Governors | Longford Church of England Primary School

Welcome to our Governors’ section.

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

We have also provided a Register of Governor Interests and an Annual Statement of Issues for your information.

THE SCHOOL’S GOVERNING BODY:-

Structure and remit of the Governing Body and its Committees

Under the legislation relating to the governance of maintained schools and guidance issued by the DfE, the main role of the School’s Governing Body is to conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement, with a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
overseeing the financial performance of the School and making sure its money is well spent.

More information about the School’s vision and ethos can be found on the School’s website and in the School’s Prospectus.

The Governing Body is made up of:

two foundation governors (one being the Rector of St Chads, Longford ex officio and the other being appointed by the Diocese of Derby);
two elected parent governors;
the headteacher of the school;
one staff governor (other than the headteacher);
four other persons appointed as co-opted governors.

The Governing Body does not have any associate members.

The Governing Body has established the following main committees in order to carry out its functions:

Committee	Main areas of remit
RESOURCES	Overseeing the School’s budget, financial performance and financial resource allocation, audit and premises matters
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT	Performance management of the Headteacher
DISCIPLINE & EXCLUSIONS	Matters relating to serious staff or pupil disciplinary matters

Current members of the Governing Body

Details of the current members of the Governing Body (and any other governors who have served in the last 12 months) are set out in the following tables:

FULL NAME:	Jessica Jane Laugharne
CATEGORY OF GOVERNOR/ APPOINTED BY:	Parent Governor elected by Parent Body
DATE OF INITIAL APPOINTMENT (AND DATE OF CESSATION IF APPLICABLE):	March 2013
EXPIRY OF CURRENT TERM OF OFFICE:	March 2023
RELEVANT BUSINESS/ PECUNIARY INTERESTS OR GOVERNANCE ROLES IN OTHER SCHOOLS ETC:	None
RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER GOVERNORS AND SCHOOL STAFF:	None
ATTENDANCE RECORD AT FULL GOVERNING BODY MEETINGS (2015-16):	7 out of 8 meetings
PEN PORTRAIT OF GOVERNOR:	I have two children at Longford Primary and expect every child to benefit from the highest quality teaching and learning and feel an immense sense of belonging, wellbeing and happiness at their school. Formerly, I was a journalist in the BBC’s Current Affairs department producing live programmes and documentaries for Radio 4. Using my experience of in-depth research, analysis and scrutiny, I am committed to supporting Longford School and further developing its strengths.

FULL NAME:	Susan Plant (Chair of Governors wef September 2016)
CATEGORY OF GOVERNOR/ APPOINTED BY:	Co-opted Governor
DATE OF INITIAL APPOINTMENT (AND DATE OF CESSATION IF APPLICABLE):	October 2009 (and since re-appointed)
EXPIRY OF CURRENT TERM OF OFFICE:	September 2023
RELEVANT BUSINESS/ PECUNIARY INTERESTS OR GOVERNANCE ROLES IN OTHER SCHOOLS ETC:	None
RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER GOVERNORS AND SCHOOL STAFF:	None
ATTENDANCE RECORD AT FULL GOVERNING BODY MEETINGS (2015-16):	All meetings (8)
PEN PORTRAIT OF GOVERNOR:	I am an experienced senior leader in secondary education. I have been Vice Principal and Interim Principal at Landau Forte College, Derby, for four years, and currently work as a Multi-Academy Trust Associate Principal. My expertise lies in improving teaching and learning, professional development of teachers & leaders and performance management. Having been a governor at Longford for 7 years, I understand how the school operates, its aspirations and the focus on child-centered learning. As a parent and a teacher, I am delighted to use this expertise to support the school.

FULL NAME:	Philip Geoffrey Searson
CATEGORY OF GOVERNOR/ APPOINTED BY:	Headteacher (ex officio governor)
DATE OF INITIAL APPOINTMENT (AND DATE OF CESSATION IF APPLICABLE):	September 2011
EXPIRY OF CURRENT TERM OF OFFICE:	On cessation of appointment as headteacher
RELEVANT BUSINESS/ PECUNIARY INTERESTS OR GOVERNANCE ROLES IN OTHER SCHOOLS ETC:	None
RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER GOVERNORS AND SCHOOL STAFF:	None (other than as fellow members of school staff)
ATTENDANCE RECORD AT FULL GOVERNING BODY MEETINGS (2015-16):	All meetings (8)
PEN PORTRAIT OF GOVERNOR:	I started teaching in 1990 and have held two posts as a Headteacher since 2008. I have been a school Governor continuously since 1995 at the various schools where I have worked. I was appointed as Headteacher of Longford in 2011. I also currently do some work for the Derbyshire Local Education Authority as a School Improvement Advisor.

Full name	Gwendoline Nesta Kelsey
Date of first appointment	September 2018
Term of office	Four years from Academy conversion– Until September 2023
who appointed them (in accordance with the governing body’s instrument of government)	Co-opted by Governing Body
Biography	Secondary Teacher from 1971 - 2008 ( seven years out for child raising ) posts for Resources, Head of Biology, Head of Science, Head of Science and Technology, County assessment oordinator. . National Trainer for Yellis and Mydyis assessment with Durham University programmes Secondary Deputy Head ( 10 years 1995 -2005) with responsibility for Curriculum, Assessment and Target setting . Section 10 Ofsted Inspector whilst in post as Deputy Head( school improvement strategy) Head teacher ( 3 years 2005 until retirement in 2008 ) Regular contact with Longford school as Grandmother of two previous Longford pupils from 1999 to 2017 . Volunteer Yr 3 and 4 classroom support at Longford school from 2018to 2020. Volunteer with ACE ( trust working with teenagers) since 2017 giving homework support to disadvantaged secondary students.Various support roles at Ashbourne Methodist Church.
Business and financial interests	None
Governance roles in other educational institutions	None
Any material interests	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over the last academic year	Full attendance

Full name	Sue Ricketts
Date of first appointment	September 2020
Term of office	Four years from September 2020– Until September 2024
who appointed them (in accordance with the governing body’s instrument of government)	Co-opted by Governing Body
Biography	I am a former Primary Headteacher of two schools. I have worked for the Local Authority for 16 years as a Senior Adviser for School Improvement and then Head of Early Years. I am the mother of a year two teachers and cant imagine life without a strong connection with children, school staff and learning.
Business and financial interests	I am an independent Education Consultant - Sue Ricketts Education.
Governance roles in other educational institutions	None
Any material interests	Married to Peter Rickett who is a trustee of EMBARK
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over the last academic year	N/A

Full name	Jonathan Hewit
Date of first appointment	September 2017
Term of office	Four years from Academy conversion – Until September 2023
who appointed them (in accordance with the governing body’s instrument of government)	Parent Governor elected by parent body
Biography	I am Managing Director of Baby People, an arts organisation supporting young people not in mainstream education for 20 years.
Business and financial interests
Governance roles in other educational institutions	None
Any material interests	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over the last academic year	90%

Full name	Enid Hawksworth
Date of first appointment	September 2019
Term of office	Four years -until September 2023
who appointed them (in accordance with the governing body’s instrument of government)	Foundation Governor – appointed by the Bishop of Derby
Biography
Business and financial interests	None
Governance roles in other educational institutions	None
Any material interests	None
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over the last academic year	90%

Full name	Natalie Clarke
Date of first appointment	September 2019
Term of office	Until September 2023
who appointed them (in accordance with the governing body’s instrument of government)	Staff elected Staff Governor
Biography
Business and financial interests
Governance roles in other educational institutions
Any material interests
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over the last academic year