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 and have a daughter in the school and a son who has now moved 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 nearly 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)
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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.
Tim Shorten
I have lived in Redgrave since 2011, when I moved back to Suffolk after having grown up here. I have been a Foundation Governor since May 2016, joining shortly after the first of my two children started at St Botolph’s.
I work as a consultant in the field of international development, and I specialise in monitoring and evaluating aid projects, mainly in the health sector, in order to help assess their effectiveness and learn lessons about if and how they can be improved.
Alison Spouncer (Vice Chair)
I have two children of school age. Both are now at Hartismere having had a great start at St Botolph's, from Reception class through to their transition to high school.
I've enjoyed working voluntarily at the school for more than five years and during that time have assisted with every age group in the school. I also held the role of Joint Secretary of the Friends of St Botolph's Committee for a number of years while my children were at St Botolph's, organising fundraising events for the school.
I have worked in various environments including the civil service, charity sector, SMEs and large corporate organisations.
James Smith
I have two daughters, one at St Botolph's and the elder one now at Hartismere. I joined the governing body in 2014. I chair the premises committee and was part of the team who delivered the new school library in 2015.
I grew up in the local area and am a former pupil of Hartismere. Within the wider community I am active member of Harleston Magpies Hockey Club, as a player and coach and have overall responsibility for boys youth development at the club.
I am a property surveyor within the financial investment industy and am a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.
Euan Matthews
Picture and Bio to follow
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 |
|
Reverend Chris Norburn |
September 2012 |
Personnel |
Foundation |
See below |
46% |
|
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 |
Parent |
Nil |
100% |
|
Mr Gerry Gurhy |
September 2015 |
Curriculum Personnel |
Co-opted |
Nil |
92% |
|
Mr Tim Shorten |
May 2016 |
Premises SEND |
Foundation |
See Below |
82% |
| Mrs Emma Hills | July 19 | Premises | Parent | Nil | 100% |
| Mr Jonathan Moore | July 19 | Finance | Parent | Nil | 100% |
| Mr Euan Matthews | September 22 | Personnel | Parent | Nil | 100% |
We have one vacancies on the governing body for a foundation governor.
Declarations of pecuniary and/or business interests.
Revd Chris Norburn
Rickinghall in Need relief trust; Ex-officio Trustee. Redgrave Charities: Ex-officio Trustee. Fairstead Charity: Ex-officio Trustee. Bacon Exhibition Endowment Fund: Ex-officio Trustee.
Mr Tim Shorten
Stan Star Consulting LTD. Director.
- No other business interests have been declared by Governors during 2023/24.
- None of the other Governors have any financial interest in the school.
- None of the Governors have roles in other schools.