The Governing Body
Our Governing Body consists of 15 members and operates with 2 committees.
Like all schools, a Board of Governors oversees life at St Margaret’s School. The Governing Body has wide-ranging responsibilities and powers and works with the Headteacher and staff to:
- Agree the aims and values of the school
- Make decisions on the budget and approve School Development Plans
- Ensure that the National Curriculum is taught
- Monitor and review the school’s progress
- Ensure that individual pupil’s needs are met, including special needs
- Be involved in the recruitment of staff
- Provide information about school for parents
- Produce action plans following Inspection
- Establish and maintain positive links with the local community
The Governors meet twice a term as a full body and each governor also sits on one of two subcommittees, which also meet twice a term. The two subcommittees are:
- Resources - responsible for the financial & physical resources of the school
- Community and standards- responsible for staff selection, school policy and ensuring that the National Curriculum is taught in the school.
In addition, some governors have particular responsibilities for overseeing certain aspects of the school’s work, for example, special educational needs or health & safety. The governors subscribe to and attend the LA’s training programme designed for them. The size and composition of the Governing Body is laid down by law and Governors are appointed or elected by specific bodies or groups, but Governors are not delegates who must vote according to the wishes of those groups. The groups are: Parent governors, Staff governors, Local Authority governors, and Foundation governors.
The Acting Chair of Governors for the academic year 2023-2024 is Mr Michael Emery who can be contacted via the school office - 01293521077
Mr Michael Emery - Vice Chair (Acting Chair of Governors) - Local Authority
Local Authority Governor |
Mike has been a governor at St. Margaret’s since December 2018 and he is currently vice-chair of the school's board of governors. Before retiring as Commercial Director from a multi-national company, he worked for 38 years in the textile and chemical Industries, in the UK and in Switzerland, in research and development, marketing and sales. Mike credits his successful career in industry to his state education and is keen to help others achieve their full potential. |
Mrs Kate Ayres - Foundation
Foundation Governor |
Kate joined the governing body of St. Margaret’s in September 2020 as a Foundation Governor. She retired from teaching in 2017 from her role as Special Needs Co-ordinator in a Crawley school. Kate is also a listening volunteer with the Horsham and Crawley branch of the Samaritans. She hopes that the experience she has gained from her career in education and in the volunteer sector will be of value to her role as a school governor. |
Steve Burston - Exo-Officio
Ex-Officio |
|
Mrs Jill Hine - Headteacher
Staff Governor |
Headteacher for St Margaret's CE Primary School. |
Mr Carl Peirce - Foundation
Foundation Governor |
|
Mrs Jo Lovell - Parent
Parent Governor |
Jo has recently joined as a Parent Governor in November 2020. Her youngest is currently in reception and eldest now in secondary education, but having also gone through St Margaret’s. Passionate about education her background is over 20 years working within learning and development, recruitment and more recently project management within a Human Resources setting. Jo has been involved and volunteered with charities and has mentored students going through the GCSE’s. |
Mrs Jean Cooper - Foundation
Foundation Governor |
I have worked at St Margaret's School for many, many years and retired this summer. Most of my time here was spent working with our youngest children and those with Special Educational Needs.My three children attended this school and now one of my grandchildren has also joined. This school holds a very special place in my heart. I live in Ifield and attend St Margaret's Church. I enjoy the unique countryside that surrounds Ifield and I love reading. I have a particular passion and expertise in Early Years, children's literature and learning to read, which I hope I can continue to use to support this lovely school. |
Miss Claire Budd - Staff
Staff Governor |
Finance Officer at St Margaret's CE Primary School. |
Rev. Christine Spencer - Ex-Officio
Ex.Officio
|
Christine Spencer is the Rector of St Margaret’s Church in Ifield. She is a foundation governor, representing the congregation of St Margaret’s Church and has been in position since November 2020. Being passionate about enabling children to reach their full potential, and having been a children’s nurse before becoming a priest, Christine is keen to ensure that every child is enabled to do this. Singing and reading detective novels (when there is a spare moment!) are things that she enjoys as well as leading children and adults on their journey to explore what God has created them to be and do. |
Mr Jonathan Holwell - Foundation
Foundation Governor |
Jon joined the governing body of St Margaret's in February 2021 as a foundation governor. He has been a mathematics teacher in three different schools having trained at Canterbury Christ Church University. His particular interests include SEND as well as numeracy across the curriculum. |
Mr Luke Sanders - Parent
Parent Governor |
Luke joined the governing body in February 2021 as a Parent Governor. Luke brings with him 12 years of management experience gained in the financial services sector where he currently works as a senior manager and serves on six oversight and governance forums. Luke is an accountant by training. He has two children at the school and is passionate about the health and wellbeing of students, the School’s Christian values and its connection with the local Church. Outside of work, Luke enjoys spending time with family, keeping fit (a keen runner) and reading. |
Mrs Lynn Laverty - Associate Governor
Associate Governor |
School Business Manager and PA to the Headteacher at St Margaret's CE Primary School |
Mr Damith Bandara - Associate Governor
Associate Governor |
Deputy Headteacher at St Margaret's CE Primary School |
Mr Steven Chambers - Clerk to Governors
Clerk to Governors |
Assistant Administration Officer and Clerk to the Governing Body at St Margaret's CE Primary School |
Governing Body at St Margaret's CE Primary School - Academic Year 2022-2023
Our Governing Body consists of 13 members and operates with 2 committees.
