Our Governors
Our Fordwater Governors for Academic year 2021 - 2022
Fordwater School Instrument - Jan 2015 (.pdf file)
Fordwater has ten Governors and a professional Clerk as follows in accordance with the Instrument of Governance setting up the present Governing Body.
To view the Fordwater School Instrument of Governance document please click on the link above.
| Local Authority Governor | Mrs Therese Brook |
|---|---|
| The Headteacher | Ms Sophie Clarke |
| Staff Governor | Vacancy |
| Parent Governors |
Ms Lora Waymark |
| Co-opted Governors |
Mr Roy Hawkins-Dady |
| Clerk | Mrs Emma Symonds |
Frequency of Meetings
Fordwater Governors meet twice a term as a full Governing Body, our meetings are held during the school day and during the present corona virus crisis are being held virtually.
All our Governors have experience and skills which they give voluntarily to support the school.
Core Functions of Governing Body
We have three core functions which are the same for all schools as set out in the (Governance Handbook - March 2019)
1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
2. Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.
Governing Body Code of Conduct
The National Governance Association (NGA) latest code of conduct dated August 2020 was adopted by Governors at the Full Governing Body Meeting of the 21st September 2020, which details how Governors are to undertake their duties in fulfilling their as-signed roles.Click the link below to view details of this document NGA Code of conduct.
NGA-Code-of-conduct-2021-22.pdf
Governor Roles, Committees and Meetings
Individual Governors have specific roles and responsibilities which enables us to be better informed, proactive and supportive to the senior school leaders.
We have statutory committees, a Finance Committee and Capital Improvement Committee and form Task and Finish Groups when needed.
At the beginning of each academic year we hold an extra meeting when we review our annual Governors’ Action Plan and set our targets for the coming year and elect Governors to particular roles and to serve on Committees.
We normally make focused visits to the school but these are presently restricted due to the pandemic and so we are interfacing virtually with staff at the school.
We like to keep our stakeholders informed by contributing to the Fordwater Bugle newsletter.
We continue our own development by presently participating in on-line training courses, webinar briefings and conferences.
Non-confidential Governing Body Minutes are available from the Clerk to the Governors who may be contacted through the School Office. The Chair of Governors may also be contacted through the School Office.
Governors Action Plan
Please click on the link below for details on the summary review for the 2019/2020 Governors plan.
Governors-Action-Plan-Review-2019-20.pdf
Please click on the link below for details on the Governors Action Plan for 2020/2021.
Governors-Action-Plan-2021-22.pdf
Governing Body Meetings
Full Governing Body Meetings for the academic year 2020 – 2021 are scheduled to be held in each term on:
| Autumn Term 2020 |
15th September 2021 |
|---|---|
| Spring Term 2021 |
8th February 2022 |
| Summer Term 2021 | 10th May 2022 5th July 2022 |
Appointments and Membership of Committees
Appointment of Co-Chairs and Vice Chair 2021/22
Fordwater has operated a Co-Chair System since September 2020, and this system is continuing for the new academic year 2021/22, having been ratified at the Full Governor's Meeting on the 15th September 2021. The assignment of tasks and duties spit between the 2 Co-Chairs, Therese Brook and Roy Hawkins-Dady are detailed in the following table which can be viewed by clicking on the link below:
No formal Vice Chair has been appointed but in the event neither of the Co-Chairs are available Sally Morgan will act as nominated Vice Chair until such time as the Governing Board decide to appoint an official Vice Chair.
Membership of Committees
For the academic year 2021 – 2022 the membership of committees is as follows which was ratified at the Full Governor’s Meeting on the 15th September 2021:
| Headteacher’s Performance Management Panel |
Mrs T. Brook |
|---|---|
| Teachers’ Pay and Performance Review Panel |
Mrs S. Morgan |
| Capital Improvement Committee |
Mr R. Hawkins-Dady (Chair) |
| Finance Committee |
Mrs June O' Hara (Chair) |
Governors Tenure, Declaration of Pecuniary Interest and Attendance 1st Sept 2020 to 31st August 2021
This document summaries length of service , representation ,attendance record at Meetings and any Pecuniary Interests.click the link below to view document details:
Governors-attendance-2020-to-2021.pdf
Mr Roy Hawkins Dady
- Co-opted Governor appointed by the Governing Body
- Co-Chair of Governors
- Chair of Capital Improvement Committee
- Finance Committee
- Head Teacher’s Performance Management Panel
- Teachers’ Pay and Performance Review Panel
- Pupil Premium Governor
I became a Co-opted Governor in September 2018 and Co-Chair to the Governing body in September 2020, my review date is September 2022.
