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 governors are Mrs Hilary Farquhar and Mrs Gytha Hodgson.
Details of serving governors 2023-24
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 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 and is a governor representative of the Parents Teachers & Friends Association.
Marlene Fleming is a Co-opted Governor who was originally appointed on 17 September 2018. She is chair of the Ethos & Curriculum committee. She has special responsibility for monitoring SEND, disadvantaged students and the PSHE and RSHE curriculum. She is also a governor representative of the Parents Teachers & Friends Association.
Allison Goodfellow is a Co-opted Governor appointed on 14 September 2022. She serves on the Finance & Resources committee and has special responsibility for EYFS and Assessment.
Ian Gurling is a Parent Governor who was elected on 16 October 2020. 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 has special responsibility for Safeguarding and monitors the English and PE curriculum. She is a member of the Holiday Requests panel.
Toby Houghton has served on the governing body since March 2017 originally as a Parent governor. He is now a Co-opted Governor and serves on the Ethos & Curriculum committee. He has special responsibility for educational visits and monitors the Science curriculum.
Clare Moss is a Staff Governor who was re-elected on 26 April 2023. She is a member of the Ethos & Curriculum committee.
Steven Peskett is a Parent Governor who was elected on 8 October 2021. He serves on the Resources & Finance committee and monitors the Art and DT curriculum.
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.
Retirements in 2022/2023
Alexandra Hill was a Foundation Governor who resigned on 21 July 2023.
Listed below are further details about the members of the governing body at Warnham School including appointment information, attendance at meetings and business & pecuniary interests for the academic year 2022/2023 .
| 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 | Goverance roles in other educational establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHIRLEY KIRBY Headteacher | 01.01.18 | 6 of 6 | 4 of 4 | 3 of 3 | None | None |
| HILARY FARQUHAR Chair of Governors | 01.07.15 | 6 of 6 | 4 of 4 | 3 of 3 | None | None |
| GYTHA HODGSON Vice Chair of Governors | 14.03.14 | 6 of 6 | 4 of 4 | 3 of 3 | None | None |
| MARLENE FLEMING | 17.09.18 | 6 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | None | None |
| ALLISON GOODFELLOW | 14.09.22 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 3 | None | None | |
| IAN GURLING | 16.10.20 | 6 of 6 | 4 of 4 | None | None |
|
| RACHEL HAMER | 26.08.17 | 6 of 6 | 3 of 4 | None | None | |
| ALEXANDRA HILL | 01.09.17 | 3 of 6 | 3 of 3 | None | None | |
| TOBY HOUGHTON | 24.03.17 | 6 of 6 | 2 of 3 | None | None | |
| CLAIRE MOSS | 19.04.21 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 3 | None | None | |
| STEVEN PESKETT | 8.10.21 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 4 | None | None | |
| REBECCA TUCK | 23.9.21 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 | None | None |
