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:
The Governing Body consists of:
The Headteacher
One elected staff governor
One appointed local authority governor
Two elected parent governors
Nine Co-opted governors
The Full Governing Body meets twice each term. One meeting per term focuses on "Quality and Outcomes of Teaching and Learning" and the other meeting focuses on “Organisational Support to Teaching and Learning”
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.
The Governing Body consists of:
The Headteacher
One elected staff governor
One appointed local authority governor
Two elected parent governors
Nine Co-opted governors
The Full Governing Body meets twice each term. One meeting per term focuses on "Quality and Outcomes of Teaching and Learning" and the other meeting focuses on “Organisational Support to Teaching and Learning”
A message from the Chair of Governors
At a time when in-person interaction is not possible, allow me to welcome you remotely to the Governing Board of The Topsham School.
The Governing Board plays a significant support role in ensuring the success of The Topsham School and all its pupils. Broadly, the Board is responsible for providing strategic leadership and accountability. In order to do this, we have a range of powers and duties as set out in education law. More specifically, we are responsible for, among other things:
Governors discharge the above responsibilities, together with many others, through Full Governing Board meetings (ordinarily taking place 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, Safeguarding, Behaviour, Curriculum and Performance Management. The school’s Governance Impact Statement for 2018/19 is available to read below.
The Topsham School is a ‘Good’ school (in Ofsted’s estimation), with aspirations of becoming ‘Outstanding’. Our strength as a school is drawn largely from the strength of the local community, and the partnership that exists between staff, pupils, parents, governors, and the community groups that support us. Every member of this partnership works to ensure that all pupils who pass through the school 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.
For as long as lockdown measures continue, the Governing Board is mostly carrying out its functions remotely, holding meetings via online video conference. The pandemic has created new challenges for schools – for teachers, pupils, and parents – but we are all doing our best to ensure these new challenges are met. The governors are determined to help the school to adapt to meet the challenges of today and to ensure safety and security as we move forward beyond this present crisis. Getting through this will be difficult, but together we can ensure the children are as happy and as safe as possible, and that teaching and learning continue as effectively as possible.
Alexander Fraser Kumar
Chair of Governors
The Topsham School
The Governing Board plays a significant support role in ensuring the success of The Topsham School and all its pupils. Broadly, the Board is responsible for providing strategic leadership and accountability. In order to do this, we have a range of powers and duties as set out in education law. More specifically, we are responsible for, among other things:
- 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 Full Governing Board meetings (ordinarily taking place 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, Safeguarding, Behaviour, Curriculum and Performance Management. The school’s Governance Impact Statement for 2018/19 is available to read below.
The Topsham School is a ‘Good’ school (in Ofsted’s estimation), with aspirations of becoming ‘Outstanding’. Our strength as a school is drawn largely from the strength of the local community, and the partnership that exists between staff, pupils, parents, governors, and the community groups that support us. Every member of this partnership works to ensure that all pupils who pass through the school 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.
For as long as lockdown measures continue, the Governing Board is mostly carrying out its functions remotely, holding meetings via online video conference. The pandemic has created new challenges for schools – for teachers, pupils, and parents – but we are all doing our best to ensure these new challenges are met. The governors are determined to help the school to adapt to meet the challenges of today and to ensure safety and security as we move forward beyond this present crisis. Getting through this will be difficult, but together we can ensure the children are as happy and as safe as possible, and that teaching and learning continue as effectively as possible.
Alexander Fraser Kumar
Chair of Governors
The Topsham School
DfE Governance Handbook
Governance Impact Statement
Minutes of Meetings
Governor Information
See grid below for details of offices held, terms of office, roles and responsibilities and registered interests.
