Governors
THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNORS
The governors of St Botolph's work together with the school to ensure that the school continues to develop to the highest standards in all aspects of school life. This includes ensuring that the appropriate policies are in place and adhered to, so that children are safe, nurtured and challenged to the best of their abilities. The governors also monitor teaching and learning to ensure that the curriculum is being developed and applied, each child has the opportunity to thrive in their learning and that staff are well managed and motivated. Responsibility for making the best use of budget, premises and other resources also sits with the governors, so that all children can experience a pleasant and well equipped environment in which to learn.
As governors of St. Botolph's we are members of the Hartismere Group and have opportunities to work and share experiences with colleagues in the pyramid group of primary schools, which are the feeder schools for Hartismere in Eye.
WHAT WE DO AS GOVERNORS
The governing body meet termly as a whole team to monitor progress against plans, discuss risks and opportunities for the school and to oversee the committees that run to monitor specific areas important to the proper management of the school. Each governor sits on at least one of these committees and therefore has responsibility for reviewing the relevant information available and questioning the effectiveness of the actions being taken to continually improve the management of the school.
At least once a year governors attend the Parent-Teacher Consultation Meeting enabling direct contact with parents of children attending the school and governors also spend time in school, following a year group of children from reception to year 6, in order to observe first hand the environment children at St. Botolph's experience.
Our most important objective as a governor however, is to ensure that all children at St. Botolph's have the opportunity to thrive and achieve to the best of their abilities, in line with the ethos of the school.
The governors welcome comments and observations from parents or the community of which the school is part. You are welcome to contact us, either directly or via the school office if you have something you would like to discuss or share.
Jonathan Moore
I have been a parent Governor since 2019 with both my children having attended the school before moving up to Hartismere. I am currently chair of the Finance Committee and sit on the Steering Committee.
I have lived in the local area for over 20 years having moved from my home town of Bury St Edmunds.
I am a Partner on a regional firm of chartered accountants specialising in corporate services.
Susan Wright (Chair)
I have lived in Wortham with my husband, daughters, granddaughter, dogs and bees since 2007 and joined St Botolph's governing body in 2012 as an LEA governor.
Up until recently I worked as a corporate accountant in the financial sector. The particular area of expertise that I bring to the governing body is my skill in data interpretation and change management.
Tony Hainsworth
I've lived in Hinderclay since the mid 80s. Having served in both the private and public sector, I'm retired now but worked in IT for around 40 years, my last position being manager of 'IT Development & Security' at West Suffolk Council. Shortly after moving to this part of Suffolk, I became a member of the last Governing Body of Rickinghall School and also chaired the PTA until that school merged with Redgrave to found St Botolph's. As my sons moved on, I became a Parent Governor at Thurston Community College. Until recently, I served on Hinderclay Parish Council for a number of years.
Gerry Gurhy
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I have lived in Botesdale since 2013. I am retired but worked in education for 37 years. My final post was deputy head in a large 11-18 comprehensive school in north Essex. My role involved teaching history, evaluating school performance and curriculum planning. I worked for nearly three years as an adviser on 14-19 education for Essex County Council. I was trained by Ofsted and was a team inspector on six secondary school inspections. My other community activities are the Heritage Circle and the Wortham and Burgate Twinning Association.
Alison Spouncer (Vice Chair)
Having had our two children enjoy a great start at St Botolph’s and now in further and higher education, I have enjoyed a number of years association with St Botolph’s. Wanting to ‘give something back’ I have enjoyed volunteering in various school years, was previously the Joint Secretary of the Friends Committee, Governor and now Vice-Chair of the Governing Body.
I sit on various committees and am the school link on the Botesdale Health Centre Patient Participation Group (PPG).
Having worked secretarially and administratively before our children in various organisations including SMEs, the Charity sector, a large Corporation, the Civil Service and now Local Authority, I have also recently gained an Early Childhood Studies degree and enjoy a role as an Early Years Educator part-time in a Suffolk Pre-School.
Vikki Vaughan-Williams
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I am a newly appointed parent Governor and currently have one child attending the school and the other due to start in the new school year. I am currently on the Premises Committee and will develop into other areas as I become more familiar with my duties.
I have lived in the local area for around 10 years having moved from Bury St Edmunds and prior to that I moved from my hometown after finishing university.
I am a Senior Paraplanner for a local regulated Independent Financial Advisory firm which specialises in Wealth Management.
James Smith
I have two daughters, both of whom were at St Botolphs when I joined the governing body in 2014. Time passes so quickly and now they are at West Suffolk College having completed their GCSEs at Hartismere. As a governor I chair the premises committee, utilising my skills as a chartered surveyor. Within this role I have been part of the team who delivered the new school library in 2015 and, over the last 24 months, our decarbonisation project – removing gas and oil heating systems from the school, installing PV panels to generate our own electricity, insulating our roof spaces and replacing the entire school’s electrical infrastructure. Future proofing the school for many generations of pupils to come.
Growing up locally it is a pleasure to be able to give back and support St Botolphs.
Outside of the school you will also find me at Harleston Magpies Hockey Club, as a player (just about), coach, umpire and chairman of our youth section overseeing the delivery of hockey for boys and girls in school years 1 and above along the Waveney Valley.
Euan Matthews
I have been a parent governor since 2022 and have a son at the school, with my daughter due to start in September 2024. We moved to the area in 2017 having previously lived in Oxford and London.
I currently work for a tech company, with specific responsibility for its AI development, which I joined after completing my MBA. Prior to this I worked for several large corporates and management consultancies in London, specialising in executive remuneration.
Governor Roles & Pecuniary Interests
The composition of the Governing Body at the time of publication is defined by the Department for Education and comprises:
Governing Body Membership - St Botolph’s CEVCP School
|
Name |
Office term (Start) |
Committee(s) |
Type of Governor |
Any registered pecuniary interests |
Attendance 2020-2023 |
|
Mr Anthony Hainsworth |
September 2011 |
Head teacher performance Safeguarding Personnel |
LA |
Nil |
92% |
|
Mr James Smith |
September 2014 |
Steering Premises |
Co-opted |
Nil |
87% |
|
Miss Charlotte Clements |
September 2011 |
Premises |
Staff |
Nil |
90% |
|
Mr Mark Cobbold |
September 2012 |
|
Head teacher |
Nil |
100% |
|
Mrs Nadine Hunt |
December 2018 |
|
Associate member (Deputy Head) |
Nil |
100% |
|
Mrs Susan Wright |
September 2014 |
Chair of Governors Finance Curriculum Steering |
Co-opted |
Nil |
100% |
|
Mrs Alison Spouncer |
February 2015 |
Curriculum Head teacher performance Finance Personnel Steering |
Parent |
Nil |
100% |
|
Mr Gerry Gurhy |
September 2015 |
Curriculum Personnel |
Co-opted |
Nil |
92% |
| Mr Jonathan Moore | July 19 | Finance | Parent | Nil | 100% |
| Mr Euan Matthews | September 22 | Personnel | Parent | Nil | 100% |
| Mrs Vikki Vaughan-Williams | January 24 | Premises | Parent | Nil | 100% |
We have one vacancies on the governing body for a foundation governor.
Declarations of pecuniary and/or business interests.
None- July 2024