Governors
Welcome to the Polehampton Local Governing Board page of our website!
The Polehampton Local Governing Board works across both Polehampton CE Infant School and Polehampton CE Junior School. Governors are responsible to The Keys Academy Trust (“TKAT”) for monitoring and evaluating the performance and effectiveness of our school, working closely with the Heads of School and staff, as well as the CEO and Trustees of TKAT.
Governors act as a critical friend, with the following core functions:
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To ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction for the school;
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To hold leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils and the performance management of staff;
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To oversee the financial management of the school; and
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To maintain ultimate responsibility for safeguarding: are children safe – and do they feel safe?
Our Christian Vision:
In all of their work with the school, TKAT and the wider local community, the Local Governing Board aims to promote and protect the schools’ Christian vision –to “Let your light shine” – with this vision sitting as a foundation stone under our curriculum vision and our school values.
Governors recognise that we are all special in God’s eyes and have unique talents, which must be nurtured so that each of us has the opportunity to become the very best person that God intended us to be. Through faith and conviction, the Local Governing Board wants to encourage all of our children - and staff and governors! - to aspire and to let their light shine; to make a difference and be proud of this; and to value and respect the light of others.
We want every one of our school community to shine a light and make a difference in their classrooms, throughout the school and when they return home and into their community.
Governance Structure:
Governors are appointed by TKAT (with the exception of parent and staff governors, who are elected by parents and staff respectively). Governors are all volunteers, bringing with them a broad range of skills. Work is undertaken through participation in twice-termly Local Governing Board meetings, together with regular visits to the schools and conversations with School leadership - and participation in three delegated committees:
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Quality of Education Committee
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Finance and Human Resources Committee
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School and Community Committee
Governors are not involved in the day-to-day working of the school but work more strategically. The day-to-day running of the school – and responsibility for the implementation of the schools’ strategic vision – sits with the Heads of School and the School Leadership Team.
For information about governance in The Keys Academy Trust, please see here
Getting in touch:
It is our aim as a Local Governing Board to be as open and as approachable as possible, therefore we are keen to hear from you if you have any questions relating to the school from a strategic perspective. Please continue to speak with your class teacher and the Heads of School for all other matters relating to your child – as they will be best-placed to assist.
To reach governors, please drop an email to governors@polehampton-inf.wokingham.sch.uk or leave a message at either schools’ reception with your question and we will come back to you.
Governor details:
Please find below various useful information regarding the current Local Governing Board:
Committee Membership:
Type |
Name |
Committee |
Area of Responsibility |
---|---|---|---|
Trust |
James Smith |
Chair of Local Governing Board Chair of Finance & HR Address: c/o Polehampton Infant School, Twyford, RG10 9HS |
GDPR Governor Development |
Trust |
Brian Rogers |
Member of School & Community |
Health and Safety
|
Trust | Louise Cockrell | Member of Finance and Human Resources | |
Staff - Infant |
Nicola Bradshaw |
Member of Quality of Education |
Foundation Stage Governor |
Parent - Junior |
Anna Lippett |
Vice Chair of Local Governing Board |
Listening and Wellbeing Governor |
Parent - Infant |
Sarah Tang |
Chair of Quality of Education |
Inclusion Governor (SEND and Pupil Premium) |
Executive Headteacher |
Philip Sherwood |
All committees |
|
Staff -Junior |
Cherry Gale |
Member of Quality of Education |
|
Foundation | Anna Stevens | Member of School & Community | |
Foundation | VACANCY | ||
Lisa Spooner |
n/a |
Clerk to the Governors |
Terms of Office:
Name |
Start Date |
End Date |
Term |
Appointed By |
---|---|---|---|---|
James Smith |
01/09/2020 |
31/08/2024 |
4 years |
Trust |
Brian Rogers |
14/07/2022 |
13/07/2026 |
4 years |
Trust |
Anna Stevens |
22/09/2022 |
21/09/2023 |
1 year |
Diocese/Trust |
Henry Carruthers |
01/09/2020 |
31/08/2023 |
3 years |
Trust |
Philip Sherwood |
01/07/2023 |
ongoing |
ongoing |
Staff |
Sarah Tang |
01/09/2022 |
31/08/2026 |
2 years |
Parents |
Anna Lippett |
01/09/2022 |
31/08/2026 |
2 years |
Parents |
Louise Cockrell | 06/12/2022 | 05/12/2026 | 4 years | Trust |
Cherry Gale |
16/06/2023 |
15/06/2027 |
4 years |
Staff |
Catherine Abell | 01.09.23 | 31.08.27 | 4 years | Trust |
Anna Stevens | 22.9.23 | 21.9.24 | 1 year | Foundation |
VACANCY | Diocese/Trust |
Governors’ prior academic year attendance:
Name |
Local Governing Board Meetings 2022/2023 |
Committee Attendance 2022/2023 |
---|---|---|
James Smith |
6/6 |
12/13 |
Helen Ball |
2/2 |
5/5 |
Nicola Bradshaw |
5/6 |
4/6 |
Brian Rogers |
3/6 |
2/3 |
Sarah Tang |
6/6 |
6/6 |
Anna Lippett |
6/6 |
8/8 |
Anna Stevens |
3/6 |
4/5 |
Phil Sherwood |
1/1 |
n/a |
Henry Carruthers |
6/6 |
6/7 |
Barbara Carr |
0/2 |
0/3 |
Louise Cockrell | 2/4 | 3/4 |
Cherry Gale | 1/1 | 1/1 |
Previous Governors:
The following governors left the Governing Body in the last twelve months:
Category |
Name | End date |
---|---|---|
Executive Headteacher | Helen Ball | 30.06.2023 |
Foundation | Barbara Carr | 16.12.2022 |
Trust |
Henry Carruthers |
31.8.23 |
Staff | Nicola Bradshaw | 31.8.23 |
Register of Other Interests as at September 2022 - Updated July 2023
Relevant interests:
Name |
Other Interests |
---|---|
James Smith |
Trustee of David George Trust |
Nicola Bradshaw |
Staff |
Brian Rogers |
Trustee of Twyford Snooker Club |
Anna Stevens |
Parent |
Helen Ball |
Staff, Trustee of David George Trust - left GB 30.06.23 |
Anna Lippett |
Parent |
Sarah Tang |
Parent, Employee of NFER |
Henry Carruthers |
Grandparent |
Barbara Carr |
Trustee of WI - left GB 16.12.22 |
Phil Sherwood |
Headteacher of Sonning CE Primary School |
Cherry Gale | Parent |