Introduction from the Chair of Governors

The Governing Body of Lawford Primary School is made up of Church Governors, elected Parent Governors, Local Authority Governor and Staff Governors, including the Head Teacher. Governors are appointed on a four year basis.

The three core strategic functions of the Lawford Primary School Governing Body are:
1. Ensuring the clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school.
2. Supportively holding the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure that its money is well spent.

The school’s Governors are all volunteers, with varied scholastic and work backgrounds, whose common interest is in ensuring Lawford Primary School  remains the excellent learning environment that it is, and that it continues to improve.

Vacancies arise for new Governors from time to time. If you are interested in becoming a governor please speak to the head teacher or the Chair of Governors.

For more information on what the role involves, the Governance Handbook is available here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/governance-handbook

Current Governors

 Francis Franks

Chair of Governors

Foundation Governor

I joined the school community in 1997 when my eldest child started in Reception year, I was finally able to hang-up the school run shoes in July 2016. I’ve been a Governor since the 2003/4 school year.

Occupation: - Civil Servant.

Interests: - Music, as part of St Mary’s choir and hand-bell team and the East Anglian Hand Team, messing about in small sailing boats.

 Karen Livingston

Vice Chair of Governors

Foundation Governor

As a former pupil of the school, I am pleased that my children have attended Lawford - my second son is still in KS2.  My responsibilities as Governor include EYFS and Assessment. I am currently Head of MFL at Colchester Royal Grammar School as well as teaching Pilates in the local community. 

Georgina Crookes

Parent Governor, elected December 2019

Appointed Foundation Governor in May 2018

Richard Heath

Governor since 1999 (former Chair of Governors, Sept 2013 - Sept 2017)

Responsibilities: Safeguarding, Humanities Monitoring, Science Monitoring, Admissions Committee, Resources Committee, Staff Pay
Retired Senior Probation Officer. Married with three adult children. On the Parochial Parish Council of St Mary’s church

BA hons, CQSW, Dip Prob. Man.

Genise Heddell

PCC Foundation governor appointed September 2019

Nicola Hunt

Parent governor appointed November 2020

 Jaco Neethling

Local Authority Governor, appointed December 2016

 I represent the Local Authority and I am also parent to two children attending Lawford C of E Primary.  I’m a qualified Chartered Accountant and work for an Accounting and Business advisory firm in London where I render governance, risk management and internal audit services to a variety of clients.

The staff governors are:

Abigail Fairbairn - Headteacher

Leanne Harding - SENCo

Terry Webb - School Caretaker

The function and remit of the committees are:

Standards and Safeguarding: A committee operating under the delegation of the Full Governing Body to ensure that the school meets the requirements of the National curriculum, to receive reports on implementation of standards and safeguarding in all respects and reports to the Full Governing Body.

Resources: A committee operating under the delegation of the Full Governing Body to view progress on premises, school finance and personnel matters and report back to the Full Governing Body.

Admissions: A committee operating under the delegation of the Full Governing Body to discharge the functions conferred on it by relevant Education Acts and Regulations; to determine and review the admissions policy for the school; to rank all applications in accordance with the current determined admissions policy and to ensure the school continues to serve the needs of the whole community and compliance with the School Admissions Code.

Pay: A committee operating under the delegation of the Full Governing Body that deals with all staff pay matters (with the exception of the headteacher) and implements pay policy with consideration to staff performance.

Pay Appeals: A committee operating under the delegation of the Full Governing Body to consider any appeals against decisions of the Pay Committee.

Pupil Discipline: The Governing Body can delegate some or all of its functions in respect of exclusions to a committee consisting of at least three governors and such a committee may be called the Pupil Discipline Committee where one has been established.

Staff Discipline/Dismissal: To consider disciplinary matters and dismissals where these functions have not been delegated to the Headteacher under the Staffing Regulations 2009 or, in the case of discipline, where the Headteacher has had detailed prior involvement.

Staff Discipline/Dismissal Appeals: To consider any appeals against decisions by the Headteacher/Staff Disciplinary/Dismissal Committee.

Current Governing Body Members (2021-22)

Updated Nov 21

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP 2020 – 2021

Revised 15/09/20  

Standards & Safeguarding Committee

Georgina Crookes

Francis Franks                

Headteacher

Leanne Harding              

*Karen Livingston     * Karen Livingston and Sally Morris Joint Chair

*Sally Morris

Jaco Neethling

Resources Committee

Headteacher                  

Anna Deane

Richard Heath                 (Chair)

Genise Heddell

Jaco Neethling

Terry Webb

Admissions Committee

Francis Franks                 (Chair)        Beverley Kekwick (Clerk)

Headteacher

Richard Heath

Karen Livingston

Pay Committee                                Pay Appeal Committee

Francis Franks (Chair)

Richard Heath                                     Second and third member to be nominated from pool

Sally Morris/ Karen Livingston                               

Headteacher's Performance Review Committee

Richard Heath

Karen Livingston

Pupil Discipline Committee*

3 governors selected from the following pool

Staff Discipline/Dismissal Committee*

3 governors selected from the pool (including CCP) but excluding Staff Governors

Staff Discipline/Dismissal Appeals Committee*

3 governors selected from the following pool but excluding Staff Governors and the governors who formed the related Staff Discipline Committee. Governors also to be selected from the CCP if required or necessary.

* Pool:

Francis Franks                          

Richard Heath                                    

Complaints Review Panel

3 governors depending on the nature of the complaint

Governors Attendance Record at Governing Body and

Committee Meetings 2020-2021

updated April 2021

Previous Academic Year:

Governors Attendance Record at Governing Body and

Committee Meetings during 2019-20