The Governing Body
Message from the school’s Governing Body:
A warm welcome to our Governing Body webpage. We would like to provide some information to let you know more about us and our important roles and responsibilities.
Governors perform a vital voluntary role in education and a full and diverse governing body is a source of enormous strength to a school. The Governing Body at Sonning Primary School is well-equipped with experienced, enthusiastic and progressive people, who really care about the school. We are responsible to The Keys Academy Trust (TKAT) and work closely with the school’s headteacher and the senior leadership team as well as the CEO and Trustees of TKAT, to push the boundaries and ensure success both today and tomorrow.
Sonning has 14 Governors including members of the community, church, staff and parents. While the governors have different backgrounds and experience, we work together to both support and challenge the school senior leadership team as they strive for the best possible education, learning environment and future prospects for the school’s children. Governors are here to be a critical friend, working strategically to monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of our school. We are not involved in the day to day running of the school.
Governors focus strongly on 4 core areas:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school
- Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils and the performance management of staff
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
- To maintain ultimate responsibility for safeguarding: are children safe – and do they feel safe?
In order to support the school improvement, Governors:
- Hold regular local governing body meetings 3 times a term
- Make regular visits to the school to meet with staff and children
- Conduct surveys of parents/carers, pupils and staff
- Examine key management information, data and reports
- Set and review policies
- Contribute actively to discussions, ask questions and challenge practices
Our Christian Vision:
In all of their work with the school, TKAT and the wider local community, we, as a Governing Body, aim to promote and protect the schools’ Christian vision to “To Build Strong Foundations”.
Getting in touch:
It is our aim as a Governing Body to be as open and as approachable as possible. If you wish to contact the Full Governing Body please e-mail clerksonning@sonning.wokingham.sch.uk or ask in the school office.
If you wish to contact the Chair of Governors directly, please email Gwalton@sonning.wokingham.sch.uk
Governance structure:
Governors are appointed by TKAT (with the exception of parent and staff governors, who are elected by parents and staff respectively).
For information about governance in The Keys Academy Trust, please see here
Meet the Governors
Meet the Governors 2024-2025 | |||||
Name | Category | Additional Responsibilities | Term length | Term starts | Term ends |
Gemma Walton | Parent | Chair of Governors; safeguarding | 4 years | 24/11/2024 | 23/11/2028 |
Sanam Ali | Trust | Attendance | 4 years | 01/01/2024 | 31/12/2027 |
Laura Ashton | Foundation | SIAMS, SEND, EAL | 4 years | 29/11/2023 | 28/11/2027 |
Ben Biddulph | Foundation | Branding, Comms | 4 years | 01/12/2022 | 30/11/2026 |
Gill Kelsall | Staff | Deputy Headteacher; Pupil premium grant | 4 years | 01/09/2022 | 31/08/2026 |
Barry Luther | Trust | Finance support | 4 years | 01/12/2022 | 30/11/2026 |
Ian McCann | Foundation | Fundraising | 4 years | 26/05/2022 | 25/05/2026 |
Jonathan Roberts | Foundation | SIAMS/Collective worship, Parish links | 4 years | 29/11/2023 | 28/11/2027 |
Nick Sawyer | Foundation | Health & Safety | 4 years | 01/09/2023 | 31/08/2027 |
Kate Voss | Parent | OSC; wellbeing | 4 years | 01/09/2023 | 31/08/2027 |
Phil Sherwood | Ex-Officio | Headteacher | n/a | 01/09/2022 | n/a |
Vacancy | Foundation | 4 Years | 02/12/2024 | 01/12/2028 | |
Vacancy | Foundation | 4 Years | 02/12/2024 | 01/12/2028 |
Governors from last 12 months
Governors from last 12 months | ||
Name | Category | End Date |
Clare Borsberry-Lewis | Foundation | 18/09/2024 |
Rachel Argent | Foundation | 18/09/2024 |
Gabrielle Plowman | Foundation | 14/10/2023 |
Register of Business Declarations / Interests - see below
Attendance at Meetings
Attendance at Meetings in 2023-2024 | |||||
Name | Category | Term length | Term starts | Term ends | LGB Attendance |
Clare Borsberry-Lewis | Foundation | 4 years | 01/09/2023 | 31/08/2027 | 100% |
Sanam Ali | Trust | 4 years | 01/01/2024 | 31/12/2018 | 66% |
Rachel Argent | Foundation | 4 years | 26/05/2022 | 25/05/2026 | 100% |
Laura Ashton | Foundation | 4 years | 29/11/2023 | 28/11/2027 | 83% |
Ben Biddulph | Foundation | 4 years | 01/12/2022 | 30/11/2026 | 75% |
Gill Kelsall | Staff | 4 years | 01/09/2022 | 31/08/2026 | 88% |
Barry Luther | Trust | 4 years | 01/12/2022 | 30/11/2026 | 88% |
Ian McCann | Foundation | 4 years | 26/05/2022 | 25/05/2026 | 88% |
Jonathan Roberts | Foundation | 4 years | 29/11/2023 | 28/11/2027 | 83% |
Nick Sawyer | Foundation | 4 years | 01/09/2023 | 31/08/2027 | 88% |
Kate Voss | Parent | 4 years | 01/09/2023 | 31/08/2027 | 100% |
Gemma Walton | Parent | 4 years | 24/11/2020 | 23/11/2024 | 100% |
Phil Sherwood | Ex-Officio | n/a | 01/09/2022 | n/a | 100% |
Gaby Plowman | Foundation | 4 years | 01/09/2022 | 31/08/2026 | 0% |