Governors

Governance at Wrington Primary

Wrington Cof E Primary School and Burrington Cof E Primary School are federated. We are also part of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership (LSP) as a Local Governing Board. This means that the two schools share one board of governors who oversee the work of both schools, provide strategic direction, and challenge and support the schools to ensure that they meet the needs of all pupils within the context of our Multi Academy Trust, LSP.

The federation governing body has three main responsibilities:
- Implementation of each school development plan.
- To hold the Headteacher to account, and to be a 'critical friend' for the Headteacher.
- To ensure compliance with legislation which relates to the running of the schools.

Importantly, school governors are not directly involved in the day to day running of the schools.  This responsibility lies with the Headteacher and the Senior Leadership Teams.

Along with the Headteacher, the federation governing body is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the teaching and academic staff are delivering the highest standards of education to all pupils, in an inclusive, safe and friendly environment. We are also responsible for the recruitment of staff.

Governors have a wide range of skills.  We have members who work or have worked in education, business the church and other areas of public service, providing a blend of experience and commitment. 

The governing body is also responsible for reviewing everything from educational achievement across the curriculum, the Christian ethos, the school budget, to the management of building programmes.  

The governors are actively involved in working with the school on a range of matters and are regularly involved in the development of religious education, with regular attendance at church services.  All governors have a link subject, and periodically visit the school, including visits to classrooms to observe teaching.

The federation governing body is made up as follows:
- Foundation Governors (appointed by the diocese).
- The Headteacher.
- One Staff Governor (appointed by ballot).
- One Local Authority Governor (appointed by North Somerset Council).
- Two Parent Governors (appointed by ballot, one from Burrington and one from Wrington)
- Co-opted Governors (usually formerly elected governors who bring experience to the governing body).

Details of the federation governing body, together with attendance at committee meetings and areas of responsibility, are shown below.  You can get in touch with any of the governors either through the school office, or through the clerk to the governors, Janet Gent (clerk.governors@bwcfederation.org.uk).

Follow this link for the Federation governance structure chart: click here.

Roles within the governing body

Chair of Governors

Stephen Miles

Headteacher

Sarah Joskey (all committees)

Staff Governor

Corinne Clarke, LJ Annandale (associate governor)

Heads and Chairs (Including Leadership and Management) 

Stephen Miles, Laura Laird, Sarah Joskey

Finance Group

Sarah Bagnall,(Chair), Alice Lang, Martin Curtis, Nick Hardie, Deborah Yamanaka, Clare Parsons

School Improvement Group

Laura Laird (Chair), Nick Hardie, Corinne Clarke, LJ Annandale, Belinda Kumpel, Martin Curtis, Alice Lang

Safeguarding Group

David Gent, Laura Laird, Alexis Mackie

Safeguarding Governor

Laura Laird

Health & Safety Governor

Deborah Yamanaka

SEND Governor

Nick Hardie

Governor for Disadvantaged and Looked After Children

Martin Curtis

Governor for Services and Estates/HR

Clare Parsons

GDPR Governor

Alexis Mackie

Clerk to Governors

Janet Gent

Governor Profiles

Mrs L J Annandale (Associate Governor and member of staff)

I was born and raised in South Africa so, not unsurprisingly, I have that Southern Hemisphere passion for team sports (Go Bokke!)... although strictly as a spectator only. I moved to the UK after university and worked initially for a global advertising agency as Brand Manager for a number of multinational companies, including Nestlé and Proctor & Gamble. I changed career paths because I have always had a passion for education; and as a full-time mum, I became heavily invested in my own children’s early learning. I have worked at Burrington Primary School as a Year 5/6 class teacher for 4 years; developing my love of literacy and global dimension pedagogy. Outside of work, I help with Wrington Guides; take art lessons (albeit badly); travel the world, and walk my badly behaved dog in the forest (just not all at the same time). 

 

 Ms Sarah Bagnall (Co-opted Governor)

I am a parent of a child in Burrington pre-school.  Since joining the Burrington  community I have been struck by the strong community spirit, and would like to do my bit to help. 

I have set up and run my own independent financial adviser company for 12 years and I feel that my experience of running a regulated company, managing employees and managing clients’ finances could be useful in this role.

 

Mrs. Ruth Gillbanks (Foundation Governor)

As a resident in the Parish of Burrington I am a member of Holy Trinity Church and can be found ringing one of the 6 Church Bells there most Sundays. Both my children attended Burrington school.  I have been in education for the last 23 years and am currently a Head of Faculty in a large Bristol Secondary School.

 

 

 

Reverend David Gent (Ex Officio)

. 

 Mr Nick Hardie (Co-opted Governor)

I wholeheartedly believe in the values of compassion, integrity, curiosity and wisdom that the schools represent.  I would personally take great pride in being part of ensuring those values are upheld.  Having seen the quality of leadership and teaching at the Burrington since my son joined in September, I truly believe in the vision of the school community to nurture and broaden the Pupil’s horizons.

With regards to my experience, my role as a documentary director has taught me how to foster strong teams and encourage creativity with compassion and humility.  The role has taken me around the world, giving me a broad perspective of the wonderfully diverse cultures our planet has to offer, and fueled a strong desire to protect it. 

