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Governors

The Polehampton Local Governing Board works across both Polehampton CE Infant School and Polehampton CE Junior School. Governors are responsible to The Keys Academy Trust (TKAT) for monitoring and evaluating the performance and effectiveness of our school, working closely with the Heads of School and staff, as well as the CEO and Trustees of TKAT.

Governors act as a critical friend, with the following core functions:

  • To ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction for the school;

  • To hold leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils and the performance management of staff;

  • To oversee the financial management of the school; and

  • To maintain ultimate responsibility for safeguarding: are children safe – and do they feel safe?

Our Christian Vision:

In all of their work with the school, TKAT and the wider local community, the Local Governing Board aims to promote and protect the schools’ Christian vision – to “Let your light shine” – with this vision sitting as a foundation stone under our curriculum vision and our school values.

Governors recognise that we are all special in God’s eyes and have unique talents, which must be nurtured so that each of us has the opportunity to become the very best person that God intended us to be. Through faith and conviction, the Local Governing Board wants to encourage all of our children - and staff and governors! - to aspire and to let their light shine; to make a difference and be proud of this; and to value and respect the light of others.

We want every one of our school community to shine a light and make a difference in their classrooms, throughout the school and when they return home and into their community. 

Governance Structure:

Governors are appointed by TKAT (with the exception of parent and staff governors, who are elected by parents and staff respectively). Governors are all volunteers, bringing with them a broad range of skills. Work is undertaken through participation in regular Local Governing Board meetings, together with visits to the schools and discussion with the schools’ leadership team.

Governors are not involved in the day to day working of the school but work more strategically.  The day to day running of the school – and responsibility for the implementation of the schools’ strategic vision – sits with the Executive Head, Heads of School and the School Leadership Team.

For information about governance in The Keys Academy Trust, please see here

Getting in touch:

It is our aim as a Local Governing Board to be as open and as approachable as possible, therefore we are keen to hear from you if you have any questions relating to the school from a strategic perspective. Please continue to speak with your class teacher and the Heads of School for all other matters relating to your child – as they will be best-placed to assist.

To reach governors, please drop an email to governors@polehampton-inf.wokingham.sch.uk or leave a message at either schools’ reception with your question and we will come back to you.

Governor details:

Please find below various useful information regarding the current Local Governing Board:
 

Committee Membership:

Name

Category

Additional responsibilities

Term of office 

James Smith

Trust

Chair of Local Governing Board

c/o Polehampton Infant School,
Hermitage Drive,

Twyford, RG10 9HS

 

GDPR

Governor Development
Sports Premium

01/09/2020 – 31/08/2024

Cathy Abell

Trust

-

01/09/2023 – 31/08/2027

Cherry Gale

Staff

-

16/06/2023 – 15/06/2027

Louise Cockrell

Trust

-

06/12/2022 – 05/12/2026

Anna Lippett

Parent

Vice Chair of Local Governing Board

Listening and Wellbeing Governor

01/09/2022 – 31/08/2026

Sarah Tang

Parent

Inclusion Governor (SEND and Pupil Premium)
Safeguarding and Looked-After Children

01/09/2022 – 31/08/2026

Anna Stevens

Foundation

SIAMS

 

22/09/2023 – 21/09/2024

Phil Sherwood

Ex Officio

Headteacher

 

n/a

Brian Rogers

Note: Currently on Sabbatical

Trust

Health & Safety

14/07/2022 – 13/07/2026

(sabbatical 01/01/2024 – 31/08/2024)

Vacancy

Foundation

 

 

Susan Watkins

-

Governance Professional (Clerk to the Governors)

n/a

Governors’ prior academic year attendance:

Name

Local Governing Board Meetings 2022/2023

Committee Attendance 2022/2023

James Smith

6/6

12/13

Helen Ball

2/2

5/5

Nicola Bradshaw

5/6

4/6

Brian Rogers

3/6

2/3

Sarah Tang

6/6

6/6

Anna Lippett

6/6

8/8

Anna Stevens

3/6

4/5

Phil Sherwood

1/1

n/a

Henry Carruthers

6/6

6/7

Barbara Carr

0/2

0/3

Louise Cockrell

2/4

3/4

Cherry Gale

1/1

1/1

Previous Governors:

The following governors left the Governing Body in the last twelve months:

Category

Name

End date

Executive Headteacher

Helen Ball

30.06.2023

Foundation

Barbara Carr

16.12.2022

Trust

Henry Carruthers

31.8.23

Staff

Nicola Bradshaw

31.8.23

Register of Other Interests as at September 2022  - Updated July 2023

Relevant interests:

Name

Other Interests

James Smith

Trustee of David George Trust

Brian Rogers

Trustee of Twyford Snooker Club

Anna Stevens

Parent

Anna Lippett

Parent

Sarah Tang

Parent, Employee of NFER

Phil Sherwood

Headteacher of Sonning CE Primary School

Cherry Gale

Parent, staff

Louise Cockrell

Parent

Cathy Abell

none