"What we nurture today, 
flourishes tomorrow"

St Mary's C of E Primary School

Fownhope

The Governing Body

Allyson Taylor – Headteacher since 2003 and Governor. Previously Deputy Head in Hereford and classteacher in Withington and Bromsgrove. Allyson hails from Edinburgh and attended Oxford and Edinburgh Universities , then Worcester College .

Allyson says: ‘I am passionate about teaching and committed to making St. Mary’s school the best it can be. To build relationships with children, families and the community is central to my vision of nurturing each individual. 
 

Jaine Yule - Chairman of Governors. Elected Parent Governor in late 2006

Jaine says: ‘I have lived in Herefordshire since 1997 and have two sons.  My older boy is in Year 1 at St Mary’s and my younger son will start school in 2007.  I have been Chair of Fownhope Playgroup for the last year and a half but will be standing down at the end of this academic year.  My experience there will be useful to me as a governor - since school and playgroup liaise closely together and also with some of the same agencies such as OFSTED and the L.A.   I work part time as an IT trainer and create databases to client specifications.  Since 2005 I have also worked as a Clerk to Brockhampton Parish Council’.  

Ian Williams – Foundation Governor (having previously served as an elected Parent Governor for four years and Chairman for three years).

Ian says: ‘It is an honour to serve on the Governing Body. Both of my children attended the school, and – all too many years ago! – so did I.  I appreciate that the school is a vital part of the community. I will do my utmost to engage with and listen to the views of the people locally. I have experience in charity and business organizations and am a Visiting Fellow at Cass Business School.

Derek Colley – Associate Member, former Chair, served on the Governing Body for five years.

Derek says: ‘Having served for four years as Chair of Governors I have handed over the reins but will continue to support the school as an associate member.  It is for my technical and management experience that I have been asked to continue as an Associate Member in support of the governors and I am very pleased to do so.  

Jemima Bristow – Foundation Governor – served on the Governing Body since 1998.

Jemima says: ‘Having had 20 years experience working in Education, including as Deputy Principal (Pastoral) in a girls’ secondary school, I am pleased to be involved with our school.  I also bring other local experience being a Churchwarden, a member of the Deanery Synod and I additionally served on Hereford Health Authority (1993 – 2001).

Revd Will Pridie – Ex Officio Foundation Governor.

Will says: ‘I have served since my appointment as Rector in September 2000.  It is a pleasure to be involved in the school. I was previously Chair of Governors of my local C of E Primary School north of the county from 1996 – 2000. Before going into the ministry I was the Head Teacher of a large C of E Primary School for 13 years.

Caroline Watkins – Clerk to the Governors, Appointed September 2006

Caroline says: ‘I have worked for local education authorities since 1976.  I moved to Fownhope in 1998, having previously lived in Berkshire to 1996, and Ross-on-Wye.  I have clerked many types of school governing bodies for 30 years. I hope to be able to serve my local school and community to the best of my abilities’

Geri Jones - Foundation Governor and leader of the Communications and Environment Working Group.

Geri says: ‘With a 20 year career in communications in a number of different industries, I am well placed to advise on marketing, PR, and brand related issues. I currently work for St Michael’s Hospice handling all its communications and publicity and have established a good relationship with local media. My two sons attend the school and I have served on the PTA committee for three years, two of those as Chair’.

William Dereham - Foundation Governor, Vice Chairman of the Governing Body and Chairman of the Finance Committee.

Will says: ‘I run my own business as a marketing and IT consultant. Due to my skills in IT I have redesigned the school website. Most of my work is computer troubleshooting and website design. I am married to Sue and have two daughters both attending St Mary’s. Sue is currently secretary of the pre-school playgroup and treasurer of the PTA. Many years ago I actually attended both the playgroup and St Mary’s (as my parents live in Woolhope)! I went to college in London and worked there for ten years before returning to Herefordshire.'  
 

Georgina Children - A Foundation Governor and has been since her 3 children attended St. Mary’s School (approx. 37 years ago – Caroline knows exactly how long)!

 Gina says 'During that time I have undertaken the Chair/Vice Chair & Clerk’s positions & I am presently the Treasurer.  I am interested in all aspects of the curriculum but particularly Art & Music.  I have been actively involved in most of the staffing issues & appointments over all of this time. I have been a strong supporter of keeping our kitchen which provide hot meals daily to our children & believe it to be a very big asset. I currently undertake the Human Resources role in our family owned company in Hereford .

Chris Brotherwood - As a staff governor and Deputy Headteacher at the school

Sian Nunn - A Parent Governor elected November 2007

I currently have 3 boys at the school in Years 1, 4 and 6.  I also have a younger son who is due to start in 2009.  I have been involved in helping at the school for the last two years and on the PTA Committee.  I worked at a Child Development Centre as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist with a special interest in dyspraxia and dyslexia.  I am very interested in the development and progress of the school and am pleased to take a more formal role in this, as well as continuing to take part in day to day school activities.

Morrison Sellar - LEA link Governor since September 2009. Elected by the Governing Body as an associate in September 2008

I have been associated with Fownhope Pre-School Playgroup since 2002, as a trustee, my present role. I was very involved in the move of the Playgroup from the New Memorial Hall into the School. During that time two of my grandchildren have passed through the Playgroup, and are now in School. I have three children, and seven grandchildren. I am a retired Chartered Engineer, with over 50 years membership of the IEE. I have worked in the electronics industry for this time, and this has given me great pleasure; I still dabble in electronics. I was a governor at a local school in Cambridge, acting as chair of the GP committee, and working as a "Neighbourhood Engineer" to bring practical engineering into the classroom. I am involved in may other activities in Fownhope, and enjoy the great community spirit in the area.

Sarah Whittall - Foundation Governor since September 2009

The Governing Body's Statement of Legal Responsibilities At St. Mary's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Fownhope - Powers and Duties of The Governing Body  

 Parliament has given a range of duties to governing bodies in the Education Acts, and powers to enable them to carry these out. Broadly these are: 

• deciding the aims and policies of the school, and how the of education can be improved (the head will also have a role)
• deciding the conduct of the school - that is, how in general terms it should be run:
• helping to draw up ( with the head and staff ) the school development plan
• deciding (taking account of anything in the LMS scheme and any powers they may pass to the head) how to spend the school's budget.
• making sure (with the Headteacher) that the National Curriculum and religious education are taught.
• selecting the head and deputy head.
• choosing, promoting, supporting and discipline other staff often in consultation with the head:
• acting as a link between the local community and the school.
• drawing up the action plan after an inspection and monitoring how the plan is put into practice.
• There are ten places in this Governing Body. A list of the current personnel can be found overleaf. In a Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, the Governing Body are the EMPLOYERS and have legal responsibilities in the following areas:
• to hold Governors' meetings at least termly.
• to ensure the National Curriculum is being delivered and that there are assessment procedures in place which are being carried out.
• to have control over R.E.
• to report annually to parents on the school's SEN policy.
• to decide how to spend the delegated school budget
• to employ staff.
• to consult the LEA on an agreed Admissions policy.
• to be an equal opportunities employer.
• to adopt a general statement on discipline.
• to provide the LEA and parents with relevant information.
• to comment on inspection and to arrange for Section 23 inspection of R.E. to be carried out.
• to prepare and write a Health and Safety policy.
• to provide a statement on charging policy.
• to maintain the external fabric of the school.