Governors
Being a Governor
All the Governors are committed to offer time and support to the school. We do so by working together and with the Head Teacher to ensure the children get the very best from their time at Firfield.
In accordance with the Government’s requirement for all governing bodies, the three core strategic functions of Firfield Primary School Governing Board are:
- ensuring clarity of vision, ethos, and strategic direction;
- holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and
- overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
As Governors, we are expected to attend full Governing Body Meetings and various sub –committee meetings.
These meetings happen during the school terms, and are also attended by the Head Teacher and other nominated members of staff. The meetings are arranged around times (normally out of school hours) to suit Governors. The sub-committees consist of two groups, Resource Management (RMC) and Curriculum, Teaching & Learning (CTL). Governors can decide which group(s) they wish to participate in.
Within these two committees named governors are tasked with specific school and curriculum associated responsibilities. In this way information can be fed back for the benefit of the governing body as a whole, providing an invaluable insight into the working of the school.
Governors are provided with an Agenda in advance of each meeting so that we are fully aware of the issues to be discussed. In order to prepare for a meeting, we are also required to read through any relevant supporting documents. During the meeting(s) Governors are encouraged to put forward their views on the issues under discussion. The topics can relate to any number of different areas for example; school policies, Ofsted inspection, development and curriculum plans, staffing and financial matters, to name but a few. It all depends on the nature and content of the meeting.
Every April the Governing Body is responsible for agreeing the school's annual budget.
The Governing Body are a friendly and structured group, passionate about the school and supporting all those connected with it. With over 400 pupils, Firfield is one of the largest Primary Schools in Derbyshire.
The current Governing Body as at September 2022 is detailed below along with the committees and roles they participate in:
Name | Type of Governor | Link | Committee | Start Date | End Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr James Yellop Headteacher |
Staff | Both | 01 Jan 2019 | ||
Mr James Tolson | Co-opted (Staff) | Policies | Curriculum | 12 Dec 2018 | 11 Dec 2022 |
Mrs Ashley Oates |
Co-opted | Behaviour & LAC | Resource Management | 08 May 2019 | 07 May 2023 |
Miss Rachel Tittershill | Co-opted (Staff) | Resource Management | 03 July 2019 | 02 July 2023 | |
Mr James Stafford Chair of Governors |
Local Authority | Curriculum | Both | 03 July 2019 | 02 July 2023 |
Mrs Rosie Poutney Sub Chair |
Parent | Safeguarding & Anti-Bullying | Curriculum | 07 April 2020 | 06 April 2024 |
Mrs Olivia Dale | Co-opted | SEND | Curriculum | 24 Sept 2020 | 23 Sept 2024 |
Miss Sophie Maskrey | Co-opted | Pupil Premium & Sports Premium | Resource Management | 09 Dec 2021 | 08 Dec 2025 |
Mr Haydn Wheeler | Co-opted | Numeracy | Curriculum | 09 Dec 2021 | 08 Dec 2025 |
Mrs Victoria Beardmore | Parent | Literacy | Resource Management | 18 Jan 2022 | 17 Jan 2026 |
Dr Corinne Poland | Parent | PSHE & RSE | Curriculum | 18 Jan 2022 | 17 Jan 2026 |
Mrs Dee Hill Vice Chair of Governors |
Co-opted | GDPR & Health & Safety | Curriculum | 03 March 2022 | 02 March 2026 |
Mrs Barbara James | Co-opted | Finance | Resource Management | 03 March 2022 | 02 March 2026 |
VACANT Parent Governor |
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VACANT Staff Governor |
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The governing body has re-constituted and its new Instrument of Government has been approved by the Local Authority. This is listed below:-
1. The name of the school is Firfield Primary School.
2. The school is a Community school.
3. The name of the governing body is "The governing body of Firfield Primary School".
4. The governing body consists of:
- Four parent governors
- One LA governor
- One staff governor
- One headteacher
- Eight co-opted governors
5. The number of governors: 15
6. The term of office of all categories of governor listed above is 4 years.
7. This instrument of government comes into effect on the day of making, replacing the Instrument of Government made on 14th February 2006.
8. This instrument was made by order of Derbyshire Local Authority on 16th June 2015.
9. A copy of the Instrument of Government must be supplied to every member of the governing body (and the Headteacher is not a governor).
Details of the Code of Practice and Performance Standards can be found in the 'Code of Practice & Standards' section.
Declarations of Interest for the year 2022-23:
James Stafford - Trustee of Long Eaton and District Scout Council; Trustee of Umbrella, Derbyshire
Ashley Oates - Partner/Sole proprietor of Chilled Beans Yoga and Massage
Mrs Dee Hill - Vice Chair of Governors at Cotmanhay Junior School, Governor at Asbourne Hilltop Primary and Clerk to Governors at Millford Primary, Ladycross Infant and Nursery and Ripley Nursery School
Governors who have resigned or terms of office have finished during the last academic year:
Name | Type of Governor | Role | Start Date | End Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mr George Crombie | Parent | 5 December 2017 | 4 December 2021 | |
Mrs Kate Richardson | Parent | 7 December 2020 | 15 November 2021 | |
Mrs Lucy Noonan | Co-opted | 1 September 2020 | 11 November 2021 | |
Mr Graham Robertson | Co-opted | Chair | 8 May 2019 | 14 October 2021 |
Mr Roger Farr | Co-opted | Vice Chair | 8 May 2019 | 14 October 2021 |
Mrs Jan Donoghue | Staff | 6 May 2020 | 22 July 2022 |
Should you wish to become a governor or if you have any questions about the governing body, please address any correspondence to:-
Clerk to Governors / Chair of Governors
Firfield Primary School
Firfield Avenue
Breaston
Derbyshire
DE72 3EG
Tel: 01332 872216
Email: enquiries@firfield.derbyshire.sch.uk