Governors

Welcome to the Governors' section!

 

What is a School Governor?

School governors are volunteers who help to run the school. Some are elected (staff and parent governors) and others are appointed either by the local authority or from the local community.

 

What do governors do?

School governors have a wide range of responsibilities, helping to raise standards of pupil achievement and planning the school’s future direction, always in consultation with the Headteacher and other staff. We are also accountable for the performance of the school to parents and the wider community. We are not expected to take detailed decisions about the day-to-day management of the school: that is the job of the Headteacher.

 

Governors’ responsibilities include:

• Helping to establish the aims and policies of the school and how standards of education can be constantly improved
• Ensuring that a broad and balanced curriculum is delivered and that it meets statutory requirements, while promoting high standards and monitoring progress during the year
• Appointing, challenging and supporting the Headteacher (being a ‘critical friend’)
• Acting as a link between the local community and the school
• Helping to set and manage the school budget
• Ensuring the health and safety of pupils and staff

 

At Golden Valley we do this on several levels. We meet as a Full Governing Body about six times a year but also in two main committees, where certain aspects of the school are considered in more detail. At present our committees are:
 

• Resources & Premises – dealing with finance, our building and grounds (including Health & Safety) and all staffing matters.
• Standards & Information – dealing with curriculum and assessment matters and monitoring standards, as well as communication with parents and the wider community (including the production of the school prospectus).

 

Individual governors are also linked with a particular area, such as Special Educational Needs, Safeguarding, a curriculum subject or a year group. All governors are encouraged to visit the school during the working day if they can, but we do not interfere in the day-to-day teaching or running of the school: we leave that to the professionals!

 
North Somerset provides training in all aspects of governors’ responsibilities and we take full advantage of that, in order to be as effective as possible.

 

At Golden Valley we have 15 governor positions, a lively and dedicated team who work hard for the school.

Dates of meetings for 2018 - 2019

 

Golden Valley's School Governors

 

Mrs Jane Turner - Chair of Governors

Being a School Governor enables me to contribute and give back to the school community that has given my two children so much; I have a son still at Golden Valley and a daughter who has now left and moved on to Secondary school. I have been a School Governor since autumn 2016 and Chair of Governors since September 2018. I aim to use the skills and experience I gain in my own career as a senior manager at the BBC and apply these to the work of school governance, helping Golden Valley to continue to provide the right environment and opportunities for pupils to achieve their absolute best.

 

Mr Martin Sills - Parent Governor

I have been a Parent Governor at Golden Valley School since April 2018 as I have a child currently in Year 4 at the school. I have lived in Nailsea since 2003 and have worked at several secondary schools in Bristol and North Somerset since 1995. I have, therefore, a wide range of experience in Secondary School issues but am looking forward to learning more about the Primary school phase. Education is changing more rapidly now than ever before and it is important that we keep up with the changes that are sure to affect our children. Away from school I have a passion for all things sporting and have played competitively in several clubs in the area as well as holding offices within the clubs to help them progress.

 

Mrs Jan Barber - LA Governor

My younger daughter, Fiona, was one of the first entrants to Golden Valley School in 1976, so I have been involved with the school since it was built, starting with helping with sewing and cooking, and the P.T.A.
I have been a governor since 1984, firstly as a nomination from Nailsea Town Council and later as an L.E.A. Governor from Avon and subsequently from North Somerset Councils. In my professional life I visited many schools countrywide as an Ofsted Inspector. At present I am an elected member for North Somerset and serve as Executive Member for Children and Young People. I hope that this helps my role as a governor and vice versa. I very much enjoy being a governor and am delighted that my term of office has been extended until 2022.

 

Mrs Mary Elford - Co-opted Governor

I feel very much at home at Golden Valley, having been a governor since my children were here in the 1980s. It is a privilege and joy to visit school during the working day, to share the exciting and challenging learning opportunities provided for the children by our fantastic staff and to help ensure that high standards are maintained. Over the years I have served in various governor roles, including Chair, and am currently a member of the Standards & Information committee with a particular interest in English.

 

Mrs Ann Clark - Co-opted Governor

I have been a governor for two years and have lived in Nailsea since 1995 having relocated from Berkshire due to work commitments. My eldest child commenced school in reception class at the same time, with her two younger siblings joining her in 1997 and 2001.I was very active in the school PTA.
I semi-retired as a Registered Nurse/trainer(PGCE cert ed) three years ago and decided to return to the school my children went to and become a co opted governor. I am on the RP committee, leading on health and safety.

 

Mr Ken Hallett - Co-opted Governor

I first moved to Nailsea in 1989, and after various changes of location moved back in 2008. Both my children have attended the school and I currently have a son in Year 6.

