Meet the Governors
The Governing Body
Members of the governing body represent the church, the council, the local community, parents, staff and other interested parties. The Governing Body and its committees meet regularly to ensure Thorpe Primary is providing the best education for the pupils.
Our governors work together with the school's senior leadership team (SLT) and subject leaders to focus on the skills and experience that are needed to be effective and contribute to the success of the school.
What the Governing Body does
Our Governing Body join with SLT to ensure the strategic decisions and vision for the school are ambitious ensuring the best possible education for every child.
They have three core functions:
- To ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- To hold the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and it’s pupils, and the performance management of staff
- To oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure money is well spent.
Governing Body Conduct
Governors should be mindful in exercising all their functions and must act with integrity, objectivity and honesty and at all times in the best interests of the school. They should be open about the decisions they make and the actions they take and be prepared to explain their decisions and actions to interested parties.
Holders of public office should be aware of and accept the seven principles of public life: Selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
Structure and Responsibilities of the Governing Body and it's Committees
The full governing body meet at least once each term; at least three times each year. Many tasks are delegated to the committees which each meet once or a term. There are four committees at Thorpe:
Childrens’ Learning – To make sure that the school curriculum fulfils statutory requirements and meets the needs of all pupils in addition to incorporating a rich, relevant and varied learning experience for all pupils. The committee is also responsible for the quality of teaching, pupil progress and pupil outcomes:
Finance and Staffing – To ensure that the school’s spending remains within budget and all funds are spent wisely to meet the best needs of the pupils. The committee also provides input on staffing needs, pay and deployment.
Physical Environment – To ensure that the school’s physical environment is safe, maintained and fit for purpose. The committee also considers the future needs of the school ground and buildings and develops strategies to meet these requirements.
Co-ordination – The chairs of the other committees, together with the Chairman of Governors, the Vice Chairman of Governors and the Headteacher, meet termly at this committee to set the school’s strategy and ensure progress is made towards attaining the school’s goals.
Working parties are set up as required to oversee specific projects and tasks.
The Governors have many roles and will:
- Provide a strategic view of the school
- Oversee financial performance
- Appoint and hold the Headteacher to account for the performance of the school
- Ensure parents are consulted and informed as required
- Oversee admissions
- Set and approve the school budget
- Set challenging targets and monitor pupil progress towards them
- Ensure health and safety issues are addressed
- Ensure buildings are repaired and maintained
- Governors do not get involved in the day to day running of the school.
Thorpe C of E Primary School Governing Body is made up of the following governors:
| Co Chair of Governors: | Mrs Linda Gillham & Mr Andrew West |
|---|---|
| Vice Chair of Governors: | Vacancy to be confirmed |
| Staff Governors | Mrs Helen Southgate Miss Laura White |
| Foundation Governors appointed by Guildford Diocese and St Mary’s Parochial Church Council |
Fr Stephen Girling Mrs Margaret Roberts Mrs Andrea Stirling-Williams Ms Dianne Lees |
| Elected Parents |
Mrs Harriet Turk Mr Stuart Bainbridge |
| Local Authority Governor | Mrs Linda Gillham |
| Associate Governor |
|
| Co-opted Governor | Mrs Susan Holmes |
The Clerk to the Governors is Mrs Katherine Wade and Governors can be contacted via email: clerk@thorpe.surrey.sch.uk