The Role of our Governing Body

The governing board provides strategic leadership and accountability. It has three key functions:

• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
• Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction

Together with the headteacher, governors set the aims and objectives for the school and set the policies and targets for achieving those aims and objectives. They monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making and act as a source of challenge and support to the headteacher.

 All Governors hold a shared vision for the school which is clear, understood and well communicated to staff, pupils and parents.  The Governing Body works strategically, setting clear goals which are focused on raising standards.

Our Governors

Rev Nick Moir - Foundation Governor - Chair

Mr Tim Barrow - Parent Governor - Vice Chair

Dr Fiona Herczog - LA Governor

Mrs Rebecca Wylie - Foundation Governor

Mrs Alissa Nolan- Foundation Governor

Dr Joanna Haywood - Parent Governor
Mrs Rebecca Simpkin Smith - Headteacher

Mrs Sara Smith - Staff Governor

Mrs Ann Abineri - Clerk

Mr Ed Smith - Associate Governor

Mrs Mel Webster - Associate Governor

Canon Nick Moir is the Rector of Teversham (and also Fen Ditton and Horningsea) and is a foundation governor.

He has previously been a vicar in Waterbeach and Chesterton.  He and his family moved to Marleigh in 2022 and Nick has a special interest in the housing developments in our local area and in ensuring that the Church makes a significant contribution to the flourishing of our local communities.

Dr Fiona Herczog’s background is in science, specializing in cell and molecular biology. She has worked for over 25 years as a research scientist leading many different projects in cancer biology and synthetic biology, as well as training people and managing the running of the lab.  She has two children who completed their primary education at the school. She has been a local authority governor since 2016 and is the deputy-chair of the curriculum committee. Specific focus: Pupil Premium/SEND; Maths; Science.

Rebecca Wylie joined the governing body in 2021 as a foundation governor. Prior to this she was a governor of a local nursery school. Her background is in law, having previously worked as a solicitor. She is a parent of three children in the school. Specific focus: School policies; History.

Dr Jo Haywood joined the governing body in 2021 as a parent governor. She has a background in chemistry and education, having taught science at secondary level for over 10 years. She currently leads the Science with Chemistry PGCE course at the University of Cambridge, working with trainee teachers and mentors across a wide range of local schools. She also teaches chemistry at university level, with a focus on inorganic chemistry. Specific focus: Higher attaining children; Early Years; Science.

Tim Barrow joined the governing body as a parent governor in October 2022. His background is in law and he works as a researcher and editor for a publishing company. He has three children at the school. Specific focus: Health and safety; English

Alissa joined the governing body in 2023 as a foundation governor. She is a Christian and has a background in education, completing her PGCE at Cambridge university and then having taught and been head of the Maths Department in a Cambridge secondary school. She was born in Turkey and lived there until she was 12 years old. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, often clothes for her children, and spending time with her family. Specific focus: Maths, Computing

Ann Abineri is a qualified governance clerk and has been clerking at Teversham School since 2008. She has had a long association with the school as a Governor, PTFA member and parent of four children.

The Structure of Governance

As well as meeting twice a term as a Full Governing Body, Teversham Primary School also has two committees, in order to ensure sufficient oversight, support and accountability towards areas of identified priority and statutory coverage. The school names these committees as:

• Resources Committee – which mainly deals with Finance, HR, Health and Safety, and Buildings
• Curriculum Committee – which mainly deals with the curriculum, assessment and data, SEND, and Pupil Premium expenditure and impact

Both committees and the Governing Body overall have a continued oversight of the school’s safeguarding responsibilities and manage the updates of school policies aligned to the particular areas of responsibility.

In addition to the above, the school also constitutes a Pay Committee and Headteacher Performance Management Panel annually.

Committees related to particular purposes such as dealing with complaints or exclusions are constituted as they are required, in line with the determining policy guidance.

Financial Benchmarking

The Governors undertake an annual financial benchmarking exercise - see link for our school's report:

Teversham School Financial Benchmarking Report

Governor Meeting Dates 2023-4

FGB

11th September 2023 - Business meeting

25th September 2023

4th December 2023

11th March 2024

Budget Ratification meeting date TBC

20th May 2024

1st July 2024

Resources Committee

6th November 2023

Curriculum Committee

20th November 2023

5th February 2024

29th April 2024

Other meetings may be called at short notice