When my term as a Parent Governor ceased recently, I continued my involvement with the school as a Co-opted Governor.

I am a member of the Resources and Premises Committee where we look after areas including school finance, staffing and health and safety issues.

 

Mr Matt Furneaux - Vice Chair of Governors

I was originally elected as a Parent Governor in 2011 whilst my children were all at Golden Valley School - my youngest left after Year 6 in 2018. Since volunteering as a Governor I've assumed a number of roles within the committees and am currently Vice-Chair to the Governing Body. In 2015 at the end of my term as a Parent Governor I became a co-opted Governor, and continue to enjoy working together with the outstanding team at Golden Valley in helping facilitate learning for life and achievement for all our children.

 

Mr Doug MacMillan - Co-opted Governor

I joined the Governing board in 2014 on the Resources and Premises Committee.

My two sons attended the school from 1995 to 2002 when we moved to the area. My background is in Adult Training and Project Management as a Chartered Engineer in government and consultancy. My particular interests are in the Financial Management of the school and our need to allocate our limited and reducing resources for teaching and the buildings for the best possible outcomes for the children. I am currently the Chair of the Resources and Premises Committee.

 

Mrs Pauline Davis - Co-opted Governor

I have lived in Nailsea since 1977 and used to teach in Clevedon. My children attended Golden Valley in the 80’s and 90’s so in 2011 when I was no longer working full time I became a Governor to give something back to the school. I enjoy coming into Reception to hear children read. I am also Safeguarding Governor and Chair of the Standards and Information Committee which oversees issues around curriculum and assessment. We also monitor standards for the school.

 

Mrs Helen Gillard - Co-opted Staff Governor

I have been a teacher here at Golden Valley School for nearly 20 years and two of my children also attended school here. I have been part of the governing body for the last 2 years and I’m enjoying learning about how decisions are made. I am part of the Standards and Information Committee and I hope that my extensive experience in the classroom helps governors to understand the practicalities of implementing their decisions in school.

 

Mr Kevin Lynch - Headteacher 

I am Headteacher of Golden Valley and I am also a Governor. I have been Headteacher of Golden Valley for 12½ years and have attended all Governing Body meetings in that time. I work in partnership with the governing body to lead the strategic work of the school: to ensure that outcomes and standards are high; finance/resources of the school are managed well; policies and practices are adhered to. The day-to-day leadership and management of the school is my responsibility; governors do not get involved in any operational decisions.

Governors are volunteers who give up their time to support the school. Their support and challenge ensures that your children are given the very best opportunities to thrive within our outstanding school.

 

Mrs Tina Roberts - Co-opted Staff Governor

I first discovered Golden Valley in 1993, when my eldest daughter started school. Back then, I enjoyed helping in class, teaching Cycle Proficiency and was a member of the GVSA for many years. I was lucky enough to secure a position as an ICT Technician in 2002 and also a Teaching Assistant a few years later. In 2016, I was given the opportunity to be a staff governor. I am interested to find out more on how a school is run and in being able to make a positive contribution towards some of the decisions made.

 

 

Mrs Julie Bennett - Co-opted Staff Governor

I have been a teacher at Golden Valley for 18 years, 10 of those in Year 6 and have recently joined the Governing Body. I am the English subject manager for the school and also moderate KS2 writing for North Somerset. I have joined the Standards and Improvements committee and look forward to working with the other governors to ensure that the children at Golden Valley have the very best, all-round education possible.

 

Mrs Katherine Mann - Parent Governor

I have two children at Golden Valley and one more who is eagerly awaiting her turn.  I was elected as a Parent Governor in 2018 and currently serve on the Standards & Information Committee, where we oversee the curriculum and the quality of pupils’ experience at our school.  As a music practitioner and a former EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teacher I am passionate about ensuring our children have access to an education rich in learning opportunities.  I am the SEND (Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities) Link Governor, taking an interest in how we support all pupils to be included at Golden Valley.  I bring previous experience in marketing, fundraising and project management to the board and am proud to be able to contribute to the school in this way.

 

Mrs Emily Dawson - Clerk to the Governors

I joined as Clerk in December 2018 and enjoy working with a dedicated and friendly team. I am responsible for dealing with administrative matters for the board and advising on procedural issues of governance and the boards statutory duties. Central to my role is preparing for, taking notes as and producing minutes for meetings. 

My background is primarily in Local Government and Human Resources.

GOVERNOR ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS 2018/19

 

FGB=Full Governing Body / R&P=Resources & Premises Committee / S&I= Standards & Information Committee

 

 

GOVERNOR ROLES, TERMS OF OFFICE AND REGISTERED INTERESTS