I retired in December 2016 after working 17years with West Sussex County Council where I was involved in contract and project management work relating to schools and non-educational establishments.
I worked for 22 years overseas mainly in the Middle East and Africa providing procurement administrative and cost control services.
Mrs Therese Brook F.I.O.H., F.R.S.P.M.
- Local Authority Governor appointed by West Sussex County Council
- Co-Chair of Governors
- Headteacher’s Performance Management Panel
- Teachers’ Pay and Performance Review Panel
- Finance Committee
- Capital Improvement Committee
- Novio Governor
- Special School Governor on the School’s Forum
I have been a school Govenor since 2005, became a Co-opted Governor of Fordwater in January 2015, and a Local Authority Governor with West Sussex County Council and Co-Chair to the Governing Body in September 2020, my term is due for review in January 2023.
I worked as the County Catering Advisor for the local authority for 12 years.
I am an active Rotary member working with the Aldingbourne Trust and the Woman’s Refuge and Families in need.
Miss Sophie Clarke B.A. Hons, M.A, Q.T.S.
- Headteacher Governor
- Finance Committee
- Capital Improvement Committee
I have worked in special education the majority of my working life and have a passion for improving and sustaining outcomes for pupils with SEN. I have worked though from reading assistant, though to teacher, department leader, deputy and head. I have worked with a range of pupils with complex needs and for the last 10 years I have specialised in autism and challenging behaviour. Fordwater is my second headship.
Mrs Sally Morgan M.C.S.P.
- Co-opted Governor appointed by the Governing Body
- Nominated Vice Chair on temporary basis
- Headteachers Performance Management Panel
- Safeguarding Governor
- Pupil Voice Governor
I first became a Community Governor in March 2010, I became a Co-opted Governor In January 2015, my term is due for review in January 2023.
I have worked as a physiotherapist in the Child Assessment Unit and as co-ordinator of the volunteers at St Wilfrid’s Hospice. I was also Governor at Parklands CP School.
Mrs Keeley Burriss
- Parent Governor appointed by Fordwater Parents
- Health and Safety Governor
I became a Parent Governor in March 2019, my term is due for review in March 2023
Mainly working in early years education, I have always had a keen interest in child development and different teaching techniques.
I was a Sure Start Outreach worker for seven years and then a Portage home visitor for 2 years before leaving to be a full time carer for my son Finley who is thriving at Fordwater.
Mrs Emma Symonds
-
Clerk to the Governors
I clerk locally for 3 other schools, and am excited to join Fordwater.
I am highly organised and look forward to working with the Governing Body.
Mrs June O’Hara BSc (Hons), MA
I became a Co-opted Governor in March 2021 and my term is due for review in February 2025
My 30 year career has spanned the whole supply chain, from product development, procurement, process management budgeting, forecasting to supplier auditing and training; this included three years as Monitoring Officer for County Catering Advisory Service for educational establishments in WSCC.
In 2018, I completed an MA in Textiles. I am now a textile designer, specialising in salmon leather and print for upholstery and furnishings.
Ms Lora Waymark
Parent Governor Appointed by Governing Body
I became a parent Governor on the 17th May 2021 and my review date is the 16th May 2025
Prior to the birth of my son Arthur and becoming a full time Parent Carer I was a secondary teacher in humanities. I have worked and volunteered in a variety of roles with young people including Scouting, youth work, alternative education provision and summer camps.
I have a keen interest in the benefits of nature and being outdoors and particularly how this has a positive impact on children and young people's development and confidence. Our family has an allotment which we enjoy working on and I volunteer at The Pavillion making coffee for the local community"
