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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%

 

Governance Structure