Vernon Primary School
Who we are
All State schools have a Governing Body whose membership is a balance of the interests of the Local Authority (appointed), the Parents (elected), the Staff (elected) and the local community (co-opted). In most cases, including Vernon, the Headteacher is also a Governor.
The role of the Governors is to work in partnership with the school staff and leadership team to ensure that there is effective strategic management of the school and to help provide the children with a safe, stimulating and professional environment. It is not the Governor's role to deal with the day to day management of the school.
At Vernon Primary School, we hold twice-termly meetings of the Full Governing Body, although most of the detailed work is done in our core committees (Building & Environment, Finance, Personnel, Safeguarding and Curriculum). In addition, ad hoc committees will be formed, as needed, to deal with particular issues as they arise.
Every aspect of school life has a formal link with a specific governor. Governors regularly attend training courses and liaise with colleagues from other schools in the area.
We are fortunate that we have never struggled to find diligent and dedicated people to perform this voluntary and unpaid responsibility, but we are always happy to hear from anyone who might be interested in becoming a member should a vacancy occur.
Ashley Hickson
Chair of Governors
Chair of Governors:
Mrs Ashley Hickson – Chair of Governors
First appointed: 1st January 2008
Term of Office: 4 years
Current term: from 5th February 2019, co-opted until 4th February 2023
Committee membership – Finance, Curriculum, Personnel, Safeguarding
Specialist Links – GDPR, EYFS
Vice Chair of Governors:
Mrs Helen O’Sullivan – Vice Chair of Governors, Chair of Buildings Committee, Vice Chair of Finance Committee
First appointed: 1st October 2011
Term of Office: 4 years
Current term: from 5th February 2019, co-opted until 4th February 2023
Committee membership – Finance, Buildings and Environment
Specialist links – Health and Safety, SFVS, Training Liaison, PSHE
Co-opted Governors:
Appointed by the Governing Board
Mrs Pauline Jones – Chair of Personnel Committee, Chair of Safeguarding Committee
First appointed: 1st January 2008
Term of Office: 4 years
Current term: from 5th February 2019, co-opted until 4th February 2023
Committee membership - Safeguarding, Personnel
Specialist links - Safeguarding
Mr Robin Richards – Chair of Finance Committee, Vice Chair of Personnel Committee
First appointed: 1st January 2008
Term of Office: 4 years
Current term: from 5th February 2019, co-opted until 4th February 2023
Committee membership - Finance, Curriculum
Specialist links – Pupil Premium, Catch-up Recovery Premium, SFVS, Data and Target-setting
Professor Richard Jones – Chair of Curriculum Committee
First appointed: 1st November 2014
Term of Office: 4 years
Current term: from 5th February 2019, co-opted until 4th February 2023
Committee membership – Curriculum, Buildings and Environment
Specialist links – Sports Premium, Remote learning, Curriculum, Educational Visits
Mrs Donna Davenport - (Appointed 22nd January 2019, Term of Office 4 years, Co-opted until 21st January 2023)
First appointed: 22nd January 2019
Term of Office: 4 years
Current term: from 22nd January 2019, co-opted until 21st January 2023
Committee membership – Safeguarding, Personnel
Specialist links – Mental Health and Wellbeing
Mr James Woodham - Vice Chair of Safeguarding Committee
First appointed: As Parent Governor 23rd May 2017, term of office ended on 22nd May 2021. Co-opted Governor from 23rd May 2021
Term of Office: 4 years
Current term: from 23rd May 2021, co-opted until 22nd May 2025
Committee membership - Safeguarding
Specialist links – SEND
Parent Governors:
Elected by Parents
Mr James Chapman - Vice-Chair of Building and Environment Committee and Curriculum Committee
First appointed: 24th July 2018
Term of Office: 4 years
Current term: from 24th July 2018, until 23rd July 2022
Committee membership - Curriculum, Buildings and Environment
Specialist links - Attendance
Mrs Lynette Bowden
First appointed: 17th March 2022
Term of Office: 4 years
Current term: from 17th March 2022, until 16th March 2026
Committee membership - TBC
Specialist links - TBC
Local Authority Governor:
Nominated by the Governing Board to the LA and approved as LA Governor to be appointed by the Governing Board.
Mr John Milman (Appointed , Term of Office 4 Years, Reappointed July 2020 until July 2023)
First appointed: 4th July 2016
Term of Office: 4 years
Current term: from 6th July 2020, until 5th July 2024
Committee membership – Buildings and Environment, Safeguarding
Specialist Links - Equality
Headteacher:
By appointment to the post.
Mrs Jo Carvell – Headteacher
Committee membership – Sits on all committees
Staff Governors:
Elected by Staff
Mrs Katy Swan – Teacher
Elected by: Staff
First appointed: 12th September 2019
Term of Office: 4 years
Current term: from 12th September 2019, until 11th September 2023
Committee membership – Curriculum
Associate Governors (no voting rights):
Mrs Sarah Kiely - Deputy Headteacher
Appointed: 14th October 2021
Term of Office: 1 year
Current term: 14th October 2021 until 13th October 2022
Committee membership – Personnel
Mrs Stella McNeil - Assistant Headteacher
Appointed: 14th October 2021
Term of Office: 1 year
Current term: 14th October 2021 until 13th October 2022
Committee membership – Curriculum, Finance
Mrs Louise Currall - Business Manager
Appointed: 14th October 2021
Term of Office: 1 year
Current term: 14th October 2021 until 13th October 2022
Committee membership – Finance
Mrs Lauren Mowat - Teacher
Appointed: 14th October 2021
Term of Office: 1 year
Current term: 14th October 2021 until 13th October 2022
Committee membership – Curriculum
No Governors have stepped down within the last 12 months.