Meet The Governors

Welcome to our governors' section.

Westhouses Primary School Governors at a glance.

WESTHOUSES PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

Our Governing Body

 

What is it?

All schools in England have a Governing Body 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 Body 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?

In October 2014 the governing body elected to reconstitute under the 2012 School Governance Regulations.

The governing body now consists of:

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

​

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 Body meeting of that academic year.

 

The chair of governors is Ms Louise Gregory, who can be contacted via the school office by phone: 01773 832518 or email: info@westhouses.derbyshire.sch.uk.

 

Much of the work of the governing body 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

 

The Governing Body of Westhouses Primary currently is:

 

Louise Gregory

Chair of the Governing Body - elected 1.2.2017

Appointed Co-Opted Governor until 25.6.2021

Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee

 

I was a parent governor for 4 years and was then appointed as Co-Opted Governor. My contact with school has been over 9 years, starting with my step children and then my two boys Toby and Christian.  I am a Special Educational Needs teacher at a local secondary. I predominantly work with children who have learning difficulties, teaching both literacy and numeracy and, as a result, have a wide knowledge of the support that is required to help children progress.  I have always found the school to have a strong, nurturing and supportive feel about it, enabling all children to progress and thrive as individuals, yet feel part of a family.  I wanted to be part of a team who will continue to ensure that Westhouses is a great place for our children to learn and develop those other skills that are vital in the world today.  In my spare time I still participate in a local netball team, cycle and enjoy walking with the boys, when I can get them away from their screens.

 

Steph Coley                                                                                                                   

Vice Chair of the Governing Body - elected 15.10.2018      

Elected Co-opted Governor until 14.10.2022

Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee

Governor Responsibility for Head Teacher's Performance Management Review/Arts /Early Years

I became a parent governor in 2014 as I was keen to get actively involved in the school that my son, Sawyer, has enjoyed attending since 2011. 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.

 

Kristy Russell

Elected Staff Governor until 29.06.2021

Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee and 

Resource Management Committee

Governor Responsibility for Diversity and Multi-Culturalism

I am the Class 1 teacher and part of the school’s SLT. I joined the school in June 2017, after teaching for a few years in a small school in Nottinghamshire. Since starting in my previous role, I had been a staff governor involved in making many important decisions for the school. I believe that the role of the school is to nurture the whole child. This is why I wanted to be on the governing body. I am dedicated to doing the best I can for all the pupils in the school. Before teacher training, I gained a degree in Psychology and Sport Science.

 

Pam Warren

Appointed LA Governor

Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee

Governor responsibility for English

 

Kath Salt

Appointed Co – Opted Governor until 15.10.2018

Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee

Governor responsibility for Safer Recruitment and SEN

I have lived in the village for over 30 years and I began working at Westhouses Primary School just over 25 years ago. In my position as HLTA I currently work with the foundation/KS1 class every morning and deliver intervention and booster programmes for the infant children in the afternoon.  In order to extend the active part I play in school I introduced an after school art/activity club which I run weekly to enable all the children to take part if they wish.  I am very committed to ensuring that our school is a place where children are safe and enjoy learning and continues to be the best in this area.

 

 

 

Steve Wilson

Elected Parent Governor until 27.11.20

Chair of the Resource Management Committee

Governor Responsibility for Computing/Building & Premises/ Headteacher's Performance Management Review

I became a Parent Governor in November 2016 and have two children at the school; Joshua and Olivia.  I feel that the school is very well led & managed by Mrs Whitby and her team, who are all truly dedicated to providing an excellent education to the children of the local community, whilst providing a safe and friendly environment for them to flourish.

I wanted to be a governor to support the school team and governors to ensure this excellent work continues. I run my own management consultancy business in the construction / housing sector, and have a MSc Masters Degree in Construction Management. I started my career as a plumber but, after developing arthritis in my knees in my early 20s, I re-trained and have worked in senior management in this sector for over 20 years now, in local authorities, housing organisations, and the private sector including being a Regional Director for a large Plc construction company, all of which has provided me with skills and experience that should be of good use to the school. I Chair the Resource Management Committee, overseeing the financial and business decisions for the school, in addition to the full governing body and have specific governor responsibility for the school building, facilities and IT. As with all school governors, I am committed to making a positive contribution to the school and the local community that we serve.

 

Vacancy

Elected Parent Governor x2

Co-opted Governor

 

Simon Taylor

Appointed Co-opted Governor until 30.1.22

Member of the Resource Management Committee

and the Teaching & Learning Committee

Governor responsible for Safeguarding

 

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

​

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