Governors
Welcome to the Governors’ page
As a Governing body we are committed to making a positive contribution to the school and your children’s education, both their learning and wellbeing. We seek to support the school community as a whole, pupils, staff and parents and maintain strong links with our local community - St Bartholomew Church and Albourne village. We share the school’s vision and values and this informs our priorities and decisions.
All Governors are volunteers and our governing body includes representatives from parents, staff, the local community, the Local Authority and Diocese.
What do we do?
- We are strategic
- We act as a critical friend in the development of the school
- We hold the school to account and as a governing body are accountable to the whole school community
- Set a clear vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school
- Work with the headteacher, Mrs Claxton, to promote and maintain high quality education for all our pupils
- As a Governing body, to hold the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the pupils and the performance management of staff
- Ensure final oversight of the financial performance of the school and the effective use of school resources
Our Governors have a range of backgrounds and skills, including business and education, and this enables us to be effective as a governing body.
Individual Governors have no power or responsibility. It is only the full governing body that has legal duties and powers. However, all Governors share in that corporate responsibility.
The school's direction is agreed by the Governing body, Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team, who also make sure the school is meeting its targets.
The Headteacher and staff manage the school on a day-to-day basis.
The Governors meet six times a year for full Governing body meetings. These meetings cover all matters of governance. Our flat structure removes the need for sub-committees. Working parties are actioned as necessary to address specific areas. Regular training enables governors to keep up to date with current thinking in education and church schools. Each Governor takes on a specific monitoring role for different aspects of school governance. Governors are also part of various working parties during the year; this shares the workload and helps us to be more effective.
We welcome your feedback about the school and if you have any queries about our role or require further information, please do not hesitate to speak with us or our Clerk to Governors – Yudi Irvine, via the school office or clerk@albournecep.co.uk
Gill Bradnam - Chair of Governors
As Chair of Governors I am committed to working with my fellow governors and the school to ensure high quality education for all our children, so that they can succeed in school and in the future.
My background is in education. I am an Educational Consultant, a Section 48/SIAMS inspector and a former headteacher; with experience across all phases of education. I have 15 years experience as a school governor.
Matthew Cutress – Vice Chair of Governors
I have been on the Governing body for 20 years, 15 of these as Chair of which I have recently retired from, but I continue to serve as Vice Chair supporting the new Chair. All three of my children attended Albourne School and I felt that becoming a governor gave me an opportunity to give something back to the school.
Having retired from jointly running my family business, I am working with Sussex County Cricket Club as a disability coach.
Stuart Harper - Co-opted Governor
As a previous parent governor I have taken an active role in assisting the school covering areas of my expertise including the school premises, health and safety and accounting. All of my 3 children have attended Albourne School since 2007. I have been co-opted onto the governing body for a third term of office.
Due to the hard work, diligence and expertise of the teachers and support staff my role as a Governor has been enjoyable and rewarding and I have received support and training from both the school and the local authority.
As a business director, surveyor and contractor I have forged an excellent working relationship with the schools business manager helping to oversee improvements to the schools facilities to provide a welcoming, safe and inspiring environment.
In my time as a Governor there have been many changes and improvements that have benefited the pupils education, wellbeing and local community. It has been a pleasure to serve in such a rewarding cohort and look forward to continuing into the future.
Ian McInnes - Parent Governor
I have been part of the governing body for 4 years. I have had 2 children who have attended Albourne CEP. When work commitments allow, I am actively involved in supporting the school – I have been on many school trips and I enjoy supporting children with their reading.
Peter Griffiths - Foundation Governor
I have been on the governing body for over 5 years. I am a County Councillor, so have a good understanding of local needs. I am an experienced School Governor specialising in safeguarding and special needs.
I was elected as parent governor in Autumn 2017. I would like to represent the views of parents in governor meetings and contribute to the ongoing success of Albourne Primary School. I am committed to supporting the school in any way I can. My current governor responsibilities are SEND governor and Science link governor.
I have two daughters - one at Downlands after a wonderful seven years at Albourne, and another who is in Year 5.
I am currently taking a career break from my profession of Research Scientist. My expertise is in Biology, particularly DNA repair and drug discovery, and student support and supervision.
I was appointed by the ASCAT Parish in December 2017, live in Albourne and have 3 children who all went to the school. As a result, I look forward to contributing to its success and supporting development of its Christian principles.
My career has been in Finance and Business Management in both the Public and Private sectors and so expect to focus on Governance. I am also involved in many of the local groups and so hope to help extend the school's Community links.
I am currently Reception teacher at Albourne CE Primary, having spent 2 years previously in Year 1. I was fortunate to start my teaching career at Albourne, and have simply loved working here since.
As a staff governor, I want to be a voice for other members of staff, as well as provide the rest of the governing body with an honest picture of the impact from policy and decisions being made.
Sarah Corney - Parent Governor
I joined the Governing Board in Autumn 2018 as a parent governor. I have two children at Albourne and I am keen to play an active role in supporting the school to meet its aims and values. I am a Chartered Financial Planner and wish to use my background in business and finance to assist me in my role. In my spare time, I am the Junior Coordinator and Welfare Officer of Burgess Hill Hockey Club and for many reasons believe strongly that children should be given the opportunity to participate in sports.