Welcome

Welcome

Hertford St Andrew C of E Primary School has an active and committed team of Governors who play an important role in school life.

The Purpose of the Governing Body is to:

• ensure a clear vision and ethos of the school
• provide a strategic direction for the work of the school
• support, monitor and evaluate the educational performance of the school and its pupils
• monitor the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

The Governing Body does this by:

• ensuring we select people with the skills that are needed on the governing body and through training for governors.
• using three committees to look into the detail of the different aspects of work. The three committees are the ‘Curriculum and Standards Committee’, the ‘Values and Well-Being Committee’ and the ‘Resources Committee’.
• giving governors specific links to aspects of the school and meeting with the head and specific members of staff to focus on particular areas, such as teaching and learning in different subjects, spending of pupil premium funding, the school’s pay policy, safeguarding, buildings and health and safety.
• sending summaries of reports and discussions out to all governors prior to the full governing body meeting

The Full Governing Body

The governing body meets five times a year where we discuss and question reports on different aspects of the school. We employ a professional clerk for the meetings to help them run efficiently. Decisions are recorded and actions identified for individual governors to follow up.

Governors visit the school regularly in order to gain a better understanding of activities, successes, developments and issues relating to the specific areas they have been assigned to. For example: Early Years; SEN; IT; as well as curriculum matters such as the marking policy and phonics teaching; pupil attainment and progress.

All governors, (with the exception of the Headteacher), serve for a four year period, following which they may be re-appointed/re-elected.

All Governors make a declaration regarding pecuniary interests and if any are declared, they are detailed in the individual governor profiles.

Correspondence for the governing body can be sent directly to the school for forwarding to the Chair of the Governing Body.

Committees

All governors are members of at least one of the three committees. These committees meet at least once a term and report back to the Full Governing Body meetings.

Curriculum and Standards Committee

This committee is responsible for:

• Ensuring that the School’s vision, mission and aims are both met and fully understood by all members of the school community.
• Advising the governing body on standards and achievement, including statutory requirements and monitor their progress and impact.
• Contributing to the School Development Plan, the OFSTED Self-Evaluation Form, and the Diocesan Self-Evaluation Form. To monitor and review academic arrangements.
• Ensuring the school provides the best education possible and delivers a broad and balanced curriculum in keeping with the requirements of the National Curriculum, the Early Years Framework the agreed framework for Religious Education and PHSE.
• Ensuring effective provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs and disabilities.
• Ensuring effective provision and challenge for all pupils.
• Ensuring there are effective curriculum policies on Reading, Writing and Maths
• Considering School Improvement and curriculum issues that have implications for budget and personnel decisions and to refer them to the Resources committee accordingly.
• Evaluating and reviewing the provision of extra-curricular enrichment activities.

Values and Well-Being Committee

This committee is responsible for:

• Ensuring that the School’s vision, mission and aims are both met and fully understood by all members of the school community
• Ensuring that the school actively promotes its Christian character and gives priority to the spiritual development of pupils
• Monitoring the extent to which pupils understand the place of Christianity within a multi-faith society
• Reviewing, adopting and monitoring the policy for Collective Worship and to ensure Collective Worship is formally evaluated at all levels
• Ensuring there are effective and enforceable policies on Behaviour, Attendance,
• Child Protection, Anti-Bullying, Relationships and Sex Education, Children Looked After and all Equality issues as well as other areas that have direct impact on pupils’ behaviour and well-being. Also, to ensure that pupils, staff and parents have confidence that these issues can be dealt with in an appropriate manner.
• Monitoring and reviewing pastoral arrangements including procedures that promote the well-being and positive attitudes of all pupils
• Contribute to the School Development Plan, the OFSTED Self-Evaluation Form, and the Diocesan Self-Evaluation Form.

Resources Committee

This committee is responsible for:

• Financial Matters
• preparing and reviewing financial policy statements.
• providing guidance and assistance to the Headteacher and Governing Body on financial matters.
• preparing longer-term financial plans.
• consulting with the Headteacher to consider the school’s income and to draft the first formal budget in the financial year for the governing body to consider.
• monitoring spending against budget and to ensure that expenditure remains within the prescribed limits.
• monitoring expenditure of all voluntary funds held by the school.
• authorising the signing of monitoring reports to the LA.
• advising the Governing Body on such matters as: o the budget needed to run the school in accordance with statutory requirements and the school improvement plan
• ensuring that the Governing Body’s financial policy and actions are in accordance with legislation, other statutory requirements and the LA’s Financial Regulations
• prioritising on major items of expenditure; purchasing of goods and services in the context of Best Value; generating additional income.

Premises Matters

• providing support and guidance for the Headteacher on all matters relating to the school premises and grounds, security and health and safety.
• Inspecting the premises and grounds termly and preparing a report on any issues identified.
• approving the costs and arrangements for repairs, maintenance and redecoration within the budget allocation and overseeing the preparation and implementation of contracts
• undertaking an annual safety and security audit of the premises and reporting on the same to the Governing Body; ensuring that the school complies with health and safety regulations.

 Personnel Matters

• drafting and reviewing the school’s Pay Policy, including criteria relating to the use of discretionary elements for pay provisions, and to make recommendations.
• determining salary levels for individual posts in accordance with the Pay Policy.
• reviewing the performance management policy and monitoring its implementation.
• liaising closely with the Herts for Learning Personnel team

Meet the Governors

Meet the Governors:

Biographies

Stuart Aldridge- Chair of Governors

I have been living in Hertford since 2014, having grown up nearby in Harlow. My two children attend Hertford St Andrew School.

