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 or email us on: governors@highfield.suffolk.sch.uk
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 | Present Role & Areas of Responsibility |
---|---|
Mrs Sally Evans | Chair of Governing Body Team, Personnel Committee, LA Governor |
Mrs Jenny Auber | Vice Chair of Governing Body Team |
Mrs Ruth Coleman | Headteacher |
Mrs Jannice Simpson | Finance Committee non-voting, Children's Centre Manager, Daycare Director |
Mrs Natasha Trinder | Associate Member, Daycare Manager, Learning and Achievement Committee, Health and safety Committee |
Mr Ross Beech | Chair of Finance Committee, Children's Centre advisory board member, Chairs/Steering committee, Daycare director |
Mr Stephen Skeet | Learning and Achievement Committee |
Mr David Goldsmith | Health and Safety Committee |
Mr Andrew Morrison | Learning and Achievement Committee, Health and Safety Committee and Finance Committee |
Mrs Denise Lewis | Learning and Achievement Committee and Health and Safety Committee, Staff Governor |
Mrs Natalie Sadler | Learning and Achievement Committee |
Mrs Lauren Woodward | Learning and Achievement Committee |
Miss Bethany Lewis | Governor Support (Non Voting) - Admin Assistant |
Governors’ Corner. What goes on behind the scenes!
Sally Evans is our chair of governors. Sally has three boys, Elystan, Bertie and Oscar, the youngest two went to Highfield Nursery School. She was so impressed by the experiences her children had that she offered herself as a parent representative on the governing body. Sally is a Forensic Psychologist, lectures at the University of Suffolk and is studying for a Doctorate.
As Chair Sally has to make sure the business of the Governing body is conducted properly and is legal. The Governors oversee the staffing and financing of the school and Children’s Centre, the assessment and safety of children and the management of the school building. It looks like a big job but Sally has other governors and school staff who help her. She has regular meetings with the Headteacher, Ruth Coleman and the Children’s Centre Manager, Jannice Simpson and visits the school frequently. She chairs a Full Governing Body meeting once a term.
Sally says
‘The Governing Body for Highfield Nursery School and Children’s Centre are an amazing team with a wealth of experience and commitment. I am privileged to work with them and am excited to contribute to its continued success’.
Please click the below drop-downs to view our governor attendance. If you would like more information please ask at the main office.
Full Governing Body Attendance
Governor Name | Present On 24/11/22 | Present On 30/03/23 | Present On 22/06/23 |
---|---|---|---|
Sally Evans (Chair) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Jenny Auber | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ruth Coleman | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Jannice Simpson | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Natasha Trinder | Yes | No | Yes |
Ross Beech | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Andrew Morrison | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Stephen Skeet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Denise Lewis | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Karen Pringle | Yes | Yes | Yes |
David Goldsmith | Yes | Yes | No |
Natalie Sadler | No | No | No |
Lauren Woodward | No | No | Yes |
Finance Committee Attendance
Governor Name | Present On 15/11/22 | Present On 09/05/23 |
Present On 06/06/23 |
---|---|---|---|
Mr Ross Beech (Chair) | Yes | Yes | TBC |
Mrs Jenny Auber | No | No | TBC |
Mrs Ruth Coleman | Yes | Yes | TBC |
Mrs Janncie Simpson | Yes | Yes | TBC |
Mrs Karen Pringle | No | Yes | TBC |
Mr Andrew Morrison | Yes | Yes | TBC |
Mrs Sally Evans | Yes | No | TBC |
Health & Safety Committee Attendance
Governor Name | Present On 05/12/22 | Present On ... |
---|---|---|
Mr Andrew Morrison (Chair) | TBC | TBC |
Mrs Ruth Coleman | TBC | TBC |
Mrs Natasha Trinder |
TBC |
TBC |
Mrs Jenny Auber | TBC | TBC |
Mrs Jannice Simpson | TBC | TBC |
Mrs Denise Lewis | TBC | TBC |
Mr David Goldsmith | TBC | TBC |
Pay/Personnel Committee Attendance
Governor Name | Present On 02/11/22 | Present On 18/01/23 | Present On 15/03/23 |
---|---|---|---|
Mrs Jenny Auber (Chair) | Yes | Yes | No |
Mrs Jannice Simpson | No | Yes | Yes |
Mr Andrew Morrison | No | No | No |
Mrs Ruth Coleman | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mrs Sally Evans | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mrs Karen Pringle | No | No | Yes |
Learning & Achievement Committee Attendance
Governor Name | Present On 21/10/22 | Present On 14/07/23 |
---|---|---|
Mr Stephen Skeet (Chair) | Yes | No |
Mrs Jenny Auber | No | No |
Mrs Ruth Coleman | Yes | Yes |
Mr Andrew Morrison | No | No |
Mrs Natasha Trinder | No | No |
Mrs Denise Lewis | No | No |
Mrs Jannice Simpson | Yes | No |
Mrs Lauren Woodward | N/A | Yes |
Chairs/Steering Committee Attendance
Governor Name | Present On 06/10/22 | Present On 18/01/23 | Present On 01/03/23 |
---|---|---|---|
Mrs Jenny Auber (Chair) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mrs Jannice Simpson | Yes | Yes | No |
Mrs Karen Pringle | Yes | No | No |
Mrs Natasha Trinder | No | No | No |
Mr Andrew Morrison | No | No | No |
Mr Ross Beech | Yes | No | No |
Mrs Ruth Coleman | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Mr Stephen Skeet | No | No | No |
Mrs Sally Evans | Yes | Yes | Yes |