Governors
The day-to-day running of the school and its management is undertaken by the Headteacher. The governing body is similar to a board of directors, making policy decisions about how the school should be run. Governors can only act together, not individually, and they meet regularly. All governors are DBS checked. The Governing Body of Little Gaddesden School meets seven times each year and alternates the focus of its meetings between Resources and Learning Matters as well as the wider business of the Governing Body. Further detail is included in the Governing Body Schedule of Delegation (see link below). Minutes of the governors’ meetings are available from the school office.
Little Gaddesden Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has a governing body of twelve. There are seven Foundation Governors, with two appointed by the Diocese of St Albans Board of Education, and four appointed by the Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Peter & St Paul, Little Gaddesden. The parish priest is a Foundation Governor ex officio. One governor is appointed by Hertfordshire County Council. There are two elected Parent Governors, and two Staff Governors (including the Headteacher). In addition, the Governing Body may co-opt Associate Members at any time to make use of the specific expertise and experience they can contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.
Parent Governors bring the views of the parents to the governing body, but they speak and act as individuals. They should not be thought of as delegates or mouthpieces of the parents, and they do not vote for all parents in general. They have equal status in the work of the governing body, with voting rights. Parents elect two Parent Governors for four-year terms.
School Governors from October 2022
 | Term Start | Term End |
Headteacher | ||
Lorna Elkes | ||
Staff Governor | ||
Isabelle Wheeler | 07 Sep 2023 | 06 Sep 2027 |
Foundation Diocesan Board of Education Appointed Governors | ||
Nicholas Crispin | 01 Sep 2022 | 31 Aug 2026 |
Philip Heaphy (Chair) | 06 Jul 2023 | 05 Jul 2027 |
Foundation Ex-Officio Governor | ||
Revd. John Russell | ||
Parent Governors | ||
Simon Emmett | 16 Mar 2022 | 15 Mar 2026 |
Hannah Jarvis | 01 Oct 2022 | 30 Sep 2026 |
Foundation Parochial Church Council Appointed Governors | ||
Linda Buchanan-Barrow | 24 Jul 2023 | 23 Jul 2027 |
Revd. Stuart Owen | 02 Dec 2021 | 01 Dec 2025 |
Laura Gill | 04 Dec 2021 | 03 Dec 2025 |
Hayley McKenna | 06 Jul 2023 | 05 Jul 2027 |
Local Authority Governor | ||
Briony Sutcliffe | 24 Jun 2022 | 23 Jun 2026 |
Associate Members
News from the School Governors
Governing Body Code of Conduct October 2022
Governing Body Annual Report – July 2022
Governing Body Annual Report – June 2021
Governing Body Newsletter – June 2020
Governing Body – Scheme of Delegation
Attendance at Governing Body meetings September 2022 to July 2023
Full Governing Body: 7 meetings
Linda Buchanan-Barrow (Associate Member) 5; Nicholas Crispin 3; Lorna Elkes 7; Simon Emmett 5; Laura Gill 6; Phil Heaphy 7; Anne Heath 4; Hannah Jarvis 6; Hayley McKenna (Associate Member) 5; Amy Miles 5; Claire Owen 5; Simon Owen 3; John Russell 4; Briony Sutcliffe 7.
Attendance at Governing Body meetings September 2021 to July 2022
Full Governing Body: 7 meetings
Linda Buchanan-Barrow (Associate Member) 7; Nicholas Crispin 7; Carol Duguid (Associate Member) 5; Lorna Elkes 6; Simon Emmett 1; Laura Gill 5; Phil Heaphy 6; Anne Heard (Associate Member) 7; Anne Heath 7; Pippa Martin 2; Hayley McKenna (Associate Member) 7; Amy Miles 4; Claire Owen 6; Stuart Owen 2; John Russell 4; Helen Sewell (Associate Member) 0; Briony Sutcliffe 7.
Business and Other Interests
- No governor has declared any business interests which might involve the school.
- The Revd John Russell is also an ex officio governor of Great Gaddesden Church of England Primary School.
- Briony Sutcliffe has relatives who are Chairs of Governors at local primary schools. She is also a governance consultant for Herts for Learning (HfL) and a DfE appointed national leader of governance for the National Governance Association (NGA).
- No governor has any relative, spouse or partner employed by the school.
Ex-Governors who were in post academic year 2022-23
Anne Heath, Foundation Diocescan Board of Education Appointed Governor
Amy Miles, Staff Governor
Claire Owen, Foundation Parochial Church Council Appointed Governor
