Governors
.Our school governing body is an experienced group with representatives from the parent body, teaching staff and local community. Together they help set the strategic vision and direction for the school, support with the appointment of senior staff, keep an overview of finance and resources and act as a critical friend, ensuring that the highest standards are attained in all that the school does.
In all types of schools, governing bodies should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:
Who are we?
The Governing Body consists of:
The Head teacher
One elected staff governor
One appointed local authority governor
Elected parent governors
Co-opted governors
The Full Governing Body meets twice each term. One meeting per term focuses on Progress and Achievement and the other meeting focuses on Finance and Ressources.
Message from The Chair of Governors
“I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to the work of the Governing Board to ensure that your child(ren) receives a sound primary school education.
The Governing Board has a range of powers and duties outlined above. In the main, our responsibilities relate to:
- Promoting high standards and expectations for the progress and educational achievement of all children.
- Setting the strategic framework within which the school operates.
- Management of the school's delegated budget.
- Ensuring that the curriculum for the school is balanced and broadly based.
Governors discharge the above responsibilities, together with many others, through Governing Body meetings twice each term and visits to the school. Additionally each governor has responsibilities for specific issues within the school.
Governors adopt, review and monitor a range of policies that govern the operation of the school including Health and Safety, Behaviour, Curriculum and Performance Management.
The Topsham School draws a unique strength from its success in fostering a close knit family atmosphere where staff, pupils, parents and governors work together to ensure that all our pupils have the opportunity to develop to their full potential.
The Governing Board is proud of the achievements of the school, not only in terms of results, but also in the solid foundations it provides in provides in preparing all our pupils for the remainder of their education.”
In all types of schools, governing bodies should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Holding the head teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
Who are we?
The Governing Body consists of:
The Head teacher
One elected staff governor
One appointed local authority governor
Elected parent governors
Co-opted governors
The Full Governing Body meets twice each term. One meeting per term focuses on Progress and Achievement and the other meeting focuses on Finance and Ressources.
Message from The Chair of Governors
“I want to take this opportunity to introduce you to the work of the Governing Board to ensure that your child(ren) receives a sound primary school education.
The Governing Board has a range of powers and duties outlined above. In the main, our responsibilities relate to:
- Promoting high standards and expectations for the progress and educational achievement of all children.
- Setting the strategic framework within which the school operates.
- Management of the school's delegated budget.
- Ensuring that the curriculum for the school is balanced and broadly based.
Governors discharge the above responsibilities, together with many others, through Governing Body meetings twice each term and visits to the school. Additionally each governor has responsibilities for specific issues within the school.
Governors adopt, review and monitor a range of policies that govern the operation of the school including Health and Safety, Behaviour, Curriculum and Performance Management.
The Topsham School draws a unique strength from its success in fostering a close knit family atmosphere where staff, pupils, parents and governors work together to ensure that all our pupils have the opportunity to develop to their full potential.
The Governing Board is proud of the achievements of the school, not only in terms of results, but also in the solid foundations it provides in provides in preparing all our pupils for the remainder of their education.”
Governor Information
Click on the button below for details of offices held, terms of office, roles and responsibilities and registered interests.
