Governors

Stow-on-the-Wold Primary school has a very pro-active governing body. We have members of the community, parents, staff of the school and Local Authority representatives on the board who all work as part of a team to ensure that the school maintains its high standards of teaching and learning, and ensure that it is a safe and happy place to learn and to work.

As a governing body we have the responsibility of being critical friends to the school, we make decisions regarding the allocation of budgets, health and safety and most importantly the standards in delivery of the curriculum and the quality of education for the children. The governing board is responsible for making sure:

• The vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school are clearly defined
• The headteacher undertakes their responsibilities for the educational performance of the school
• The use of the school’s financial resources is sound, proper and effective

The governing board also has legislative responsibility and strategic oversight for the school’s safeguarding arrangements.

• Declaration of Interest: None
• Business Interests: None
• Financial Interests: None
• Governance Roles in other schools: None

• Declaration of Interest: None
• Business Interests: None
• Financial Interests: None
• Governance Roles in other schools: None

Term of Office: 18/11/24-17/4/28 Standards Committee

• Declaration of Interest: Staff Governor
• Business Interests: None
• Financial Interests: None
• Governance Roles in other schools: None

CO-OPTED GOVERNOR

Diana White Co-opted Term of Office 01/03/2025- 01/03/2029

Finance & Personnel Committee

• Declaration of Interest: None
• Business Interests: None
• Financial Interests: None
• Governance Roles in other schools: None

CLERK TO GOVERNORS

Clare Stubbs Clerk to Governors

• Declaration of Interest: None
• Business Interests: None
• Financial Interests: None
• Governance Roles in other schools: School Administrator, Breakfast club leader

CO-OPTED GOVERNOR

Ben Eddolls 01/01/2026-01/01/2026-2030

Finance & Personnel Committee

• Declaration of Interest: None
• Business Interests: None
• Financial Interests: None
• Governance Roles in other schools: None

The Governing Body Structure

The full governing body meets six times per academic year and the sub committees, who meet termly, are Standards, Health & Safety, Premises and Finance and Personnel. Each governor is assigned a role within the sub-committees and also a curriculum subject to oversee. Parent governors are elected by parents of the school.

Standards Committee: Chair Rev Karen Wellman

• Is involved in strategic planning discussions
• Agrees the school improvement plan
• Approves and ratifies policies
• Agrees curriculum policy and the curriculum
• Considers any disapplication for pupil(s)
• Agrees curriculum policy and the curriculum
• Considers any disapplication for pupil(s)
• Monitors teaching standards
• Approves the SEN information report and SEND policy
• Approves the written statement of behaviour principles
• Considers parents/carers’ representations about an exclusion through a governors’ exclusion panel
• Can advise that the headteacher reinstates a pupil

Finance and Personnel Committee: Chair Mr Nigel Harrison

• Sets financial priorities
• Approves and monitors the annual budget 
• Evaluates the effectiveness of spending decisions 
• Has formal responsibility for making sure pupil premium information is published online 
• Ensure local authority (LA) financial regulations are implemented 
• Implement sound internal financial controls 
• Check funds allocated to the school match up with pupil numbers
• Approves the staffing plan
• Approves what proportion of the overall budget should be spent on staff
• Deals with disciplinary/grievance issues at the panel stage
• Approves discipline, conduct and grievance procedures
• Carries out headteacher appraisal
• Ratifies the appraisal policy (this can be delegated to a committee or individual governor)
• Makes sure staff receive a regular appraisal of their performance
• Has formal responsibility for managing appointments, but normally delegates this to the headteacher Appoints the headteacher
• Ratifies the pay policy
• Approves teachers’ salaries, including recommendations for awarding performance-related pay in line with the school’s pay policy

Premises/Health and Safety Committee Chair: Mrs Verity Flaherty

• Appoint a competent person to be the health and safety lead
• Agree and regularly review a compliant health and safety policy
• Agree Premises issues and ensure premises are fit for purpose and compliant
• Comply with health and safety law, relevant legislation such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999) and put appropriate control measures in place
• Regularly have oversight of, review and update risk assessments treating them as ‘living documents’
• Ensure teachers and other staff are trained so they know and understand their responsibilities, and keep a log of all health and safety training
• Ensure clear and concise records of all injuries and accidents. Following an incident, review your process and procedures and ensure changes are made as required.
• Ensure the school has emergency plans in place, including around school security
• Regularly monitor and review your health and safety policies (at least annually) to make sure that they are reducing risks

Every governor plays their part in school life!

Individual governors support the school not only by being a governor but also within the wider community. This may be by volunteering their time to listen to readers, helping with the website or marketing, looking at premises, helping and advising with the budget setting, consulting with the staff and children, monitoring school procedures and activities, talking to parents or accompanying pupils on their class trips.

As often as possible, the full governing body is invited into the school for a full day to fully immerse themselves in school life. This includes assembly, lesson observations and school lunches! We then spend time out in the playground talking to the children and playing with them. After a lovely morning learning, a full governing body meeting takes place in the afternoon with a pupil’s voice as part of the agenda.

QUOTES FROM GOVERNOR VISITS

“I was engaged by a group of lower-juniors, who had made up a poem for me and wanted to perform it and then by another group who wanted to show me a dance they had made up. The point is that the children, none of whom really know me, showed excellent social skills and were very at ease engaging in conversation with me. I was also obliged to enter a skipping race… I didn’t win!! As ever, an enjoyable and rewarding day in many ways, please pass on my thanks to all of the staff.”

“The outdoor learning area of Class 1 was well used, with lots of resources which were easily accessible to all of the children. It was obvious that this outdoor area is a much needed resource for the children, allowing them the freedom and space to learn in an interactive way.”

“The children clearly enjoyed lessons which were presented in a lively and engaging way. The content of the lessons was challenging whilst not beyond the capabilities of the children. It was a delight to be included in the lessons.”

At the time of writing, the Governing Body is collating information regarding the diversity of its board members following DFE guidance as follows:

DfE guidance: ‘We encourage schools to collect and publish governing board members’ diversity data. Information must be widely accessible to members of the school community and the public. Board members can opt out of sharing their information, including protected characteristics, at any given time including after publication.

This will be published Spring 2026


The National Governance Association (NGA) suggests that ‘Not all diversity information will be relevant to publish – as a starting point, we recommend boards report on the age, gender and ethnicity of their membership, although other data may be relevant depending on the characteristics of your local community.’