Governing Body

Who are the Governors?

The role of the governing body is a strategic one. The Governors of The Academy are responsible for the appointment of teaching staff, overseeing the general running of the school, including the curriculum and financial matters and also responsible for the exterior of the building.

Its key functions are to:
* set the aims and objectives for the school
* set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
* set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
* monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
* be a source of support to the head teacher, but also willing to challenge (a critical friend) 

Mr Joseph Edwards

Term of Office: 14/07/2025
Category: Parent Governor
Committee: Teaching and Learning
Areas of Responsibility: Pupil Premium and Sports Premium
Subject Responsibility: English and P.E.

Mr Andrew Farrimond

Term of Office: 01/09/2024
Category: Foundation Governor
Committee: Finance and Premises
Areas of Responsibility: Estate Management & Projects; Health & Safety
Subject Responsibility: Science

Mrs Jayne Greenwood

Chair of Governors

Term of Office: 01/09/2024
Category: General Member
Committee: Teaching and Learning (Chair)
Area of Responsibility: SEND

Mr Jonathan Macdonald

Term of Office: 29/10/2027
Category: Parent Governor
Committee: Finance and Premises
Subject Responsibility: MFL

Mrs Sarah Mitchell

Headteacher

Term of Office: Ex-Officio
Category: Executive Headteacher
Committee: Finance and Premises
Areas of Responsibility: Governor Visits and Link Governor Training

Dr Wazz Mughal

Vice Chair of Governors

Term of Office: 01/09/2026
Category: General Member
Committee: Finance and Premises
Subject Responsibilities: Maths and Computing

Mr Nick Patterson

Term of Office: 01/09/2026
Category: General Member
Committee: Teaching and Learning
Subject Responsibilities: History, Geography and EYFS

Dr Andrew Pickering

Term of Office: 01/09/2026
Category: General Member
Committee: Teaching and Learning
Areas of Responsibility: Safeguarding
Subject Responsibilities: PSHEE and R.E.

Mrs Amy Sargeant

Headteacher

Term of Office: Ex-Officio
Category: Headteacher
Committee: Teaching & Learning
Areas of Responsibility: Website

Mrs Laura Papworth-Saunders

Term of Office: 26/06/2027
Category: General Member
Committee: Finance & Premises (Chair)
Area of Responsibility: Financial Monitoring
Subject Responsibilities: Art and Music

Mrs Natalie Starbuck

Deputy Headteacher

Term of Office: 21/02/2025
Category: Staff Governor
Committee: Teaching & Learning
Areas of Responsibility: Equal Opportunities and Equality

Mr Tom Bennett

Clerk to the Governors

Mrs Melissa Challinor

Responsible Officer

Governor Types

The Governing Body consists of specified numbers of different categories of governors.

Chair. The Governing Body is led by the Chair, elected by the Governing Body from within its membership, though anyone who works at the school cannot stand for the office. The Vice Chair supports the Chair in their work. The process for election of chair and vice-chair and their term of office is set out in the Governing Body’s Standing Orders.

Staff Governors (other than the head teacher) are elected by the school staff and must be paid to work at the school, by the school (that is, not under an external contract such as catering or cleaning). At least one staff governor must be a teacher, and if there are three or more staff governors, at least one must be a member of the support staff.

Parent Governors can either be elected by parents of children at the school, or if insufficient numbers are elected, can be appointed by the governing body to fill any remaining vacancies. Such appointees need not be parents of children currently attending the school – if no suitable candidates are found, they may be parents of former pupils, or of any child of school age.

Co-Opted/Sponsored members, may be appointed by the governing body as members of committees, and may include pupils, school staff, or anyone else who the governing body feels could contribute to its work.

Clerk. The governors are supported in their work by a Clerk to the Governing Body. The Clerk is remunerated for his work and is considered an integral part of the Governing Body, although he is not entitled to vote. Their role is primarily one of providing advice and interpretation on the regulatory and administrative framework in which governors work, preparing and distributing minutes and agendas, keeping records and dealing with correspondence.

 

Sub Committees

At Great Chesterford C of E Primary Academy we have two sub-committees and our governors sit on these committees as follows: 

Finance and Premises

Committee Members:  Mr A. Farrimond, Mr J. Macdonald, Mrs S. Mitchell, Dr. W. Mughal and Mrs L. Papworth-Saunders.

To assist the Governing Body’s decision by ensuring sound management of the School’s finances and resources, including proper strategic planning, monitoring, probity and ratification of major expenditure. We work in partnership with the Headteacher to assist in matters concerning the management of teaching and non-teaching staff. This includes staff appointments, performance management, training and development, grievances, complaints, pay and conditions and discipline.  

Feel free to come and talk to us about any concerns about the structure of our lovely school as well as any potential ideas you may have for development and improvement.

Teaching and Learning

Committee Members: Mr J. Edwards, Mrs J. Greenwood, Mr N. Patterson, Dr. A. Pickering, Mrs A. Sargeant and Mrs N. Starbuck.

To provide a forum to assist in matters concerning the school curriculum and policy including safeguarding. This includes monitoring and reviewing teaching and learning, access to the curriculum, new curriculum opportunities, examination results against agreed targets, careers education and provision for students with special educational needs.


Please approach us with any concerns you have about how the school is addressing the needs of the national curriculum; performance or bullying. Suggestions to enhance teaching methodology and ideas for ways in which the curriculum provision could be improved are also always welcome.

 

Governors who have served in the last 12 months
Rev Alex Jeewan

Term of Office: Ex-Officio
Category: Incumbent
Committee: Teaching & Learning
Areas of Responsibility: Religious Education and Worship
Subject Responsibilities: Early Years and R.E.

Mr Gary Benn

Term of Office: 21/02/2025
Category: General Member
Committee: Finance & Premises
Areas of Responsibility: Health & Safety, and Risk Management
Subject Responsibility: D.T.

Mrs Joanna Hancock

Stepped down: 31/08/22
Category: Foundation Governor
Committee: Teaching & Learning
Areas of Responsibility: Safeguarding and Child Protection
Subject Responsibility: PSHEE

Mrs Adele Peters

Chair of Governors

Stepped down: 31/08/22
Category: General Member
Committee: Finance & Premises
Subject Responsibility: MFL and Computing