Governance

We feel very lucky to be part of a supportive school

Parent of two pupils at the school

2016-03-14T15:19:08+00:00

Parent of two pupils at the school

https://www.ironactonprimaryschool.co.uk/testimonials/testimonial-1/

It’s an environment that encourages positive growth of character as well as academic achievement

Parent to three pupils at the school

2017-05-03T15:17:22+01:00

Parent to three pupils at the school

https://www.ironactonprimaryschool.co.uk/testimonials/environment-encourages-positive-growth-character-well-academic-achievement/

Friendly welcoming and inclusive. Everyone is valued.

Parent to two pupils.

2017-05-03T15:32:51+01:00

Parent to two pupils.

https://www.ironactonprimaryschool.co.uk/testimonials/friendly-welcoming-inclusive-everyone-valued/

There is a great community feel to the school

Parent of year 5 pupil

2017-05-12T13:25:34+01:00

Parent of year 5 pupil

https://www.ironactonprimaryschool.co.uk/testimonials/great-community-feel-school-parent-year/

I love the family feel that pervades through the school

Parent of year 2

2017-05-12T13:38:10+01:00

Parent of year 2

https://www.ironactonprimaryschool.co.uk/testimonials/i-love-family-feel-pervades-school/

We are very proud of our school and our Christian vision is the basis for the decisions we make. The governors, together with our head teacher, teaching and support staff, all work extremely hard to ensure every child has the help and support they need to reach their full potential.

Mr Riches

Executive Headteacher

Julie Gardener

Chair and Foundation Governor

Ben Clarke

Co-opted Governor

Mrs Wood

Staff Governor/Class Teacher

Jan Conner

Foundation Governor

Adrian Gilby

Associate Member

Karen Foxwell

Associate Member

Sarah Godsell

Local Authority Governor

Oliver Latter

Parent Governor

Deb Marriage

Co-opted Governor

Harmeet Turner

Parent Governor

Lizzie Reynolds

Co-opted Governor

Fr Malcolm Strange

Ex-officio Foundation Governor

Rob Taylor

Co-opted Governor

Mrs Wilson

Senco/ Class Teacher/ Staff Governor

Clerk to Governing Board

Clerk to the Governors

The Pinnacle Federation Governing Body is made up of a group of highly motivated volunteers who have been elected to provide strategic direction in line with our vision and values. Governors work incredibly hard to support the Executive Head and other staff across the federation and are dedicated to ensuring every child has an inspirational experience and access to fantastic opportunities within a happy and secure environment.

A summary of key information for each Governor is given below.

Name	Mike Riches
Category	Headteacher – appointed by the Governing Body
Term	Ongoing
Committee(s) & Responsibility	All Committees
Pecuniary Interests	None
Other Governor roles	None

Name	Ben Clarke
Category	Co-opted Governor – appointed by the Governing Body.
Term	2 years from 12/09/2024
Committee(s) & Responsibility	Standards Committee (Chair) Pupil Premium Link Governor, Pay Panel
Pecuniary Interests	None
Other Governor roles	None

Name	Jan Conner
Category	Foundation Governor – appointed by the Diocese
Term	4 years from 23/6/2022
Committee(s) & Responsibility	Ethos Committee
Pecuniary Interests	None
Other Governor roles	None

Name	Karen Foxwell
Category	Co-opted Member
Term	2 years from 18/03/24
Committee(s) & Responsibility	Resources Committee
Pecuniary Interests	None
Other Governor roles	None

Name	Julie Gardener
Category	Foundation Governor – appointed by the Diocese
Term	4 years from 01/09/2021
Committee(s) and Responsibility	Chair of Governors, Ethos Committee, RE Link Governor, Music Link Governor, Pay Panel
Pecuniary Interests	Step grandchild(ren) attend school
Other Governor roles	None

Name	Adrian Gilby
Category	Co-opted Governor – appointed by the Governing Body
Term	2 years from 11/07/2023
Committee(s) & Responsibility	Resources Committee (chair)
Pecuniary Interests	None
Other Governor roles	None

Name	Sarah Godsell
Category	LEA Governor – appointed by the Local Authority
Term	4 years from 01/09/2024
Committee(s) & Responsibility	Ethos Committee (Chair), PSHE Link Governor
Pecuniary Interests	None
Other Governor roles	None

Name	Oliver Latter
Category	Parent Governor – appointed by Parents
Term	4 years from 24/03/2023
Committee(s) & Responsibility	Resources Committee, HT PM
Pecuniary Interests	Parent of child(ren) at the school/family member is staff member at school
Other Governor roles	None

Name	Deb Marriage
Category	Co-opted Governor – appointed by the Governing Body
Term	2 years from 12/09/2024
Committee(s) & Responsibility	Standards Committee, SEND Link Governor, Safeguarding Governor
Pecuniary Interests	None
Other Governor roles	None

Name	Elizabeth Reynolds
Category	Co-opted Governor – appointed by the Governing Board
Term	2 years from 13/05/2024
Committee(s) & Responsibility	Standards Committee, EYFS Link Governor, Pay Panel
Pecuniary Interests	Parent of child(ren) at the school
Other Governor roles	None

Name	Harmeet Sehambi
Category	Parent Governor – appointed by parents
Term	4 years from 28/11/23
Committee(s) & Responsibility	Resources Committee
Pecuniary Interests	Parent of child(ren) at the school
Other Governor roles	None

Name	Revd Malcolm Strange
Category	Ex-officio Foundation Governor
Term	Ongoing from 01/09/2022
Committee(s) & Responsibility	Ethos Committee
Pecuniary Interests	None
Other Governor roles	Governor at St Michaels Winterbourne, Frampton Cotterell CofE Primary School, The Manor CofE Primary School.

