Our Governing Board

What is it?

All schools in England have a governing board which is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions of the school. A key role is to act as a ‘critical friend’: to support, to challenge, to ask questions, ultimately to represent the school community.

The governing board works in close partnership with the head teacher, staff and the local authority. Whilst the head teacher is, of course, responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are involved with such things as staffing, curriculum, school buildings and finance. It ensures the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives.

Who are we?

The governing board is elected to reconstitute under the following act provided by the Gov.co.uk:

  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/constitution-of-governing-bodies-of-maintained-schools

The governing board now consists of:

• The Head Teacher
• One elected staff governor
• One appointed local authority governor
•  Four elected parent governors
• Five appointed co-opted governors

Quorum - 50% FGM

3 committee members for TLC

3 committee members for RMC

Vacancies:

We currently have 2 vacancies for Parent Governors - please speak to the school office if you are interested in these posts. 

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The standard term of office for a governor is four years. The chair and vice-chair are elected every two years at the first full governing board meeting of that academic year.

The chair of governors is Mr Simon Taylor, who can be contacted via the school office by phone: 01773 832518 or email: [email protected] 

or [email protected]

Much of the work of the governing board is done by committees. At Westhouses Primary we have the following committees:

• Resources and Management
• Teaching and Learning

Also:

• Staffing and selection panels which are set up as and when required
• Pay and progress committee 

All minutes from full governor meetings and committee meetings (unless confidential) are available upon request. Please email [email protected] or phone school on 01773832518 to request a copy. 

Simon Taylor

Appointed Chair of Governors and LA Governor until 30.01.28

Co-opted Governor

Member of the Resource Management Committee and the Teaching & Learning Committee

Governor responsible for Safeguarding, Science, Looked after children and Pupil Premium.

I have lived in Westhouses for over 15 years and currently I work for Derbyshire County Council’s Children’s Services. I deliver training to care staff and schools across Derbyshire on a range of safeguarding and social care approaches. This gives me ideal experience for supporting the head and the school on these important issues.

My work experience has included residential care, roles supporting community and economic development, running a support programme for a national charity helping care providers and now delivering children services training. I also volunteer as a director of a social enterprise community farm in north Derbyshire which works to support people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, those returning from prison and those with a range of learning and life support needs.

I believe strongly that any school needs to ensure children feel safe and emotionally supported as a foundation for the best learning and growth, I hope to be able to support the governors, the staff and students to ensure the school is a great place to live and learn.

[email protected]

Steph Coley                                                                                                                          

Vice Chair of the Governing Body - elected 13.07.2022

Appointed Co-opted Governor until 13.07.2026

Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee

Governor Responsibility for Head Teacher's Performance Management Review, The Arts and Early Years. 

I became a parent governor in 2014 as I was keen to get actively involved in the school that my son, Sawyer attended.  He has since moved on to secondary school but I have stayed an active member of the Westhouses governing body. I am a professional artist and arts tutor and my work over the years has taken me into many schools across the country; many good ones, and some not so! Early years education is vital to children and I will endeavour to make sure Westhouses Primary continues to be such a welcoming and successful school.

[email protected]

Katie Briggs 

Staff Governor - elected 23.09.2024

Appointed Staff Governor until 23.09.2027

I have worked at Westhouses Primary for 6 years as a teacher across Key Stage 2. I am currently responsible for leading Maths, Science and Computing across the school. I am passionate about ensuring that the children at Westhouses Primary believe they can achieve anything they set their mind too. As a staff governor, I am able to provide feedback and suggestions on what is working well for the children and what we can move forward with as a school.

David Ramsay

Elected Parent Governor - elected 23.04.2024

Appointed Parent Governor until  23.04.2028

Member of the Full Governing Board 

Governor responsible for SEND

I was really happy to become a parent governor at the school, especially as I have two children that attend and a third who will start in September 2021! I am also a co-opted governor at a local nursery school, and feel passionately about all young children getting the best start possible.  I am a Continuous Improvement Manager for a national retailer, and will do all I can to bring my strengths from my day job to help and support the school continue to grow.

[email protected]

Tracy Coley

Appointed Co-Opted Governor - elected 10.02.2021

Appointed Co-opted Governor until 09.02.2028

Member of the Resource Management Committee 

Governor responsible for Foreign Languages and Mental Wellbeing.

I was co-opted onto the Governing Board of Westhouses Primary School in 2021, after being the Clerk to Governors for a number of years previously.  I am the Governor responsible for Foreign Languages and Humanities and am also a member of the Resource Management Committee.  I have a long standing relationship with the School, as my son spent a very happy time there from Reception until he left in 2017, during which time I was a member of the Friends of Westhouses.  I am passionate about outcomes for children and young people and am delighted to be a member of the Westhouses family.  

[email protected]

Pam Stocks                                                                                                                        

Co-opted Governor - elected 08.12.2020

Appointed Co-opted Governor until 07.12.2027

Member of the Resource Management Committee 

Governor responsible for P.E and D.T.

I came to live in Westhouses over 25 years ago and became actively involved in the Primary school when my daughter was registered there in her Reception year. It wasn't long before I joined the PTA which started out attending one meeting and then donating cakes for a fundraiser and then I found myself 6 years later still taking part. During this time, I had plenty of opportunity to get involved in school activities and learn about the day-to-day work that the children would be involved in.  It was great to be part of organising events and fundraisers that helped give something back to the school and the children, so when I was approached to be a Governor, I was really happy to accept.

