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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.

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:

  1. Resources committee
  2. Teaching and Learning committee

Meet Our Governors
 

Rhys Jones

Parent Governor

Chair of Governors

FGB; Chair T & L

Cirriculum

I joined the Board of Governors in July 2022 and was initially a member of the Resources committee before joining the Teaching & Learning committee in September 2023, when I picked up the role of Curriculum Lead and also Vice-Chair.

In my career I've had experience working in product management, strategy and business development roles within large organisations and hope to bring those skills to my role as a governor. I also help coach Seaton FC Under 11s football team, which includes a number of girls and boys from Seaton primary.

I have two children - one has now left Seaton primary and the other is currently in Year 6. We moved to Seaton in 2021 and love life by the sea.

Rob Gibson

Parent Governor

Vice Chair Resources

Finance

 

I have worked in the recruitment & HR industry for 25 years and come from a legal background – skills & experience that I hope will be useful in my governance role.

In my spare time I enjoy most sports – running, football & cricket in particular, and enjoying the beautiful outdoors here with my wife & my 2 youngest children who both attend Seaton primary.

I am particularly keen to help promote physical & mental wellbeing among staff & pupils at the school.

Jenny Eagles

Co-opted Governor

Vice Chair T & L Committee

Pupil Premium, Attendance

 

I currently run a Bookshop in Seaton, and prior to that was a primary teacher in Leicester, working mainly with early years.

Making sure that children have the best school start possible is my passion. As a governor, my two roles are pupil premium children and early years' curriculum.

 

 

Susan Herridge

Co-opted Governor

SEND, Safeguarding

I have over 25 years experience working in Education for Local Authorities and in schools in London and Kent. 

My passion is SEND and Safeguarding. Although trained in SEND and Designated Safeguarding Lead my roles have included Exclusions Officer and Educational Welfare for the Attendance and Behaviour Service.

I will enjoy sharing my depth of knowledge with the school and Governing Body. 

My interests out of school are spending time with family and friends, cooking, reading and walking my two dogs.

Leti Littlewood

Co-opted Governor

Staff Wellbeing, HR

 

Leti joined the Board in October 2024, representing Staff Wellbeing and HR roles.

She has a background in charity grant writing, and hopes to bring those skills to fundraise for the school.

Leti is a keen outdoor sea swimmer, artist, and also mum of three, with her youngest currently at Seaton Primary.

 

 

Amie Pinnell

Parent Governor

Having lived in the South-West my entire life, I relocated to the local area in 2023. However, I’ve been connected with Seaton Primary since 2017 as a step-parent. My step-daughter thrived at school before finishing in 2024, just as my son began his journey in Reception. With 25 years of experience in the legal industry, including various managerial and leadership roles, I hope to contribute my skills and expertise to my role as a governor. I am committed to supporting the school’s vision and am passionate about ensuring the best possible outcomes for all students.

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. .

Olivia Mellor

Staff Governor

Olivia relocated to Devon in 2022 after teaching in Sussex for 10 years. She has experience teaching across both primary key stages as well as previously working in a Pupil Referral Unit for children with emotional and social needs.  

She is passionate about PSHE in schools and has lead the subject at Seaton for the past year. 

Olivia's interests outside school are the outdoors, music, the natural world and cooking. She is very much looking forward to being involved with the Governing Body for a school she is proud to work for. 

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.

 

James Dixon

Clerk to Governing Body

.

My partner and I moved to Seaton in 2019, attracted to the area by the sea swimming, cycling and running available on our doorstep. We have since had two children and become a family. We now appreciate the friendly atmosphere and close-knit community that the town offers.

Prior to taking the role as Clerk to the Governors, I spent 22 years working in the Motor Industry in Exeter. This has given me lots of experience in the business and retail world and lots of transferable skills, which I hope will be of help to the school and the Governors. While I enjoyed this, I am looking forward to spending more time in the community where my family will be growing up.

Table showing names, type of governor, appointment terms

Name of governor Type of governor Appointed Office terminates Role as a governor Registered Interests
Rhys Jones Parent 01/07/2022 07/06/2026 Chair of Governors FGB and Curriculm Lead None Declared
Robert Gibson Parent 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
Susan Herridge Co-opted 08/10/2024 07/10/2028 SEND, Safeguarding None Declared
Leti Littlewood Co-opted 08/10/2024 07/10/2028 Staff Wellbeing, HR None Declared
Amie Pinnell  Co-opted 04/02/2025 03/02/2029 Parent Governor None Declared
Jenna McCaffery Headteacher 01/01/2022 NA - Headteacher
Zoe Crockett Staff 06/07/2021 05/07/2025 Proposed Vice Chair Teaching & Learning EDDA teacher
Olivia Mellor Staff 08/10/2024 07/10/2028 Staff

Teacher

Governors who have left in the last 12 months          
Lizzie Rowlands LA 2/3/2021 1/3/2025 Chair of Governors, RC and SEND Lead role None declared
           
           
           
           
           
           

Governor's Attendance - Full Governing Board

Governor 10/10/23 6/02/24 26/03/24 25/04/24 8/10/24 4/2/25                    
Lizzie Rowlands Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes                    
Ed Stockwell Yes Yes  Yes Yes Resigned - -                  
Simon Lewis Yes Yes Yes Resigned - - -                  
Zoe Crockett Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes                    
Jenna McCaffery Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes                    
Rhys Jones Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes                    
Jenny Eagles Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes                    
Rob Gibson Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes                    
Lucy Hanley Yes Yes No Resigned - - -                  
Leti Littlewood - - - - Yes Yes                    
Susan Herridge - - - -   Yes                    
Olivia Mellor - - - -   Yes                    
                                 
                                 

Governor's Attendance - Resources Committee Meetings

Governor 26/09/23 21/11/23 23/02/24 22/03/24 21/06/24 27/09/24 06/12/24 14/02/25 21/03/25    
Ed Stockwell Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Resigned - - -    
Rob Gibson Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes    
Lizzie Rowlands Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Resigned    
Simon Lewis Yes Yes Yes Resigned - - - - -    
Jenna McCaffery Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes    
Leti Littlewood - - - - - Yes Yes    Yes Yes    

Zoe Crockett

- - - - - No Yes Yes Yes    

Amie Pinnell

- - - - - - - Yes Yes    
                       
                       

Governor's Attendance - Teaching & Learning Committee

GOVERNOR 15/11/23 13/03/24 12/06/24 04/12/24 12/03/25                  
Jenny Eagles Yes Yes Yes No                    
Lucy Hanley Yes Yes Resigned -                    
Rhys Jones Yes Yes Yes Yes                    
Jenna McCaffery Yes Yes Yes Yes                    
Zoe Crockett Yes Yes Yes -                    
Olivia Mellor - - - Yes                    
Susan Herridge - - - Yes