Governors play a vital role in ensuring the best possible education for every child by creating robust accountability for school leaders (DfE 2015). They have a strong focus on four core strategic functions
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding the leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
- Ensuring the voices of stakeholders are heard
The full Governing Body meets every term. In addition, there are two committees, which meet in advance of the full governing body for more detailed discussions and to review policy documents. They are
- Curriculum and Standards
- Resources
The Governing Body is comprised of 12 members and the composition is as follows
- One Ex Officio (Headteacher)
- One staff member elected by school staff
- One appointed by the Local Authority
- Two elected by parents of the school
- Seven Foundation governors appointed by the London Diocesan Board for Schools and the Sponsoring Parish Churches.
Contact the Chair of Governors
If you wish to contact the chair of governors, please email info@smsp.richmond.sch.uk or leave a letter in a sealed envelope, with the clerk to the governors, Allison Peach, in the school office.
Governors’ Documents: Declarations of Interest GB 2023-24 | Privacy Notice for Governors | Schools Financial Benchmarking | Governor Code of Conduct
Governors’ Reports: Reading, Mathematics, Science, SEND, R.E., PE
Current Governors
Mary Hawes
Chair of Governors
SMSC & RE Governor
Committees:
Curriculum and Standards, Steering Group, Staff and Pupil Disciplinary, Leadership Pay Panel, Complaints Panel
Appointed:
September 2015
Phil Giesler
Vice-Chair of Governors
LEA Governor
SEN Governor
Maths Governor
Committees:
Resources
Re-Appointed:
1st April 2021
Helen Swain
Headteacher
Committees:
Resources, Curriculum and Standards, Steering Group, Admissions
Appointed:
September 2021
Simon Pedley
Foundation Governor
Committees:
Curriculum and Standards, Appeals Panel
Appointed:
October 2020
David Cloake
Vicar of St Mary with St Alban
Committees:
Resources, Looked After Children Link Governor, Relationship Education Link Governor
Appointed:
October 2023
John Dewhurst
Foundation Governor
English Governor
Arts Governor
Committees:
Curriculum and Standards (Chair), Steering Group, Admissions, Leadership Pay Panel
Re-Appointed:
1st October 2020
William Bulkeley
Foundation Governor
Computing Governor
Committees:
Resources (Chair), Steering Group, Leadership Pay Panel
Appointed:
19th April 2017
Lucy Fink
Parent Governor
Pre-School Link Governor
Pupil Premium Governor
Committees:
Curriculum and Standards
Appointed:
1st April 2021
Amicia Novak
Staff Governor
Committees:
Curriculum and Standards
Appointed:
November 2023
Steven Alford
Foundation Governor
Premises, Health & Safety Link Governor
Committees:
Resources
Appointed:
5th December 2022
Matthew Young
Foundation Governor
Safeguarding Governor
Committees:
Resources
Appointed:
16th May 2023
Lisa Bailey
Parent Governor
Early Years Link Governor
Committees:
Resources
Appointed:
October 2023
Justine Bateman
Deputy Headteacher
Associate Governor
Committees:
Resources, Curriculum and Standards
Appointed:
14th November 2014
Marie Richardson
Assistant Head
Associate Governor
Committees:
Curriculum and Standards
Appointed:
7th November 2014