Governor Profiles
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Alex Kumar - Chair of Governors
Co-opted Governor Term of Office: 11th July 2019 - 10th July 2023 Lead Governor for Safeguarding and Lead Governor for Community and Parents Links Register of Interests: "When a community comes together, it can achieve wonders. I am proud to be a part of trying to do this in Topsham for every child that comes through our school. I bring the benefit of my experience in education, governance, public policy, and of my involvements in various community work in Oxford, London, and Devon. I have a strong interest in education at all levels, and in education policy and research. I am currently reading for the Bar as a Scholar of the Inner Temple." Anna Ellis - Vice Chair of Governors
Parent Governor Term of Office: 1 September 2019 - 31st August 2023 Lead Governor for Wider Curriculum Register of Interests: “I am an Associate Professor at the University of Exeter, specialising in paediatric neuropsychology, and a registered Clinical Psychologist. I am interested in child development, child mental health, and evidence-based teaching practice (pedagogy). I am particularly interested in how schools can optimise education (teaching practice, learning environment) to maximize the learning outcomes and school participation for each child. I joined the Board of Governors as a Parent Governor in 2019, when my daughter started Big Acorns. I am currently the Lead Governor for the wider curriculum. I enjoy working closely with the staff, pupils, and other members of the Board of Governors at Topsham Primary School to enhance the school experience for all children.” |
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Emma Pipe (Headteacher)
Ex Officio Governor Term of Office: January 2019 – ongoing Register of Interest: Member of school staff Sharon Wannell
Co-opted Governor Term of Office: 23rd September 2017 - 22nd November 2021 Register of Interests: Member of school staff |
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Nasim Hartmann
Elected Staff Governor Term of Office: 23rd September 2019 - 22nd September 2023 Register of interests: Member of school staff |
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Bruce Traill
Co-opted Governor Term of Office: 23/11/2017 - 22/11/2021 Lead Finance 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.” |
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Helen Fisher
Co-opted Governor Term of Office: 16th May 2018 - 15th May 2022 Lead Governor for Core Curriculum Register of interests: "I am a retired teacher of Spanish and French with management experience and continue to work for exam boards. I am an Exeter graduate and am very pleased to be living full time in Topsham. I hope that I will be able to make a full contribution as a governor of the school and look forward to being involved in this thriving community." Robin Wheeler
Co-opted Governor Term of Office: 03/12/2020 - 03/12/2024 Lead Finance Governor Register of interests: none “I am currently the Head of Finance for one of the academic colleges at the University of Exeter, and also a Topsham resident of 15+ years (I live in Ashford Road so walk past the school most days!). As a qualified management accountant (CIMA) with over 20 years of post-qualification experience I will be able to bring a number of valuable skills to the governing board. Also my wife works as a nurture HLTA at Sidmouth primary school so I have a connection and understanding of primary education through her work” Adrian Blight
Term of Office: 23/4/2020-22/4/2024 Type of Governor: Co-opted Role: Wider Curriculum and Online Safety Register of interest: "After a decade of secondary school teaching and leadership, I founded a successful international education consultancy that specialises in supporting the improvement of education in developing countries. I hope that my experience in education, business and governance can benefit our wonderful school. I moved with my 2 children to Topsham two years ago and have enjoyed being part of this vibrant community of which the school is integral." Sophie Gould
Term of office: 23/4/2020-22/4/2024 Role: Core Curriculum Type: Co-opted Register of interest: Having grown up in and around Topsham, it is a place and community I love, and so the chance to be involved as governor and to positively contribute to the school is a great opportunity. I am also passionate about education and improving learning outcomes. Working for an educational technology company, my day job sees me specialise in creating and researching effective content to maximise learning. I therefore enjoy my role at Topsham school as the lead governor for the core curriculum, with a particular focus on maths. Outside of work, I enjoy wild swimming and walking the South West Coast Path. Leanne Smith
Parent Governor Term of Office: Register of Interests: "I am an Associate Professor of family and child law at the University of Exeter. I have held leadership roles related to education strategy in the higher education context and I have a keen interest in how educators at all levels can create the right conditions for all learners to thrive, feel happy and achieve. Investing in my local community has always been important to me, so I was delighted to join the Board of Governors as a Parent Governor in 2020. My little boy joined the Big Acorns class in September 2019. Since then, I have loved getting to know the parents and pupils and staff of The Topsham School and feel deeply committed to supporting the School to deliver the best experience possible for local children." Helen Crossfield - Associate
Term of Office: 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. I am a volunteer with the Samaritans and 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.” |