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School Governors

The role of school governors and trustees

Find out what school governors and trustees do and the key role they play in helping schools to succeed. This short film gives you all the essential information about this rewarding voluntary role. Most people over 18 years old are eligible to govern so, if you're interested in education and making a difference, watch this film to find out more.

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Episode 4 - Experience level explained

It's a common misconception that you need years and years of experience to become a school governor or academy trustee, but that's not the case. Apart from a few exceptions, anyone can give back to schools and become a governor! In the fourth episode of our flash webinar series, Eteach speaks to Judith Hicks, Head of Governance Development at NGA.

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  • Maintained schools governance guide Guidance on the strategic leadership and governance of local-authority-maintained schools. This non-statutory guidance replaces the governance handbook 2019. This is a reference document for those involved in local-authority-maintained school governance. It brings together essential information from a range of sources on the governing body’s roles and legal responsibilities.

The Governors are always happy to discuss issues relating to your child should you wish. Governors can be contacted via Email in the first instance.

Clerk:

Marcia Hart

marcia.hart@services4schools.org.uk

Chair of Governors 

Cllr. Simran Cheema 

Vice Chair of Governors 

 Rossella Bigongiari

Safeguarding Governor + Looked After Children 

Cllr Simran Cheema 

Governors to be contacted via the Clerk: Marcia Hart 

marcia.hart@services4schools.org.uk

0333 772 1272 or  07951828387

Governing Board Constitution

There are 14 positions, 13 are filled and there is 1 vacancy. 

Co-opted Governors

4 posts, 4 posts are filled, 4-year term
  First appointed Term from to
Marie Bentley 16/07/2015 29/06/2023 28/06/2027
Rossella Bigongiari 15/09/2022 15/09/2022 14/09/2026
Simran Cheema 21/09/2023 21/09/2023 20/09/2027
Barry Thorndyke 16/07/2019 29/06/2023 28/06/2027

Foundation Ex-Officio

1 post, 1 post is filled
  First appointed    
Brian Knowles 24/04/2023    

Foundation Governors

2 posts,  post is filled, 4-year term (2nd Post- Priest Vacancy) 
  First appointed Term from to
Paul Ingles 14/11/2013 14/11/2021 13/11/2025

Headteachers

1 post, 1 post is filled
  First appointed    
Mark Dakin Not set    

Local Authority Governors

1 post, 1 post is filled, 4-year term
  First appointed Term from to
Lee Highton-Nicholls 28/04/2023 28/04/2023 27/04/2027

Parent Governors

4 posts, 4 posts are filled, 4-year term
  First appointed Term from to
Courtney Copeland 21/09/2023 18/01/2024 17/01/2028
Joe Green 11/11/2022 11/11/2022 10/11/2026
Natasha Hylton 19/11/2021 19/11/2021 18/11/2025
Angie James 14/12/2020 14/12/2020 13/12/2024

Staff Governors

1 post, 1 post is filled, 4-year term
  First appointed Term from to
Daniela Hatfield 27/09/2018 27/09/2022 26/09/2026

School Complaints 

A complaint may be defined as ‘an expression of dissatisfaction however made, about actions taken or a lack of action’. It is in everyone’s interest that concerns and complaints are resolved at the earliest possible stage.

Many issues can be resolved informally, without the need to use the formal stages of the complaints procedure. St Giles’ CE Primary School takes concerns seriously and will make every effort to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. If you have difficulty discussing a concern with a particular member of staff, we will respect your views. In these cases, the Headteacher, Mr M Dakin will refer you to another staff member.

Similarly, if the member of staff directly involved feels unable to deal with a concern, the Headteacher, Mr M Dakin will refer you to another staff member. The member of staff may be more senior but does not have to be. The ability to consider the concern objectively and impartially is more important.

We understand however, that there are occasions when people would like to raise their concerns formally. In this case, St Giles’ CE Primary School will attempt to resolve the issue internally, through the stages outlined within this complaints procedure. Please click below to access the policy.


Declarations of Interest 2024/25

 

 St Giles Church of England Primary School

 Register of interests

           

A register of interests for the selected board. Maintained schools can use this as their register of interests but please make sure you remove any GovernorHub users who don’t need to appear on the register. Trusts need to combine all boards and add details of Members and senior employees.

