Governors

Longtown Community Primary School is fortunate in having an experienced and enthusiastic governing body, who each bring their own specific skills and experience. Together, they are able to use these abilities collectively in order to provide the school with the support and equally, the challenge it needs to thrive.

The governing body has a structure of full governing body meetings and two committees dealing with the areas of Education and Business.

The Chair of Governors may be contacted via the following address:  Mrs Sharon Williams, C/O Longtown Community Primary School, Longtown, Herefordshire, HR2 0LE

The Clerk to the Governors is Anne Lloyd who can be contacted via the school office.

The Governing Body pay allowances or reimbursement of costs incurred by governors in accordance with the procedure laid out in the school's Finance Policy.

Governor’s Annual Round-up 2021/2022

The Governing body met for a full GB meeting each term. Both of the committees , Business and Finance, plus Education also met each term thus feeding into the full GB meetings.

Detailed and informative reports from the Headteacher and staff were received each term and the SDP was also reviewed termly

Various policies were reviewed by the Governing body - EYFS, Equal Opportunities, Data protection, Safeguarding, Supporting children with Medical needs, RSE and Complaints.

The SLA with Fairfield High school continued to be reviewed and in April 2022 the Governors agreed to again continue with this arrangement with some adjustments. This SLA has proved successful for the school and personal thanks go to Sue Gaston, Executive HT for her support over the years.

The Chair of Governors regularly visited the school meeting with staff and assisting with hearing children read.

The Chair of Governors informed the GB that she would be leaving after 16 years at the school. A programme was put in place to support the incoming new Chair including attendance at various targeted courses and regular meetings with the current Chair.

The Chair of Governors, Kym Wilcocks, retired in July at the end of the academic year having worked with 4 Headteachers/Assistant HT and Executive HT and also supported the school through 3 OFSTED inspections and COVID.

A letter from her was sent to all staff and parents thanking them for their support and professionalism.

Sharon Williams became the new Chair of Governors in September 2022.
 

The Current Governing Body Comprises:

Sharon Williams - Chair of Governors - 4 year term - Education and Business Committees

I was born and educated mainly in South East England though some education was also gained in Powys, Wales.  Initially I trained as a teacher, though my career has been spent in operational management and latterly within Human Resource Management. I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD). My professional interests include the behavioural sciences and psychology. I live in Longtown and am currently employed in Hereford.  I have two grown-up daughters who were educated within Herefordshire and have careers in accountancy and dentistry. My hobbies include having fun and immersing my four grandsons in wisdoms from a life-lived, socialising with family and friends, gardening, the creative arts, listening to classical music, painting both watercolours and the DIY kind!

Nicholas Vaughan - Deputy chair of Governors - 4 year term - Education Committee

Born bred and educated in the South Wales valleys.  I attended university in Cardiff and Swansea. Trained as a teacher and got my first job in Romford Essex as a history teacher returning to South Wales after a six-year career in London. On returning to south Wales I gained a permanent job the Bishop of Hereford Bluecoat school in Hereford where I’ve been for over 20 Years. 

I taught in the special education unit attached the school for 15 years with responsibility for the provision of education for children with autistic spectrum disorder. I am now SENCO and Assistant Headteacher. 

My wife and I moved into Clodock in 2002 and our daughter attended Longtown Primary before moving onto Fairfield. 

Vicki Stinchcombe – Co-opted Governor - 4 year term - Education Committee

Vicki began her career in a large primary school in Bristol, where as a class 5/6 teacher she had responsibility for literacy and PE. She became a Deputy Head, where her expertise was in behaviour management, emotional intelligence and literacy, and then moved on to take up a research position at the University of Bristol. As part of this she completed a Master’s in Education that focused on the transition between KS2 and 3. More recently she has been working as an educational consultant for Creative Partnerships, working with schools in the Midlands to develop creative approaches to learning and the curriculum. Passionate about improving children's educational experiences she was also a visiting lecturer for UWE, working alongside and mentoring student teachers. She moved to the area in 2013 and is currently supporting the development of the School’s Council. She has two granddaughters at Longtown School.

Ron Brierly - Co-opted Governor - 4 year term - Chair of Business Committee

Ron was brought up in Devon.  At the age of 18 he joined Cable & Wireless and worked for them for 30 years in the Caribbean, Middle East and Far East.  During his working career Ron rose up through the ranks from Engineer to Senior Management where he had responsibility for managing large teams of staff and multi-million pound budgets.  He has a Higher National Diploma in Telecommunication Engineering and a 1st Class Honours degree in Maths.  In 2013 Ron retired to Longtown and became a governor in 2016.  He enjoys the outdoors life that the area offers and is a keen walker.

