Governors

School Governor Vacancy

Welcome to our Governors’ section. 

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

 

Our School Vision

For each child to have a love of learning, hope, confidence, wisdom and respect for all. – Life in all its fullness John 10:10

About school governance

School governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools. Governors appoint the Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher. It is the governors who hold the main responsibility for finance in schools, and it is the governors who work with the Headteacher to make the tough decisions about balancing resources.

Each individual governor is a member of a governing board, which is established in law as a corporate body. Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the governing board; decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing board.

The role of the governing board is a strategic one, its key functions are to:

1) Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction

2) Hold the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils

3) Oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure its money is well spent.

Volunteering to be a School Governor takes a very committed person who brings with them a wide range of knowledge and skills that should enhance the leadership process of the school.

All school governors have to follow a robust application process and are appointed in a number of ways: through the Diocese, if the school is a Church school; by the Local Authority; or appointed (co-opted) by the governing body.

The structure of St Peter’s Brafferton governing body:

  • 7 Foundation Governors
    Appointed by the Diocese of York. Main role is along with the other members of the Governing Body,  is to ensure that the Christian ethos and character of the school is secured, preserved and developed.
  • 1 Local Authority Governor
    Appointed by the Local Authority
  • 2 Parent Governors
    Appointed by the Parents of the school and who are parents of the school
  • 2 Staff Governors
    Appointed by the staff of the school and who are staff within the school
  • Associate Governors (2 at present)
    Appointed by the Governing body, based on the skills and experience they have to offer. They do not have voting rights.

The Headteacher of St Peter’s Brafferton Primary School is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school. The role of the Governing Body is to provide strategic management support and advice, and to act as a “critical friend”, supporting the work of the Headteacher and other members of staff. The Headteacher is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school and the implementation of the strategic framework established by the governing board.

Contact the Governing Body

To contact St Peter’s Brafferton Governing Body, please email the Chair of Governors on:

cofg@st-peters-brafferton.n-yorks.sch.uk

St Peter’s Brafferton Governors’ Term of Office and Attendance 2024-2025

Name and Category of Gov. Appointed by Date Appointed and Term of Office end date (4 year term) Committee Membership / Position / Link Role Business Interests/other educational establishments governed Relationship between Govs and members of staff Non-attendance at meetings Sep 2024 – July 2025
Virginia Arrowsmith
(Parent Gov/Associate Gov.)
Parents Appointed: 21.3.2024
End Date: 21.03.2028
Left: **JULY 2025**
(Was Parent Gov/Assoc Gov from 23.03.19/Sept 2019)
FGB
Literacy Link
None None Sept 2024, Nov 2024, Dec 2024, March 2025
Tom Spilman
(Foundation Gov.)
York Diocese in consultation with Parochial Church of Brafferton Appointed: 12.4.2022
End Date: 12.4.2026
FGB
PP Link
None None Nov 2024
Sarah Anderson
(Head Teacher)
FGB N/A FGB None None None
Pete Hambling
(Foundation Gov)
York Diocese in consultation with Parochial Church of Brafferton Appointed: 1.9.2021
End Date: 1.9.2025
(Now an Associate Gov from Sept 2025)
FGB
Science Link/Finance
None None March 2025
Shirley Sowray
(Foundation Gov.)
York Diocese in consultation with Parochial Church of Brafferton Appointed: 1.2.2024
End Date: 01.02.28
FGB
**Chair of Govs**
EY Link
Wellbeing Link
None None Dec 2024
Laura Wise
(Foundation Gov.)
York Diocese in consultation with Parochial Church of Brafferton Appointed: 1.12.2022
End Date: 01.12.2026
FGB / **Vice Chair**
Numeracy Link
None None March 2025
Scott Simpson
(Parent Gov)
Nominated by parents, appointed by FGB Appointed: 12.4.2024
End Date: 12.4.2028
FGB
Sports Premium
None None Sept 2024, Dec 2024, March 2025
Mike Dennett
(Foundation Gov)
York Diocese in consultation with Parochial Church of Brafferton Appointed: 19.11.2020
End Date: 19.11.2028
FGB
SG Link, PHSCE link, Website link
None None Dec 2024
Sarah Atkinson
(Staff Gov)
Nominated by staff, appointed by the FGB Appointed: 1.11.2020
End Date: 1.11.2028
FGB
SENCo
None None None
Geoff Arnott
(LA Gov)
Nominated by LA, appointed by FGB Appointed: 1.9.2022
End Date: 1.9.2026
FGB
H and S Link
None None Sept 2024, Dec 2024, March 2025
Anna Blackwell
(Parent Gov)
Nominated by Parents, appointed by the FGB Appointed: 9.2.2023
End Date: 9.2.2027
FGB
SEND, Art, DT Link
None None None
Katy Cowen
(Foundation Gov)
York Diocese in consultation with Parochial Church of Brafferton Appointed: 1.9.2023
End Date: 1.09.2027
FGB
RE Link
Wellbeing Link
None None Sept 2024, Dec 2024, Feb 2025
Jim Brown
(Associate Gov)
Co-opted by the FGB Appointed: 21.3.24
End Date: 21.1.2028
FGB
Finance
Attends at another school None None
Rev Lottie Cranfield.
(Ex-officio Gov)
York Diocese in consultation with Parochial Church of Brafferton Appointed: 1.5.24
End Date: 1.5.2028
FGB
Christan Ethos
Music
None None Sept 2024, Dec 2024, Feb 2025