The Governing Body
The key role of the Governors is to support the school as critical friends, providing a strategic overview and ensuring accountability. They are unpaid volunteers who represent the community the school serves. Governors usually serve a four year term. The core purpose of governing bodies is threefold:
- To set and ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- To hold the headteacher and senior leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
- Oversight of the financial performance of the school and probity, making sure its money is well spent.
The Governing Body works as a ‘whole team’; meeting 6 times per year, once in each term, without any separate committees. An agenda for each meeting will include all the tasks which the governing body is required to consider, and the governing body will ‘commission’ assignments or activities arising from the business of the meeting to ‘working pairs’ or groups of governors, which will be recorded in the minutes. This could apply to statutory functions, and/or the priorities of the school plan.
In each case where a function has been delegated there will be a report of any action or decision to the governing body at its next meeting.
There are 6 governing body panels, which meet on an ‘as required’ basis. These include the Headteacher Appraisal Group and panels to deal with various appeal procedures (staff pay & discipline appeals and capability / dismissal appeals, complaints, pupil exclusions).
The strength of the Governing Body lies in the collective knowledge, expertise and experience of its members. It answers to parents, the community and the Local Education Authority (LA) for the performance of the school.
The present Governing Body of 9 members (with no vacancies) comprises:-
- Chair : Mrs A Webber (Co-opted Governor)
- Vice Chair Mrs M Pole (Parent)
- Mr R McDonagh (Headteacher)
- Mrs F Gallimore (Staff governor)
- 3 other elected Parent Governors: Miss S Birch, Ms D Peacock (Parent) and Mr A Reygate
- 2 other Co-opted Governors: Mr A Dempsey, and Mr P Goldsack
- Clerk to the Governors: Mr A Chambers
Attendance at Governing Body Meetings 2016/17
Attendance at Governing Body Meetings 2017/18
Governing Body and their Roles
Miss A Webber:
Anna Webber is a Co-opted Governor who joined the governing body in June 2016 and was elected Chair in October 2017. Anna’s term expires in June 2020.
Financial interests: None
Business interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
“As the Chair of Governors for Briary School, I value the opportunity to support the School in setting high expectations for all, through providing each child with the best education in a caring environment.
Throughout my career in education and raising three children, I recognise the importance of those early years at school and how they prepare children for secondary school. As a qualified teacher for post-compulsory education, I taught adults returning to education on Access courses, through to degree level. Many of the adults I worked with on Access to HE, did not achieve at school and had to retake GCSEs. Several were from the Herne Bay area, and their extraordinary commitment to further study, led to new careers such as teaching and nursing.
I became a school governor to become more involved with early education and I enjoy working with the Head Teacher and the Leadership Team to ensure effective leadership and governance. I feel passionately that children and learners of all ages, should enjoy their time in education and build self-confidence through gaining relevant skills. My recent role as a Faculty Head of Higher Education, enabled me to gain experience of managing finances, working with staff teams and implementing quality assurance systems, to consistently enhance teaching and learning.”
Mrs M. Pole:
Mary Pole is joint Vice-Chair of the governing body. She has been a parent governor since December 2015 and her term expires in December 2019. Mary is Specialist Governor for Safeguarding and Online Safety.
Financial interests: None
Business interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
“ I have a background of working in IT, Equity Research and computer graphics for large blue chip organisations in the City. My son is in year 4 at Briary with my little girl in pre-school. I am touched by the dedication of the staff, and the strong community spirit Briary has been able to foster. I feel every child has the right to succeed and therefore have a particular interest in how all children are supported throughout the school.”
Miss S. Birch:
Susanne Birch has been a parent governor since December 2015 with her term expiring in December 2019. She is Specialist Governor for Training and Development.
Financial interests: None
Business interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Mr A. Dempsey:
Adrian Dempsey has served as Briary as a Co-opted Governor since 1998, with his current term expiring in September 2019. Adrian is our Specialist governor for Health and Safety and Extended Schools Liaison & Ethos .
Financial interests: Registered possible conflict of interest: Mrs Dempsey is a member of staff at Briary Primary School.
Business interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Mrs F Gallimore
Fi Gallimore has served as a Staff Governor since March 2017, her current term expiring in March 2021.
Financial interests: None
Business interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
"I have been employed as a member of the teaching staff since January 1992. In the past have been on the SLT as both KS1 and KS2 lead and currently work across the whole school leading reading, spelling and phonics. I have previous experience on the Governing Body and worked with the Friends of Briary throughout my time at the school, holding positions on the committee on several occasions. My three children attended the schools so I also have experience of being a Briary Parent.
I feel my different experiences within Briary equip me to bring a wealth of knowledge about the school and the community as a contribution to the Governing Body.
Outside school I am a member of The Bay Promo Team who arrange local community events and promote Herne Bay as a town."
Mr P Goldsack
Peter Goldsack joined the Governing Body in November, 2017, his term expiring in November 2021.
Financial interests: None
Business interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
"I am an experienced, professional manager with a background in audit and risk management in Financial Services. I truly believe that these skills are an asset to a governing body when reviewing performance, challenging ideas and thinking about the strategic direction of the school.
Having had two children who have been through the education system from Primary to University, I have always taken an interest in all aspects of their education. I am keen to give something back to the community now that work is more flexible and firmly believe that every child deserves the best start in life possible."
Education is consistently in the news and if I can help improve/maintain standards or help to make resources go further than that would give me great satisfaction.
Mr R. McDonagh:
Ray McDonagh has served the governing body as Head Teacher since September 2014.
Financial interests: None
Business interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
"Prior to taking up my current post, I had 14 years teaching experience. Before teaching, I served as an Army Officer and in the Royal Hong Kong Police."
Ms D Peacock:
Danielle Peacock has been a Parent Governor since May 2016 and her term expires in May 2020. Danielle is Specialist Governor for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
Financial interests: None
Business interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Mr A. Reygate:
Ash Reygate has been a parent governor since 2010 and was elected chair in September since October 2016; he stood down as Chair in October 2017. His current term as a governor expires in October 2018.
He is Specialist Governor for Performance Data and attends quarterly progress meetings with the Headteacher and Local Education Authority.
Financial interests: None
Business interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
"As a father of two girls that have both attended Briary, I have a background in Education, working at Chaucer Technology School and Strood Academy as a MIS Manager, I am currently a MIS Consultant advising schools on how to make best use of their MIS system. I became a Governor, wanting to make sure that all children had the opportunity to the gain the best education that they could access. I have served as Vice-Chair and Chair throughout my time on the governing body, although I stood down as chair I am fully committed to Briary and everyone associated with it."
Mr J Brown:
Jim Brown is a Co-opted Governor who was appointed in July 2016, with his term expiring in July 2020. Jim is Briary’s Specialist Governor linked to the School Council. Resigned May 2017
Financial interests: None
Business interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Mr D Milham
David Milham was appointed as an Associate Governor in November 2017. David is a National Lead Governor. Mr Milham resigned on 6th March, 2018
Financial interests: None
Business interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
Ms S Morgan
Sarah Morgan was appointed as a Local Authority (LA) governor in November 2016. Her term runs to November 2020. Resigned June 2017
Financial interests: None
Business interests: None
Governance roles in other schools: None
