Governance
Our Governing Body is made up of the Headteacher, a member of staff, parents and co-opted governors, who are elected because they have specific skills and knowledge that can be of benefit to the school.
If you would like to contact a governor or would like more information about their role, please speak to the nursery office by emailing us on: admin@highfield.suffolk.sch.uk
We really value parent governors, so if you are interested in becoming a governor, please do get in contact. All upcoming committee meeting dates are recorded on 'Governor Hub' along with all minutes from previous meetings. Please ask at the main office if you would like to see any of this information.
What do Governors do?
School governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools. Governors appoint the headteacher and deputy headteacher. It is governors who hold the main responsibility for finance in schools, and it is governors who work with the headteacher to make the tough decisions about balancing resources.
Each individual governor is a member of a governing board, which is established in law as a corporate body. Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the governing board; decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing board.
The role of the governing board is a strategic one, its key functions are to:
- Set the aims and objectives for the school
- Set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
- Set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
- Monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
- Be a source of challenge and support to the headteacher (a critical friend)
Our Governing Body Team
| Name | Terms of Office | Present Role & Areas of Responsibility | Date of Appointment and by who | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Natalie Sadler | 30/03/23-29/03/27 | Interim Chair of Governors, Learning and Achievement Committee | 30/03/23 -GB | |
| Mrs Ruth Coleman | 09/12/20-09/12/25 | Headteacher |
12/11/13 - GB |
|
| Mrs Jannice Simpson | 24/11/22-23/11/26 | Associate Member non-voting, Children's Centre Manager, Daycare Director & Personnel Committee |
04/07/13 - GB |
|
| Mr Ross Beech |
|
Chair of the Finance Committee, Children's Centre advisory board member, Chairs/Steering committee, Daycare director |
01/03/15 - GB |
|
| Mr Stephen Skeet | 24/11/22-23/11/26 | Learning and Achievement Committee & Chairs/Steering committee |
29/11/18 - GB |
|
| Mr David Goldsmith | 24/03/22-24/03/26 | Health and Safety Committee & Finance Committee |
24/03/22 - GB |
|
| Mrs Lauren Woodward | 30/03/23-29/03/27 | Learning and Achievement Committee & Personnel Committee |
30/03/23 - GB |
|
| Mrs Denise Lewis | 18/03/24-16/03/26 | Learning and Achievement Committee, Staff Governor |
19/03/20 - GB |
|
| Mr Garath Jones | 21/03/24-20/03/28 | Health and Safety Committee |
21/03/24 - GB |
|
| Miss Bethany Lewis | N/A | Governor Support (Non Voting) - Admin Assistant | N/A |
‘The Governing Body for Highfield Nursery School and Children’s Centre are an amazing team with a wealth of experience and commitment’. Sally Evans
Please click the drop-downs below to view our governor's attendance. If you would like more information, please ask at the main office.
Full Governing Body Attendance
| Governor Name |
Present On 01/05/25 |
Present On 19/06/25 | Present On 27/11/25 | Present On 26/03/26 |
Present On 25/06/26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mrs Natalie Sadler (Interim Chair) |
Yes | Yes | Yes | TBC | TBC |
| Mrs Louise Pattinson | No | No | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mrs Lauren Woodward | Yes | No | Yes | TBC | TBC |
| Mrs Ruth Coleman | Yes | Yes | Yes | TBC | TBC |
| Mrs Jannice Simpson | No | No | Yes | TBC | TBC |
| Mrs Natasha Trinder | No | No | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mr Ross Beech | Yes | Yes | Yes | TBC | TBC |
| Mr Stephen Skeet | No | Yes | No | TBC | TBC |
| Mrs Denise Lewis | Yes | No | Yes | TBC | TBC |
| Mrs Karen Pringle | Yes | Yes | No | TBC | TBC |
| Mr David Goldsmith | Yes | Yes | Yes | TBC | TBC |
| Mr Garath Jones | Yes | Yes | Yes | TBC | TBC |
Finance Committee Attendance
| Governor Name | Present On 03/12/24 | Present On 29/04/25 | Present On 03/06/25 | Present On 09/12/25 | Present On 17/03/26 | TBC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Ross Beech (Chair) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | TBC | |
| Mrs Louise Pattinson | N/A | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | |
| Mrs Ruth Coleman | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | TBC | |
| Mrs Janncie Simpson | Yes | Yes | No | No | TBC | |
| Mrs Karen Pringle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | TBC | |
| David Goldsmith | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | TBC |
Health & Safety Committee Attendance
| Governor Name | Present On 13/05/25 | Combined Committee Meeting 16/10/25 |
Combined Committee Meeting 12/02/26 |
Combined Committee Meeting 14/05/26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr David Goldsmith (Chair) | No | No | No | TBC |
| Mrs Louise Pattinson | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mrs Ruth Coleman | Yes | Yes | Yes | TBC |
| Mrs Natasha Trinder | No | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mrs Jannice Simpson | Yes | Yes | No | TBC |
| Garath Jones | No | No | No | TBC |
Pay/Personnel Committee Attendance
| Governor Name | Present On 13/05/25 | Combined Committee Meeting 16/10/25 | Combined Committee Meeting 12/02/26 | Combined Committee Meeting 14/05/26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Lauren Woodward (Chair) | TBC | Yes | Yes | TBC |
| Mrs Louise Pattinson | TBC | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mrs Jannice Simpson | TBC | Yes | No | TBC |
| Mrs Ruth Coleman | TBC | Yes | Yes | TBC |
| Mrs Karen Pringle | TBC | No | No | TBC |
Learning & Achievement Committee Attendance
| Governor Name | Present On 16/05/25 | Combined Committee Meeting 16/10/25 | Combined Committee Meeting 12/02/26 | Combined Committee Meeting 14/05/26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Stephen Skeet (Chair) | Yes | Yes | No | TBC |
| Mrs Louise Pattinson | No | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mrs Ruth Coleman | Yes | Yes | Yes | TBC |
| Mrs Natasha Trinder | No | No | N/A | N/A |
| Mrs Denise Lewis | No | Yes | Yes | TBC |
| Mrs Jannice Simpson | No | Yes | No | TBC |
| Mrs Natalie Sadler | Yes | Yes | Yes | TBC |
| Mrs Lauren Woodward | Yes | Yes | Yes | TBC |
Chairs/Steering Committee Attendance
| Governor Name | Present On 16/05/25 | Combined Committee Meeting 16/10/25 | Combined Committee Meeting 12/02/26 | Combined Committee Meeting 14/05/26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Lauren Woodward (Chair) | TBC | Yes | Yes | TBC |
| Mrs Louise Pattinson | TBC | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mrs Jannice Simpson | TBC | Yes | No | TBC |
| Mrs Karen Pringle | TBC | N/A | No | TBC |
| Mr Ross Beech | TBC | Yes | No | TBC |
| Mrs Ruth Coleman | TBC | Yes | Yes | TBC |
| Mr Stephen Skeet | TBC | Yes | No | TBC |
Please click here to see the governor's list of declared pecuniary interests, which is updated annually.