Governors’ Declaration of Interest

No relevant business and pecuniary interest including governance roles in other educational institutions have been declared by Governors for the academic year 2022-23.

Name and address of the Chair of Governors

Mr K. Brahmbhatt
c/o Alfriston School
Penn Road
Knotty Green
Beaconsfield
Buckinghamshire
HP9 2TS

According to the Articles of Association, the Governing Board shall consist of: 

• Up to six community governors appointed by the Members 
• Two staff governors appointed via staff election 
• A minimum of two parent governors elected by parents of registered pupils of the Academy  
• Up to three co-opted governors appointed by the governors that have not themselves been co-opted.
• The Headteacher is an ex officio governor

The Governing Board meets four times per year and the Members hold an AGM where the Governor’s Annual Report and Financial Statements are received.

The Governing Board has three committees: Resources (Finance, H&S and Premises), Personnel Committee and Teaching and Learning that report into the Governing Board on a termly basis. The remit of the committees is outlined in the Committee Terms of Reference.

The Resources Committee Chair is Ms Heather McCallum

The Personnel Committee Chair is Mrs Linda Johnston

The Teaching and Learning Committee Chair is Dr Jan Wyatt

For each Governor or trustee who has served at any point in the last 12 months – Their full names, date of appointment, date they stepped down (where applicable), and relevant business and pecuniary interests including governance roles in other educational institutions.

Members

• Mr Keith C Jones 
• Ms Heather McCallum 
• Mrs Susan Ware
• Mr William Wilsnagh
• Mrs Milena Kurgo

Trustees / Governors

• Mrs Jinna Male (Headteacher and Accounting Officer) 
• Ms Heather McCallum Community Governor (appointed 05.12.2018)
• Dr Jan Wyatt Community Governor (appointed 28-03.2018) and Vice Chair of Governors  
• Mr George Harrington Community Governor – appointed 04.12.2019
• Mrs Linda Johnston Co Opted Governor – appointed 7.01.2021
• Mr Malcolm Lewis Co Opted Governor – appointed 26.01.2021
• Mrs Charlotte Holliday Parent Governor – elected 01.02.2022
• Mrs Sharon Potts Staff Governor – elected 01.07.2019
• Mrs Penny Thatcher Staff Governor – elected 24.03.2021
• Mr Kalpesh Brahmbhatt – Community Governor – appointed 24.03.2021 and elected Chair of Governors

The Governing Board currently has the following structure:

• 5 Community Governors
• 2 Parent Governors
• 2 Co Opted Governors
• 2 Staff Governors
• Headteacher (ex officio)

The term of office for any Trustee shall be 4 years except:

• The Headteacher
• Staff Governors if they cease to be employed by the Academy

In general Trustees are replaced as and when they reach the end of the term of their office. Subject to remaining eligible to be a particular type of governor, any governor may be re-appointed or re-elected.

Governance
The information on governance included here supplements that described in the Trustees’ Report and in the Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities. The board of trustees has met 4 times during the year. 

Mr Kalpesh Brahmbhatt was elected as Chair of Governors and Dr Jan Wyatt as re-elected as Vice Chair of Governors at the Full Governing Board meeting on the 14^th September, 2022.

There have been a number of changes in the composition of the board of trustees during the year as set out in more detail on page 1 above.  When appointing new trustees, the board has regard to the skills of existing trustees and where possible seeks to fill any gaps in such expertise.  Much of the work of the board takes place in three committees which report back to the board. Those committees are (1) resources (2) personnel and (3) teaching & learning.

Resources Committee
The resources committee oversees all aspects of financial and resource provision, signing off on the budget and longer term financial plans.  It ensures that the school has appropriate financial procedures in place and oversees risk management across the school.  This committee also reviews the condition and maintenance of the school buildings, makes recommendations for upkeep and development works, and has oversight of Health & Safety within the school.

Personnel Committee

The personnel committee supports the school in recruiting, retaining and developing the best teachers and staff.  Its role also involves oversight of staff appointments, salary reviews and performance management.

