Our Governors
Fordwater Governors 2019 – 2020
Fordwater has ten Governors and a professional Clerk as follows:
| Local Authority Governor | Mrs Beryl Dyton |
|---|---|
| The Headteacher | Ms Sophie Clarke |
| Staff Governor | Mrs Ski Hibberd |
| Parent Governors |
Mr StJohn Trundle Mrs Keeley Burriss |
| Co-opted Governors |
Mrs Therese Brook Mr Roy Hawkins-Dady Vacancy |
| Clerk | Mrs Carol Groves |
Fordwater Governors meet twice a term as a full Governing Body, our meetings are held during the school day. All our Governors have experience and skills which they give voluntarily to support the school.
We have three core functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- 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
- Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent
(Governance Handbook – March 2019)
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, and a Capital Improvement Committee a Finance 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. We make focused visits to the school and keep all our stakeholders informed by contributing to the Fordwater Bugle newsletter.
We continue our own development by attending training courses, briefings and conferences. We also hold In School Training Sessions to which we invite other special schools.
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-18-19-review-and-impact.pdf
Governing Body Meetings
Full Governing Body Meetings for the academic year 2019 – 2020 are scheduled to be held on:
| Autumn Term 2019 |
9th September |
|---|---|
| Spring Term 2020 |
10th February |
| Summer Term 2020 | 4th May 6th July |
Membership of Committees
For the academic year 2019 – 2020 the membership of committees is as follows:
| Headteacher’s Performance Management Panel | B. Dyton T. Brook S Morgan |
|---|---|
| Teachers’ Pay and Performance Review Panel |
I. Mortimer T. Brook |
| Capital Improvement Committee |
R. Hawkins-Dady (Chair) T. Brook StJohn Trundle Rosamund Gentle (PTA) Headteacher School Business Manager Deputy Headteacher (KC) |
| Finance Committee |
I. Mortimer (Chair) St J. Trundle R. Hawkins-Dady Headteacher |
Mrs Beryl Dyton
- Local Authority Governor appointed by West Sussex Local Authority
- Chair of Governors
- Headteacher’s Performance Management Panel
- Finance Committee
- Website Governor
I have been a Governor at Fordwater since September 2004 and became the Chair of Governors in May 2008 my present term is due for review in September 2020
I have worked as a Secretary at a Special School and have experience of leading and chairing church groups.
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 Ski Hibberd
- Staff Governor appointed by the School Staff
I became the Staff Governor in March 2019, my term is due for review in March 2023
I have worked at Fordwater School since 2006, having started as an MMA and SSA Supply cover where I gained experience across the whole of the school. I then worked as an SSA in Swans Class (now Flamingos), Pandas, Ladybirds and Dolphins.
Prior to joining the Fordwater family, whilst raising my own family, I ran my own business. During this time I was a Parent Governor at Jessie Younghusband School.
I also have 10 years of HR experience with West Sussex County Council within Social Services and the Education Department.
Mr St John Trundle
- Parent Governor appointed by Fordwater Parents
- Building Project Governor
- Capital Improvement Committee
I have been a Parent Governor since January 2014, my term is due for review in January 2022.
I am the father of Jack Trundle who has been a pupil at Fordwater since 2012.
I am self-employed and work in the building industry as a Controls Engineer and have previously held positions in finance and management.
Mr Iain Mortimer
- Parent Governor appointed by Fordwater Parents
- Chair of Finance Committee
- Teachers’ Pay and Performance Review Panel
- GDPR Governor
I have been a parent Governor since May 2017, my term is due for review in May 2021. I am the father of Eleanor Mortimer who was in the Sixth Form. I work as a senior quality manager in the food industry within which I am an active member or chair on a number of committees or steering groups.
For leisure I enjoy fly tying and fishing and volunteer as a leader for an adult additional needs group through my church.
Mrs Therese Brook F.I.O.H., F.R.S.P.M.
- Co-opted Governor appointed by the Governing Body
- Vice 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 first became a Local Authority Governor in February 2005, I became a Co-opted Governor in January 2015, 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.
Mrs Sally Morgan M.C.S.P.
- Co-opted Governor appointed by the Governing Body
- 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.
Roy Hawkins Dady
- ​Co-opted Governor appointed by the Governing Body
- Chair of Capital Improvement Committee
- Finance Committee
- Teachers’ Pay and Performance Review Panel
- Pupil Premium Governor
I became a Co-opted Governor in September 2018 and 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 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 Carol Groves
- Clerk to the Governors
This is my first role as a Clerk to the Governors. My skills include governance, leadership, organisational and administration.
In addition I have had experience of chairing and taking minutes both in a professional and a voluntary capacity.
