Governor's Biographies
Published 14/05/24
Here you will find information about our governors.
The Governing Body
The governing body comprises appointed, elected and co-opted governors. Governors delegate responsibility for the day to day running of the school to the Head teacher, but they are responsible to:
- ensure safeguarding procedures comply with statutory guidance and monitor the safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff;
- establish the aims and policies of the school;
- support and monitor the review and development of the curriculum;
- monitor standards of achievement and pupil progress;
- provide support and challenge;
- help decide the spending of the school’s budget and to monitor expenditure and financial procedures to ensure best value;
- monitor the condition of the school premises;
- appoint new staff.
Governors are responsible for the appointment of the Head Teacher and Deputy Head. They act as a link between school, parents, and the local community, promoting a strong partnership between them. The governing body meets formally each term working closely with the Head Teacher and staff to stay well-informed about the school. Regular committee meetings and link governor visits ensure governors receive up to date information on curriculum policy, progress on school development plans, standards, special educational needs, personnel and finance. The school premises are inspected with health and safety checks being regularly completed. As well as formal planned visits, governors also make informal visits to the school during the working day. Governors are elected for a four-year period of office. Any parent or guardian of a child at Almond Hill may stand for election, details of which will be supplied by the Head Teacher.
Opportunity to Support the School
We have a great team of governors who work closely with staff to maintain high standards at our school and to shape future developments. We are currently looking to recruit new governors to bring new skills, interests and ideas to our team. You do not need any qualifications to be a governor, just an interest in education and the ability to give some of your time. If you think there is a possibility you would be interested, please come and talk to Mrs Fordham to find out more about the role without making any commitments. I look forward to hearing from you.
Our Governors
Name |
Responsibility |
Category |
Term of Office |
| Diane Cawthorn | Associate | 31/10/24 - 29/10/28 | |
| Emma Fordham | Headteacher | Staff | 01/01/21 31/10/16 - 30/10/20 (in Deputy Head role) |
| Deborah Furness | Co-opt | 28/01/23 - 27/01/27 | |
| Claire Lanni | Chair | Parent | 18/10/24 - 17/10/28 |
| Lisa Leonard | Co-opt | 08/12/21 - 07/12/25 | |
| Heidi Nash | Vice Chair | Co-opt | 03/07/22 - 02/07/26 |
| Lydia Andrews | Co-opt | 07/12/22 - 06/12/26 | |
| Kanwal Rizvi | Parent | 19/09/23 - 18/09/27 | |
| Ian Panton | Parent | 15/05/24 - 14/05/28 | |
| Lawrence Guevara Ramdass | Parent | 09/07/24 - 08/07/28 |
Governors who previously served
| Stephen Fuller | Co- Chair | Co-opt | 20/05/21 - 24/09/2024 |
Instrument of Government
| Staff Governors | 2 |
| LEA | 1 |
| Parent | 2 |
| Co-opt | 7 |
| Associates | No limit if skills are needed by the governing body |
|
TOTAL |
12 |
Governors in post
| Staff Governors | 1 |
| LEA | 0 |
| Parent | 4 |
| Co-opt | 5 |
| Associates | 1 |
|
TOTAL |
11 |
Vacancies: Co-opted and Parent Governors
Copies of full governing body minutes are available from the Almond Hill Junior School office. Attendance at governing body meetings is minuted in these documents.
Governors are appointed following a meeting with the Headteacher and Chair of Governors. Recommendation is then made to the full governing body and a request for them to approve the appointment.
Governors Committees and Link Roles
Finance and Personnel Committee
- Heidi Nash (chair)
- Diane Cawthorn*
- Debbie Furness
- Lisa Leonard
*Associates do not have voting rights on committees to which they have been appointed.
Link Governor Roles
- Child protection - TBC
- Safeguarding - TBC
- Child looked after - TBC
- Pupil Premium - Claire Lanni
- SEND - TBC (Shahnaz Birchall)
- Premises and Health and Safety - Heidi Nash (Lee Browne)
- PE - TBV
- Online Safety - Lisa Leonard
Attendance at Governor's Meetings
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings this academic year:
| Date | Meeting | Deborah Furness | Diane Cawthorn | Emma Fordham | Heidi Nash | Claire Lanni | Lisa Leonard | Lydia Andrews | Kanwal Rizvi | Ian Panton | Lawrence Guevara Ramdass |
| 24.09.24 | FGB | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 15.10.24 | Finance | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | N |
Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings last academic year:
| Date | Meeting | Deborah Furness | Diane Cawthorn | Emma Fordham | Heidi Nash | Louise Barham | Claire Lanni | Stephen Fuller | Lisa Leonard | Lydia Andrews | Kanwal Rizvi | Lawrence Guevara Ramdass |
| 19.09.23 | FGB | Y | Y | Y | Y | MAT | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| 13.11.23 | Safeguarding | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | Y | N | N | N | |
| 14.12.23 | FGB | Y | N | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| 06.02.24 | Finance | N | Y | Y | Y | NA | NA | NA | Y | NA | NA | |
| 26.02.24 | Safeguarding | Y | Y | Y | NA | NA | NA | Y | NA | NA | NA | |
| 05.03.24 | Finance | N | Y | Y | Y | NA | NA | NA | Y | NA | NA | |
| 19.03.24 | FGB | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | |
| 07.05.24 | Finance | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | NA | N | N | N | ||
| 15.05.24 | FGB | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | N | Y | Y | N | ||
| 09.07.24 | FGB | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Additional Information
- Read More
Read MoreGovernor's Declarations - 2023/24
Published 14/05/24Relevant business and financial interests including governance roles in other educational institutions and any material interests arising from relationships between governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).