The School Governors
What is a governing body?
The Government requires that each school has a management team, a governing body. This team is made up of the various stakeholders that the school serves, parents, local authority, staff, community and dioceses. Governors are either elected or appointed, e.g. Parent Governors are elected from the parent body; the Local Authority (LA) appoints LA Governors, the governing body appoints Community Governors.
What does a governing body do?
The governing body works in partnership with the headteacher, staff, parents and the LA to raise standards of achievement in the school, led by the Chair of Governors. The main functions of the governing body are to:
· provide a Strategic view
· act as a Critical Friend
· ensure Accountability
The School Governance Constitiution know as the Insturment of Government sets out the size and composition of the governing body. The Insturment of Government (PDF)
Our school governing body:
Alison Elson - Chair full Governing Body
PCC Governor. Responsibility for curriculum and pupil welfare.
"I became a Governor in 2002 when my daughter was at the school. Being a teacher, parent and member of St Marys Church, I bring an understanding of the way in which there is a need for partnership working to ensure the best opportunities for all the children at Reigate Parish."
Susanne Rubie - Vice Chair full Governing Body
PCC governor with specific responsibility for curriculum and pupil welfare
"As a member of St Mary’s Church and a primary school teacher, with a particular interest in children with specific learning difficulties, I wanted to support the Parish Church School which was such a positive influence in my own children's education. I had been instrumental in starting The Parish School Playgroup 26 years ago."
Mike Coveney
LEA Governor with specific responsibility as Link Governor for training and development needs of the governing body. I also have subject responsibility for ICT and I am chair of the Curriculum and Pupil Welfare committee.
"I first became a parent governor when my eldest two children Alex and Christopher were at the Parish. I now have Elizabeth at the school and relish the opportunity to work with the entire school community to help make it the best environment for our children to learn."
Jeremy Good
SDBE. Chair of Resources Committee
"I was appointed a Diocesan Foundation Governor in October 2006. As a member of St Mary’s Church since 1995 and with two of my children having been through the school and my youngest daughter in Year 1, I was pleased to be asked to take on this role to help contribute to the school's success and maintain its strong Christian ethos. I initially served on the Curriculum & Pupil Welfare Committee with special responsibility for Maths. I have now been asked to put my commercial and professional skills to use as Chair of the Resources Committee who are responsible for maintaining the fabric and finances of the school. I am also involved with the PTA, jointly leading the team responsible for the fireworks display at the annual fireworks night fundraising event."
Stephen Golliker
Parent Governor serving on the Curriculum and Pupil Welfare Committee and liaising with the Generation Green programme.
"I was appointed a Parent Governor in September 2008 and I look forward to helping grow the excellent education facilities that the school provides. I will serve on the Curriculum & Pupil Welfare Committee supporting the Science curriculum. I will also act as the schools green contact for the Generation Green programme helping the school, pupils, parents, and the wide community become more environmentally aware. Our School profile can be found here: http://www.generationgreen.co.uk/Profile/?SchoolID=174404"
David Littlemore
Parent Governor serving on the Resources Committee
“I currently have two children at the Parish with another hopefully to follow and was delighted to be appointed as Parent Governor in October 2009. I look forward to bringing a parent’s perspective to the governing body and ensure that the school continues to strive for ways to move forward. As a civil engineering consultant I am also looking forward to using some of my skills to the Resources Committee.
Peter Bowen
SDBE, responsible for resources.
"I am a Diocesan foundation governor appointed by the Diocesan Board of Education. There are two Diocesan governor appointees. We have a "particular responsibility to secure that the character of the school as a Church of England school is preserved and developed in accordance with it's trust deed" I am on the Resources Committee and this is partly to use my work based skills of building surveying and health and safety, but also to be just another viewpoint in a broad and diverse group of governors so that decisions are viewed from all angles and fully considered. I have been a governor since November 2006."
Rev Phil Andrew
ex officio governor
"I have been a governor since moving to Reigate in the summer of 2006 to take up the post of vicar of St Mary’s Church (Reigate Parish Church). I see the church’s involvement in all aspects of the local community as central to our mission & purpose and am delighted to able to build upon the excellent relationship between the Parish School and St Mary’s. I love being involved in various aspects of school life including church services, assemblies and more generally as part of the governing body."
Frances Davis
Headteacher
I am a member of the governing body and attend all the sub-committee meetings as part of my role as headteacher. I have been a teacher for 15 years working in three other schools and I am passionate about giving all children every opportunity to succeed. I enjoy being the headteacher of Reigate Parish Church School because everyone cares about the well-being of the children and everyone does their best to see the children learn, develop and progress. I work with the governors in their statutory role of ensuring the school sets and reaches high standards of educational achievement for the children at Reigate Parish Church School.
Helen Kelsey
Deputy Head Teacher, responsible for curriculum and pupil welfare. I started teaching at Reigate Parish in 2004 and in September 2009 became Deputy Head. At the same time I was delighted to join the governing body as a Teacher Governor. As part of the governing body I bring a teacher’s perspective to any issues raised and hope to maintain a strong and effective partnership between the teaching staff and the governors for the good of our school.
Lorraine Danbury
Support Staff Governor with specific responsibility for literacy.
"I was appointed support staff governor in September 2006. I have undertaken numerous courses to enable me to understand the role and responsibility of literacy governor and help fulfill my duties. I wanted to gain insight and be appreciative of the demands placed upon a popular infant school and support this important aspect of the curriculum. My daughter Courtney has joined the school and I look forward to participating at RPCS as a parent."
Penny Lambert
PCC Governor
"I felt privileged to be asked to join the team as a Foundation governor. I think the ethos of the school and its connection to the church is extremely important. I was a peripatetic teacher of speech and drama in various schools over a long period, as well as running a large after-school ballet school for 30 years, so considered I had useful experience with young people."
Su Rogers
PCC Governor
"I was appointed as a PCC governor in September 2008. Having been a Parish School parent for the past five years (three children) and being a member of St Mary's Church, I am hoping to be able to give something back to the school. I am expecting to serve on the Resource committee, where I hope to be able to use my finance background."
Tom Lumsden
PCC Governor
"I currently have two children at the school and was delighted to be appointed PCC Governor in September 2008. I will serve on the Resources Committee, as well as being Treasurer to the Governors' Fund. I am looking forward to contributing to this truly great school."
Maureen Prestige
Clerk to the governors