Governors
The majority of the Governors are representatives of the Church of England, and traditionally have greater responsibility for the management of the schools than other Governing Boards. They are responsible for admissions to the school, determine the nature of religious education and worship and decide the general curriculum policy for the school.
The school is owned by the Diocese, and the Governors, unlike most schools, are responsible for finding a proportion of the money for repairs and improvements. Parents are asked to contribute to a Governor's collection once a year to help meet these financial commitments.
Our Governing Board has two committees: Standards and Welfare and Finance.
Governing Board 22/23
Name |
Type of Governor |
Mrs Jill Saunders | Chair of Governors Foundation/ Deanery |
Mrs Jean Brownsword | Vice Chair of Governors Foundation/PCC |
Mrs Luese Spanou | Local Authority |
Dr Matthew Newton Ede | Foundation/PCC |
Mrs Lyn Haden | Staff Governor |
Vacancy | Foundation - Ex Officio |
Mr Andrew Murphy | Headteacher |
Mrs Jane Olly | Parent Governor |
Mrs Julie Milner | Foundation Governor/Diocese |
Mr Matthew Ling | Parent Governor |
Mrs Claire Brough | Foundation Governor/Diocese |
Vacancy | Foundation Governor/Diocese |
Mrs Flavia Highfield | Clerk to the Governing Body |
Annual Governance Statement Dec 2022
Governor Details and Pecuniary Interests
Name: Mrs Jill Saunders
Category of Governor: Foundation Deanery
Role/Interest: Chair of Governors, Pupil Premium
Committee Member:
Chair of Standards & Welfare
Term of Office: 4 Years
Date Appointed: 1/6/20
Voting Rights: Full
Declaration of Business Interests: Wentworth Education - Partner
Affiliation with any other Educational Establishment: Director and Vice-Chair of Birmingham Church of England Diocesan Board of Education Trust; Trustee & Vice-Chair - Titan Education Trust; Trustee and Chair of LGB - EBN Academy.
Attendance for meetings 2022/23:
Full Governors: 100%
Standards and welfare: 100%
Name: Mrs Jean Brownsword
Category of Governor: Foundation/PCC
Role/Interest: Vice Chair of Governors, Year 3, English
Committee Member: Chair of Finance
Term of Office: 4 Years + 4 years
Date Appointed: 1/12/18
Voting Rights: Full
Declaration of Business Interests: None
Affiliation with any other Educational Establishment: None
Attendance for meetings 2022/23:
Full Governors: 100%
Finance: 100%
Name: Mr Andrew Murphy
Category of Governor: Headteacher
Role/Interest: Headteacher
Committee Member: Standards & Welfare and Finance
Term of Office: N/A
Date Appointed: 19th April 2021
Voting Rights: Full
Declaration of Business Interests: None
Affiliation with any other Educational Establishment: None
Attendance for meetings 2022/23:
Full Governors: 100%
Standards and welfare: 100%
Finance: 100%
Name: Mrs Luese Spanou
Category of Governor: LA
Role/Interest: Health & Safety
Committee Member: Finance Treasurer
Term of Office: 4 years
Date Appointed: Reappointment from 1/09/2021
Voting Rights: Full
Declaration of Business Interests: None
Affiliation with any other Educational Establishment: None
Attendance for meetings 2022/23:
Full Governors: 40%
Finance: 100%
Name: Mrs Lyn Haden
Category of Governor: Staff
Role/Interest: SEND, Wider Curriculum
Committee Member: Standards & Welfare and Finance
Term of Office: 4 Years
Date Appointed: 31/07/2020
Voting Rights: Full
Declaration of Business Interests: None
Affiliation with any other Educational Establishment: None
Attendance for meetings 2022/23:
Full Governors: 80%
Standards and welfare: 100%
Finance: 100%
Name: Mrs Jane Olly
Category of Governor: Parent
Role/Interest: SEND / RE / Collective Worship
Committee Member: Standards
Term of Office: 4 Years
Date Appointed: 22/03/22
Voting Rights: Full
Declaration of Business Interests: None
Affiliation with any other Educational Establishment: Father - Chair of GB St Laurence Church Infant School
Attendance for meetings 2022/23:
Full Governors: 100%
Standards and welfare: 66%
Name: Mr Matthew Ling
Category of Governor: Parent
Role/Interest: Safeguarding
Committee Member: Finance
Term of Office: 4 Years
Date Appointed: 22/03/22
Voting Rights: Full
Declaration of Business Interests: None
Affiliation with any other Educational Establishment:
Attendance for meetings 2022/23:
Full Governors: 100%
Standards and welfare: 100%
Name: Mrs Julie Milner
Category of Governor: Foundation Diocese
Role/Interest:
Committee Member: Finance
Term of Office: 4 Years - term extended to 07/04/2024
Date Appointed: 1/10/19
Voting Rights: Full
Declaration of Business Interests: None
Affiliation with any other Educational Establishment: Strategic Business Manager STLRNCJ
Attendance for meetings 2022/23:
Full Governors: 100%
Finance: 100%
Name: Dr Matthew Newton Ede
Category of Governor: Foundation/PCC
Role/Interest: Wider Curriculum
Committee Member: Standards & Welfare
Term of Office: 4 Years (Parent) + 4 Years (Foundation)
Date Appointed: 1/1/17 + 1/03/22
Voting Rights: Full
Declaration of Business Interests: None
Affiliation with any other Educational Establishment: None
Attendance for meetings 2022/23:
Full Governors: 60%
Standards and welfare: 33%
Name: Mrs Claire Brough
Category of Governor: Foundation Diocese
Role/Interest: Transition, Maths and Year 5
Committee Member: Standards & Welfare
Term of Office: 4 Years parent + 4 years foundation
Date Appointed: 01/12/16
Voting Rights: Full
Declaration of Business Interests: None
Affiliation with any other Educational Establishment: None
Attendance for meetings 2022/23:
Full Governors: 100%
Standards and welfare: 100%
Name: Canon Janet Chapman - left June 2023
Category of Governor: Ex Officio
Role/Interest: Worship
Committee Member: Standards & Welfare
Term of Office: N/A
Date Appointed: 1/9/16
Voting Rights: Full
Declaration of Business Interests: None
Personal Interests: Brenda Parkhouse, Independent Book Retailer
Affiliation with any other Educational Establishment: St Laurence Church Infant School
Attendance for meetings 2022/23:
Full Governors: 20% - deputised by Revd Theresa Morton - 60%
Mrs Flavia Highfield is the clerk.
Diversity Data
As a school we recognise that a diversity of thought, voices and perspectives is essential to good governance and the effective running of any organisation. We regularly collect diversity information from our governors and, depending on current data, can use this to:
➢ target recruitment to address gaps in experience and diversity
➢ develop and adapt board practices to ensure full participation
➢ prioritise training and awareness-raising in identified areas
➢ address potential ‘blind spots’ through seeking wider advice and perspectives on current and upcoming opportunities, challenges and risks
However, we are unable to publish this information as it would mean that individual members of our governing body are identifiable.