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

Governor Responsible for Safeguarding for the academic year 2023-2024 - Rev Christine Spencer

Governor Responsible for SEND for the academic year 2023-2024- Mrs Kate Ayres

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 Meetings

Academic Year 2021-2022

Committee Membership 

Attendance at Committee Meetings

Academic 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 
Pay Review
Admissions
5/5
None
 
Rev Sam Buck 
Ex-Officio 
27.10.2020
Incumbent of the parish of Crawley
NA
1/1
Resources 
Admissions
1/1
None
Term of office ended on 16.12.2022
Mrs Jean Cooper 
Foundation
01.09.2022
 
4 years 
4/4
Community & Standards 
Admissions
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 years 
Vice Chair of the Governors
Chair of the Admissions Committee
4/4
Community and Standards 

Admissions
 
Pay
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
Resources
Pay
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 
Yes/No 

Date Appointed

Term of Office / Role on Committee

Attendance at Committee Meetings

Academic 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 

Contact Us

The Primary School, The Mardens, Ifield, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 0AQ

Mr Steve Chambers
01293 521077

Contact Us

The Nursery, The Mardens, Ifield, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 0AQ

Mrs Nichola Rea
01293 421080