The Governing Body

Welcome to the Southwick Primary School Governors Page
The Governing Body of Southwick Primary School comprises representatives of different groups, including the Local Authority, the local community, parents and staff. Governors are volunteers who bring their skills and experience to help run the school. Governors are lay people - they are not experts and their role is to act as a "critical friend" to the headteacher and her staff. Their key purpose is to ensure the school provides the best possible education for all the children at the school. Governors belong to either the Resources Committee or the Standards and Curriculum Committee. As well as attending FGB meetings each governors skills are taken into account when deciding on committee membership. The Resources committee is responsible for finance and premises related matters, whilst Standards & Curriculum focuses on the teaching and learning and outcomes for children.

The Governing Body works closely with the headteacher in the management of the school. It meets regularly during the term and there are additional committee meetings to discuss specific matters, such as school effectiveness, health and safety, the school environment and school finances. The minutes of the governors’ meetings are available to all parents. (please ask at reception)

The governors are all local people, caring for the welfare of the children and bringing their interests and experience to support the school. They are always happy to talk with you about any matters related to school and your children. If you do have any concerns about your child or the school in general, please contact the appropriate class teacher and/or the headteacher in the first instance. If you then still feel concerned after these meetings, then please contact one of our parent governors, who are appointed to help you and to represent your views.

Becoming A Governor
There are currently six different categories of governor:

  • Parent
  • Staff
  • Foundation
  • Partnership
  • Local Authority
  • Co-opted

The type of governor you will become depends on your situation; however all governors have the same roles and responsibilities once part of the governing body.

Parent governors are elected by the parents of pupils for a fixed term of 4 years. Parents are advised in writing when a vacancy for a parent governor arises either if a governor completes their term of office or stands down. Full details of the eligibility criteria and the process for nominations and any election are provided at the time.

Local Authority governors are nominated by local councillors.

Staff governors are members of the school staff who are elected by the staffing body (both teaching and non-teaching).

Foundation governors are only to be found on the governing bodies of voluntary schools and some foundation schools. They are appointed to preserve and develop the religious character of the school, if it has a religious character, and to secure compliance with the trust deed. Normally, foundation governors serve for a four year term of office.

A Co-opted governor is a person appointed by the governing body and who, in the opinion of the governing body, has the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school. Co-opted governors may have an area of specialist knowledge or experience or bring a wide range of skills and experience to their role as a governor.

Partnership governors are only to be found on the governing bodies of foundation schools which do not have a foundation or trustees. They must be members of the community served by the school who are committed to the good government and success of the school. The governing body is responsible for seeking nominations for and appointing partnership governors.

The Wiltshire Governor Support organisation provides a good range of training for all governors.

Andrew Mulligan
(Chair of Governors)
Parent Governor from November 2020

I became a Parent Governor in Dec 2020 following my daughter joining the school in Sept 2020, I have been in the role of Chair of Governors since June 2021, I really enjoy the role and look to be as active as possible in the school supporting a variety of initiatives and the SLT. I currently work in IT & Telecoms and live with my partner and children in Trowbridge. 

Paula Bartlett
(Vice Chair of Governors)
Co-opted Governor since Sept 2019

I was a teacher at Southwick School for over thirty years and have taught children from years one to five. I was part of the Senior Leadership Team in the school as well as being the SENCO and music subject leader. I also represented the staff on the governing body for a number of years. I have recently retired which has meant that I have more time for interests which include reading, gardening, a variety of crafts and walking as well as helping at a mother and toddlers' group. 
Term of office 4 years

David Cook
Staff Governor (Headteacher) since 1st September 2022

I am proud to be the headteacher of Southwick School. I have been on various governing bodies for around 15 years and have been headteacher in two schools prior to Southwick.
SEND and values based education are two areas that I am particularly passionate about.

Claire Grant
Co-opted Governor 5th October 2016
I moved to Trowbridge from Kent in 2014 after working in the Cash Management field for many years. I have 2 boys of which both went to Southwick but are now at JOG.  I also work in the school as Teaching Assistant having also worked in the kitchen

Rachel Forrest
Staff Governor from September 2019

I have been a teacher at Southwick School for the last 9 years, working in key stage 2. I am currently year 6 teacher and the curriculum lead for maths.

 

Sandra Singer
Co-opted Governor from January 2020

  I have worked in the Governor Services’ Team at Wiltshire Council for 26 years (now working 3 days a week as I took flexible retirement with the Council in June 2017).  I have also served as a governor in Trowbridge schools over the last 23 years. I live in the village of Southwick.