Full name of Governor |
Governor Category |
Date of Current Appointment / Election |
Source of Appointment (Where Appropriate) |
Term of Office / Roles within the Governing Body |
Attendance at Full Governing Body MeetingsAcademic Year 2021-2022 |
Committee Membership |
Attendance at Committee MeetingsAcademic Year 2021-2022 |
Declaration on register of Business & Pecuniary Interest |
Remarks |
Mrs Kate Ayres |
Foundation |
12.10.2020 |
NA |
4 years |
3/4 |
Community & Standards
|
5/5 |
None |
|
Rev Sam Buck |
Ex-Officio |
27.10.2020 |
Incumbent of the parish of Crawley |
NA |
1/1 |
ResourcesAdmissions |
1/1 |
None |
Term of office ended on 16.12.2022 |
Mrs Jean Cooper |
Foundation |
01.09.2022 |
|
4 years |
4/4 |
Community & StandardsAdmissions |
4/4 |
Daughter is a Teacher in the school / Grand-daughter will be a pupil in September 2022 |
|
Miss Hannah Edwards-Benham |
Staff |
01.09.2023 |
Elected by Staff |
4 years |
4/4 |
Standards |
3/3 |
|
Term of office ended on 31.08.2023 |
Mr Michael Emery |
Local Authority |
05.09.2023 |
Appointed by the LA |
4 yearsVice Chair of the GovernorsChair of the Admissions Committee |
4/4 |
Community and Standards
|
6/6 |
J.Hine is a personal friend |
|
Mrs Jillian Hine |
Staff (Headteacher) |
NA |
NA |
NA |
4/4 |
Member of all committees |
8/8 |
M.Emery is a personal friend |
|
Mr Jonathan Holwell |
Foundation |
03.02.2021 |
Appointed by the Foundation Body |
4 years |
2/4 |
Resources |
1/3 |
Staff member at Tanbridge House School |
|
Mr Stephen Horsman |
Foundation |
14.01.2019 |
Diocesan Board of Education on the recommendation of the Parochial Church Council of the parish of Ifield. |
4 years |
1/2 |
Resources |
0/1 |
Company Director to Horsman Education Consultants, Vice Chair of the Governing Body at OLQOH, Foundation Governor at St Joseph's College, Beulah Hill, |
Term of office ended on 14.01.2023 |
Mrs Joanne Lovell |
Parent |
24.05.2020 |
Elected by Parents |
4 Years |
3/4 |
ResourcesPay |
3/3 |
None |
|
Mr Luke Sanders |
Parent |
24.02.2021 |
Elected by Parents |
4 years |
4/4 |
Community & Standards |
2/2 |
Wife works as a TA in the school |
|
Rev Christine Spencer |
Ex-Officio |
26.10.2021 |
Incumbent the Parish of Crawley |
NA |
4/4 |
Community & Standards |
3/3 |
None |
|
VACANCY |
Foundation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VACANCY |
Foundation |
Full name of Associate Member |
Committee Membership |
Voting Rights
|
Date Appointed |
Term of Office / Role on Committee |
Attendance at Committee MeetingsAcademic Year 2020-2021 |
Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings |
Declaration on register of Business & Pecuniary Interest |
Remarks |
Mrs Lynn Laverty |
Resources |
Committees only |
23.05.2020 |
4 Years |
3/3 |
4/4 |
None |
School Business Manager & PA to the Headteacher |
Mrs Samantha Winton |
Community & standards |
Committees only |
27.04.2020 |
4 Years |
3/3 |
4/4 |
None |
Deputy Headteacher - Term of office ended on 31.12.2022 |
Mr Damith Bandara |
Community & Standards |
Committees only |
25.04.2023 |
4 years |
2/2 |
1/1 |
None |
Deputy Headteacher |