Governors
Welcome to our Governors’ section.
Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.
Our Governing Body
Welcome from the Governors
Welcome to the Binfield CE Primary School(V.A) website, which I hope you will find both interesting and informative.
In 2004 Binfield CE Primary School (V.A) was granted voluntary aided status by the Oxford Diocese and whilst we remain a village school, this very much strengthens our links with the Church of England. The Governors set the Admissions Policy rather than the Local Education Authority and are also responsible for the employment of staff and the upkeep of the premises.
We have a constitution of 16 governors, and because we are a Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, the majority must be Foundation Governors appointed by the Diocese.
The main roles of the Governing Board are:
- Setting the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Governor’s monitor the effectiveness of the school vision and associated values by having these as an item on each agenda and are mindful of these during visits.
- Holding the headteacher to account by monitoring the school’s performance
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
The full Governing Body meets once in each half term. We also have two main sub-committees: 1) Teaching and Learning and 2) Resources.
The Teaching and Learning Committee is responsible for all curriculum-related matters. including academic success of pupils. Other responsibilities include children with special educational needs, behaviour, discipline and all aspects of keeping our pupils safe.
The Resources Committee works closely with the School Business Manager to set and monitor the main school budget as well as monitoring the operation of our catering and the After School Club. The committee is also responsible for staff recruitment, upkeep of the buildings and our Information Technology provision.
In short, the Governors act as a critical friend to the Headteacher and school, providing support whilst challenging outcomes to ensure the best possible education of our children.
How Governors are appointed
Foundation Governors are appointed by the Diocese, Staff Governors and Parent Governors are elected by a ballot of the communities they represent and LA (Local Authority) Governor by Bracknell Forest Council and Co-opted Governors are appointed by the Governing Board.
The Governing Board welcomes people from all backgrounds, this means whatever age, gender, ethnicity or religion can join us. We work hard to ensure that governor training needs are met and we encourage a diverse range of perspective to support robust decision making.
As always the governors regularly collect data on the diversity of the board, including data on age, gender and ethnicity.
As Governors, we are required to advise the following:
Business Interests
On 8th October 2024, all governors were asked to declare any business interests for either themselves or their family members. A copy of the signed declaration is retained by the Clerk to Governors. Alice Pizey’s husband works for a school software company, Andy Bryant's spouse, Mandy Bryant is the auditor of the school private funds and Jane Roylance is a member of staff at the King’s Academy school.
In addition, Governors confirmed that they are not related to, or are in a relationship with, any members of staff.
This information is to highlight any conflict of interest. If there were a conflict of interest at any point, the governor in question would remove themselves from the discussion. Governors will be requested at every meeting to declare any interests, and these will be minuted accordingly.
Governor Positions Held
On 8th October 2024, all governors confirmed they will adhere to the Code of Conduct and confirmed any additional governor positions held in any form of education setting. All governors at Binfield CofE Primary School only serve on one education governing body. A copy of the signed declaration is retained by the Clerk to Governors.
Collating this information is a part of the Government’s Prevent Strategy. Governors will be requested at every meeting to declare any changes to this information, and should Governors sit on more than one Governing Body this information shall be relayed to Bracknell Forest Council.
Attendance at Meetings
The FGB held five meetings and two attended five, four attended two, one attended three and all of the other members 100% of the meetings.
For the Resources Committee, six meetings were held and two attended three, three attended four and the other members attended 100% of the meetings.
For the Teaching and Learning Committee, five meetings were held and seven attended four, four attended two, and the rest attended 100% of meetings.
All absences were recorded and any apologies given were accepted by the Full Governing Body or relevant committee and minuted. A full copy of meeting attendance is retained by the Clerk to Governors.
Attendance at meetings will be recorded for the academic year 2023-24 and posted in September 2024.
Governors Equalities Statement for September 2024 to September 2025
Governors of Binfield CofE Primary School (V.A) will endeavour to monitor the attendance of all pupils linking to our Equalities Statement. Binfield CofE Primary School is committed to a whole school approach to attendance and punctuality. We place a high priority on attendance at school whilst remaining empathetic to individual family circumstances. We encourage parents to ensure that their child/children achieve the maximum possible attendance and that any difficulties that prevent this are identified and acted upon promptly.
Please look at the school website for both the Equalities Policy and previous equality statements and their impact and the Attendance Policy.
Governors Safeguarding Statement
The Governors of Binfield CofE Primary School (V.A) are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We ensure that the school has a number of policies and procedures in place that contribute to our safeguarding commitment, including our Safeguarding Policy, which can be viewed in the Policies section of our website. Additionally, we have a Designated Safeguarding Governor.
Sometimes the school needs to share information and work in partnership with other agencies when there are concerns about a child's welfare. Governors that support the school will ensure concerns about the pupils are discussed with his/her parents/carers unless they have reason to believe that such a move would be contrary to the child's welfare.
We actively support the Government's Prevent Agenda to counter radicalism and extremism.
As governors, our role is to challenge and support the school in its continued development and improvement, ensuring there is a focus on the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction.
