Meet the Governors
Welcome to our Governors’ Section
Our school is a member of the East Midlands Education Trust, a multi-Academy Trust, which encompasses primary, secondary and a special school. Trustees are responsible for much of the strategic direction of the schools at a higher level but the vast majority of day to day operations and school based strategic leadership is delegated to the Local Governing Body of each individual school.
The Awsworth Primary & Nursery School Local Governing Body is a dedicated group of community, parent and staff governors who support and challenge the Head Teacher in providing the best education for the children at Awsworth Primary and Nursery School. The Head Teacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school. We help to set the strategic direction of the school and ensure finances are used effectively to provide a safe, happy, caring and exciting learning environment and the resources necessary to deliver high standards of teaching and learning.
We are committed to ensuring that our pupils can achieve their BEST by valuing, nurturing and embedding the following key principles of Belief, Effort, Success and Teamwork. You can see how we encourage these key principles in our school’s Vision and Aims Statement.
The composition of the Governing Body is as follows:
two parent governors
six community governors
one staff governor
the Head Teacher (permanent member of the governing body)
Committee Structures
Two Full Governing Body meetings are held each term. Much of our work is carried out at these meetings and can be categorised under the headings of Finance, Resources, Curriculum, Pupils, Personnel and Strategic Development. As Governors, we consider, approve and monitor the school’s annual budget plan in accordance with the priorities in the School Improvement Plan including the staffing structure. We consider reports from the Head Teacher, approve policies, monitor performance and attainment and ensure compliance with national requirements. We also ensure Pupil Premium funding and Sports Premium funding is spent effectively and robust Safeguarding procedures are in place. We monitor behaviour and attendance and make recommendations on strategic development that will improve pupil achievement and school effectiveness. Staff are invited to meetings to talk to governors about areas of their expertise. These have recently included Special Educational Needs and Disability, Behaviour, Data Protection, Pupil Premium and Sports Premium. There are also sub committees which are responsible for Pay, Performance Management and Discipline who report back to the Full Governing Body.
Roles and Responsibilities
We assign individual link governors to each area of the School Improvement Plan and come in to school to focus on a particular area and participate in the school’s self-evaluation process. Governors look at children’s work, monitor behaviour, evaluate progress and talk to groups of children across all ages to find out their opinions on a wide range of school related topics.
Governors sign a Code of Conduct which makes clear the commitment needed and behaviour expected and conduct an annual Governing Body Skills Audit and Governing Body Self Review. Governors are also expected to attend training to improve their skills and all governors have undertaken Safeguarding training.
Governors report their impact at Full Governing Body meetings.
In 2017/2018 governors took ownership of key strategic areas in the School Improvement Plan which has raised greater awareness and a more focused approach to monitoring pupil performance, asking more challenging questions in governing body meetings, and developing a greater understanding of the initiatives and strategies used to raise, asses and monitor pupil attainment.
We place great importance on the relationship parents/carers have with the school and value any suggestions and comments you would like to make. To contact the Chair of Governors, Mrs Erika Owen, please call, email eowen@awsworthprimary.org or drop a letter into the school office and she will contact you as quickly as she can. You can also contact us on the school website on the ‘Information for Parents’ page where there is a link to give your comments which we will respond personally.
East Midlands Education Trust Published Business Declarations List
You can find the EMET published Business Declarations List via the following link:
https://www.emet.academy/attachments/download.asp?file=565&type=pdf
LGB Strategic Plan
This document has been created in collaboration with Staff and Governors. This is a 3 year plan consisting of
3 Year Goal – 18m - 2 Year Goal – 6 m - 1 Year Goal – to begin execution of this plan in Sept 2020 and review Impact/Achievement in June 2021 and set new areas to achieve for each academic year.
Please find below details of how our Governing Body is structured including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each governor.
| Name: Ben Painter Governor Category Head Teacher Appointed by: Automatic appointment on taking up role as Head Teacher Date joined Governing Body: September 2021 Current term of office: The Head Teacher is a permanent member of the Governing Body Register of interests and other Governor positions held: None |
| Name: Erika Owen Chair of Governing Body Governor Category: Community Appointed By: The Governing Body Date joined Governing Body: 2014 Current term of office: 23/10/2018 - 22/10/2022 Register of interests and other positions held: None Link Roles: HT Appraisal, Pay, Complaints, Whistleblowing, Annual Planner, Code of Conduct, Business Continuity Plan, CPD Governor Induction, Business Interests, Admissions, Training Co- ordinator Music, Art & Design, Design & Technology SIP 1: Leadership Hello my name is Erika, parent to George and Tommy. I’ve always wanted to belong to a community and now that Awsworth has become “home”, I’m so privileged to help support my local community and school. With my “American upbringing” I have had many diverse experiences of adjusting to and fitting into numerous communities across the US. Performing Arts and managing my own business in private music tuition have enabled me to be adaptable, inquisitive, collaborative, financially and organisationally efficient. Analysing my own performance, as well as that of my students, it is my goal to work constructively with the governing body and fellow parents to help forward the success of our school.
