2021 13th May 2021
Curriculum, Learning & Achievement 26th November 2020 24th March 2021 8th July 2021
Health, Safety & Welfare 3rd November 2020 (Cancelled) 26th January 2021 25th May 2021 (Cancelled)
Meetings 2019/20
Full Governing Body 24th September 2019 27th November 2019 7.45am 24th March 2020 31st March 2020
12 May 2020 (Confidential) 26 May 2020 9th June 2020 1st July 2020 15th July 2020
Development and Resources 13th November 2019 4.30pm 25th February 2020 4.30pm 5th May 8am (Cancelled)
Curriculum Learning and Achievement 11th December 2019 4pm 11th March 2020 8am 2nd July 2020 8am (Cancelled)
Heath Safety and Welfare 5th December 2019 4pm 22nd January 4.30pm 10th June 2020 4.30pm (Cancelled)
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 3rd July 2019 7.45am
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 - |
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Alistair McNair | Co-opted | 08.10.18 - 07.10.22 |
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Samuel Baker | Parent | 18.7.18 -17.7.2022 |
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Nigel McCutcheon | Co-opted |
24.9.19 - 23.9.2023 |
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Abigail Bathurst |
Staff | 15.7.21 - 14.7.2025 |
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Amanda Mortensen | LA |
10.12.20 - 9.12.24 |
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Carl Pittaway | Co-Opted | 10.12.20 - 9.12.24 |
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Meraud Davis | Co-opted | 16.7.19 - 15.7.23 |
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Nicola Claber |
Parent | 16.04.21 - 15.04.25 |
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Linda Newman | Co-Opted | 24.3.20 - 24.3.24 |
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Hayley Mallipoudy | Parent | 12.3.18 -11.3.2022 |
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Kamliya Stedman | Co-Opted | 27.11.19 - 16.09.21 | |
Natasha Sothcott |
Staff
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12.1.18 - 11.3.21 |
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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.