Our Governors
Fordwater Governors 2017 – 2018
Fordwater has ten Governors and a professional Clerk as follows:
| Local Authority Governor | Mrs Beryl Dyton |
|---|---|
| The Headteacher | Miss Sophie Clarke |
| Staff Governor | Mrs Donna Pratt |
| Parent Governors | Mr StJohn Trundle Mr Iain Mortimer |
| Co-opted Governors | Mrs Therese Brook Mrs Sally Morgan Mrs Bridget Wright |
| Clerk | Vacancy |
Fordwater Governors meet twice a term as a full Governing Body. All our Governors have experience and skills which they give voluntarily to support the school.
Our role is threefold:
- Establishing the strategic direction by: setting the vision, values and objectives for the school, agreeing the school improvement strategy with priorities and targets and meeting statutory duties
- Ensuring accountability by: appointing the Headteacher, monitoring progress towards targets; performance managing the headteacher; engaging with stakeholders and contributing to school self-evaluation
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school by: setting the budget, monitoring spending against the budget; ensuring value for money is obtained and ensuring risks to the school are managed.
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 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 our Governors’ News item in the school’s termly 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.
Governing Body Meetings
Full Governing Body Meetings for the academic year 2017 – 2018 are scheduled to be held on:
| Autumn Term 2017 |
13th September |
|---|---|
| Spring Term 2018 |
31st January |
| Summer Term 2018 | 17th May 27th June |
Since March 2018 all meeting are held within school hours.
Membership of the Finance and Statutory Committees
For the academic year 2017 – 2018 the membership of the finance and statutory committees is as follows:
| Headteacher’s Performance Management Panel | B. Dyton T. Brook S Morgan |
|---|---|
| Teachers’ Pay and Performance Review Panel | B. Dyton T. Brook S. Morgan |
| Pupil Discipline Committee |
B. Dyton |
| Staff Dismissal Appeal Committee | St. J Trundle IM Quigley T. Brook B. Wright |
| Finance Committee |
I. Mortimer (Chair) St J. Trundle The Headteacher |
GOVERNING BODY OF FORDWATER SCHOOL.
Our Governing Body consists of ten members and operates with one committee structure.
|
Full name of Governor |
Governor Category |
Date of current Appointment or Election |
Source of Appointment (where appropriate) |
Term of office/Roles within GB |
Attendance at full GB Meetings* |
Committee membership |
Attendance at committee meetings* |
Declarations on register of business & pecuniary interest |
Remarks |
|
Mrs Beryl Dyton
|
Local Authority |
Sep 2004 – Sep 2020 |
Local Authority |
Chair of Governors Headteacher’s Performance Management Panel, Teacher’s Pay and Performance Review Panel, Finance Committee, Website Governor |
7 (7) |
Finance |
3 (3) |
None |
none |
|
Ms Sophie Clarke
|
Headteacher |
Head since 1 September 2017
|
Headteacher |
Headteacher, Teacher’s Pay and Performance Review Panel Finance Committee |
N/A
|
Finance |
1 (1) |
Fordwater Headteacher Member of the National Association of Headteachers |
none |
|
Mrs Donna Pratt |
Staff
|
Jan 2015 – Jan 2019 |
Fordwater Staff |
Staff Governor |
6 (7) |
N/A |
N/A |
Fordwater SSA Son is a cleaner at Fordwater |
none |
|
Mrs Jo Slater |
Parent
|
Jan 2010 – Jan 2018 |
Fordwater Parents |
Pupil and Sport Premium |
4 (7) |
N/A |
N/A |
Arundel CofE School Teacher |
none Completed term Jan 18
|
|
Mr St John Trundle |
Parent |
Jan 2014 – Jan 2022 |
Fordwater Parents |
Building Projects, Finance Committee |
7(7) |
Finance |
3(3) |
None |
None |
|
Mrs Therese Brook |
Co-opted |
Feb 2005 – Jan 2019 |
Fordwater Governors |
Vice Chair of Governors, Headteacher’s Performance Management Panel, Teacher’s Pay and Performance Review Panel, Finance Committee, NOVIO |
5(7) |
Finance |
3(3) |
Part –time Catering Management Consultant: Donnington House, Lodge Hill, Some secondary schools |
None |
|
Mrs InnesMary Quigley |
Co-opted
|
Apr 2009 – Jan 2019 |
Fordwater Governors |
Headteachers Performance Management Panel, Teacher’s Pay and Performance Review Panel |
5(7) |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
None Resigned Dec 17 |
|
Mrs Sally Morgan |
Co-opted |
Mar 2010- Jan 2019 |
Fordwater Governors |
Safeguarding, Pupil Voice |
6(7) |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
None |
|
Mrs Bridget Wright |
Co-opted |
Dec 2007 – Jan 2019 |
Fordwater Governors |
Health & Safety, Training |
5(7) |
N/A |
N/A |
None |
None |
|
Mr Iain Mortimer |
Parent |
May 2017- June 2021 |
Fordwater Parents |
Chair of Finance |
2(2) |
Finance |
1(1)
|
Spouse of a teacher. Member and Chair of FDF and Food Hygiene committee and Member of project steering groups
|
None |
*Attendance during previous academic year to 31/8/2017
Changes to Governing Body during previous academic year to 31/8/2017
|
Full name of Governor |
Governor Category |
Date of current Appointment or Election |
Source of Appointment (where appropriate) |
Term of office/Roles within GB |
Attendance at full GB Meetings* |
Committee membership |
Attendance at committee meetings* |
Declarations on register of business & pecuniary interest |
Remarks |
|
Mrs Sue Meekings |
Headteacher |
Head since Sep 2007 Retired 31 August 2017 |
Headteacher |
Headteacher, Teacher’s Pay and Performance Review Panel Finance Committee |
7(7) |
Finance |
3(3) |
Fordwater Headteacher |
|
|
Mr Miguel Gonzalez
|
|
May 2014 Left the Governing Body Dec 16
|
Fordwater Parents |
E-Safety Governor Finance Committee
|
2(3) |
Finance |
1(1) |
Spouse Fordwater SSA |
None |
A change in Governors took place during the academic year ended 31/8/2017:
Mr Miguel Gonzalez resigned his post as Parent Governor in December 2016.
Mr Iain Mortimer was appointed Parent Governor in May 2017
Mrs Sue Meekings retired as Headteacher on 31st August 2017
Miss Sophie Clarke was appointed Headteacher on 31st August 2017
Mrs Beryl Dyton
- Local Authority Governor appointed by West Sussex Local Authority
- Chair of Governors
- Headteacher’s Performance Management Panel
- Teachers’ Pay and Performance Review 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
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 Donna Pratt
- Staff Governor appointed by the School Staff
I became the Staff Governor in January 2015, my term is due for review in January 2019.
I have worked as an SSA at Fordwater School in various classes since September 2010.
Mr St John Trundle
- Parent Governor appointed by Fordwater Parents
- Building Project Governor
- Finance 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
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 is 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
- 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 2019.
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
- Teachers Pay and Performance Review 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 2019.
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 Bridget Wright
- Co-opted Governor appointed by the Governing Body
- Health and Safety Governor
- Link Governor for Governor Training
I first became a Parent Governor in December 2007 when my son Francis was a pupil. He left Fordwater in 2013. I became a Co-opted Governor in January 2015. My review date is January 2019.
I help with community groups. I organise a tennis club and am assistant treasurer of a sailing club. I was a Governor at West Wittering Primary School.
Carol Groves
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.
