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Our Governors

Our Governing Body

What is it?

All schools in England are required to have a Governing Body which is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions made by the school. The head teacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school and the governors are involved with things such as staffing, curriculum, school buildings and finance.

Who are we?

The Governing Body consists of:

- The Head teacher
- One elected staff governor
- One appointed local authority governor
- Four elected parent governors
- Fiveco-opted governors
- One Clerk

A term of office for a school governor is 4 years, with the Chair and Vice-Chair being elected annually at the first meeting of the academic year.

Our Chair of governors is Paul Stratford, who can be contacted via the school office or directly by emailing chair@aldermanpayne.cambs.sch.uk

At Alderman Payne we have three full governing body meetings a year. We also have two committees that each meet three times a year.

The Finance and Resources Committee Chair is Derek O'Sullivan. This group focuses on resources, both human and practical, as we as considering how to spend the budget to obtain best value for money.

The other committee is called the Standards and Improvement Committee. The Chair of this is Alex Craig. The remit if this committee is to look at the curriculum and the impact this has on children's life chances.

The governing body at Alderman Payne is currently:

Mr. Paul Stratford. Chair of Governors

- Co-opted Governor
- Date elected - April 2021
- Register of interests 2021: None

"I was a teacher for nearly 30 years, becoming Vice-Principal at Neale-Wade Community College, but left the profession in September 2012. I now have a part-time role with Cambridgeshire County Council as an educational ICT consultant. I moved to Murrow in 2015 and you may have seen me running around Murrow and Parson Drove trying to keep fit.

I want to be a governor as I feel that I have an understanding of schools and the way in which the education system operates. It was important for me to become a governor of a school close to home as I want to support a local school to improve the life chances of the children in the community in which I live."

Mr. Derek O’Sullivan. Vice-Chair

- Co-opted governor
- Date elected - Sept 2019
- Register of interests 2021 : none

"I started as a Co-opted governor at the Peel Community College in Long Sutton whilst my son was attending. It seemed right to give back some of my time to try to make sure that children have the best start in life as they can.

I was then asked if I would come along as an associate member of the Governors at Alderman Payne to give a little more experience. Subsequently I became a full Co-opted Governor.

This allows me to see children's progress through their school lives. From reception to Yr 6, transition to Yr 7 and senior school, with its challenges through to Yr 11, it is worth the effort to see the progress of all children of all abilities. Being a Governor if for one purpose: making sure that every child matters.

Ms. Sue Blyth. Head Teacher

- Since 10/2010, a member of the Governing body due to position in the school
- Register of interests 2021 : married to a part-time member of staff

" I started teaching in 1988 in London and have worked for the London Boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich and Southwark. I have previously been the Head Teacher of a large inner city multi cultural school. As the Head Teacher of Alderman Payne I value the support and varied experiences that the Governing Body bring to help to run the school."

Mr. Colin Killingworth

- Co-Opted Governor
- Date elected - Sept 2019
- Register of interests 2021 : work as the school Caretaker, father to a member of staff and uncle to a member of staff.

“I had 37 years working for the Post Office and was an official representative of the CWU (Communication Workers Union) for the Royal Mail. I represented the drivers in their duty changes. I bring these skill with me to my role as governor.

Being a school governor gives me the opportunity to support the staff and children in different ways on their journey from reception to year 6.”

Mrs Rachel Lynn

Staff governor
Date elected - June 22
Register of interests 2021 : Class teacher

I have been involved in the education of young people since 2015 and thoroughly enjoy being part of children's education. Prior to working at school, I spent 2 years playing an active role in my own children's pre school committee. I am excited to work alongside our governing body to improve outcomes for children at Alderman Payne Primary.

Mr Gavin Booth

- Local Authority Governor
- Date elected - April 19
- Register of interests 2021 : none

I have 20 year experience working in the financial services industry in compliance, risk and project management roles. I believe the skills I have attained will assist in undertaking the school governor role and being a "critical friend". I have also extensive experience in the voluntary and local governance sector. This work has brought me into regular contact with the school through various projects such as the safer routes to school traffic calming measures to providing advice and guidance on grant funding sources such as John Bends United Charity. I have also worked with the school on a regular basis through Parson Drove Street Pride.

Christine Killingworth

- Co-opted Governor
- Date elected - April 2017
- Register of interests 2021 : Married to School Caretaker and Mother to a TA.

"I have been married to Colin (caretaker) for forty seven years, we have three grown up children and five grandchildren who keep us very busy. Laura our youngest is a TA at the School.

I went to Alderman Payne School as did my parents before me, we are now on our forth generation at the school.

When I left school I worked in a garage in Wisbech for 12 years. After I had the children I went to work in a garden nursery for twenty years until I retired.

Following my retirement I continued to work with the school in various capacities.