Governor Profiles
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Helen Crossfield - Chair of Governors
Co-opted Governor September 2015 Term of Office; September 2015 – September 2018 Sits on Resources committee Register of Interests: None “I qualified as a primary school teacher and taught in inner London for 8 years. After a break, I moved into education support services and into human resources working with schools and education services in London and Devon. I’ve been a governor at schools in London, St Albans and Devon in special, primary and secondary schools, and currently at an academy. As well as voluntary roles, I work as an associate for Babcock LDP undertaking governance healthchecks and headteacher appraisal training for governors. I live in Topsham and am committed to a primary school which serves all of the community and which enables all the children to achieve the very best they can and which prepares them for their future life.” Emma Rihll
Co-opted governor until September 2017 Term of office: 2005 - 2017 Has responsibility for Safeguarding and is a link for the Early Years. Sits on the resources committee Register of interests; none "I have been a governor at The Topsham School since 2005 and have been Chair for the past 5 years; previous to this I was Chair of the Curriculum committee (TLC). I presently work in the Nursery at Exeter Cathedral School and have worked in various schools, preschools and Nurseries since I qualified as a teacher in 1992. I took a few years off to raise my own four children and that was when I became a parent governor at The Topsham School. There have been lots of changes in the school during these years and I enjoy working in such a vibrant and caring environment that nurtures the children and always strives to do its best for them." |
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Sue Nunnery, Vice-Chair of Governing Body
Local authority governor until April 2021 Term of office: 25/4/17 - 25/4/21 Responsibility for SEN, Pupil Premium and Head teacher performance management Register of Interests: None "I am Sue Nunnery and I have been a Local Authority governor at Topsham School for almost three years. I retired from teaching in 2009 having been head of a large primary school in London for seventeen years. On moving to East Devon I wanted to make a contribution to this community and have found this role both interesting and rewarding. I hope that my skills and experience bring some benefits to the team of governors and to the quality of education for Topsham children." |
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Sean Millar, Head teacher
Since 01/09/2014, a member of the governing body by virtue of position in the school Sits on all committees Governor attendance: 4/4 Full Governing Body, 4/4 Teaching and Learning; 5/5 Resources Register of Interests; Governors have been notified of any commercial or educational interests |
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Sharon Wannell
Elected staff governor Register of Interests: None |
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Claire Mulgrew
Parent Governor Term of Office: Sits on the Resources committee. Register of Interests; None "I've been a Parent Governor since October 2013 and have 2 children at the school, James in Year 5 and George in Year 3. As well as attending the full governor meetings, I sit on the Resources Committee which focuses on helping to ensure that the school manages its finances and resources effectively. I also work as an Environmental Health Officer for Exeter City Council. I've really enjoyed being part of the team of governors. The role gives you the opportunity to represent parents when important decisions are being made and provides real insight into how the school operates." |
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Jason Malpas
Parent governor until December 2017 Term of Office: 8/12/13 – 8/12/17 Sits on the resources committee Register of Interests: None “I am a Senior Category Manager at the Met Office responsible for buying the IT equipment within the office. I have worked for the Met Office for over 13 years (always in the procurement team) having spent some time in the private sector, also within procurement. I have two children at The Topsham School both in KS2. I became a parent governor to get a better understanding as to how the school worked and to provide support to the school through the governing body. I have a real interest in how maths is taught within the school and I am the lead Governor for that subject. I’ve also enjoyed getting involved with the Governor’s barbeque at the summer fair.” |
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Lisa Bartram
Elected Parent Governor until November 2019 Term of Office: November 2015 – November 2019 Register of Interest: None “I have recently taken on the role of a Parent Governor and have two children, Daisy aged 9 and Henry aged 4, both of whom have been at the Topsham School since Little Acorns. I work part-time as a Medical Consultant at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and am looking forward to working with the team at the Topsham School.” |
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Kevin Martin
Elected staff governor September 2015 Term of Office: September 2015 – Register of Interest: Member of School staff |
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Peter Lockhart
Parent Governor Term of office - 31/10/2016 - 30/10/2020 Register of Interest: None “I currently have two daughters at The Topsham School, Martha in Year 6 and Rose in Year 4. My eldest daughter has just started Year 8 at St Peter’s School having also enjoyed her time at Topsham. I have my own recruitment and career management business which includes career counselling, and I believe my HR and personnel management experience would be of benefit to the governing body. I also have a passion for encouraging children’s imaginations and have spoken to local schools about creative writing and the creative process, on the back of a children’s book I wrote a few years ago.” |
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Max Johnson
Parent Governor Term of office 25/05/2016 - 24/05/2020 Register of Interest: None "I became a parent governor in June 2016 and have two children at Topsham School, Leon in Year 6 and Anya in Year 1. I believe my IT and management professional background bring valuable experience to the school's governing body, especially in fulfilling my role of Parent and Community Lead Governor. I'm passionate that all children at Topsham School achieve the best they possibly can, leaving well prepared for the next stage of their education, with lasting and happy memories." |
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Bruce Traill
Co-opted Governor Register of interests: none “I have spent most of my career working at the other end of the educational ladder, as an economist at the Universities of Manchester and Reading where I was Professor of Food Economics and Head of the Department of Food Economics and Marketing. I also squeezed in 5 years with the European Commission in Brussels and 1 year with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome. My recent academic research was into evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of Government healthy eating interventions and I was a member of the UK Government’s Council of Food Policy Advisors, established by PM Gordon Brown. Now retired and returned to Topsham (I’m a Devon boy and our two children attended Topsham first and middle schools as they were then) I welcome the opportunity to learn about and contribute to education in the local community.” |