Name	Rob Taylor
Category	Co-opted Governor
Term	2 years from 12/09/2024
Committee(s) & Responsibility	Resources Committee, HT performance management, Health and Safety Governor
Pecuniary Interests	None
Other Governor roles	None

Name	Alice Wood
Category	Staff Governor – appointed by Staff
Term	2 years from 01/09/2024
Committee(s) & Responsibility
Pecuniary Interests	None
Other Governor roles	None

Name	Christine Wilson
Category	Staff Governor – appointed by Staff
Term	2 years from 01/09/2024
Committee(s) & Responsibility	Standards Committee
Pecuniary Interests	None
Other Governor roles	None

Structure & Information

The Pinnacle Federation Governing Body consists of:

1 Executive head teacher
1 Staff governor
2 Parent governors
1 Local authority governor
4 Foundation governors
7 Co-opted governors
Associate governors

The majority of governors do not have an educational background, however, they bring experience and expertise from their home and work lives which the school finds invaluable.

Parent governors are self-nominated and elected by a vote across both schools. As well as carrying out governor activities they offer a parent perspective in all discussions. Their term of office is 2 years.
The local authority governor is nominated by the local authority to represent them in the governing body. They do not have to work for a local authority but their appointment is always approved by them. Their term of office is 2 years.
Foundation governors are appointed by the dioceses of both Bristol and Gloucester and represent the church in the governing body. They are appointed to ensure that Christian ethos is preserved and developed within school and that religious worship reflects the tradition of the Church of England. Their term of office is 4 years.
Co-opted governors are people from the community who, in the opinion of the governing body, have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the federation. The term of office for each co-opted governor is 2 years from date of appointment.
Associate governors are also appointed by the governing body, and are allowed to attend meetings and sit on committees. Their usual term of office is 2 years.
Associate Members – these can be appointed to committees and as such are counted in the quorum and are able to vote. Although not eligible to vote at FGB, Associate Members are invited to join all FGB meetings.

Execution of Responsibilities

The governing body elects a chairperson and vice-chairperson annually with the term of office being 1 year. Our full governing body is additionally supported by three sub-committees – resources, standards and ethos.

Resources Committee

The resources committee is responsible for overseeing budgets, finances, staffing, health & safety and matters relating to the premises of each school. This committee completes an annual evaluation – the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS) – confirming that all processes and procedures are sound and that the school leadership team and the governing body appropriately ensure financial control and best value in all aspects of each school’s affairs.

Standards Committee

The standards committee is responsible for all matters relating to the delivery of the curriculum, subject leadership, achievement, attainment and behaviour. It also monitors progress of the school development plan and the implementation of pupil premium and SEND spending to ensure that attainment of disadvantaged or vulnerable children is maximised.

Ethos Committee

The ethos committee is responsible for promoting a Christian ethos and British values across both schools. It monitors the content and impact of religious education (RE) and collective worship to ensure pupils spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is nurtured and that they gain an understanding of the Christian faith in its fullest context. It also promotes the links between the schools, local churches and the wider community.

We set, agree and oversee budgets, monitor the implementation of changes in law and ensure the national curriculum is being taught such that all pupils have equal access to education. To do this we meet regularly throughout the year, as a full governing body and in sub-committees (resources, standards and ethos). We also maintain a close relationship with the executive head and staff in order to provide a source of support and challenge.

If you wish to contact a governor, for any reason, please do so via the school office.

Further information

Pinnacle Schools Federation Instrument of Government

Record of Attendance at meetings 2020-21

Record of Attendance at meetings 2021-22

Record of Attendance at meetings 2022-23

Record of Attendance at meetings 2023-24

Current vacancies

Here at the Pinnacle Federation, we are lucky enough to have a very dedicated and hardworking team of governors with a wide and varied skill set.

Excellent training and support for all governors is provided, ensuring that all aspects of school governance are covered.

If you are interested in becoming a school governor in the future or would like any further information, please contact either school by emailing, enquiries@ironactonprimaryschool.co.uk or enquiries@hawkesbury.org.uk, or see https://www.sgoss.org.uk/.

We would love to hear from you.

Governor Meetings

The Pinnacle Federation Governing Body usually meets 6 times per year.

Please see the latest minutes from the Governing body meetings.

FGB Minutes December 2024

FGB Minutes July 2024

FGB Minutes May 2024

FGB Minutes March 2024

FGB Minutes January 2024

FGB Minutes December 2023

FGB Minutes October 2023

We feel very lucky to be part of a supportive school

It’s an environment that encourages positive growth of character as well as academic achievement

Friendly welcoming and inclusive. Everyone is valued.

There is a great community feel to the school

I love the family feel that pervades through the school

We are very proud of our school and our Christian vision is the basis for the decisions we make. The governors, together with our head teacher, teaching and support staff, all work extremely hard to ensure every child has the help and support they need to reach their full potential.

Who we are

Mr Riches

Julie Gardener

Ben Clarke

Mrs Wood

Jan Conner

Adrian Gilby

Karen Foxwell

Sarah Godsell

Oliver Latter

Deb Marriage

Harmeet Turner

Lizzie Reynolds

Fr Malcolm Strange

Rob Taylor

Mrs Wilson

Clerk to Governing Board

What we do

Structure & Information

Execution of Responsibilities

Resources Committee

Standards Committee

Ethos Committee

Further information

Current vacancies

Governor Meetings