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.
Our Governing Body is made up of four elected parents, one elected staff member, the headteacher, one local authority governor proposed by Brighton and Hove Council, and five co-opted governors appointed by the Governing Body. The Full Governing Body holds two 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 and Standards (which oversees the curriculum, teaching & learning and progress and attainment data - click here for Terms of Reference). 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.
Like all school governors, we 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.
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
Our Governing Body consists 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 2020-2021: 9 out of a possible 9 |
Dan Chatfield (Term of office 24.11.20 - 23.11.24)
Chair of the Resources Committee; Chair of the Pay Committee; and Link Governor for Finance.
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Parent Governor Elected by parents
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Ruth Cross (Term of office 23.02.22 - 22.02.26) |
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Parent Governor Elected by parents Meetings attended in 2020-2021: 6 out of a possible 6 |
Lucinda Dash (Term of office 24/11/20 - 23/11/24) Member of the Curriculum and Standards Committee, Member of the Headteacher Appraisal Panel, Link Governor for Behaviour and Nurture, Link Governor for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) |
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Co-opted Governor Appointed by Governing Board
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Katie Glennon (Term of office 15.09.21 - 14.09.25) Link Governor for Safeguarding |
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Headteacher Governor Ex Officio Meetings attended in 2020-2021: 12 out of a possible 12 |
John Maxwell (Term of office began 20.04.20) Member of the Curriculum and Standards Committee Advisor to Resources Committee |
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Co-opted Governor Appointed by Governing Board Meetings attended in 2020-2021: 7 out of a possible 9 |
Carole McIver-Wren (Term of office 19.03.19 - 18.03.23) Chair of the Curriculum and Standards Committee; Link Governor for Curriculum; Headteacher Appraisal Review Officer |
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Staff Governor Elected by staff Meetings attended in 2020-2021: 6 out of a possible 6 |
Torie Palmer (Term of office 10.07.19 - 09.07.23) |
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LA Governor Proposed by LA and appointed by Governing Board Meetings attended in 2020-2021: 5 out of a possible 6 |
Joe Paxton (Governing Body Chair) (Term of office; First appointed 12.11.2016, current term 12.11.20 - 11.11.24) Member of the Resources Committee, Member of the Pay Committee, Member of the Headteacher Appraisal Panel |
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Parent Governor Elected by Parents Meetings attended in 2020-2021: 7 out of a possible 9 |
Robin Rance (Term of office 20.03.20 - 19.03.24)
Member of the Resources Committee; and Link Governor for Health and Safety |
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Co-opted Governor Appointed by Governing Board Meetings attended in 2020-2021: 9 out of a possible 9 |
Colleen Weafer (Governing Body Vice Chair) (Term of office: First appointed: 25.01.18 - current term 25.01.22 - 24.01.26)
Member of the Curriculum and Standards Committee; Member of the Pay Committee; Member of the Headteacher appraisal panel; Link Governor for: Disadvantaged Pupils Governor Recruitment, Induction and Training Sports Premium and PE |
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Co-opted Governor Appointed by Governing Board
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vacancy |
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Co-opted Governor Appointed by Governing Board
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vacancy |
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Associate Members - Not required to attend FGB meetings
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Associate Member (and Deputy Headteacher) Appointed by Governing Board Meetings attended in 2020-2021: Not associated to a committee, no meeting attendance required. |
Mrs Natalie Burley (Term of office 16.09.19 - 15.09.23) |
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Associate Member Appointed by Governing Board
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Lindsey Harvey-Messina (Term of office 15.09.21 - 14.09.25) Associate Member to Curriculum and Standards Committee with voting rights on the committee. |
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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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Amy Dower |
Parent Governor |
20.03.2020 |
11.02.2022 |
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Randal Bunce |
Co-opted Governor |
20.10.2021` |
14.12.2021 |
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Michael Jones |
Co-opted Governor |
20.05.2019 |
26.07.2021 |
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Lindsey Harvey-Messina |
Co-opted Governor |
15.05.2019 |
23.07.2021 |
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Samantha Smith |
Co-opted Governor |
11.07.2018 |
23.07.2021 |
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Rosemary Miller |
Associate Member |
19.10.2020 |
23.07.2021 |
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Claire Price |
Associate Member |
20.03.2020 |
29.04.2021 |
Register of Governor Business, Pecuniary and other interests 2021-22
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Name and category |
Contracts/ suppliers / employment |
Other educational establishments |
Family members |
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Randal Bunce, Co-opted Governor |
None |
None |
None |
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Dan Chatfield, Parent governor |
None |
None |
Three children at the school |
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Ruth Cross, Parent governor |
Husband owner and proprietor of Cross Cleaning Specialists |
None |
Child at the school |
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Luinda Dash, Parent Governor |
Aldingbourne Trust |
None |
One child at the school |
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Amy Dower, Parent governor |
Teacher at Cradle Hill Primary School |
Teacher at Cradle Hill Primary School |
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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Lindsey Harvey-Messina, Associate Member |
None |
None |
Two children at the school |
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Carole McIver-Wren, Co-opted Governor |
None |
None | None |
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John Maxwell, Headteacher |
Director at Connexus Psychological Development Ltd |
None |
None |
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Victoria Palmer, Staff Governor |
None |
None |
None |
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Joe Paxton, LA Governor |
None |
Local Leader of Governance LA |
None |
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Robin Rance, Parent Governor |
None |
None |
Child at the school |
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Colleen Weafer, Co-opted Governor |
None |
None |
Two children at the school |
You can read minutes of our meetings here.