I became a parent governor because I am passionate about ensuring that children have the best possible education. I have been a Governor since March 2021, becoming a Vice Chair in September 2021 and Chair in September 2022.  I believe that having the best experience in their school life will set them up for a better future. As a self-employed Audit Partner, working with some of the UK's leading companies, I hope that I will be able to use my skills and experience to support the school.

Chris Seward - Vice Chair of Governors

I have lived in Hertford since December 1994 and, throughout this time, have attended St Andrew’s Church with my family. I retired after twenty one years as a Headteacher in the summer of 2016 having held this role in two secondary schools, most recently at an Ofsted “outstanding” comprehensive school within the county of Essex. I was a National Leader of Education. I am now pleased to contribute to the development of our church Primary School and appreciate the opportunity to work with such a committed team.

Laura Ramsay- Vice Chair of Governors

I served as Chair of Governors from September 2015 – September 2022. I started my career as secondary school teacher working for Kirklees LEA in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. My specialist subject area was Design and Technology. I later became an Advisory Teacher and Ofsted Inspector and finished my career as deputy to the Head of the Early Years Service in Kirklees. I retired in 2005 and moved to Hertford after the death of my husband in 2010 to be near my two sons, James and Mark.

I was delighted to be asked, as a member of Herford St Andrew’s Church, to be a Foundation Governor for the school. I have always had a passion to do what is best for children to enable them to develop and reach their true potential. So by being a governor I feel that not only can I keep in touch with children and teachers but also make a contribution to the school. What particularly attracts me to Hertford St Andrew’s is the strong ethos of a caring and inclusive school. I am also interested in ensuring that a strong Christian ethos exists within the school.

Reverend Alan Stewart

I originally studied at art college so have a particular interest in arts and music. I really enjoy walking the dog, practising Mindfulness and painting. 

I lead Collective Worship in the school on a two weekly basis. I sit on the Values and Wellbeing committee with a special interest in Special Educational Needs. I am also the Safeguarding link Governor.

Rod Willis

I am a member of St Andrews Church for past 27 years and a Chartered Surveyor, working for Network Rail.  I have been a Governor for several years, initially as a Foundation Governor and more recently as a Community Governor.  I am on the Resources Committee with responsibility for Health and Safety.  I am married with three grown up children, one of whom is now a teacher, and I enjoy sports, particularly football and cricket. Having been parent governor at my children's primary school, I thought I could offer my skills and experience to benefit the wider community of St Andrews.

Stuart Sapsford

I have lived in Hertford for 15 years with my wife and two children, one of which attends St Andrew.

I work for an organisation that provides key services and support for community and am driven by supporting organisations and individuals that help to positively change people's lives.

The early years of a child’s life are so important and the part that a primary school plays is crucial. To be able to support the school to give children the best start, is my motivation for joining as a governor. Schools are also a significant part of local community and through my work experience, I want to support Hertford St Andrew to be a key part of our local community.

Having joined in July 2022 I am looking forward to learning more about the school and supporting the governors and staff.

Kath Kennedy

I have lived in Hertford for the last 25 years, I’m married to Dorian who works for the Department of Health based in London and we have two grown-up sons, who both went to school in Hertford but are now living and working away from here.   I already have a little knowledge of St Andrews Primary School - a few years ago I volunteered to help at the after school ‘Story Club’. I always found the school a welcoming and positive place to be.

For the last four years I have been a teacher, teaching biology, chemistry and physics up to GCSE and A-level biology.  I am personally interested making the teaching of science relevant and interesting to the learners – whenever possible bringing practical tasks into the classroom.  I am interested in how science is taught and how primary science is linked to the curriculum in secondary school.   At Barclay, I taught several children with SEND – I adopted strategies to specifically help these children; accessibility to education is something I am interested to work on.  

Before training to be a teacher, I spent over 20 years working as a Research Nutritionist at the Institute of Child Health / Great Ormond St Hospital, London.  Childhood diet and health remains an interest of mine and how we can try to improve the health of children especially as levels of childhood obesity continue to rise.

I welcome the opportunity to work with the governors at Hertford St Andrews Primary to School – I know the area well and have a real interest in the education and health of all our children.

Debbie Hassall

I have lived in Hertford since 2009, moving here from London. I am very local to the school and love living in the area, particularly Panshanger Park.

I have worked for the London Ambulance Service for 23 years and a Clinical Team Manager for 15 years. I have responsibilities with patients and staff, ensuring clinical excellence and maintenance, and development of professional standards, as well as a level 3 safeguarding knowledge and training in health and safety.

I was keen to join the Governing Body as both my children have attended the school. My eldest finished year 6 with a flourish in July 2023, and Owen is currently at the school. I am keen to be part of the team that is at the heart of standards and improvement for the school, ensuring that our children feel supported, encouraged and nurtured during their academic journey.

Callum Douglas

Having qualified as an 11-18 history teacher I have worked in independent education for the past 24 years. I am currently a serving Head Teacher at a small independent school in northeast London. As the Head I have experience in all the diverse areas that make up school leadership; strategic planning and delivery, teaching and learning, curriculum, assessment, pastoral systems and safeguarding, HR, marketing and recruitment, governance, inspections and finance. It being a very small school, this is an extremely ‘hands on’ role.

Prior to this position, I was the headmaster of St Margaret’s Preparatory School in Gosfield, North Essex for 4 years and deputy head of Duncombe School, Hertford, for 5 years. In 24 years of teaching and school leadership I have taught almost every subject at KS1 and 2 level along with a great deal of games teaching and coaching. At present I am training to be an inspector for the Independent School’s Inspectorate which is commissioned by the DfE to inspect the vast majority of independent schools in England.

My partner and I live in Hertford with our three children. One currently attends Duncombe School and is about to move to Richard Hale in September 2024. He will join his older brother who is at Richard Hale. Our oldest son attends an alternative education setting in Cambridge.