Current governing board

 

 

Interests

Name and appointment

Confirmed

Organisation

Type of interest

Notes

From

To

Name: Marie Bentley

Appointment: co-opted
Term of office start: 29/06/2023
Term of office end: 28/06/2027
Appointed by: -


 

 

 

Confirmed: 18/09/2024

-

None

RBI form signed 30 Sept 21

-

-

Confirmed: 18/09/2024

St Giles Primary School

Employee

Teaching Assistant

01/07/2002

-

Name: Rossella Bigongiari

Appointment: co-opted
Term of office start: 15/09/2022
Term of office end: 14/09/2026
Appointed by: -


 

 

 

Nothing to Declare: 12/09/2024

-

-

-

-

-

Name: Simran Cheema

Appointment: co-opted
Term of office start: 21/09/2023
Term of office end: 20/09/2027
Appointed by: -


 

 

 

Confirmed: 19/09/2024

Walsall MBC

Other governance role

Councillor

06/05/2022

07/05/2026

Name: Courtney  Copeland

Appointment: parent
Term of office start: 18/01/2024
Term of office end: 17/01/2028
Appointed by: -


 

 

 

Confirmed: 19/09/2024

Restorer Christian Centre

Business or finance interests

Chairman of Trustee Board

01/05/2017

-

Confirmed: 19/09/2024

Bow Street School (Bilston)

Business or finance interests

Math's Teacher (Employee)

01/07/2014

-

Name: Mark Dakin

Appointment: headteacher
Term of office start: 01/01/2011
Term of office end: -
Appointed by: -


 

 

 

Confirmed: 04/09/2024

-

None

RBI form signed 30 Sept 21

-

-

Confirmed: 04/09/2024

School Governor

St Thomas More Catholic School

-

07/09/2022

-

Confirmed: 04/09/2024

Headteacher

St Giles' CE Primary School

-

01/01/2011

-

Name: Joe Green

Appointment: parent
Term of office start: 11/11/2022
Term of office end: 10/11/2026
Appointed by: -


 

 

 

Confirmed: 27/09/2024

King Edwards VI College, Stourbridge

Subject Lead Accounting

-

28/08/2024

-

Confirmed: 27/09/2024

St Thomas More - Feed School

Business or finance interests

Employee

01/09/2023

28/08/2024

Name: Daniela Hatfield

Appointment: staff
Term of office start: 27/09/2022
Term of office end: 26/09/2026
Appointed by: -


 

 

 

Confirmed: 19/09/2024

St Giles CE Primary

My partner, Dan Hatfield, works at the School

RBI form signed 15 Sept 21

-

-

Confirmed: 19/09/2024

St Giles Primary School

Employee

Teacher

15/09/2009

-

Name: Lee Highton-Nicholls

Appointment: authority
Term of office start: 28/04/2023
Term of office end: 27/04/2027
Appointed by: -


 

 

 

Confirmed: 30/09/2024

The Salvation Army

Business or finance interests

I am a minister of religion with The Salvation Army

01/07/2021

-

Name: Natasha Hylton

Appointment: parent
Term of office start: 19/11/2021
Term of office end: 18/11/2025
Appointed by: -


 

 

 

Confirmed: 17/09/2024

Volunteer Co-ordinator

Employee

-

02/01/2023

31/01/2024

Name: Paul Ingles

Appointment: foundation
Term of office start: 14/11/2021
Term of office end: 13/11/2025
Appointed by: -


 

 

 

Confirmed: 24/09/2024

Chapel of Ease

Trustee

For at least 10 years

-

-

Confirmed: 24/09/2024

NEU

Membership

-

-

-

Confirmed: 24/09/2024

Cooper and Jordan CE Primary

Personal or close family relationship

Sally Ingles (wife) Admin Assistant

19/09/2024

-

Confirmed: 24/09/2024

St Giles CE Primary

Wife works at St Giles (Admin Assistant)

RBI for signed 30 Sept 21

-

18/09/2024

Name: Angie James

Appointment: parent
Term of office start: 14/12/2020
Term of office end: 13/12/2024
Appointed by: -


 

 

 

Confirmed: 18/09/2024

Now Business Solutions

Director

RBI form 1 Nov 21

01/01/2021

-

Name: Brian Knowles

Appointment: foundation ex-officio
Term of office start: -
Term of office end: -
Appointed by: -


 

 

 