 

Father Oliver Learmont
Foundation Governor 15th October 2019

 

Ben Rhodes
Co-opted Governor from 24th November 2021

Bob Sparke
Foundation Governor from 16th March 2022

I am part of the leadership team at SBC where I have been a member for over 30 years. I have enjoyed leading collective worship in the school over the last ten years, finding creative ways to access the wisdom and love of God for the children.  I am pleased to have been given the opportunity to become a Foundation Governor. 
My role is to ensure that the school’s Christian ethos and values are evident across all areas of school life.  

John Alpin
Co-opted Governor from 13th July 2022

Retired in 2020 as a Principal Scientist and Team Leader of civilian engineers and military officers in the MoD.  Was a Governor and Chair of Governors from 2007 - 2021 and was present when the school joined a MAT . Great interest and passion for science and engineering which I enjoy sharing with children and will encourage questions and inquiry about the world in which we live.  Advocate for STEM in schools, particularly primary schools and take every opportunity to get ‘messy’ and ‘do science ’ and have fun! 
Member of the Management Team and Senior Radio Presenter for Warminster Community Radio. Responsibility for mentoring new presenters, particularly our teenagers.  
For a number of years a Trustee of Warminster United Church (a joint Methodist/United Reform Church)
Some of my other interests are; listening to music, playing guitar, swimming, gardening, coastal walking and several grandchildren. 

 

Clerk to Governors
Danny Holland
Started 2nd September 2015


Scheme of Delegation document 2021 - 2022

Title

First Name

Surname

Term of office end date

Governor Type

Governor Links

Committee Member

Mr

David

Cook

31/8/2050

Staff – Head

 

Both

Mr

Andrew

Mulligan

30/09/2024

Chair
Parent

 Maths, Computing & PP

Resources

Mrs

Paula

Bartlett

31/08/2023

Vice Chair
Co-Opted

Early Years,
SEN & Music

Chair of Curriculum

Mrs

Claire

Grant

4/10/2024

Co-Opted

Health & Safety

Chair of Resources

       

Local Authority

   

Mrs

Sandra

Singer

12/11/2023

Co-opted

Geography

Curriculum

Mrs

Rachel

Forrest

15/10/2023

Staff

 

Curriculum

Fr

Oliver

Learmont

15/10/2023

Foundation

 

Resources

Mr

Ben

Rhodes

24/11/2025

Co-opted

Science & PE

Curriculum

Mr

Bob

Sparke

16/03/2026

Foundation

 

Resources

Mr

John

Alpin

12/07/206

Co-Opted

 

Resources


Title

First Name

Surname

Governor at another Educational  Setting

Business Interest

Pecuniary Interest

Other Interest

Mr

David

Cook

No

Nil

Nil

Nil

Mr

Andrew

Mulligan

No

Nil

Nil

Nil

Mrs

Paula

Bartlett

No

Nil

Nil

Nil

Mrs

Claire

Grant

No

Nil

Nil

Nil

Mrs

Sandra

Singer

No

Nil

Nil

Nil

Mrs

Rachel

Forrest

No

Nil

Nil

Nil

Fr

Oliver

Learmont

Yes

Nil

Nil

Nil

Mr

Ben

Rhodes

No

Nil

Nil

Nil

Mr

Bob

Sparke

No

Nil

Nil

Nil

Mr

John

Alpin

No

Nil

Nil

Nil

Attendance Record 2022-2023 - Full Governing Body Meetings

 

13/10/2022

06/12/22

08/02/23

29/03/23

17/05/23

12/07/23

David Cook

 

 

 

 

Carole Moon

A

Resigned 15th November 2022

Paula Bartlett

A

 

 

 

 

Claire Grant

 

 

 

 

Sandra Singer

A

 

 

 

 

Oliver Learmont

Abs

 

 

 

 

Rachel Forrest

 

 

 

 

Andrew Mulligan

 

 

 

 

Ben Rhodes

A

 

 

 

 

Bob Sparkes

 

 

 

 

John Alpin

 

 

 

 

Danny Holland

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key:   √ = In attendance         P = Part attendance          A = Apologies Given        Abs = Absent

Full Governing Body Meeting Dates

Term 1

Term 2

Term 3

Term 4

Term 5

Term 6

13/10/2022

06/12/2022

08/02/2023

29/03/2023

17/05/2023

12/07/2023


Information of Governors who have stepped down during year 21 - 22 please click here
Information of Governors who have stepped down during year 20 - 21 please click here
Information of Governors who have stepped down during year 18 - 19 please click here
Information of Governors who have stepped down during year 17-18 please click here
Information of Governors who have stepped down during year 16-17 please click here
Governors Attendance for FGB meetings 21 - 22 please click here
Governors Attendance for FGB meetings 20 - 21 please click here
Governors Attendance for FGB meetings 19 - 20 please click here
Governors Attendance for FGB meetings 18 - 19 please click here
Governors Attendance for FGB meetings 17 - 18 please click here
Governors Attendance for FGB meetings 16 - 17 please click here