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Woodlands Primary School

Woodlands Primary School

Learn, explore and
grow together

Governors

Welcome to the section of the website where you can find out more about the school’s   governors, and the work that we do.

Our main role is to support the Headteacher and the staff – the phrase often used to describe this role is ‘a critical friend’. We help them to set and reach targets and to strive for excellence across the whole spectrum of school life. The key document used for this is the School Development Plan (SDP)

Our legal duties include:-

  • setting strategic direction, policies and objectives
  • approving the school budget
  • reviewing progress against the school's budget and objectives
  • appointing, challenging and supporting the Headteacher.

The Governing body invites parental contribution at any time.  However, in particular, the governing body carries out a parental survey once a year to obtain feedback.  In addition parent forums are held on a regular basis to obtain parental input for specific areas (for example behaviour).  

Woodlands Primary School Current Governing Body

Name Type of Governor
Lark Snow (Chair) Parent
Ripu Bains (Vice Chair) Co-opted
Laura Bekker Co-opted
Graham Blair Co-opted
Trevor Brittain Clerk to Governors
Kerry Barham Smith Co-opted
Michael Barnes Co-opted
Karen Corbett Staff
Kim Groves Co-opted
Mel Jones Co-opted
Vicki Lonie Headteacher
Caroline Pearce Co-opted
Joe Plant Co-opted
Gareth Williams Co-opted
Steph Williams Co-opted

Formation of the Governing Body

The governing body uses the circle method of governance.  It meets 6 times a year and the use of committees is limited to 3. 

The committees and their remit are reviewed each year in September.  All other content and decisions are made by the full governing body as detailed in the Woodlands Primary School governing body handbook.  This is reviewed every year.

Finance Committee

Members:  Gareth Williams, Claire Gillick (School Business Manager), Vicki Lonie.  

  • Oversees the financial performance of the school
  • Monitors the setting of the 3 year plan and budgeting to that plan.
  • Reports the monitoring to the full governing body.

Headteacher’s Performance Committee

Members: Caroline Pearce (Chair), Steph Williams

  • To meet annually with the Headteacher and external advisor to review the  Headteacher’s performance.
  • To set the Headteacher’s targets for the forthcoming year
  • To make recommendations to the pay committee about pay progression
  • To monitor the performance of the Headteacher of the year.

Pay Committee

Members: Gareth Williams (chair)

  • To undertake an annual pay review for members of the leadership team
  • To consider fully all recommendations for pay progression
  • To ensure the performance management process is carried out according to policy
  • To review the pay recommendations for the Headteacher salary progression.