Our Governors
Introduction to governance at Seaton Primary School
Governors are individuals from the community who give their time on a voluntary basis, joining from different groups with an interest in the school – parents, staff, local authority, including individuals who are co-opted to the Board who bring particular skills and expertise.
We act collectively as a Board, working as a team.
The Board is responsible for making sure the school provides a high quality education for all pupils. Raising educational standards in our school is a key priority through great pastoral care and a curriculum that captures the imagination of learners. This has the best chance of happening when there are high expectations of what all pupils can achieve.
Working with the Headteacher and senior leaders, who are responsible for the day-to-day leadership and management of the school, as governors we set the school’s aims and policies, and promote effective ways of teaching and learning.
Head teachers are recruited and selected by governors, and in our school, the Headteacher is also a governor.
We are accountable to parents, the local community and Devon Local Authority. Governors are appointed for 4 years.
The Governing Board:
- is accountable for the performance of the school to parents and the wider community;
- plans the school’s future direction;
- selects the Headteacher;
- makes decisions on the school’s budget and staffing including the performance management policy;
- makes sure the curriculum is well taught;
- decides how the school can encourage pupils’ spiritual, moral and cultural development ;
- makes sure the school provides for all pupils, including those with special educational needs.
Governors support and challenge the headteacher and senior leaders by gathering views, asking questions and discussing what is best for the school. We are not here to rubber stamp decisions. We are prepared to give and take advice and are loyal to decisions taken by the governing board as a whole.
This is a new governing Board, appointed on 2 March 2021, with its first meeting on 3 March. It comprises the Full Governing Board (FGB), which is attended by governors, and two committees. These meet between Full Governing Board meetings to look in more detail at aspects of policy and impact of the school with Associate governors attending. Associate governors do not have voting rights, but bring expertise and knowledge to support the work of the Full Governing Board, through the committees. Both Associate governors bring the knowledge of governance in the school over the last couple of years, as well as their particular expertise, having served on the previous federation board.
The governors will be working with the school to set the strategic direction for next academic year, and until then, we continue to work on delivering the current objectives, set while Seaton was still part of the Axe Beacon Federation.
We are fully focussed on ensuring the best outcomes for all children, in what has been a very challenging year.
If you have any questions or comments, then please do contact the Chair of Governors, Lizzie Rowlands, via the school.
We have two governor sub-committees which meet half termly. The committees are:
- Resources committee
- Teaching and Learning committee
The chair of Resources is Ed Stockwell and the chair of Teaching and Learning is Lucy Hanley.
In addition, we have a full governing body meeting half termly and the chair of governors is Lizzie Rowlands.
Meet Our Governors
Lizzie Rowlands
LA Governor
Chair of Governors
SEND Lead
Lizzie joined the Board in March 2021 as Vice Chair and became Chair in September 2022. She has lost recently picked up the SEND Lead role in September 2023.
She has over 15 years of experience in a variety of Leadership and Management roles with Tesco Stores Ltd across the UK and hopes to bring some of those skills and experiences to the team.
Lizzie is also a Mum of two children whom attend Seaton Primary. In her spare time she likes to go walking and camping with her family, and is a big fan of sea swims all year round.
Ed Stockwell
Parent Governor
Chair Resources Committee
Finance Lead
My wife and I have 3 children at Seaton Primary School and I was previously a member of the PTA. I have been a financial adviser since 2006, in which time I have developed skills I hope will be useful in my position as a Governor. As a family we love to travel, visit our extended family and walk our dog. I am a keen golfer and in recent years have taking up walking, completing the majority of the Jurassic Coast with various friends and family. I look forward to contributing to Seaton Primary Schools continued success over the coming years.
Rob Gibson
Parent Governor
Co-opted
Vice Chair Resources
HR Lead/Welfare Governor
Bio
Co-Opted Governor
Pupil Premium Lead
Bio
Co-Opted Governor
Pupil Premium Lead
Bio
Rhys Jones
Co-opted Governor
Vice Chair FGB
Curriculum Lead
Bio
Zoe Crockett
Co-opted Governor
Proposed
Vice Chair Teaching & Learning
I am delighted to be part of our governing board here at Seaton Primary, where I have been a teacher for the past 7 years. I thoroughly enjoy teaching here and truly believe we have a wonderful team of staff and children. I became part of the governing board to support our new committee to understand teaching and learning within our school and I am very passionate about working together to achieve the best we can for our school. As a governing board, we are striving to support the school at a strategic level and I am linked with one of our key school improvement priorities this year – writing. I grew up in Devon and love living here - the beaches, the community and being surrounded by family and friends. I also teach for a local dance academy, which allows me to delve into the wider community, and in my spare time I enjoy going to the gym, swimming in the sea and spending time with my family. Travelling is a keen interest of mine and I love visiting new places, seeing magnificent landscapes and exploring different cultures. .
