Governing Body
Governors are volunteers operating alongside the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team in the strategic development of the school to provide an excellant education to all children.
The core functions of the Governing Body are:
- Ensuring clarity of vision , ethos and strategic direction.
- Holding the School Leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff.
- Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.
More about the role of governors in a short video https://youtu.be/mRqJ_bFipHk
At Westdene Primary School there are fourteen Governor posts. Each Governor is assigned to one or more committees carrying out more detailed monitoring and reporting back to the Governing Body at regular intervals during the school year.
Chair of Governors
Our Chair of Governors is Mr Charles Haywood. He can be contacted via the Clerk to Governors clerk@westdene.brighton-hove.sch.uk
| Name | Category of Governor | Appointed | Term End | Appointed/Elected By |
| Linda Appleby | Co-opted | 30.03.22 | 29.03.26 | Governing Body |
| Simrit Bagshaw | Parent | 22.02.22 | 21.02.26 | Parents |
| Jane Bone | Staff | 19.11.24 | 18.11.28 | Staff |
| Sandra Cooke | LA | 08.05.24 | 07.05.28 | Governing Body |
| Emily Goodwin | Parent | 14.10.22 | 13.10.26 | Parents |
| Lisa Hagon | Co-opted | 18.11.20 | 17.11.24 | Governing Body |
| Judy Hawker | Co-opted | 01.09.22 | 31.08.26 | Governing Body |
| Charles Haywood | Co-opted (Chair) | 01.09.22 | 31.08.26 | Governing Body |
| Joanne Marron | Co-opted | 19.11.24 | 18.11.28 | Governing Body |
| Az Naeem | Co-opted | 07.12.22 | 06.12.26 | Governing Body |
| Phil McDonald | Co-opted | 10.07.24 | 09.07.28 | Governing Body |
| Jenny Stratton | Head | 15.04.24 | Ex Officio | By virtue of office |
The following individuals have served as governors in the past 12 months and have since stepped down or their terms of office have expired.
Katy Majumdar - Co-opted Governor
Lucy Smith - Co-opted Governor
Lily Glynn - Co-opted Governor
Debbie Crossingham - Headteacher
Richard Melly - LA Governor
Guy Garrett - Parent Governor
Appointment of Governors:
Governors are appointed in several different categories:
Appointed by the governing body = Co-opted;
Nominated by the Local Authority and appointed by the governing body = LA;
Staff = Elected by staff;
Parent = Elected by parents.
The Headteacher is a member by virtue of their office.
Committees & Groups
| Community Liaison Committee | Premises Committee |
| Curriculum and Standards Committee | Resources and Staffing Committee |
| Pay Committee | Data Group |
| Headteacher Review group |
Governor Link Responsibilities
| Strategic Leadership | FGB/Committee/Group |
| Culture, Values & Ethos | Full Governing Body |
| Headteacher Appraisal & Objective Setting | Headteacher Review Group |
| Parental Engagment & Comminity | Community Liaison |
| Setting Direction | Full Governing Body |
| Compliance | FGB/Committee/Group |
| Complaints | Full Governing Body |
| Control & Community use of Premises | Premises |
| Education | Curriculum & Standards |
| Equality | C&S and R&S |
| Finance | Resources & Staffing |
| Health & Safety | Premises |
| Information Sharing | Full Governing Body |
| Pupil Premium | Curriculum & Standards |
| Pupil Wellbeing | Curriculum & Standards |
| Safeguarding | Full Governing Body |
| School Premises | Premises |
| Special Educational Needs | Curriculum & Standards |
| Staffing & Performance Management | Pay Committee |
| Vulnerable /Looked After Childrem | Curriculum & Standards |
| Website Compliance | Community Liaison |
| Other School Priorites | Committee |
| Healthy Schools | Full Governing Body |
| Governance | Committee |
| Developing FGB Effectiveness | Full Governing Body |
| Governance Procedures | Full Governing Body |
| Recruitment | Full Governing Body |
| Training & Development | Full Governing Body |
| Curriculum Links | Committee |
| DT | Curriculum & Standards |
| Early Years | Curriculum & Standards |
| Humaities | Curriculum & Standards |
| Literacy | Curriculum & Standards |
| Maths | Curriculum & Standards |
| MFL | Curriculum & Standards |
| Music & Arts | Curriculum & Standards |
| PE | Curriculum & Standards |
| PHSE | Curriculum & Standards |
| RE | Curriculum & Standards |
| Science | Curriculum & Standards |