Emma Stafford - Co-opted Governor- 4 year term - Business Committee 

I was born and raised within the West Midlands and settled in Longtown, with my family, in 2019. My husband and I have two grown daughters, so adjusting to a very quiet house and much less laundry. After working in America for a year I trained in primary education, a career I have loved all my life. I had the privilege of teaching in Milan and across the south of England, before settling in Cardiff for 20 years as the girls grew up. I ended my teaching career working in Aberdare, as SENCO and acting deputy. I have a passion for theatre and the arts and I love to travel.  

Since March 2022 I have the pleasure of working full time in Longtown School's Admin Office. Please pop in and say hello when you can. 

Pearl Pritchard - Parent Governor - 4 year term - Business Committee

My working background is in business and accountancy and I am a working Mum and farmer's wife. I was born in the area, attended Longtown Primary School as a child and have lived locally all my life. As my children now attend the school, I still have a strong connection to it. My aim is to provide balanced and objective input to the governing body. I am pleased to have this opportunity to help and support the governing body to provide the highest standards of education and opportunities for the children to enjoy and benefit from their time at school.

Jeanette Pryce - Parent Governor - 4 year term

From east Herefordshire, I moved to Longtown in 2014. I now have two boys at Longtown School. Prior to its change in governance I was very involved with Longtown Pre-School and was Chair of the charity responsible for its running. I’ve continue to be involved in the school’s PTA and also run an after school Art Club.

I work locally as the Design & Style Librarian for a London based design house. This represents a change in career after having our boys - previously I worked in town planning as a Planner and Planning Enforcement Officer. After gaining a degree in Geography from the University of Birmingham, I travelled extensively for a number of years before returning to Herefordshire broke, not leaving again as planned but eventually migrating west to the hills! I enjoy running with other local mums, especially on those hills, travel and plenty of adventure!

Sue Gaston - Headteacher Governor - Education/Business Committees

Jackie Reynolds - Staff Governor - 4 year term

Jackie was brought up in Greater Manchester before moving to the Midlands to study Politics at the University of Warwick. She started her career in commercial consumer research working for Bulmers, Golden Wonder and finally Kraft Foods on marketing and brand development for well-known drinks and snacking brands both in the UK and internationally. In 2012, she embarked on a career change to fulfil a long-held desire to become and teacher and undertook a PGCS at the University of Worcester. She worked locally at several primary schools across the whole of Key Stage 2 before joining Longtown teaching staff in 2014. In her current role, Jackie is the class teacher for Year 5/6 and also the Literacy Coordinator across the school which enabled her to follow her passion for reading and encourage and support a reading for pleasure culture. Jackie lives in Hereford with her husband and secondary-aged son. She enjoys playing netball in the local league , mountain biking and is an inspiring (although often struggling!) runner, taking part in the Park Run 5km most weekends.

The Governing Body

The Governing Body holds full governing body meetings each term. In addition, it had two committees which also meet termly. The Education Committee has responsibility for Curriculum & Standards, Safeguarding, SEND, Specific Groups and Community. The Business Committee has responsibility for Finance, Premises, Health and Safety, Personnel, GDPR and Equalities.

Name	Date of Appointment(s)	Term of Office	Date of Resignation	Attendance in 2021-2022 Academic Year
				Full Governing Body	Eligible  Committee
Vicki Stinchcombe	01/06/15 25/06/19	4 years	N/A	5 of 5	2 of 2
Ron Brierly	06/10/16 25/06/19	4 years	N/A	5 of 5	1 of 2
Sue Gaston	01/06/15 25/06/19	4 years	N/A	5 of 5	3 of 4
Sharon Williams	01/11/17 24/6/21	4 years	N/A	5 of 5	2 of 2
Jeanette Pryce	08/12/22	4 years	N/A
Pearl Pritchard	04/12/18	4 years	N/A	4 of 5	2 of 2
Mary Boustead	01/09/19		N/A	2 of 2	2 of 2
Jackie Reynolds	03/12/20	4 years	N/A	5 of 5	2 of 2
Nicholas Vaughan	15/09/22	4 years	N/A	5 of 5	1 of 2
Emma Stafford	15/09/22	4 years	N/A	5 of 5	1 of 2

Register of Interests

The following information indicates any relevant business interest of governors and details of any other educational establishments they govern.

 

Mr Nicholas Vaughan - Senior Leadership Team - The Bishop of Hereford Bluecoat School.

Mrs Sue Gaston - Head Teacher of Fairfield High School

List of Governors who have resigned in the last 12 months

Mrs Kym Wilcocks - Chair of Governors - Resigned July 2022