Governors

Welcome to the School Governor pages of the website.

You will see from the list of Governors that there are 9 governors in total. We are made up of people who are parents, who are members of the teaching or non-teaching staff, people from your local community and because we are linked with the local Anglican diocese, some people who are appointed by the church. In addition we will co-opt further associate members, for a fixed term, should we identify any skills shortages on the governing body. We are all voluntary and unpaid.

There are three key areas that we are responsible for: -

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

The full governing body meets twice each term. Any decisions that are made are by the full governing body and we hold collective responsibility for our decisions.

We also have a finance committe which meets at strategic intervals to set and monitor the budget.This committee reports to the full governor body meetings.

We are bound by various Governance regulations and if you want to find out more about what governors are required and expected to do then it is worth looking at the government website about school governance. 

http://www.inspiringgovernors.org/

Another aspect of the school’s and our work is concerned with ensuring the partnership with parents and carers. Families have a lot of commitments on their time and so the school website will continue to develop over the school year alongside other means of communicating with and providing information for families and children. It is our intention to involve parents in developing the areas of information that are available on the school website that are most useful to them.

Safeguarding and the well being of pupils and our school community are an essential part of our governance role. As a part of this, the governors have a key role in monitoring all aspects of e-safety to ensure that both children and adults are not at risk using the Internet. 

If you need to contact any of us you can either do it through school using the Admin email address: admin@vicaragepark.cumbria.sch.uk  

 

VICARAGE PARK C of E (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School

Information about the Governing Body 2024/25

As set out in the Instrument of Government dated 3 December 2015, the Governing Body is made up of nine members, as follows: 2 Foundation Governors, 1 Headteacher,1 Staff Governor, 2 Parent Governors, 1 Local Authority Governor and 2 Co-opted Governors.  Associate members may also be appointed for a fixed term, by the Governing Body, according to their particular skills and experience if required.

The Full Governing Body meets each half-term, with additional committee meetings and working groups as necessary.

CURRENT GOVERNING BODY:

• Chair of Governors:     Mr Joshua McLeod        
• Vice-chair of Governors:  Rev. Shanthi Thompson
• Safeguarding, SEN & Inclusion Governor:  Mrs Shelagh Hughes
• Additional Governors:  Mrs Katie Green, Mr Ashley Henderson, Mrs Justine Allen,  Alice Reece, Laura Blamire (associate member)
• Governance Professional:  Mrs Sian Taylor

 

Name:                                  Mrs SHELAGH HUGHES

                                              LA Governor
                                             

Date of appointment:             28th September 2022
Term of Office:                      4 years
Appointed by:                        Local Authority

Relevant business and pecuniary interests (as recorded in the register of interests):  St John's in the Vale Centre, Keswick; School advisor, Diocese of Carlisle.
Governance roles in other educational institutions:  Nil return
Relationships between other governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives):  Nil return

Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over academic year 2023/24: 5/6 83%

 

Name:                                 Mrs Justine Allen
                                             Parent Governor

Date of appointment:             24th March 2023
Term of Office:                      4 years
Appointed by:                       Elected by Parents

Relevant business and pecuniary interests (as recorded in the register of interests):  Milne Moser Solicitors; Lake District Campers, Milne Moser Property Ltd., Solicitors Regulation Authority
Governance roles in other educational institutions:  Nil return
Relationships between other governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives):  Nil return

Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over academic year 2023/24: 8/8  100%

 

Name:                                  Mrs KATIE GREEN

                                              Head Teacher

Date of appointment:            1st September 2022
Term of Office:                     Ex Officio
Appointed by:                      Governing Body

Relevant business and pecuniary interests (as recorded in the register of interests): Nil return 
Governance roles in other educational institutions:  Nil return
Relationships between other governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives):  Nil return

Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over academic year 2023/24: 11/11 100%

 

Name:                                  Vacancy

                                              Staff Governor

Date of appointment:            
Term of Office:                     4 years
Appointed by:                       Elected by Staff

Relevant business and pecuniary interests (as recorded in the register of interests):  
Governance roles in other educational institutions: 
Relationships between other governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives):  

Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over academic year 2023/24: 
 

 

Name:                                Rev SHANTHI THOMPSON
                                            Foundation Governor

Date of appointment:           6th October 2021
Term of Office:                    Ongoing, whilst in post as Vicar of Kendal Parish Church
Appointed by:                      Diocese of Carlisle / Kendal Parish Church

Relevant business and pecuniary interests (as recorded in the register of interests): Nil Return
Governance roles in other educational institutions: Nil Return
Relationships between other governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives): Nil Return 

Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over academic year 2023/24:  5/7 72% 

Name:                                  Mr ASHLEY HENDERSON
                                              Foundation Governor

Date of appointment:            6th October 2021
Term of Office:                      4 years 
Appointed by:                       Diocese of Carlisle / Kendal Parish Church,  

Relevant business and pecuniary interests (as recorded in the register of interests): Assistant Priest Kendal Parish Church 
Governance roles in other educational institutions: Nil Return
Relationships between other governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives):Nil Return  

Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over academic year 2023/24: 5/7 72% 

 

Name:                                  Vacancy
                                              Co-opted Governor

Date of appointment:             
Term of Office:                      4 years 
Appointed by:                       Appointed by the governing body

Relevant business and pecuniary interests (as recorded in the register of interests):  
Governance roles in other educational institutions:  
Relationships between other governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives):  

Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over academic year 2023/24: 

 

Name:                                  Mr Joshua McLeod
                                              Co-opted Governor

Date of appointment:             17th May 2023
Term of Office:                      4 years 
Appointed by:                        Appointed by the governing body

Relevant business and pecuniary interests (as recorded in the register of interests):  Arnside Parish Council, Westmorland and Furness Council, Trustee of 1st Kendal Scout Group, Trustee of Kentdale District Scout Group, Partner (Ross Hayton) - Company director of Tarn and Fell Escapes Ltd.
Governance roles in other educational institutions:  Nil return
Relationships between other governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives):  Nil return

Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over academic year 2023/24: 10/11 91%

Name:                                  Alice Reece
                                              Parent Governor

Date of appointment:             29th November 2023
Term of Office:                      4 years 
Appointed by:                        Elected by the parents

Relevant business and pecuniary interests (as recorded in the register of interests): The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) - Senior project and qualifications manager  
Governance roles in other educational institutions:  Nil return
Relationships between other governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives):  Nil return

Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over academic year 2023/24: 1/4 25%

Name:                                 Laura Blamire
                                              Associate Member

Date of appointment:             29th November 2023
Term of Office:                      4 years
Appointed by:                        Appointed by the governing body

Relevant business and pecuniary interests (as recorded in the register of interests):  Nil return
Governance roles in other educational institutions:   Nil return
Relationships between other governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives):   Nil return

Attendance record at governing body and committee meetings over academic year 2023/43: 2/5 40%

 

 

GOVERNORS WHO HAVE LEFT THE GOVERNING BODY IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS:

Mr Kevin Moffatt - September 2024

Kelvin Nash - September 2024

Mr Matt Severn - March 2024

 

last updated 20th September 2024