Governance

Stapeley Broad Lane CE Primary School is a single academy trust which is governed by a group of volunteers who represent different aspects of our community. These are held to account for the running of the school by our Members.

Members from 01/12/2023

Chester Diocese of Education (Chris Penn - Director of Education)
Matt Vickers
Tim Marsden
Roy Smith (Chair of Governors)

The Trust holds an Annual General Meeting each December. Minutes of the latest meetings can be found below.

Our Governing Body reports directly to Members and is composed of 12 governors:

	Roy Smith (Chair of Governors and Chair of the Pay Committee ) Co-opted by the Governing Body until May 2027 Health and Safety Lead Governor Link Governor for PE and Sport	Roy was co-opted to the Governing Board in December 2018 and elected as Chair in 2019. All three of Roy's children have benefited from attending the school and Roy lives in the local area. Roy brings with him over 25 years' experience in a variety of business management roles for a global provider of water, hygiene and infection prevention services.

Awaiting Image	Richard Morgan-Wynne (Chair of Finance and Audit Committee) Nominated by St Chad's PCC until 29 November 2024 Lead Governor for finance Link Governor for English	One of the Founding Members of the Academy Trust, Richard has lived in Nantwich all his life and started school in 1964 at Stapeley Broad Lane; since then his own children, Sally and James, have passed through the school and his wife Karen is now a teaching assistant in Class 3/4. Richard worked as a solicitor specialising in commercial property and agricultural matters in Nantwich for many years, and now works part time as a Locum Solicitor around the country. Outside of the office, Richard is a committed supporter of the local community and holds a number of trustee and director positions for local charities. In his spare time, Richard enjoys cycling, golf, skiing and sailing and has previously taken part in the Fastnet Race and has sailed to Iceland via the Shetlands and the Faroe Islands.

	Jennifer Holden Headteacher	I have been a primary school teacher for over 20 years, in this time I have taught in Key Stage 1, 2 and the Early Years. My role has been Deputy Head, SEN co-ordinator and deputy Safeguarding Lead, supporting children and their families. I am very proud to have taken on the role of Headteacher. I am passionate about helping all children succeed to the best of their ability, supporting families as well as making the curriculum memorable and exciting! I have a keen interest in early intervention, children’s emotional well-being and safeguarding. Away from school, I am a mum of three who enjoys long walks with the family, cooking and reading.
Awaiting image	Andrea Davaraj Foundation Diocesan Board Of Education Term of Office until 16 Nov 2027
	Sarah Ailsby Co-opted by Governors until Sept 27

Awaiting Image	Fiona Hartley Co-opted by Members until 29 November 2024	Fiona has been a part of the Stapeley Broad Lane community since September 2012 when her daughter joined the school. Her son is currently in Year 4. Fiona has 25 years of experience in education settings, and is currently Vice Principal of a large academy in Stoke and is designated safeguarding lead, overseeing pastoral care. She is an SLE (Specialist Leader in Education) advising and supporting other professionals across different phases of education in addressing the areas of behaviour, attendance and safeguarding.

	Hannah Hukins Nominated by Parents until 31 December 2024 Lead Governor for Safeguarding.	My name is Hannah and I have one child at Broad Lane and another at Brine Leas. I bring a wealth of expertise in safeguarding children to my role as parent governor. Over the last 13 years I have supported children, young people and their families and coordinated services supporting vulnerable young people at risk of harm. Now more than ever, safeguarding and mental health are a top priority globally due to the Covid pandemic, and schools will play a key role in providing this support for our children. I am very excited to be a Governor at Stapeley Broad Lane!

Awaiting Image	Jo O'Brien Nominated by Parents until 31 December 2024 Lead governor for Special Educational Needs Link Governor for Science / STEM	Jo became a parent governor in January 2021 and currently has 1 child at Stapeley Broad Lane Primary school. Her son is now in his final year so the family have been a Stapeley Broad Lane family for almost ten years! Jo works at Bentley Motors as a senior communications manager and has wide-ranging experience in communications and stakeholder engagement.

	Sarah Renshaw (Vice Chair of Governors) Nominated by Parents until 31 December 2024 Governor Responsibility for Governor Training Liaison Link Governor for Humanities.	I am Sarah, I have a child currently in year 2 and two older children (adults) who have gone through the full education system. I am delighted to have the opportunity to be a parent governor; I am looking forward to supporting SBL to continue to provide excellence in education and building relationships between the parents and the school.

Awaiting Image	Matt Beeston Elected by staff until 21 November 2025

Our Board of Governors

Mrs Jen Holden (Head - ex-officio governor)

Mrs Hannah Hukins (Elected by parents until 31 December 2024)

Mrs Jo O'Brien (Elected by parents until 31 December 2024)

Ms Sarah Renshaw (Elected by parents until 31 December 2024)

Mr Richard Morgan (Vice-chair of Governors - nominated by St Chad's PCC until 29 November 2024)

Mrs Nikki Watson (Co-opted by the Governing Body until Sept 2027)

Mrs Fiona Hartley (Co-opted by Members until 29 November 2024)

Mrs Matt Beeston (Elected by staff until November 2025)

Mr Roy Smith (Chair of Governors, co-opted by the Governing Body until January 2027)

Mrs Sarah Ailsby (Co-opted by Governors until Sept 2027)

Mrs Andrea Davaraj (Foundation Diocesan Board Of Education Term of Office until 16 Nov 2027)

Governors who have resigned or whose term of office expired in the past 12 months:

Marco Cura (Elected by staff until September 2024, resigned May 2023)
Mr Tim Marsden (Co-opted by the Governing Body until 24 April 2024, resigned May 2023)
Mrs Gillian Tucker (Foundation Governor - term of office ended Nov 2023)

Governors' attendance information for 2022/23 can be found here. Attendance information for 2020/21 can be found here.

Governors' pecuniary interests can be found here.

Our governing body meets at least six times each year and is supported by our Finance and audit committee which also meets at least six times each year. The terms of reference for our two committees can be found here:

What do Governors do?

An academy governor acts as the critical friend of the headteacher and senior leadership team, and provides support and challenge. The key responsibilities of the governing body include:

establishing the strategic direction of the school;
challenging and monitoring the performance of the academy;
ensuring good financial health and probity;
ensuring that key players with a stake in the organisation get their voices heard.

In fulfilling these responsibilities an effective governing body will:

help the school to set high standards by planning for the school’s future and setting targets for school improvement;
be a critical friend to the school, offering support and advice;
help the school respond to the needs of parents and the community;
make the school accountable to the public for what it does;
work with the school on planning, developing policies and keeping these under review;
exercise its responsibilities and powers in partnership with the headteacher and staff; and
not intervene in the day-to-day management of the school unless there are weaknesses in the school when it then has a duty to take action.

Our Governing Boards have adopted a code of conduct that details the behaviour and professional standards required. This can be found below.

How Can I Join?

Governors are either elected by parents or staff or may be co-opted by members where the Board has established a need for a particular set of skills and experience. If you would be interested in becoming a co-opted governor, please email the clerk in the first instance at admin@stapeleybl.cheshire.sch.uk