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 |