The Governing Body carries out its role by setting the vision for the school and then ensuring that the school works efficiently and effectively towards achieving its vision. It does this by building a thorough knowledge of the school and its community, by both supporting and constructively challenging the school, and by ensuring accountability and compliance. Some of the things we do include:
- Meeting regularly to assess the way in which the school is developing and in particular, reviewing pupil progress and teaching standards
- Attending training to ensure that we are up to date on new standards and requirements.
- Having individual governors linked with particular year groups or areas, for example Special Educational Needs & Disabilities. Governors meet with teachers and can observe lessons, ensuring that there is a strong personal link.
- Holding Learning Walks and attending various school events throughout the academic year.
Who We Are
The governing Body is made up of:
9 Foundation Governors
2 Parent Governor
2 Co-opted
1 Staff
1 LA
Headteacher
Roger Prew
Chair of Governors
Foundation Governor
Responsibilities and committees – Chair of Governors, SEND and Pupil Premium Governor
Term of Office – 1st September 2021 – 31st August 2025
Declaration of business interests – none at this time.
Governance role in any other educational institution – none at this time
Suzie Featherstone – Wright
Headteacher
Term of Office – 5th September 2011 –
Declaration of Business Interests – none at this time
Rob Pierce
Co-opted Governor
Responsibilities and committees – Member of the Resources Committee and Development Governor
Term of Office – 6th February 2023 – 6th February 2027
Declaration of business interests - none at this time
Governance role in any other educational institution – none at this time
Jane Roylance
Foundation Governor
Responsibilities and committees – Chair of Teaching and Learning Committee and Safeguarding Governor
Term of Office – 26.9.2022 – 26.9.2026
Declaration of Business Interests – staff member at the King's Academy School
Governance role in any other educational institution – none at this time
Stuart Wharpshire
Foundation Governor
Responsibilities and committees -Chair of Resources Committee, Chair of Member of the Pay Committee and Admissions Committee
Term of Office – 1.9.2021 – 31.8.2025
Declaration of Business Interests – none at this time
Governance role in any other educational institution – none at this time
Mark Fowler
Associate Member
Term of Office – 11.10.2024 – 12.10.2028
Declaration of Business Interests – none at this time
Governance role in any other educational institution – none at this time
Andy Bryant
Foundation Governor
Responsibilities and committees - Vice Chair of the Governing Body and Vice Chair of Resources Committee, a member of the Pay Committee, Headteacher’s Performance Review and Admissions Committee and EYFS link.
Term of Office – 10.1.2022 – 9.1.2026
Declaration of Business Interests – Mandy Bryant audits the school fund
Governance role in any other educational institution – none at this time
Christina Leach
Foundation Governor
Responsibilities and committees – member of the T&L Committee and Wellbeing Governor
Term of Office – 10.1.2022 – 9.1.2026
Declaration of Business Interests – none at this time
Governance role in any other educational institution – none at this time
Jennifer James
Parent Governor
Responsibilities and committees – Vice Chair of the T&L Committee
Term of Office – 14.11.2024 – 14.11.2027
Declaration of Business Interests – none at this time
Governance role in any other educational institution – none at this time
Susan Dunnett
Foundation Governor
Responsibilities and committees – Member of the T&L Committee
Term of Office – 14.11.2023 – 13.11.2027
Declaration of Business Interests – none at this time
Governance role in any other educational institution – none at this time
Karen Hatt
Foundation Governor
Responsibilities and committees – Member of the Resources Committee, Pay Committee, Admissions Committee and RE link.
Term of Office – 14.11.2023 – 13.11.2027
Declaration of Business Interests – none at this time
Governance role in any other educational institution – none at this time
Nicola Ross
Staff Governor
Responsibilities and committees – Member of the T&L Committee
Term of Office – 21.11.2023 – 21.11.2027
Declaration of Business Interests – none at this time
Governance role in any other educational institution – none at this time
Kerry Mistry, Deputy Head
Associate Member
Responsibilities and committees – Member of the Resources Committee, T&L Committee and FGB
Term of Office – 21.9.2021 – 22.9.2025
Voting rights at committee level
Declaration of Business Interests – none at this time
Governance role in any other educational institution – none at this time
Hannah Staples, School Business Manager
Associate Member
Responsibilities and committees – Member of the Resources Committee and FGB
Term of Office – 13.6.2024 – 14.6.2028
Voting rights at committee level
Declaration of Business Interests – none at this time
Governance role in any other educational institution – none at this time
Laura Gier-Jones
Parent Governor
Responsibilities and Committees
Term of Office – 22.11.2024 – 23.11.2028
Declaration of Business Interests – none at this time
Governance role in any other educational institution - none at this time
Resignations
Hilary Griffin Foundation Governor 26.3.2024 16.7.2024
Neil Gourlay Co-opted Governor 26.5.2022 10.2.2025
Financial Information
None of the employees at Binfield C.E. Primary School earn more than £100,000 or more.
Please follow the link below dedicated to our school on the Schools Financial Benchmarking Service.
https://schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk/School?urn=109999
This page was updated on September 2023