I’ve also developed a meticulous approach to the coordination, both logistically and financially of large teams in rapidly changing environments.

Over my schooling years, I have had first-hand experience of both large-scale comprehensive schools, and small-scale private school environments, which I feel has given me a broad overview of the benefits and drawbacks of both approaches.  This is another reason why I believe in the nurturing child-focused environment and broad progressive outlook that Burrington provides.

Mrs. Alice Lang (Foundation Governor)

 

I joined the Governing Body as a Foundation Governor in February 2022. My son attends Wrington C of E Primary School and I hope that my daughter will also be able to attend in due course.  My professional background is in law and I work as a construction solicitor for a full service law firm in their Bristol office.  I enjoy family time, walking our young yellow Labrador, music, travel and photography. 

 

Ms. Sarah Joskey (Headteacher)

  I was born and grew up in the Mendips and I have many associations with this beautiful area. After university, where I studied music, I developed a passion for primary education.  I have a Masters degree in Education and I have taught in schools in Berkshire, Outer London and North Somerset.  Governing bodies play such an important role in the success of a school and I have been pleased to serve as a governor in four schools. I have been Headteacher at Wrington since 2010 and Headteacher at Burrington since 2018 when the two schools federated. I now live in Somerset with my family which includes three children and a rather timid golden retriever who occasionally visits school. Music remains a great love: I play the harp, piano, I sing in choirs in Bath and SW London and I support musical activities in my local church.

 

Dr Belinda Kumpel (Foundation Governor)

 I am a retired scientist, having worked in Blood Transfusion (latterly NHS Blood and Transplant) for nearly 30 years in Bristol. I worked with many students studying for higher degrees and lectured there and abroad. Our children were at Wrington School which gave them a lovely start to their education. As a new Governor, I hope to be able to support the governing body and the teachers in ensuring the best education for children at Wrington and Burrington primary schools. 

  

 

Stephen Miles (Co-opted Governor)

 I am the proud father of two children at Wrington and began my own learning journey there in another century. I have worked in education for most of my adult life, as a teacher, a university lecturer and now as a school leader, and I remain just as passionate about the power of education to open doors as I was the day I started. Every child deserves the best in their one chance in their time in school. My two older daughters went to Churchill and Backwell at secondary level and my wife, who is a primary specialist, also works at Wrington school. If I'm not with my family, you'll probably find me in the garden, messing about with plants. 

 Clare Parsons (Parent Governor)

  

I have lived in the local area for nearly 20 years and the village for 15 of those. I love our school and village and I feel strongly that both should be supported to ensure they can continue to be an important part of our community. I feel I offer an insight as someone who lives within the parish and as a parent to a pupil at Burrington. I am self employed within the agricultural and veterinary sector. In my spare time I enjoy cooking and running and I am also on the Burrington Parish Rooms committee.

Mrs Deborah Yamanaka (Local Authority Governor)

 I am now a co-opted Governor, having previously been a Local Authority Governor appointed by North Somerset Council for many years. I am also the Health and Safety Governor.

 

 

Vacancy

 

Mrs Corinne Clarke (Staff Governor) 

 

I have been teaching across the primary age range since 2004 and joined Wrington CofE Primary as Deputy headteacher in 2010.  I was brought up in Bristol and, after leaving school, studied Classical Civilisation and Literature (with Latin and Ancient Greek) at the University of Birmingham.  After university, I embarked on my teaching career through the completion of a PCGE at UWE.  I have a passion for learning and completed my Masters degree in Education at UWE, followed by an NPQH.  I live in Tickenham with my husband, two boys and my beloved labradoodle, Percy, who very much resembles (both in looks and in character) Floppy from the Biff, Chip and Kipper books!  In my spare time I enjoy running and earlier this year took part in the Paris Marathon. 

 

 Governor Appointments and Terms of Office Details 2021 2022

2021 2022 Governor appointments and term of office details

 

Governor Attendance Record

 Governor Attendance 2021 2022

 2021/22 Governor Meeting Schedule

 

Term 1	Term 2	Term 3	Term 4	Term 5	Term 6
Finance		Finance	Finance	Finance
	Standards		Standards		Standards
Premises				Premises
	FGB, Heads report		FGB, Heads report	FGB Sign off budget	FGB, Heads report

 

Term 1
Finance & Pay Committee	Wednesday 14th October (6pm)
Premises	Date to be confirmed (day time)
Term 2
Standards	w/c 9th November (3.45pm)
Non-Meeting Finance Monitoring	w/c 23rd November
FGB	Monday 30th November (6pm)
Term 3
Finance	Thursday 28th January (6pm)
Term 4
Standards	w/c 1st  March (3.45pm)
FGB	Monday 8th March (6pm)
Finance	Wednesday 24th March (6pm)
Term 5
Finance	Tuesday 27th April (draft budget) (6pm)
Premises	w/c 4th May (day time)
FGB	Thursday 13th May (sign off budget – only agenda item)
Term 6
Standards	w/c 14th June (3.45pm)
Non-Meeting Finance Monitoring	w/c 21st June
FGB	Monday 5th July