Lawford C of E Primary School
High quality learning and caring together in an encouraging Christian environment.
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
I am a parent to two children, currently at University, who attended Lawford C of E Primary. I have been a part of the St Mary’s Lawford church community since 1986 and volunteer at the Manningtree Hub. I have been a Civil Servant since 1991, enjoy running, cycling and water sports and am passionate about safeguarding the environment.
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
Appointed/elected /Reappointed/Re-elected | Category & Appointed by | Term of Office Ends | ||
Georgina Crookes | 02.12.19 | Parent (Elected) | 01.12.23 | |
Anna Deane | 09.05.18 | Foundation PCC | 08.05.22 | |
Abigail Fairbairn | 01.09.18 | Staff (Headteacher) | ex officio | |
Francis Franks (Chair of Governors) | 24.05.21 | Foundation PCC | 23.05.25 | |
Leanne Harding | 09.11.20 | Staff (Elected) | 08.11.24 | |
Richard Heath | 24.05.21 | Foundation PCC | 23.05.25 | |
Genise Heddell | 27.09.19 | Foundation PCC | 26.09.23 | |
Nicola Hunt | 30.11.21 | Parent (Elected) | 29.11.25 | |
Karen Livingston (Vice Chair of Governors) | 28.10.20 | Foundation PCC | 27.10.24 | |
Jaco Neethling | 14.12.20 | Local Authority | 13.12.24 | |
Terry Webb | 01.09.21 | Co-opted | 31.08.25 | |
Former Governing Body Members – current and previous academic year | ||||
Name | Date Appointed | Category & Appointed by | Date of leaving | |
Rev Sally Morris | 23.11.17 | Foundation DBE | 22.11.21 | |
Alex Saward | 23.07.21 | Foundation DBE | 04.11.21 |
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
Standards Committee | Resources Committee | Admissions Committee | Pay Committee | Full Governing Body | |
Georgina Crookes | 2/2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3/3 |
Anna Deane | n/a | 3/3 | n/a | n/a | 3/3 |
Abigail Fairbairn | 2/2 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 3/3 |
Francis Franks | 2/2 | n/a | 1/1 | 1/1 | 3/3 |
Leanne Harding* | 1/2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3/3 |
Richard Heath | n/a | 3/3 | 1/1 | 1/1 | 3/3 |
Genise Heddell | n/a | 2/3 | n/a | n/a | 3/3 |
Nicola Hunt | n/a | 3/3 | n/a | n/a | 3/3 |
Karen Livingston | 2/2 | n/a | 1/1 | 1/1 | 3/3 |
Rev Sally Morris | 2/2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3/3 |
Jaco Neethling | 2/2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3/3 |
Terry Webb | n/a | 3/3 | n/a | n/a | 3/3 |
*Where a governor joined or left part way through the academic year, attendance is recorded from/until the date of their appointment/resignation |
Governors Attendance Record at Governing Body and
Committee Meetings during 2019-20
Standards Committee |
Resources Committee |
Admissions Committee |
Pay Committee |
Full Governing Body |
|
Georgina Crookes* |
2/2* | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3/4* |
Anna Deane |
n/a |
4/4 |
n/a |
n/a |
5/5 |
Abigail Fairbairn |
3/3 |
4/4 |
n/a |
n/a |
5/5 |
Francis Franks |
3/3 |
n/a |
1/1 |
1/1 |
4/5 |
Leanne Harding |
3/3 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
3/5 |
Richard Heath |
n/a |
4/4 |
n/a |
1/1 |
5/5 |
Genise Heddell* |
n/a |
3/4 |
n/a |
n/a |
4/4* |
Rev Simon Heron* |
n/a |
0/2* |
1/1 |
1/1 |
3/3* |
Megan Howes |
2/3 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
3/5 |
Karen Livingston |
3/3 |
n/a |
1/1 |
n/a |
3/5 |
Mike Mendham |
n/a |
2/4 |
n/a |
n/a |
1/5 |
Rev Sally Morris |
3/3 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
4/5 |
Jaco Neethling |
2/3 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
4/5 |
Terry Webb |
n/a |
4/4 |
n/a |
n/a |
5/5 |
*Where a governor joined or left part way through the academic year, attendance is recorded from/until the date of their appointment/resignation
GOVERNORS' REGISTER OF BUSINESS INTERESTS 2020 - 2021 | ||
Governor Name | Date |
Interests Declared Business Interest form completed and submitted |
Georgina Crookes | 15/09/20 | Nil declaration |
Anna Deane | 15/09/20 | Nil declaration |
Abbie Fairbairn | 15/09/20 | Governor Brightlingsea Primary School and Nursery |
Francis Franks | 15/09/20 | Nil declaration |
Leanne Harding | 15/09/20 | Nil declaration |
Richard Heath | 15/09/20 | Nil declaration |
Genise Heddell | 15/09/20 | Nil declaration |
Karen Livingston | 15/09/20 | Nil declaration |
Rev. Sally Morris | 15/09/20 | Manningtree High School Academy Trust |
Jaco Neethling | 15/09/20 | Nil declaration |
Terry Webb | 15/09/20 | Nil declaration |