Our Governors

Geoff Forman – Chair of Governors

Email: chair@ditchlingsch.co.uk

Our Local Governing Body consists of 10 members 2025-26

Former Governors (in the last 12 months)

Please note more information regarding the roles and responsibilities of the Local Governing Body can be found here: Ditchling (St Margaret’s) CE Primary and Nursery School – “Living life in all its fullness.” John 10:10

* Governors Attendance at Meetings Academic Year 2024-2025

This information is published in a spirit of openness and transparency but please note that attendance at meetings does not necessarily show the full contribution of each governor.  Not all governors are members of all committees so the number of meetings they are expected to attend will vary.  However, all governors are welcome to attend any committee meeting.  Various governors are also members of sub committees and working parties and will attend additional meetings not recorded here.  There are also many other occasions where governors contribute to the school including governor monitoring visits; school events; external training; visits and trips.

Governors who are unable to attend a Local Governing Body or Committee meeting are asked to forward their apologies which are then considered by the meeting; these are recorded within the minutes of the meeting.

** LGB Members Register of Interests 2025-2026

LGB members and school staff have a responsibility to avoid any conflict between their business and personal interests and the affairs and interest of the school.  Each year LGB governors complete a declaration of any interest that they, their partner or any relative might have in a business with which the school is likely to do business. They also undertake that in the event of them, their partner, or any relative, or other person known to them acquiring an interest in a business with which the school is likely to do business then they will declare this as soon as they become aware of it.  Sometimes it is not always clear in advance and we have the opportunity at each meeting for a declaration of interest to be made which would be recorded in the minutes.  The full register is available as a separate document from the clerk to the governors.

Governor Role

Governors are people who wish to make a positive contribution to the school and the education of its children.  The Governing Board’s overriding responsibility is to work in partnership with the Head Teacher to promote continuous improvement in the school’s performance.  This involves working with management and staff to formulate an improvement plan, setting challenging but achievable targets and interpreting information to assess progress and to monitor appropriate action.

Linked to its improvement role, the Governing Board is there to be a critical friend which is a balance between supporting and challenging the performance of both the Head-teacher and the school.  Part of the role of the Governing Board is to ensure that the school is accountable to the children it serves, to their parents, and to the staff it employs, and also to its local community and those who fund and maintain it.

Governor Responsibilities

The Governing Board as a whole has a number of responsibilities, some relate to:

• Supporting and leading the school in developing its Christian values and ethos
• Ensuring the requirements of the National Curriculum are implemented
• Setting policies
• Monitoring the annual budget and ensuring best value is achieved
• Involvement under HET in the recruitment, and selection of the Head Teacher and Deputy Head Teacher, and employment of Staff
• Ensuring the fabric of the school buildings are kept in good order

Governor Interests

Governors are required to declare any business or other interests which they may have in connection with the school.  The DfE guidance on the constitution of maintained school governing bodies says that the register should set out:

• The relevant business interests of governors
• Details of any other educational establishments they govern
• Any relationships between governors and members of the school staff including spouses, partners and relatives

The Full Governing Board usually holds six meetings per school year, plus a training session.  The working groups meet separately and report back to the FGB.

Governors at Ditchling, St Margaret’s CEP School complete an annual declaration of interests and are required to declare any changes to this at every Governing Board meeting.  This information is recorded in minutes of meetings.

Code of Conduct

Governors also sign a Code of Conduct agreeing to these conditions.  This is available on the website.