Meet our Governors
What are Governors?
School governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools. They appoint the headteacher and deputy headteacher and are responsible for their performance management. Governors 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 the governing board. Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the governing board and decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing board.
The role of the governing board is a strategic one with three key functions:
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
- Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
Governors set the aims and objectives for the school. They set the policies and targets for achieving those aims and objectives. They monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making and act as a source of challenge and support to the headteacher. The headteacher is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school and the implementation of the strategic framework established by the governing board.
The Governing Board is also responsible for ensuring that the school meets the required standards for Church Schools, assessed by the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools.
The Governing Board
At Hopton Church of England Primary Academy, the members of the Governing Board are:
Emma Plane - Chair of Governors and Foundation Governor
Governor appointed by Diocesan Board of Education. Term of office until 31/08/2019. Business interests: Business Manager and Clerk to the Governors at another school. Emma has 2 children in school.
Contact email address: chairofgov@hopton.norfolk.sch.uk
Christabelle Whiteley-Tye - Headteacher Governor
Headteacher of the school. Business interests: Headteacher of the school.
John Waters - Local Authority Governor
Governor appointed by Local Authority. Term of office until 31/08/2019. No business interests.
Sandra Smith - Foundation Governor
Governor appointed by the Bishop. Term of office until 31/12/2020. No business interests.
Chris Grogan - Parent Governor
Elected Parent Governor. Term of office until 31/08/2019. No business interests. Chris has a child in school.
Karen Garforth - Staff Governor
Staff Governor. Term of office until 31/08/2019. No business interests. Member of staff in school.
Dawn Read - Staff Governor
Staff Governor appointed by staff. Term of office until 31/08/2017. Business interests: employed at the school.
The Full Governing Board meets once per half term. The meeting dates for 2018/19 are:
3rd December 2018
11th February 2019
1st April 2019
20th May 2019
15th July 2019
Once formally accepted, the minutes from these meetings will be published below.
The attendance records for governors can also be found below.
Governor Committees and Responsibilities
Some work of the Governing Board is delegated to our committees; Resources and Curriculum & Standards. These committees meet half termly and report to the full Governing Board. The Terms of Reference for each committee can be found below.
School Improvement Board
Chair: John Waters
Emma Plane
Christabelle Whiteley-Tye
Resources Committee
Chair: Chris Grogan
John Waters
Christabelle Whiteley-Tye
Curriculum & Standards Committee
Chair: Emma Plane
Diane Moore
Sandra Smith
Christabelle Whiteley-Tye
Individual Governor Responsibilities
Individual Governors take responsibility for monitoring important areas within the school on behalf of the governing board.
Anti-bullying - Karen Garforth
Attendance - Emma Czajkowski
Critical Incidents - John Waters
Cluster - John Waters
Collective Worship - All foundation Governors
EYFS - Emma Czajkowski
Health & Safety - John Waters
More Able Pupils - Emma Plane
Pupil Premium - Emma Plane
Safeguarding - Emma Plane
SEND and LAC - Sandra Smith
Website - Stephen Siegert
Wellbeing - Karen Garforth
John Waters and Sandra Smith
Contact the Governors
Governors actively seek parents’ views throughout the year through parent questionnaires. In addition to this, any parent can consult the Governors, or put forward ideas for consideration at any time. Please contact us via the school office or directly by email at chairofgov@hopton.norfolk.sch.uk