Our Governors
Our Fordwater Governors for Academic year 2025 - 2026
Fordwater School Instrument - Jan 2015 (.pdf file)
Fordwater presently has nine 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 | Clare Anderson |
|---|---|
| The Headteacher | Sophie Clarke |
| Staff Governor | Grace Brough |
| Parent Governors | Clare Anderson |
| Co-opted Governors | Chantelle Mason |
| Clerk | Ria Markopoulou |
Frequency of Meetings
Fordwater Governors meet on average twice a term as a full Governing Body, our meetings are held during the school day at the school but Governors do have the option of participating virtually if circumstances prevent Governors attending the school. 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 July 2025 was adopted by Governors at the Full Governing Body Meeting of the 23rd September 2025 which details how Governors are to undertake their duties in fulfilling their assigned roles. Click to view details of this document
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 during the pandemic these were restricted and so we interfaced virtually with staff and school, however now restrictions have been lifted we visit the school as required.
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 relevant Friday training at School.
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 Governors Action Plan for 2024/2025
Proposed Governors Action Plan
Governing Body Meetings
Full Governing Body Meetings for the academic year 2026-27 are scheduled to be held in each term on:
| Autumn Term 2026 | 22nd September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Spring Term 2027 | 19th January 2027 |
| Summer Term 2027 | 11th May 2027 |
Appointments and Membership of Committees
Appointment of Co-Chairs and Vice Chair 2023/24
Fordwater has operated a Co-Chair system since September 2020 and this system is continuing for the new academic year 2025/26, having been ratified at the Full Governor’s Meeting on the 23rd September 2025. The Assignment of tasks and duties split 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:
No formal Vice Chair has been appointed but, in the event, neither of the Co-Chairs are available a Governor will be nominated to act as Vice Chair until such time as the Governing Board decide if there is a need to appoint an official Vice Chair .
Diversity Statement
The governors of Fordwater School believe it is important that boards reflect the diversity of the school communities they serve. Diverse boards promote inclusive school environments and provide diverse role models for staff and young people.
The governors are currently collecting data on the diversity of the board, including data on age, gender, disability, social background and ethnicity.
The data is used to inform their recruitment and training needs and ensure there is always a diverse range of perspectives around the table to support robust decision making.
Due to the governing body being relatively small, diversity data will not be published online as governors could be identified, and the school has a legal obligation to protect their personal data.
- June 2024
Governors Tenure, Declaration of Pecuniary Interest and Attendance 1st Sept 2023 to 31st August 2024
This document summaries length of service , representation ,attendance record at Meetings and any Pecuniary Interests.click the link below to view document details:
Membership of Committees
For the academic year 2026 – 2027 the membership of committees is as follows which was ratified at the Full Governor’s Meeting on the 7th July 2026:
| Headteacher’s Performance Management Panel | Clare Anderson |
|
| Helen Dunne |
|
| Kayleigh Hale |
| Teachers’ Pay and Performance Review Panel | Clare Anderson |
|
| Helen Dunne |
|
| Kayleigh Hale |
| Capital Improvement Committee | Paul Arkle (Chair) |
|
| Kayleigh Hale |
|
| Rosamund Gentle (PFTA) |
|
| Sophie Clarke (Headteacher) |
|
| Ian Potter (Operations & Premises Manager) |
|
| School Business Manager |
|
| Deputy Headteacher |
| Finance Committee | Mrs Clare Anderson (Chair) |
|
| Sophie Clarke (Headteacher) |
|
| School Business Manager |
Clare Anderson
I became a parent Governor in Sept 2024, and Chair of Governors appointed by the Governing Body in September 2026.
I am a corporate communications expert with thirty years’ experience of advising at CEO and board-level and have held board director and senior management team positions at several top ten PR agencies. I set up my own consultancy eleven years’ ago to use my experience of working with major global corporates to help growing, ambitious businesses fulfil their potential with the help of communications which support business and commercial objectives.
I have a BSc in Biological Sciences (Zoology) from University of Birmingham and a MSc from University of Surrey.
My son Joseph currently attends Fordwater’s sixth form provision.
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.
Grace Brough
Staff Governor
Term of office - 2nd January 2024 - 2nd January 2028
Details pending
Kayleigh Hale
I became a parent Governor in Sept 2024 and my review date is Sept 28.
Paul Arkle
I became a Co-opted Governor in April 2024, and my review date is April 2028.
Now retired, my career has spanned several industries. I began working in the railway signalling sector, specialising in transformer design and on-board train safety equipment. I later moved into the field of voice communications, primarily working on the installation of Automatic Call Distribution systems and IP telephony within call centres.
Following retirement, I worked as a part-time tutor at Chichester Foyer for three years. This role was funded by the National Lottery and involved supporting disadvantaged young people aged 16-25. I was also a member of the parent group's national team, facilitating the Lead to Transform with Customers & Clients transformation training programme.
I have volunteered with the Scout Association for over 40 years in a variety of roles at local, district, county and national levels. I am widowed and have three stepchildren and seven grandchildren. My eighth grandchild, Nick, was a pupil at Fordwater and sadly passed away in 2021 at the age of 17.
Helen Dunne
I becam
e a co-opted Governor in May 2026, and my review date is May 2030.
Chantelle Mason
I became a co-opted Governor in May 2026, and my review date is May 2030.
Jane Haynes
I became a Co-opted Governor in Sept 2025 and my review date is Sept 29.
I am a teacher of the Deaf and have taught nursery, primary, secondary and college aged learners, recently retiring as Head of a Sensory Support Centre in a primary school in Crawley.
In each school setting, I also taught swimming and sport alongside my main teaching role as a manager in the senior leadership team.
I live locally, and attend the C of E church in which Fordwater, Summersdale is in the parish. I was a church warden for 4 years including COVID pandemic.
I was recently awarded the King's award for volunteering , having helped at Graylingwell chapel, run or helped with rainbow, brownie, guide, beaver and cub groups. I hosted a family from Ukraine.
I currently manage 2 schools for the Deaf in Ethiopia supported by Crosslinks charity in UK and Deaf Child Hope in USA. I am delighted to be a governor and excited to know how she can best support Summersdale and Kingsham Site staff, pupils and parents.