Rachael Taylor
Clerk to Governors
I became the Clerk to Governors since March 2021, when Seaton Primary School became a standalone school. I undertook the role as I have a long association with the school as I was attended the school for my Primary School Years and wanted to show my commitment to the school. I was at the school when this opened on the current site in 1981. My two children also attended Seaton Primary School.
Outside of school life our family enjoys travelling, walking our dog and have started to complete the south west coast path.
I hope to continue to support the school whilst I undertake my role as Clerk to the Governors.
Jenna McCaffery
Headteacher
I originally trained to be a teacher in Devon before taking my first teaching post in Crewe, Cheshire where I spent the rest of my career up until recently relocating back to Devon. I am pleased to be back in the South West, nearer to some of my family. I am also delighted to be Headteacher and governor here at Seaton Primary School. I am exciting to lead and strategically work as a team of governors in contributing to the future of the school. My biggest passions in life are my family, especially my nieces and nephews, acting, theatre, the arts, swimming, travelling and exploring the great outdoors.
Table showing names, type of governor, appointment terms
Name of governor | Type of governor | Appointed | Office terminates | Role as a governor | Registered Interests |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lizzie Rowlands | LA | 2/3/2021 | 1/3/2025 | Vice Chair of Governors and SEND Lead role | None declared |
Ed Stockwell | Parent | 21/9/2020 | 1/3/2025 | Chair of Resources Committee and Finance Lead |
Financial Advisor |
Jenna McCaffery | Headteacher | 01/01/2022 | Headteacher | ||
Zoe Crockett | Staff | 06/07/2021 | Proposed Vice Chair Teaching & Learning | EDDA teacher | |
Robert Gibson | Co-opted | 08/06/2021 | 07/06/2025 | HR Lead/Welfare Governor Vice Chair Resources | Employed by Emerald Group |
Jenny Eagles | Co-opted | 01/07/2023 | 07/06/2027 | Pupil Premium Lead | None Declared |
Rhys Jones | Parent | 01/07/2023 | 07/06/2027 | Vice Chair FGB and Curriculm Lead | None Declared |
Governors who have left in the last 12 months | |||||
Simon Lewis | Staff | 06/07/2021 | 15/12/2023 | Resources | |
Dr Fiona Hammans | Co-opted | 01/03/2021 | 27/07/2023 | Teaching & Learning | |
Ben Matthews | Co-opted | 01/03/2021 | 08/02/2023 | Resources | |
Andrew Mills | Co-opted | 07/06/2021 | 25/04/2023 | Teaching & Learning | |
Lucy Hanley | Parent | Teaching & Learning |
Governor's Attendance - Full Governing Board
Governor | 02/03/2021 | 11/5/2021 | 08/06/2021 | 06/07/2021 | 28/9/2021 | 23/11/2021 | 25/1/2022 | 5/4/2022 | 24/5/2022 | 12/7/2022 | 28/11/2022 | 21/2/2023 | 28/3/2023 | 27/4/2023 | 10/10/2023 | 6.02.23 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dr Fiona Hammans | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | N/A | N/A |
Lizzie Rowlands | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Anna Vine | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Ed Stockwell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ben Matthews | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Amanda Lacey | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No Longer in role | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Eimear Oliver | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Andrew Mills | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | N/A | |
Simon Lewis | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Zoe Crockett | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Jenna McCaffery | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Rhys Jones | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Jenny Eagles | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Rob Gibson | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
Lucy Hanley | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Governor's Attendance - Resources Committee Meetings
Governor | 20/4/2021 | 15/06/2021 | 14/09/2021 | 02/11/2021 | 18/1/2022 | 03/03/2022 | 08/03/2022 | 10/5/2022 | 28/06/2022 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ed Stockwell (Chair) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
Ben Matthews (Vice Chair) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
Lizzie Rowlands | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | ||
Andrew Mills | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ||
Amanda Lacey | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No Longer in Post | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | ||
Simon Lewis | N/A | N/A | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
Jenna McCaffery | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Governor's Attendance - Teaching & Learning Committee
GOVERNOR | 19/5/2021 | 20/7/2021 | 15/09/2021 | 03/11/2021 | 12/01/2022 | 16/03/2022 | 18/5/2022 | 06.7.2022 | 21.9.2022 | 15.11.2022 | 22.03.23 | 21.06.23 | 15.11.23 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anna Vine (Chair) | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Resigned | ||||
Fiona Hammans | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Resigned | |
Amanda Lacey | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No Longer In role | N/A | N/A | Yes | N/A | |||||
Jenna McCaffery | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Eimear Oliver | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Resigned | |||
Zoe Crockett | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |