Governors
The governors focus strongly on three core functions:
1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
2. Holding Senior Leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its' pupils and the performance management of staff.
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its' money is well spent.
Our Governing Body is made up of 13 members (and one vacancy), including, two elected Parent Governors, one elected Staff Governor, the Headteacher, One foundation governor (appointed by the Oxford Diocese), One Foundation Ex-Officio (Vicar) Governor (appointed via the Oxford Diocese), One Local Authority Governor, and 6 Co-Opted Governors.
Our two sub committees are:
Curriculum & Pupil Welfare
Premises, Finance, Staff & Pay
Committee Responsibilities:
Governance is delivered through the Full Governing Board and through its supporting committees. There are two committees which each meet up to five times a year. Additionally, there are two special purpose committees for reviewing pay, and the Headteacher's target setting and performance management review.
Committee Structure and Responsibilities:
The Curriculum Committee
The Curriculum Committee is responsible for completing tasks assigned by the full governing body and coordinating with other committees as needed. Its main objectives are to:
- Monitor and evaluate the curriculum offered at the school.
- Prioritise the safeguarding and well-being of pupils, staff, and families within the school community.
- Review and analyse student learning and attainment.
- Examine school performance data.
- Follow up on action plans after school inspections.
Additionally, the committee focuses on:
- Developing and reviewing policies outlined in the school’s policy review program.
- Ensuring that the needs of children with special educational needs are met, in accordance with the Code of Practice, and receiving termly reports from the head teacher/SENCO.
- Reviewing and monitoring curriculum policies, including those for Relationships and Sex Education, Religious Education, Behavior, Anti-Bullying, Collective Worship, and Assessment.
- Monitoring attendance across all year groups, particularly for students who are frequently absent, and ensuring that families receive support, involving external agencies when necessary.
- Evaluating leadership and management practices and their impact on teaching and learning outcomes for students.
Further details of the full roles and responsibilities of the Curriculum and Pupil Welfare Committee can be found in the 'Terms of Reference' documents located below.
The Premises, Finance, Staffing and Pay Committee
The role of the Premises, Finance, Staffing and Pay Committee focuses on finance, budgeting and monitoring of expenditure, personnel matters and premises, including health and safety. The Committee is responsible for completing tasks assigned by the full governing body and coordinating with other committees as needed. Its main objectives are:
- Reviewing and Monitoring Financial Policy and Planning.
- To Manage the School Budget within the approved delegated limits, as outlined in the Committees terms of reference.
- To monitor income and expenditure, reporting back to the Full Governing Body on the status of school accounts.
- To provide guidance on maintenance and the development of the schools premises and grounds.
- To ensure sufficient staffing, oversee the schools Appraisal Policy and to establish a Pay Committee.
Further details of the full roles and responsibilities of the Premises, Finance, Staffing and Pay Committee can be found in the 'Terms of Reference' documents located below.
Committees Terms of Reference:
Crowthorne C of E School - Governing Body
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Tony White - Chair of Governors / Co-opted Governor
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Emily Hicks - Headteacher
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Liz Baker - LA Governor
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Brioney Moore - Associate Member
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Julia Trainer - Foundation Governor
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Mike Denhart - Co-opted Governor
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Richard Farnworth - Co-opted Governor
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Caroline Parker - Staff Governor
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Rev Laura Wheatley Downs - Foundation Governor
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Mark Owens - Co-Opted Governor
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Emma Haining - Co-Opted Governor
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Stacey Perrin - Parent Governor
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Annette Bryant - Parent Governor
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Jane Lucas - Co-Opted Governor
Process of Appointment:
Staff Governors and Parent Governors are elected by a ballot of the communities they represent, LA (Local Authority) and Co-opted Governors are appointed by the Governing Body, and, Foundation Governors are appointed by the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education.
