St Margaret's CofE
Primary School
A welcoming village school in the of the Rottingdean community
Generosity
Respect
Aspiration
Community
Excellence
Governors
Our Governors
A warm welcome from the St Margaret’s Governing Body!
Governors work with senior leaders in setting the strategic direction of the school and in raising standards of achievement. We have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
- Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff.
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
The Governing Body is made up of the Headteacher, Foundation Governors (who are appointed by the Diocese), elected Parents/Carers, an elected staff Governor, a Local Authority appointed Governor and a Co-opted Governor.
Governors both support and challenge the Headteacher, so need to gain an understanding of the school’s overall performance in order to explain its decisions and actions. We do this by attending regular meetings, carrying out school visits and meeting with senior leaders. We also attend training in order to keep up to date with the requirements of our role. We work as a team and make collective decisions.
The Full Governing Body (FGB) meets as a whole group at least 5 times a year, although additional meetings may be called as required.
2021-22 FGB Meeting Dates:
- 27th September 2021
- 29th November 2021
- 29th March 2022
- 16th May 2022
- 18th July 2022
Board Membership
The Governing Board is structured as follows:
NAME | ROLE | TERM OF OFFICE | APPOINTED BY | ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT DATE | FGB MEETINGS ATTENDED 2020-2021 |
Belle Howard | Foundation Governor Co-Chair of Governors | 08/10/2019-07/10/2023 | Diocese | 08/10/2015 | 6/6 |
Kyri Souppouris | Foundation Governor Co-Chair of Governors | 17/02/2020-16/02/2024 | Diocese | 17/02/2016 | 6/6 |
Lindsey Dearnley | Parent Governor Vice Chair of Governors | 07/08/2018-06/08/2022 | Parents | 07/08/2018 | 6/6 |
Rachel Kershaw | Head Teacher | While in office | By virtue of office | 01/09/2018 | 6/6 |
Father Anthony Moore | Foundation Governor | While in office | By virtue of Office | 26/10/2016 | 6/6 |
Joanna Vowles | Foundation Governor | 28/09/2018-27/09/2022 | Diocese | 28/09/2018 | 6/6 |
Judith Hewitt | Foundation Governor | 21/11/2019-20/11/2023 | Diocese | 21/11/2019 | 6/6 |
Vanessa Britton | Foundation Governor | 24/09/2019-23/09/2023 | Diocese
| 24/09/2019 | 5/6 |
Sodi Toby | Foundation Governor | 21/01/2022-20/01/2026 | Diocese | 22/05/2019 | 6/6 |
| Paul Redfern | Foundation Governor | 04/03/2022-03/03/2026 | Diocese | 04/03/2022 | N/A |
Niall Howell | Co-opted Governor | 25/03/2021-24/03/2025 | Governing Board | 25/03/2021 | 2/3 |
| Victoria Greenough | Staff Governor | 15/11/2021-14/11/2025 | Staff | 15/11/2021 | N/A |
| Lucy Archer | Parent Governor | 07/02/2022-06/02/2026 | Parents | 07/02/2022 | N/A |
Governors who have stepped down/terms of office expired in the last 12 months:
NAME | ROLE | DATE FROM | DATE ENDED | REASON | FGB MEETINGS ATTENDED 2020-2021 |
| Graham Sheppard | Local Authority Governor | 01/02/2021 | 02/12/2021 | Resigned | 4/4 |
| Diana Farrell | Foundation Governor | 20/11/2017 | 19/11/2021 | Term ended | 6/6 |
| Rachel Goddard | Staff Governor | 28/09/2018 | 01/11/2021 | Resigned | 4/6 |
| Alison Patrick | Foundation Governor | 07/08/2018 | 18/06/2021 | Resigned | 4/5 |
Enquiries for the St Margaret’s Governing Body can be directed to Tracey Paul, Senior Clerk to Governors - traceypaul@stmargarets.brighton-hove.sch.uk
Copies of FGB meeting minutes are available on request. Please contact the Clerk for more information.
