Our Governors
The three core functions of the Governing Body are:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
Governors appoint the senior staff, make decisions about the school's budget, and discuss and approve school policy documents. Governors also ensure the school provides the highest standard of education for every child.
The Full Governing Body holds three meetings per term, and we have additional Committee meetings. The main committees are Resources (which oversees finances, premises and staffing - click here for Terms of Reference) and Curriculum (which also oversees pupil progress and attainment, special educational needs, etc - click here for Terms of Reference) and we also have a Pay Committee - click here for Terms of Reference. Individual Governors are also assigned specific "Link" responsibilities in respect of which they engage with the school's leadership and teachers.
We work closely with the headteacher and his staff team and make regular visits to the school. We also come in to spend time getting to know the pupils, helping them to understand who we are and what we do, and to attend assemblies and other events. We take part in training and meetings arranged by Brighton and Hove City Council and we also meet the Ofsted inspectors and other agencies.
School governors are unpaid volunteers who give a lot of time and energy to our duties. We try to represent the views of all those with an interest in the school, and, like the staff team, we always welcome your feedback and suggestions for further improving our school. All governors have signed up to and seek to abide by our Code of Conduct.
Anyone aged 18 or over can become a school or college governor. No specialist qualifications are needed and people from many different backgrounds volunteer for the role. Enthusiasm, commitment and an interest in education are the most important qualities. You don’t need to have a family member attending the school to become a governor. Find out more on our governor vacancies page.
If you would like to get in touch with the Governing Body, please email our clerk Ruth Ali, using the following email address: spsclerk@saltdean.brighton-hove.sch.uk. Written correspondence for the Chair can be sent to the school address.
Our Instrument of Government stipulates that our Governing Body should consist of 12 governors: 4 parent, 5 co-opted, 1 Headteacher, 1 staff, 1 LA
In addition, we have appointed some associate members.
Please click on our photos to read our profiles.
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Parent Governor Elected by parents Meetings attended in 2023-2024: 12 out of a possible 13 |
Lucinda Dash (Term of office 24/11/20 - 23/11/24) Vice chair Member Headteacher Appraisal Panel Member Curriculum Committee Member Resources Committee Link Governor for: Behaviour Equalities Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) |
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Parent Governor Appointed by Governing Board due to no election candidates Meetings attended in 2023-2024: 9 out of a possible 10
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Katie Glennon (Term of office: first appointed 15.09.21 as co-opted governor, current term 14.07.22 - 13.07.26) Member Curriculum Committee Member Pay Committee Supporting Link Governor for Safeguarding (SCR compliance) |
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Parent Governor Elected by parents Meetings attended in 2023-2024: 10 out of a possible 10 |
Dr Gemma Hannan (Term of office 30.01.23 - 29.01.27) Member Curriculum Committee Member Pay Committee Link Governor for: Safeguarding Children in Care |
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Co-opted Governor Appointed by board Meetings attended in 2023-2024: 7 out of a possible 8 |
Murray Hecht (Term of office 22.11.23 - 21.11.27) Member Resources Committee Member Curriculum Committee Link Governor for: Health and Safety GDPR |
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Headteacher Governor Ex Officio Meetings attended in 2023-2024: 13 out of a possible 13 |
John Maxwell (Term of office began 20.04.20) Member Resources Committee Member Curriculum Committee |
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Co-opted Governor Appointed by Governing Board Meetings attended in 2023-2024: 8 out of a possible 10 |
Carole McIver-Wren (First appointed: 19.03.19, current term 19.03.2023 - 18.03.2027) Chair Curriculum Committee Chair Headteacher Appraisal Panel Link Governor for: Curriculum
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Co-opted Governor Appointed by Governing Board Meetings attended in 2023-2024: 7 out of a possible 10 |
Lis Telcs (Term of office: 14.07.22 - 13.07.26) Member Curriculum Committee Link Governor for: Pupil Premium Curriculum - Early Years Foundation Stage |
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Co-opted Governor Appointed by Governing Board Meetings attended in 2023-2024: 13 out of a possible 13 |
Colleen Weafer (Term of office: First appointed as co-opted governor: 25.01.18 - current term 10.07.24 - 09.07.28) Chair Member Headteacher appraisal panel Member Resources Committee Member Pay Committee Member Curriculum Committee Link Governor for: Governor Recruitment, Induction and Training Sports Premium and PE Support for Pupil Premium |
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Staff Governor Elected by staff Meetings attended in 2023-2024: 6 out of a possible 10 |
Sarah Wheeler (Term of office: 10.07.2023 - 09.07.2027) Member Curriculum Committee Link Governor for: Wellbeing |
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Co-opted Governor Appointed by Governing Board Meetings attended in 2023-2024: 1 out of a possible 1 |
Debbie Winfield (term of office: 10.07.2024 - 09.07.2028) |
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Associated Member to the Resources Committee, with voting rights on the committee Appointed by Governing Board Meetings attended in 2023-2024: 3 out of a possible 3 (no requirement for Associate Members to attend FGB meetings)
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Karen Haworth (Term of office: 10.05.2023 - 09.05.2027) Chair Resources Committee Member Pay Committee
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LA Governor Vacancy |
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Parent Governor Vacancy |
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Co-opted Governor Vacancy |
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The following members were also serving on the Governing Body in the last year:
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Name |
Governor Category |
Term of Office started |
Term of Office expired/date of resignation |
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Joe Paxton |
LA Governor |
12.11.2016 first appointed reappointed 12.11.2020 |
13.03.2024 |
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Simon Blackett |
Co-opted Governor |
14.07.2022 |
07.03.2024 |
Register of Governor Business, Pecuniary and other interests 2023-24
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Name and category |
Contracts/ suppliers / employment |
Governing Other educational establishments |
Family members |
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Simon Blackett, Co-opted Governor (resigned 07.03.2024) |
Employee at Unilever |
None |
Child at another school in the Deans |
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Lucinda Dash, Parent Governor |
Aldingbourne Trust |
None |
One child at the school |
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Katie Glennon, Co-opted governor |
Sussex Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust |
None |
Two children at the school |
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Gemma Hannan, Parent governor |
Oxford international College |
None |
Children at the school |
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Karen Haworth, Associate Member |
None |
None |
None |
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Murray Hecht, Co-opted governor |
None |
None |
None |
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Carole McIver-Wren, Co-opted Governor |
None |
Governor at Longhill High School | None |
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John Maxwell, Headteacher |
Director at Connexus Psychological Development Ltd |
None |
None |
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Joe Paxton, LA Governor |
None |
Local Leader of Governance LA |
None |
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Lis Telcs, Co-opted governor |
St Nicholas Church Saltdean - Children and Families Worker. Swiss Gardens Primary School in West Sussex |
None |
None |
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Colleen Weafer, Co-opted Governor |
None |
None |
Children at the school |
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Sarah Wheeler, Staff Governor |
None |
None |
None |
Statement on publishing governors' diversity data:
Our diversity data is confidential but is regularly analysed by the board and used in recruitment and training to ensure governors reflect the communities they serve.
You can read minutes of our meetings here.
This video explains the role of school governors:
