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
The Chair can be contacted via the Clerk as above.
My background is in education. I am an Educational Consultant, a former headteacher and Section 48/SIAMS inspector; with experience across all phases of education. I have been a school governor for over 15 years.
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.