As well as working full time, I also volunteer as an Assistant Leader at a local Cub/Scout Group and I am on the board of a local Community Association in Westhouses who organise fundraisers and events throughout the year and this gives me an insight and an opportunity to work with children and family groups first-hand.

[email protected]

Elizabeth Dare                                                                                                                       

Parent Governor - elected 13.11.2020

Appointed Parent Governor until 12.11.2027

Member of the Teaching & Learning Committee and the Resource Management Committee 

Governor responsible for Anti-bullying and Performance management. 

My son attends Westhouses Primary School and I really wanted to be as involved in the school and his learning as much as possible . I enjoy sharing my opinion and skills with the board. I love helping make the right calls for all the children who attend our school, as I believe that the environment in which our children learn is so important. I am currently governor for Anti-bullying, this is something I feel passionately about. I am also governor for performance management, which means I get to understand and support the schools performance. I currently sit on both the Learning and resources and the financial committee.

[email protected]

Kate Taylor                                                                                                                     

Elected Co-opted Governor - elected 22.04.2021

Appointed Co-opted Governor until 21.04.2028

Member of the Teaching & Learning Committee

Governor responsible for English. 

I became a governor in 2021, after getting to know the school as a parent.  My two boys spent a short, but very happy and successful time here, for which I am very grateful, before moving on to secondary school.  From the first day we visited as a family, we were made to feel welcome.

I live in Tibshelf and work for Nottinghamshire County Council, as a teacher and senior leader in a large primary school.  I am passionate about teaching reading, and strongly believe in ‘no child left behind’.  I am keen to work alongside the school in their exciting vision and genuine values.

[email protected]

Elizabeth Terry

Appointed Parent Governor- elected 12.11.2021

Appointed Parent Governor until 12.11.2025

Member of the Teaching & Learning Committee

Governor responsible for Attendance and P.S.H.E 

I moved to Derbyshire in 2011 and now have a young family here. I am so happy that my daughter enrolled at Westhouses School and feel that being a parent governor will allow me to share the experience of school life with her!

Despite being new to the school, I already feel very invested and want every child to be happy and succeed here. I would love to help maintain the school’s successes and achievements, as well as assist in making changes where needed.

I have previously supported adults with drug and alcohol dependencies, assisting them and their families through the criminal justice system and beyond. I have also supported children within a residential care setting, dealing with trauma, abuse and mental health concerns. 

For the last 8 years I have been a frontline Police officer and have recently started a new role managing risk within a domestic abuse setting.

I have a passion for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and feel I can utilise my experiences and life skills in the role as parent governor.

[email protected]

Alexandra Wood 

Appointed Co-opted Governor- elected 16.02.2023

Appointed Co-opted Governor until 16.02.2027

Member of the Resource Management Committee

Governor responsible for Humanities.

I have lived in Derbyshire my entire life. I am passionate about the local community and ensuring our next generation are provided with as many opportunities as possible.

I have worked as a lawyer for almost 6 years and currently work at Nelsons solicitors.

My role as a Solicitor means I must always act with honesty and integrity. I must keep client matters confidential and always work in the best interests of my client.

As a Family Law Solicitor, I deal with separated families and disputes relating to financial matters and children matters. I assess risk on a daily basis, particularly concerning children and consider my knowledge of safeguarding children will assist me in my role as governor. I also look at the impact on children where families have separated, which is unfortunately becoming more common. I hope this will help me empathise with children who may be found in a similar situation at Westhouses.

In my spare time I enjoy visiting stately homes and country walks, which I enjoy as a member of the National Trust. I also enjoy swimming at my local gym.  

I am excited to take on this role and become part of the “Westhouses family.”

[email protected]

Clerk to Governors - Amy Flint 

Message from the Chair of Governors

On behalf of the Board of Governors, I welcome this opportunity to briefly introduce you to the work the Governing Body undertakes to ensure that your child/children will receive a sound primary school education.

The Governing Body has a range of powers and duties laid down by various Education Acts. In the main, these responsibilities relate to:

• Setting targets and promoting high standards of educational achievement
• Setting the strategic framework within which the school operates
• Management of the school’s delegated budget
• Ensuring that the curriculum for the school is balanced and broadly based

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Governors discharge the above responsibilities, together with many others, through a Governing Body meeting each term. These formal meetings are supplemented by a series of informal sub-committee meetings dealing with more specific issues. A number of governors also have responsibilities for specific issues within the school such as literacy, numeracy and SEN.

Governors adopt, review and monitor a range of policies that govern the operation of the school including Health and Safety, Behaviour, Curriculum and Performance Management.

At Westhouses Primary, staff, pupils, parents and governors work together to ensure that all our pupils have the opportunity to develop to their full potential.

The Governing Body is, therefore, rightly proud of the achievements of the school, not only in terms academic results, but also in the solid foundations it provides in preparing all our pupils for the remainder of their formative education.

GOVERNING BODY - DECLARATION OF BUSINESS INTERESTS

At the start of every academic year, each Governor is asked to declare any business interests they may have, including any relationships with members of school staff.

At the start of each Full Governing Body or Committee Meeting throughout the academic year, Governors are asked if there are any changes to their initial declarations.

GOVERNOR INFORMATION

GOVERNING BODY RECORD OF ATTENDANCE FOR THE 2023/2024 ACADEMIC YEAR

GOVERNING BODY RECORD OF ATTENDANCE FOR THE 2022/2023 ACADEMIC YEAR