About the governors

Lavant C.E. Primary Governors

Welcome to the Governors' area of the website. Here you will find details of our governing body and any news related to their work at the school.

 
We are also currently developing a secure area within this page where the governors will be able to access / share information.

The Governing Board

 All governors are volunteers drawn from the local community with the aim of helping to support the School in providing the best possible education for its pupils.

Governing boards have three strategic objectives in support of the School's development and progress:

  • Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
  • Hold the head teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
  • Oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure its money is well spent

Governors fulfil these objectives in a number of ways, for example:

  • Help form the School's aims and policies;
  • Support the Headteacher and staff in carrying out those aims and policies;
  • Ensure the School teaches the National Curriculum;
  • Set, monitor and review the school budget;
  • Appoint and promote staff;
  • Promote the School ;
  • Act as a link with the local community.

You are very welcome to contact the Chair or clerk about any matter relating to governance of the School - please ask at the School Office in the first instance.

The full governing body meets once each half-term. Committees meet at least once each term.

Our Governing Board (term of office in brackets):

Foundation Governors - appointed by the Diocesan Board of Education

  • Incumbent of Parish Church - Rev Dr David Jarratt (ex-officio)
  • vacant (from September 2017)

Staff Governors - elected by the School staff

  • Mr Adrian King - Headteacher (ex-officio)
  • Mrs Joanna Yelland (two years ending October 2018)

Parent Governors - elected by parents/carers of children at the School

  • Mr Ben Smith (three years ending October 2019)
  • Mr Paul Freshwater (three years ending October 2018)
  • Mrs Claire Griffiths (three years ending October 2018)
  • Mrs Melanie Belderson (three years ending October 2019)

Local Authority Governor - appointed by the Local Authority

  • Miss Caroline Rickard (four years ending November 2019)

Co-opted Governors - appointed by the governors listed above

  • Mr Chris Hawker (four years ending September 2019) (Chair)
  • Mrs Ann Smith (four years ending October 2019) (Vice Chair)
  • Mrs Lorraine Foster (four years ending June 2021)

Clerk to the Governors

  • Mrs Carol Skeens
There are no associate members.

Governors' attendance record at FGB meetings during academic year 2016-17:

All six meetings: Adrian King, Ben Smith, Caroline Rickard, Joanna Yelland, Ann Smith, Chris Hawker, Cynthia Blades

Five meetings: Mel Belderson, Claire Griffiths, Paul Freshwater, David Jarratt

Where governors were unable to attend a meeting their apologies were received and accepted

Committees:

Premises/Health & Safety

  • Ben Smith (Chair)
  • Adrian King
  • Paul Freshwater
  • Chris Hawker
  • Margaret Whitlock (clerk)
Attendance record: all three meetings: Ben Smith, Adrian King, Paul Freshwater
One meeting: Chris Hawker (apologies received and accepted)

Teaching & Learning

  • Caroline Rickard (Chair)
  • Adrian King
  • Cynthia Blades
  • Ann Smith
  • Chris Hawker
  • Margaret Whitlock (clerk)
Attendance record: all three meetings: Caroline Rickard, Adrian King, Ann Smith, Chris Hawker, Cynthia Blades
 
Where governors were unable to attend a meeting their apologies were received and accepted

Staffing, Finance & Pay

  • Chris Hawker (Chair)
  • Adrian King
  • Ben Smith
  • Paul Freshwater
  • Margaret Whitlock (clerk)
Attendance record: all six meetings: Ben Smith, Chris Hawker, Paul Freshwater
Five meetings: Adrian King (apologies received and accepted)
Four meetings: Mel Belderson (apologies received and accepted)
 
Governors who stood down during the academic year 2016-17 are:
None (Cynthia Blades stood down September 2017 when her term of office expired)

Governors with a governance role in other educational institutions:

Rev Dr David Jarratt is a director of Bishop Luffa Academy Trust, Chichester.

Chris Hawker is a National Leader of Governance - he is a governor at Central CE Junior Academy, Chichester and at Rogate CE Primary School.