Confirmed: 19/09/2024

St Giles Church

Church Warden

-

-

-

Name: Barry Thorndyke

Appointment: co-opted
Term of office start: 29/06/2023
Term of office end: 28/06/2027
Appointed by: -


 

 

 

Confirmed: 20/09/2024

Rotary Club of Willenhall

Member

RBI form signed 30 Sept 21

01/07/1996

-

Confirmed: 20/09/2024

Willenhall Area Relief Rehabilitation and Nursing Trust

Trustee (voluntary)

-

01/10/2011

-

Other positions

 

 

 

 

Interests

Name and appointment

                                      

Confirmed

Organisation

Type of interest

Notes

From

To

Name: Marcia Hart

Appointment:
Term of office start: -
Term of office end: -
Appointed by: -

 

Not Confirmed

-

-

-

-

-

Name: Harsimrat Mavi

Appointment: other
Term of office start: 13/04/2015
Term of office end: -
Appointed by: Papers only

 

Confirmed: 26/09/2024

St Giles C.E. Primary

Deputy Headteacher

-

27/04/2011

-

Confirmed: 26/09/2024

Nishkam Primary School Birmingham

Trust Governor

-

27/02/2020

26/02/2023

Name: Julie Phelps

Appointment: other
Term of office start: -
Term of office end: -
Appointed by: -

 

Not Confirmed

-

-

-

-

-

BoardAttendance 2023/2024 

 

St Giles Church of England Primary School

Attendance

 

 

Y = Attended, N = Apologies Accepted, NA = Apologies not Accepted, NS = No Apologies sent, ? = Attendance Not Marked, Blank = Not Required,

CA = Consent for absence, - = Not applicable

 

 

 

 

FGB

Resources Committee

PAY COMMITTEE (Staff)

Curriculum Committee

Pay Committee (HT)

Curriculum Committee

Resources Committee

FGB

Resources Committee

Curriculum Committee

FGB

Governor

Governor Type

21 Sep 2023

05 Oct 2023

12 Oct 2023

16 Nov 2023

23 Nov 2023

18 Jan 2024

01 Feb 2024

07 Mar 2024

09 May 2024

06 Jun 2024

27 Jun 2024

Marie Bentley

Co-opted governor

Y

N

 

N

 

Y

?

Y

 

N

N

Rossella Bigongiari

Co-opted governor

Y

 

 

Y

 

N

?

Y

 

N

Y

Mrs Kelly Bodley

 

N

 

 

N

 

N

?

?

 

 

 

Cllr Simran Cheema

Co-opted governor

 

 

 

?

 

 

Y

Y

 

 

Y

Mr Courtney  Copeland

Parent governor

 

 

 

?

 

 

 

Y

 

 

N

Mr Mark Dakin

Headteacher

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Mr Steve Goodwin

 

N

 

 

Y

 

Y

?

Y

 

N

Y

Mr Joe Green

Parent governor

Y

N

 

?

 

 

Y

Y

Y

 

Y

Mrs Marcia Hart

 

Y

 

 

?

 

 

 

Y

 

 

Y

Daniela Hatfield

Staff governor

Y

 

 

N

 

Y

?

Y

 

Y

N

Mr Lee Highton-Nicholls

Local Authority Governor

N

 

 

?

 

 

?

Y

 

 

N

Natasha Hylton

Parent governor

N

 

 

N

 

?

?

N

 

 

Y

Paul Ingles

Foundation governor

Y

Y

Y

?

Y

 

Y

NS

Y

 

Y

Angie James

Parent governor

Y

Y

 

Y

 

Y

N

Y

NS

Y

Y

Mr Brian Knowles

Foundation Ex-Officio

Y

 

Y

Y

Y

 

Y

Y

 

 

Y

Harsimrat Mavi

Other

Y

 

 

Y

 

Y

Y

Y

 

Y

Y

Ms Vicky Owen

 

 

 

 

?

 

?

?

?

 

 

 

Julie Phelps

Other

 

 

 

?

 

 

 

?

 

 

?

Barry Thorndyke

Co-opted governor

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Y

N

Y

 

 

 

 

Complaints to: 

Clerk to the Governing Body 

Services 4 Schools
Waterloo House, 4 Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, WV1 4BL

Telephone:
0333 772 1272

E-mail:
info@services4schools.org.uk

Twitter: @s4scontact
Facebook: Services 4 Schools
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/services-4-schools

Governing Body Terms of Reference

Statutory Guidance