Teaching and Learning Committee
The teaching and learning committee oversees the strategic direction of both the pastoral system and the curriculum including monitoring the progress made by pupils and examination results.  It seeks to ensure that the curriculum is broad and balanced and the pastoral system meets the needs of each pupil. 

The Headteacher and relevant members of the SMT attend committee meetings to provide reports and updates so that trustees can monitor performance and update relevant policies.

In addition, some of the trustees have individual responsibilities to report on how the school fulfils its statutory duties in specific areas including Safeguarding and Health & Safety.  The trustees also get involved with the school and engage with parents, teachers and pupils to get feedback and better understand the pupils experience.

In January 2017 the Department for Education issued new guidance about the competencies it wants governing bodies to have.  The board evaluated its performance and trustees completed a skills audit.  The trustees believe that the board has sound processes and is working well in fulfilling its statutory duties.  At each board meeting the trustees consider what the impact is on the pupils of the matters discussed and the decisions taken, to ensure that the best interests of the pupils are considered and prioritised. 

The Resources Committee is a sub-committee of the main board of trustees.  Its primary responsibility is to consider and recommend acceptance/non-acceptance of the Academy’s budget at the start of each financial year. It then monitors performance against the annual budget and three year forecast approved by the main board of trustees and recommends corrective action where necessary. To ensure the validity of the monitoring reports presented to it, the Resources Committee has responsibility to agree appropriate procedures and controls covering all aspects of the Academy’s finances.   

Attendance at resources committee meetings in the year was as follows: 

Alfriston School Governors

Kalpesh Brahmbhatt

I’ve been a Community Governor at the school for over a year and a half now.  In that time I have chaired the resources committee and have most recently been appointed Co-chair of the Governors.  
I together with my wonderful wife, have raised two children ( I call them ‘new adults’ now!) and live in Chalfont St Peters , so not too far from the school. I’ve recently taken up golf , in exchange for cricket, and still try and play 5 a side football (aches and pains permitting).

My professional background is in regulation and economic policy and I’ve worked within most sectors of the UK Economy.  Most importantly in this context I have a passion for education – inspired my later father.  He used to tell me and my siblings that ‘education is the greatest gift that you can give’.  It has now become one of my family’s core values. 

Jan Wyatt

I joined the Governing Board of Alfriston School as a Community Governor on 28 March 2018 and currently I am Vice-Chair. I find it extremely rewarding as Alfriston is such a lovely and happy school.  I am a retired teacher – having taught science in Buckinghamshire for 19 years. After graduating in Microbiology many years ago I worked in the pharmaceutical industry before lecturing at London University in The School of Pharmacy.

After retiring I spent several years as a member of the Buckinghamshire Education Appeals Panels. I have three children, who are obviously well past school age, but most of their education took place in Buckinghamshire. I also have three grandsons – two are at school in Buckinghamshire and the other, who is an amputee, lives in Dorset. Apart from spending valuable time with family and friends I enjoy walking, reading and working on my tapestries.

George Harrington

I am a Member Appointed Director and have been on the Governing Board since 2019. I retired in January 2019 after working in mainstream secondary school education for 19 years. The final 11 years was working as a senior manager/teacher in a girls’ school. Before teaching I worked as a senior flavourist for a multi-national flavour company. Since retiring, I tutor/mentor looked after children. I also volunteer with a community group, Rotate Amersham. I am a passionate follower of Brentford FC, Leicester Tigers RU, and Middlesex CCC. I also run regularly, recently completing a half marathon.

Penny Thatcher

I am a staff governor at Alfriston school, and I work as a teaching assistant, art and design technician and residential support officer at the school.  I have been a governor of a mainstream primary in the past and am also currently on the executive board for Macintyre School.

I have 18 years of experience with SEND both as a parent and also working and training in SEND areas such as PDA and supporting the management of behavior that challenges children and adults with additional needs. I have the unique perspective of being able to see things from an educational perspective and also that of a parent who has navigated the system over the years.  My eldest daughter has just transitioned to adult support services, so I am gaining knowledge in that field too.

I love working at Alfriston and having a part in supporting the staff to support the students in their educational journey where they are Learning for Living.