What is the role of the Governing Board at SMFR?

The role of the Governing Board is a vital part of school life in making sure that every child gets the best possible education. All Boards must be ambitious for all children and young people and infused with a passion for education and a commitment to continuous school improvement that enables the best possible outcomes.   

Governance must be grounded in reality as defined by both high-quality objective data and a full understanding of the views and needs of pupils, staff, parents, carers and local communities.

It should be driven by inquisitive, independent minds and through conversations focused on the key strategic issues which are conducted with humility, good judgement, resilience and determination.  

(DfE Governors Handbook - October 2020)

The purpose of governance is to provide confident, strategic leadership and to create robust accountability, oversight and assurance for educational and financial performance.

Here at St Mary's Farnham Royal the Governing Board works closely with the Senior Leadership team to ensure that we promote high standards of educational achievement at the school for all children.

The work of the Governing Board focuses on three core strategic functions:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• Holding leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation, its pupils and the effective and efficient performance management of staff.
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure money is well spent.

To ensure that we focus on our strategic responsibilities all members of the Governing Board have access to The Key's Knowledge platform.  This ensures each Governor has access to an E-Learning platform; providing each member of the board the ability to take responsibility for their own professional development.

We also gain knowledge of the school at work through class visits and learning walks that have clear areas of focus. Governors will then report back to the committee meetings on their findings, this ensures that there is a consistent understanding of the work of the school in all areas and provides all members of the Governing Board with a wider understanding of the school.

We meet as a Full Governing Board each half term, we have 3 committees that have a clear foci on specific areas. All meetings include Safeguarding and Wellbeing as a standard agenda's item.

1. Full Board, which focuses on all aspects of the school and its current priorities.
2. Curriculum Committee, which focuses on the curriculum, progress and attainment, the quality of teaching, behaviour and safety, leadership and management.
3. Finance Personnel and Premises Committee, which focusses on finance and budget responsibilities, premises, health and safety as well as personnel matters. 

Minutes of the meetings are available on request from the school office: email office@smfr.co.uk

If you would like any further information about the work of the Governing Body, please contact the Chair of Governors, Mr Paul Randall,  using the following email address: cog@smfr.co.uk 

 

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

Paul Randall - Chair of Governors with the following responsibilities, Chair of Finance Personnel & Premises, Safeguarding Governor English, Spag, Phonics and PE

The role of the Chair of Governors is to ensure that the Governing Board's role is focused on the core strategic functions of School Governing Boards. We work extremely hard with the Senior leadership Team to ensure that current standards are maintained and that further improvements continue across the school.

I like to think that I am an experienced Governor, as I am also a Chair of Governors at another primary school in Buckinghamshire. I have also served as a National Leader of Governance as well as being a member of the Local Authorities School Governance Board, Side by Side Board, Education Strategy Board and been Chair of the Buckinghamshire Association of School Governors.

I am employed by one of Britain’s leading office furniture designers and manufacturers as a Materials Manger.

I am married with two children, I enjoy travelling, eating out and football.

 

Mr Preston Brooker - Vice Chair of Governors 

I joined the Governing Board in Summer 2021 after being asked many times by Liz Glover! I have just become at church warden again at St. John’s Farnham Common. Having been a member of multiple school Governing Bodies, I am experienced school governor. I was a Slough Borough Councillor for Langley Kedermister from 2012 to 2023 and am still a Britwell Parish Councilor. I am also the Chair of Britwell Parish Council. I was mayor of Slough 2020 to 2021. I am retired transport manager.

 

Revd. Chloe Willson-Thomas

I was ordained as a priest in 2010 in Leicester, and took up the post of Rector of St. Mary’s Church Farnham Royal in March 2020 just as the pandemic was taking hold. Prior to my ordination, I worked as a freelance classical singer and singing teacher based in the Midlands. Many of my singing pupils were children, who went on to gain impressive results in their singing exams. My previous church post was as Rector of a large and very ancient Saxon church in Northamptonshire—All Saints Brixworth, where I started up a Music Festival and ran a children’s community choir called “Singing Saints” which brought together both church and community. I was an active member of the community, and found my work as governor of the Primary School there rewarding and fulfilling. I particularly enjoyed going into the school to work with the children. I very much look forward to working with the governing body here at St. Mary’s, and the staff and pupils.

 

(Staff Governor)

In 2014 I was appointed as a Class Teacher at St Mary's Farnham Royal. Since then, I have developed  professionally becoming Key Stage 2 Leader, leading Literacy and most recently becoming an Assistant Headteacher. 

Being a part of the school's development, ensuring the best outcomes for children led me to want to fulfil a role where I could offer further support to school and to staff, so in 2022 I joined the Governing Board as a Staff Governor, a role which I find rewarding. 

Miss Simone Barker (Parent Governor)

 

Mr Anand Patel

I joined the Governing Board at St Mary's as a Parent Governor in Autumn 2023.   I have 2 children with 1 attending SMFR and the other hopefully attending when she is old enough! 

I studied at Leeds medical School and worked in the NHS as a Doctor for several years and following further training became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons.   Having specialised in Urology I joined the pharmaceutical industry to develop new medications and treatments for urological and other conditions.  I have additional post-graduate qualifications from Kings College London, The University of Surrey and The University of Brussels and I am a member of the Royal College of Physicians Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine.

I have a keen interest in medical education and research and have authored a medical book, book chapters and many peer-reviewed articles. I am currently a Senior Director as a multi-national Pharmaceutical Company headquartered in the US and spend a great deal of time travelling and meeting people from many different cultures (which I enjoy immensely)  

I am looking forward to this new challenge of being a Parent Governor at SMFR.

 

Ms Michele Bradbeer

I joined as an Associate Governor in January 2024.  My background expertise is as a Specialist Teacher and Assessor of Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia) and Cognitive Neuropsychologist.  I am a graduate member of the British Psychological Society with an MSc (from the University of Hertfordshire) for my research linked to the vestibular-ocular reflex.  The focus of my career over the past 24+ years has been in the educational field, teaching individuals in primary and secondary schools and also as a college lecturer running a postgraduate teacher training course.  Passionate about neurodiversity and improving education for those with learning differences, the last 7 years I have been SENCO for a large primary academy, with 18 months additional SENCO duties at Key stage 3 for an independent academy.

Currently, I am working for the British Dyslexia Association as the Level 7 Course Leader for the postgraduate course developing teachers and other professionals as Specialist Teachers and Assessors of Dyslexia.

After visiting St Mary’s Farnham Royal CofE Primary School in 2023, I was very impressed with the teachers’ dedication and the calm and focused demeanour of the children.  Under the direction of the new headteacher this school is clearly making a big impact for the children, with their wellbeing and learning at the heart of what they do.  I felt inspired to offer my support the school in their endeavours.  

I am very much looking forward to my new role as a governor and working with the governing body here.