Declaration of Interests
NAME | DATE OF DECLARATION | INTEREST DISCLOSED |
Belle Howard | 15/09/2020 | Senior Clerk to Governors at Hove Junior School Works for the Governance & Clerking Service at a neighbouring Local Authority. |
Kyri Souppouris | 14/09/2020 | Nil Return |
Lindsey Dearnley | 16/11/2020 | Nil Return |
Rachel Kershaw | 10/09/2020 | Nil Return |
Father Anthony Moore | 16/09/2020 | Nil Return |
Diana Farrell | 29/11/2020 | Nil Return |
Joanna Vowles | 17/11/2020 | Nil Return |
Judith Hewitt | 04/11/2020 | Nil Return |
Vanessa Britton | 18/11/2020 | Nil Return |
Sodi Toby | 15/11/2020 | Nil Return |
| Graham Sheppard | 02/02/2021 | Member of Rottingdean Parish Council. Organiser the of Rottingdean Village Fair. Rottingdean Village News (non-profit community magazine) - responsible for local advertising. |
| Niall Howell | 25/05/2021 | Watch Manager for East Sussex Fire Rescue Service. Director of a Health & Safety Company, which offers advice to building firms. |
Governor Vacancies
There is currently a vacancy for 1 Local Authority Governor on the Governing Board.
Governor Newsletter
Committees
The Governing Body is also supported by the following Committees:
Resources Committee
Responsible for overseeing the financial performance of the school and ensuring its money is spent well. This committee also has responsibility for ensuring the effective and efficient performance management of staff. The Resources Committee meets 5 times per year.
Committee Chair | Lindsey Dearnley |
Committee Vice Chair | Kyri Souppouris |
Other Committee Members | Rachel Kershaw, Jo Vowles, Judith Hewitt, Vanessa Britton, Niall Howell |
2021-22 Meeting Dates |
|
Achievement & Curriculum Committee
Responsible for holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils. This committee is also responsible for ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction. The Achievement & Curriculum Committee meets 4 times per year.
Committee Chair | Sodi Tobi |
Other Committee Members | Rachel Kershaw, Belle Howard, Victoria Greenough, Lucy Archer, Paul Redfern |
2021-22 Meeting Dates |
|
Ethos Committee
Responsible for preserving and developing the Christian character and distinctiveness of the school, ensuring that Christian principles underpin and are manifested in every aspect of school life. The committee is also responsible for ensuring that school leaders, staff, volunteers and governors all contribute to sustaining, developing and promoting the school’s distinctive Christian ethos and vision. The Ethos Committee meets 3 times per year.
Committee Chair | Father Anthony Moore |
Other Committee Members | Headteacher – Rachel Kershaw All Foundation Governors – Belle Howard, Kyri Souppouris, Jo Vowles, Judith Hewitt, Sodi Toby, Vanessa Britton, Paul Redfern |
2021-22 Meeting Dates |
|
Headteacher Appraisal Panel
Responsible for reviewing the Headteacher’s performance. The panel meets 3 times per year.
Panel Chair | Kyri Souppouris |
Other Panel Members | Belle Howard, Fr Anthony Moore |
2021-22 Meeting Dates |
|
Review Officer | Open |
Pay Committee
Responsible for taking decisions regarding the pay of the Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and all staff. The panel meets 1-2 times per year.
Committee Chair | Kyri Souppouris |
Other Committee Members | Lindsey Dearnley, Jo Vowles |
2021-22 Meeting Date |
|
Committee Meeting Attendance – 2020-2021
NAME | RESOURCES | ACHIEVEMENT & CURRICULUM | ETHOS | PAY |
Belle Howard | - | 5/5 | 2/3 | - |
Kyri Souppouris | 5/5 | - | 3/3 | 2/2 |
Lindsey Dearnley | 5/5 | - | - | 2/2 |
Rachel Kershaw | 5/5 | 5/5 | 3/3 | - |
Father Anthony Moore | - | - | 3/3 | - |
Alison Patrick | - | 1/4 | 0/2 | - |
Diana Farrell | - | 5/5 | 3/3 | - |
Joanna Vowles | 4/5 | - | 3/3 | 2/2 |
Judith Hewitt | 4/4 | 3/3 | - | - |
Vanessa Britton | 3/5 | - | 1/3 | - |
Sodi Toby | - | 5/5 | - | - |
Rachel Goddard | - | 1/5 | - | - |
| Graham Sheppard | - | 4/4 | - | - |
| Niall Howell | 2/2 | - | - | - |