The interests of the children are very close to my heart. I feel as a governor I can continue to help enhance their learning.

I am also a Parish Councilor which I enjoy very much."

Alex Craig

Parent Governor

- Date elected - Jan 2019
- Register of interests 2021 : none

"I am a parent to two children one in reception class. I am married to Steven Craig and we are both teachers in a large secondary school. Steve is Head of House and I am Deputy Headteacher. I have worked at the school since 2005 and my responsibilities include the curriculum attainment, assessment and departmental/House line management. The school recently became part of a Multi Trust Academy with four feeder Primary Schools and therefore I am now working with each primary's attainment lead to share good practice and identify and address common targets such as reducing the disadvantaged gap. My son has had a fantastic start at Alderman Payne and I am looking forward to the opportunity to contribute and support the school further."

Sarah Hills

Parent Governor

- Date elected - Sept 2021
- Register of interests 2021 : none

I am enthusiastic to undertake the role of a Parent Governor and obtain an insight into the decision making and strategy implementation within the school while offering input and encouragement from a parental viewpoint. My daughter is currently in Year 2 and this factor, coupled with my previous 7 year experience of working as a Teaching Assistant reinforces my passion and appreciation for learning. I feel that assisting children in their educational journey encourages them to achieve their optimum potential.

I am currently working in an administrative role, supporting the day to day running of our family Construction business. However, my keenness to offer support to the governing body stems from my previously mentioned school-based role. Predominantly based in Key Stage 2 classes, I supported the class teachers and children in their learning across the curriculum. I was also responsible for planning, delivering and monitoring key interventions to targeted groups of children in areas relating to spelling, reading and comprehension and core maths topics as well as SATs revision booster sessions in Class 6. I would thereby liaise with class teachers and our SENCo in order to obtain the required data, conduct my initial assessments and formulate each intervention group, focusing on any highlighted gaps in learning. Subsequent reassessments proved that the interventions had had a positive impact on the children participating, reinforcing and supporting their learning. This again highlights the importance of adopting key strategies in order to maximise learning outcomes and I am therefore excited to provide a positive contribution and dedication to this role.

Holly Neal

Parent Governor
Date elected Sept 2021
Register of Interests 2021 : none

I am a mum of one, who has just started to attend the school.

I have recently changed careers, I had been working as veterinary nursing assistant, for more than 16 years. Unfortunately I found the hours too long with a young family.

I’m now a payroll manager for a recruitment company.

I enjoy outdoor activities, running and cycling, and walking and love wildlife, well animals in general, I have hand reared quite a few wild and domestic animals.

I live in the village and hope to become more involved within village life.

Mrs. Emma Kavanagh

- Parent Governor
- Date elected January 2020
- Register of Interests2021 : none

I am mother to four children, with the eldest two current attending Alderman Payne and the younger two hopefully joining the school over the next three years. I am a registered social worker of twelve years and maintain a full-time career of over fifteen years within Children’s services, spanning three local authority areas.

From a social work background, I currently hold management responsibility for children in care services of a neighbouring local authority and have significant involvement in multiagency work to deliver robust safeguarding practice and outstanding, aspirational outcomes for looked after children, young people and care leavers.

My practices as a local authority corporate parent have been crucial in helping improve the educational progress and attainment of looked-after children and young people; including tracking and monitoring their attainment; ensuring that they have a robust personal education plan (PEP); and championing the needs of looked-after children and young people within their respective schools, across the authority and those placed out-of-authority. As such I have great insight into the importance of teachers and carers understanding the impact of abuse and neglect on learning and the likelihood of looked after young people entering higher education.

I firmly believe that all children need the best start in applying the knowledge, skills and understanding that will enable them to become successful at learning, confident as individuals and to start on a path that encourages them to realise their aspirations for their future adult lives. I hope that my experiences as a birth parent and as a ‘corporate parent’ will assist me in becoming a critical friend to Alderman Payne, in a way that ensures the school values are upheld to meet the needs of each child.

Anna Lee

Co-opted Governor
Date elected 3rd Feb 2022
Register of Interests 2021 : None

Our two sons attended Alderman Payne Primary many years ago, they are now 29 and 27! However, they both enjoyed and benefited greatly from their attendance and have fond memories of the fabulous and infamous Mrs Goose in Key Stage 1. Back then I was very busy with work and had little time to support school activities. Having recently taken early retirement from my commercial career in manufacturing industry, I would now like to see how I can assist the school, hopefully utilising my work/life experience. I am also very interested in environmental and human health and will be keen to see how we can encourage our primary students to also gain a key interest in these important topics, which will stand them in good stead in the years to come. I am looking forward to joining the governor team and supporting the staff to continue to deliver a high quality and happy learning experience for all children.

Sharon Bingham