Crowthorne Church of England Primary School
Governing Body
1 Headteacher Governor
2 Parent Governors (4 year term of office)
1 Staff Governor (4 year term of office)
1 LA Governor (4 year term of office)
1 Foundation Governor – ex-officio
1 Diocesan Foundation Governors (4 year term of office)
1 Vacancy -Diocesan Foundation Governors (4 year term of office)
6 Co-opted Governors (2 year term of office)
1 Associate Member (4 year term of office)
Total – 14 Governors
1 Foundation Governor - Vacancy
Start Date | End Date | ||
1 x Headteacher Governor | Emily Hicks | 01/09/2024 | - |
2 x Parent Governors | Annette Bryant Stacey Perrin | 09/10/2025 05/07/2023 | 08/10/2029 04/07/2027 |
1 x Staff Governor | Caroline Parker | 01/10/2022 | 30/09/2026 |
1 x LA Governor | Liz Baker | 06/12/2023 | 05/12/2027 |
2 x Diocesan Foundation Governors (1 Vacancy) | Laura Wheatley Downs Julia Trainer Foundation Governor - Vacancy | 01/12/2022 04/05/2023 | 03/05/2027 |
6 x Co-opted Governors | Mike Denhart Richard Farnworth Mark Owens Tony White Emma Haining Jane Lucas | 02/03/2026 16/01/2026 24/05/2023 06/03/2026 05/07/2025 04/12/2025 | 01/03/2028 15/01/2028 23/05/2027 05/03/2028 04/07/2027 03/12/2027 |
1 x Associate Member | Brioney Moore | 09/10/2025 | 08/10/2027 |
| Clerk to the Governors | Claire Cornish | ||
TOTAL - 14 Governors 1 Foundation Governor Vacancy |
Declaration of Interests of the Governing Board of Crowthorne C of E Primary School 2025-2026
As from September 2015, governing bodies are under a legal duty to publish the register of interest for Governor and Associate members. The following interests have been declared;
CROWTHORNE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOLS | ||||
ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026 | ||||
First Name | Surname | Category | Business Interest | |
Tony | White | Co-opted and Chair | Duke of Edinburgh awards volunteer | |
Liz | Baker | Co-opted | Employee - Holly Spring Junior School, Bracknell. Husband - Teacher Maiden Erleigh School | |
Claire | Cornish | Clerk to Governors | Nil | |
Michael | Denhart | Co-opted | Teacher at Wellington College | |
Richard | Farnworth | Co-opted | Nil | |
Emily | Hicks | Headteacher | Nil | |
Brioney | Moore | Associate | Nil | |
Mark | Owens | Co-opted | Nil | |
Caroline | Parker | Staff | Deputy Headteacher, Husband - Window Cleaner, cleans school windows over the summer | |
Julia | Trainer | Foundation | Nil | |
Laura | Wheatley Downs | Foundation Ex-Officio | Vicar at St. John The Baptist Parish Church | |
Emma | Haining | Co-opted | Teacher & Housemistress at Wellington College | |
Stacey | Perrin | Parent | Class Represenitive of Friends of Crowthorne CofE | |
| Annette | Bryant | Parent | Parent Volunteer at School | |
| Jane | Lucas | Co-Opted | Nil | |
School Staff |
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Anthony | Wilson | Bursar | Nil | |
Governors who have left in the last 12 months |
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John | Lindsay | Foundation | Nil | |
| Brioney | Moore | Parent | Nil | |
| Gail | Robertson | Co-Opted | Nil | |
Governing Board Diversity Data
As a school we recognise that a diversity of thought, voices and perspectives is essential to good governance and the effective running of any organisation. We regularly collect diversity information from our governors and, depending on current data, can use this to:
target recruitment to address gaps in experience and diversity
develop and adapt board practices to ensure full participation
prioritise training and awareness-raising in identified areas
address potential ‘blind spots’ through seeking wider advice and perspectives on current and upcoming opportunities, challenges and risks
However, we are unable to publish this information as it would mean that individual members of our governing body are identifiable.