Governors
The governing body plays an important strategic role by giving direction and focus on the governance of the school.
Their role is to govern rather than manage. This includes:
> Promoting high standards of education
> Planning the school’s long-term future
> Overseeing the school’s aims, values and ethos
> Ensuring proper financial management of the school
> Appointing staff, including the headteacher
> Communicating openly with parents, the local community and the local education authority
> Supporting the school
The full governing body meets at least once a term and has two committees who discuss issues in greater detail and report back to the main meetings. The two committees cover Resources & Finance and Ethos & Curriculum. There is also a Holiday Request panel who meet when the need arises.
The governing body of Warnham School is made up of 12 governors:
> 4 Co-opted governors – appointed by the governing body after considering the skills and experience they can bring to the role
> 3 Foundation Governors – appointed by the Diocese
> 1 Local Authority Governor – appointed by the Local Authority
> 2 Parent Governors – elected by parents/carers of pupils at the school
> 1 Staff Governor – elected by the staff of the school
> 1 Headteacher – an ex-officio member by virtue of the post
Safeguarding
Our Safeguarding governor is Mrs Hilary Farquhar.
Details of serving governors 2025-26
Shirley Kirby is the Headteacher who took up post on 1 January 2018. By virtue of her position she is an ex-officio member of the governing body and attends all the meetings of the main committees.
Hilary Farquhar is a Co-opted Governor who has served on the governing body since September 2009, originally as a Community Governor. She is co-Chair of Governors, and a member of the Resources & Finance committee and the Ethos & Curriculum committee. She has special responsibility for Safeguarding and monitors the Maths curriculum. She sits on the Holiday Requests panel.
Marlene Fleming is a Co-opted Governor who was originally appointed on 17 September 2018. She is co-Chair of the Governors and is a member of the Resources & Finance committee and the Ethos & Curriculum committee. She has special responsibility for monitoring SEND, disadvantaged students and the PSHE and RSHE curriculum.
Allison Goodfellow is a Co-opted Governor appointed on 14 September 2022. She is Chair of the Ethos & Curriculum committee and has special responsibility for EYFS and Assessment.
Ian Gurling is a Parent Governor who was re-elected on 2 February 2024. He is chair of the Resources & Finance committee. He has special responsibility for Health & Safety and E-safety and for monitoring the Computing curriculum.
Rachel Hamer is a Foundation Governor who was originally appointed on 26 July 2017. She serves on the Resources & Finance committee. She also monitors the Humanities, Music and MFL curriculums.
Gytha Hodgson has served on the governing body since March 2008 as the Local Authority Governor. She is Vice Chair of Governors and serves on the Resources & Finance committee and the Ethos & Curriculum committee. She is a member of the Holiday Requests panel. She is also a Governor representative of the Parents Teacher & Friends Association.
Rev Rebecca Tuck is a Foundation Governor who took up post as priest in charge of St Margaret’s Church on 23 September 2021. She is a member of the Ethos & Curriculum committee and monitors the RE curriculum.
Luke Davis is a Foundation Governor who was appointed on 22 February 2024. He is a member of the Resources & Finance committee. He also monitors the Art/DT & PE curriculum.
Rhiannon Ho is a Parent Governor who was appointed on 20 September 2024. She monitors the English curriculum.
Lucy Hammond is a Staff Governor who was elected on 22 May 2025.
Debbie Ladds is a Co-opted Governor who was appointed on 3 December 2025.
Retirements in 2024/2025
Clare Moss was a Staff Governor whose term ended on 18 April 2025.
Toby Houghton was a Co-opted Governor who resigned on 22 July 2025.
Listed below are further details about the members of the governing body at Warnham School including appointment information, attendance at meetings for the academic year 2024/2025 and business & pecuniary interest for the academic year 2025/2026 .
| FULL NAME OF GOVERNOR | Date of original appointment | Attendance at full GB meetings | Resources & Finance Committee | Ethos & Curriculum Committee | Declarations on Register of Business Interests 2024/25 | Goverance roles in other educational establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHIRLEY KIRBY Headteacher | 01.01.18 | 6 of 6 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 3 | None | None |
| HILARY FARQUHAR Co-Chair of Governors | 01.07.15 | 5 of 6 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 3 | None | None |
| MARLENE FLEMING Co-Chair of Governors | 17.09.18 | 3 of 6 | 2 of 5 | 3 of 3 | None | None |
| GYTHA HODGSON Vice Chair of Governors | 14.03.14 | 6 of 6 | 5 of 5 | 3 of 3 | None | None |
| LUKE DAVIS | 22.02.24 | 3 of 6 | 2 of 5 | N/A | Agent to Warnham Park Estate PCC St Margaret's | None |
| ALLISON GOODFELLOW | 14.09.22 | 5 of 6 | N/A | 3 of 3 | None | None |
| IAN GURLING | 16.10.20 | 4 of 6 | 5 of 5 | N/A | None | None |
| RACHEL HAMER | 26.08.17 | 6 of 6 | 3 of 5 | N/A | None | None |
| RHIANNON HO | 20.09.24 | 5 f 6 | N/A | 3 of 3 | None | None |
| TOBY HOUGHTON Since resigned | 24.03.17 | 5 of 6 | N/A | 2 of 3 | None | Headteacher (Governor) at Oathall Community College |
| CLAIRE MOSS Term now ended | 19.04.21 | 5 of 5 | N/A | 3 of 3 | None | None |
| REBECCA TUCK | 23.9.21 | 4 of 6 | N/A | 3 of 3 | None | None |
| LUCY HAMMOND | 20.05.25 | 1 of 1 | N/A | N/A | None | None |
