Craig Manuel

I am the local authority school governor nominated by Hampshire County Council and appointed by the governing body. Whilst I need to have a good awareness and understanding of council priorities and policies, my real purpose of becoming a governor is to ensure every child who attends Wickham Primary receives the very best education and has an enjoyable school experience.

I have lived in Wickham Parish for over 20 years and previously had 2 children attend the school. I am a current Wickham Parish councillor and a Hampshire foster career. Hopefully many parents will already know me from around the village!

It is a pleasure to be a governor of Wickham Primary and it’s been very exciting to see all the improvements made by the new head teacher.

Ailsa Cox

I have worked within mental health services for the NHS for 15 years, in both clinical and managerial positions. I have a special interest in how our early experiences shape our mental health in later years. 

Kathryn Holladay

I am a new arrival to the Governing Body, having started in 2022 although I have lived in the village for 16 years. My career has been in education, mainly at secondary level, but I have had teaching and leadership experience in a variety of schools. I look forward to using my skills to benefit the education and positive development of pupils at the school. I have already been impressed by the dedication, professionalism, and commitment of the staff as well as the support and encouragement given to the pupils.

Chris Norgate

I'm a serving firefighter and co-responder for the ambulance service. I have qualifications in risk assessment, first aid and trauma care, special needs, early childhood development and nursery nursing. In 2021 I was awarded 'Freedom of the City' by Portsmouth City Council for my work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

My children have all attended Wickham Church of England Primary School, just as my brothers and I before them, so I know the school and its history well. I volunteered as a governor to help with the future of the school, the children and our community.

Victoria Foulkes

I have worked in IT for over 25 years and currently hold a position within the world’s largest media and advertising agency as a Senior Business Partner for our North America region. My responsibilities are heavily focused on driving a technology strategy that helps the business to achieve their goals, a role I thoroughly enjoy and one that requires/enables a varied skillset.

I have held strong connections with Wickham Primary School since 2015 when my daughter Eloise joined Year R. My son Jude is currently thriving in Squirrels class. I have always enjoyed volunteering within the ‘Friends of Wickham Primary School’ charity team to help fundraising which has enabled many fantastic contributions over the years.  One of my personal values is to ‘give back’ so joining the governing body felt like a natural step to support the fantastic journey the school is currently on.

Laura Appleton

I have two children who attend Wickham Church of England Primary School and think it is such a great school. In 2023 I decided I wanted to do something more within the school so have volunteered to be a governor.  My career to date has been within the Fresh Produce industry, supplying the retailers salads products and now fresh herbs. I work within a sales and commercial environment and felt I could bring my skills from this to support the school. I sit on the resources committee where I hope to gain an understanding of how the finances of a school work and provide support with monetary decisions. 

Emilie Holland    

I am a family solicitor and joined the team of School Governors in 2023.  I live locally and my child attends the pre-school and am therefore passionate about the success of the pre-school, the school and their place in the local community.

Laura Craft 

Staff governor. 

Meeting Information

The Full Governing Body, chaired by Sarah Merewood, meets twice each term. 

The Full Governing Body has established two supporting committees, which undertake much of the detailed work of the Governing Body and report to the Full Governing Body:

The Achievement Committee is chaired by Alisha Cox and meets once each term.

The Resources Committee is chaired by Victoria Foulkes and meets twice each term.

Full governing body and committee minutes are in the public domain. The minutes of a particular meeting can be obtained by contacting the school office.

Governing Body Members

Wickham Church of England Primary School has 14 governors, consisting of:

• 4 Foundation Governors
• 5 Co-opted Governors
• 2 Parent Governors
• 1 Local Authority Governor
• 1 Headteacher
• 1 Staff Governor

We can be contacted via the school office or by email:

governing.body@wickham-primary.hants.sch.uk  

The Role of a Governor:

Our role is to support the head teacher and the staff in providing the best possible educational environment for the children at our school. We have overall responsibility for the school's strategic direction, specifically:

• To ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• To hold the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
• To oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure its money is well spent 

We also carry out a number of other important duties, which include:

• Determining how the school's budget is spent
• The appointing and dismissing of staff
• Hearing appeals and grievances
• Forming policy on the school's curriculum and collective worship
• Setting standards for pupils' behaviour and discipline
• Making sure school buildings are welcoming and safe
• Setting and monitoring the school's aims and policies 
• We ensure the school provides for ALL pupils
• We ensure that the National Curriculum is taught
• We contribute to how the school can encourage pupils' spiritual, moral and cultural development

Term and Appointment

Governors at Wickham Church of England Primary are appointed for a 4 year term. Each category of governor is appointed in a different way:

Parent Governors: Parents will receive a letter when a vacancy arises inviting nominations. Where there are more parents wishing to serve as governors than vacancies, an election is held. If there are fewer parents than vacancies, parents can be elected unopposed.

Headteacher: The Headteacher is a member of the Governing Body by virtue of their position.

Staff Governors: The staff governor is elected by the school staff – any election which is contested must be held by ballot.

Authority Governors: Nominated by the Local Authority and appointed by the Governing Body. Appointments are made on the basis of the individual’s interests and experience at work, home or elsewhere which may be relevant to being a governor.

Co-opted Governors: Appointed by the Governing Body. Appointments are made taking into account the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.

Foundation Governors: Appointed by the Diocese.

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

INSTRUMENT OF GOVERNMENT (VARIATION)

1.     The name of the school is Wickham Church of England Primary School

2.    The school is a voluntary controlled school

3.    There is a Trust Deed for the school dated 1868

4.    Recognising its historic foundation, the school will preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the Church at parish and diocesan level.

The school aims to serve its community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice. It encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all its pupils.

You don't have to have children at the school to be a governor. However, you do have to be over 18, and pass a formal check for your suitability to be within a school. No specific qualifications are required but there are certain expectations. Governors attend regular training sessions to help keep up to date with changes in educational policies and the law. What's really important is that you have energy, enthusiasm, time and a real desire to help provide children with the best possible education.

Governors come from all sections of the community, and all walks of life. They can be parents, staff at the school, residents’ in the locality or representatives of local churches or businesses. It is important that you can work as part of a team, and can give commitment to the school.

If you think you have what it takes to be a school governor there are a number of ways of finding schools that have vacancies:

• You can contact your local school to ask if they need a new governor
• You can contact SGOSS - Governors for Schools, which recruits Governors nationally
• You can contact your local council
• You can use the inspiring the future website

Declaration of Interests

Attendance of Meetings