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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 2024-25 | Privacy Notice for GovernorsSchools Financial Benchmarking | Governor Code of Conduct

Governors’ Reports: Reading, Mathematics, Science, SEND, R.E., PE, School Vision, Early Years Provision

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

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Phil Giesler

Vice-Chair of Governors
LEA Governor
SEN Governor
Maths Governor

Committees:
Resources

Re-Appointed:
September 2024

SMSPSMSW23 (9)

Helen Swain

Headteacher

Committees:
Resources, Curriculum and Standards, Steering Group, Admissions

Appointed:
September 2021

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Simon Pedley

Foundation Governor

Committees:
Curriculum and Standards, Appeals Panel

Appointed:
October 2024

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David Cloake

Vicar of St Mary with St Alban

Committees:
Resources, Looked After Children Link Governor, Relationship Education Link Governor

Appointed:
October 2023

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William Bulkeley

Foundation Governor
Computing Governor

Committees:
Resources (Chair), Steering Group, Leadership Pay Panel

Appointed:
April 2021

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Steven Alford

Foundation Governor
Premises, Health & Safety Link Governor

Committees:
Resources

Appointed:
December 2022

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Matthew Young

Foundation Governor
Safeguarding Governor

Committees:
Resources

Appointed:
May 2023

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Amicia Novak

Staff Governor

Committees:
Curriculum and Standards

Appointed:
November 2023

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Lucy Fink

Parent Governor
Pre-School Link Governor
Pupil Premium Governor

Committees:
Curriculum and Standards

Appointed:
April 2021

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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:
November 2014

Marie Richardson

Assistant Head
Associate Governor

Committees:
Curriculum and Standards

Appointed:
November 2014