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| Name: Karen Eardley Vice Chair of Governors Governor Category: Community Appointed By: The Governing Body Date joined Governing Body: 2013 Current term of office: 25/01/21 - 24/01/2025 Register of interests and other positions held: Governor at Kimberley Primary School Link Roles: Quality Assurance Appraiser, Pay, Finance, CPOMs, Safeguarding SCR, Peer on Peer Abuse, Assessment, English, EYFS SIP 2: Assessment
I grew up in the village and having attended this school as a pupil it has always had a place in my heart. When my youngest children started school I wanted to learn more about it and have been a parent governor for over six years. During this time I have enjoyed learning how the school is run. I understand the importance of being a critical friend, whilst challenging and gathering evidence to hold the school accountable for financial decisions and improving the provisions for teaching and learning.
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| Name: Daniel Fyffe Governing Category: Parent Appointed by: Parent Community Date joined Governing Body: 2019 Current term of office: 13/11/19 - 12/11/23 Register of interests and other positions held: None Link Roles: Attendance, Admissions, Health & Safety, Premises Mgmt, Lettings & Charges, Business Continuity & Mgmt, Behaviour Mgmt, Maths SIP 3: Curriculum
I’m not a local as such; however I was born in Nottingham and I have lived in and around the city all of my life and for the last 7 years just on the outskirts of Awsworth. Our daughter attends the school and seeing her take to education with such enthusiasm made me realise that becoming a parent governor was the next natural step to support her and the next generation. I have previously worked for large mechanical & electrical contractors, product manufacturers & renewable system installers. This has been on contracts / projects throughout the UK and some parts of Europe. I currently work in the Asset Management department of a local authority and deliver planned maintenance. I am one for continuing to learn and develop due to this I am currently in the process of achieving “chartered” status in Quantity surveying. I am honoured to be part of a team that will continue to develop and cultivate all associated with Awsworth Primary School.
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Parent Governor Vacancy Governing Category: Parent Appointed by: Parent Community Date joined Governing Body: Current term of office: Register of interests and other positions held: Link Roles: Remote Learning Policy, Finance, Religious Education, Collective Worship, EYFS SIP 3: Curriculum | |
| Name: Linda Abolins Governing Category: Community Appointed by: The Governing Body Dated joined Governing Body: 2019 Current term of office: 13/11/19 - 12/11/23 Register of interests and other positions held: None Link Roles: HT Appraisal, Inclusion & Community Cohesion, SEND, Pay, Anti-Bullying, Code of Respect, Cover & PPA, Home/School Agreement Science SIP 1: Leadership
I have lived in Nottingham for over 30 years and recently retired from a 40 year career in the NHS, where I worked as a clinician, manager and leader. I am delighted to be appointed as a Community Governor at Awsworth Primary School and look forward to working alongside fellow governors and teachers in pursuit of continuous educational improvement and personal development for our pupils and staff in striving to be our best.
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Name: Nikki Hufton Governor Category: Community Appointed By: The Governing Body Date joined Governing Body: 2020 Current term of office: 23/01/20 - 22/01/24 Register of interests and other positions held: None Link Roles: Pay, GDPR, Equality Objectives, Equality Scheme - Access Plan, Website, School Council Computing SIP 2: Assessment
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Name: Simon Pearse Governor Category: Community Appointed By: Governors Date joined Governing Body: 2021 Current term of office: 30/6/2021 - 29/6/2025 Register of interests and other positions held: None Link Roles: Safeguarding, Pupil Premium, CPOMs, Curriculum History, Geography SIP 3: Curriculum
'Having very briefly worked at Awsworth Primary School around 15 years ago I have kept an eye on the school's journey to this day. During my career I have worked in a range of educational settings including, Primary, Secondary, Special Educational Needs as well as Alternative Provision settings in both a teaching and leadership capacity. Prior to leaving education I was employed by a Multi Academy Trust to advise and support schools across the trust on matters relating to personal wellbeing, safeguarding, alternative provision and special educational needs provision. I made the decision to leave education when my daughter was born and retrained as a Social Worker. I am currently employed as a front line Children's Child Protection Social Worker by a Local Authority. Despite leaving education, I continue to be employed on a casual basis by the Times Education Supplement where I write feature articles on matters linked to education and social care. I live in the local area and my daughter is due to start at the school in September. I hope that my experience can support the school moving forwards. I am honoured to play an active role in school life as a community governor' | |
Name: Oluwafemi Omodara Governor Category: Community Appointed By: The Governing Body Date joined Governing Body: 2021 Current term of office: 22/09/2021 - 21/09/2025 Register of interests and other positions held: None Link Roles: Teaching & Learning, GDPR, Classroom Observations, Marking, Website Languages, Physical Education SIP 2: Assessment | |
 | Name: Claire Watson Governor Category: Staff Appointed By: Staff Date joined Governing Body: 2002 Current term of office: 04/10/2018 - 03/10/2022 Register of interests and other positions held: None Link Roles: CPD, Teaching & Learning, Curriculum, Anti-Bullying, RRSA, Computing, Website SIP 3: Curriculum I have been teaching in Awsworth since 1998 and have been part of the senior leadership team since the two schools amalgamated to form Awsworth Primary School in 2002. I am proud to work in a school which has such a positive, inclusive ethos and where the governing body work closely with the staff to ensure a rich learning experience. I am married with one child, a daughter who attends Awsworth Primary School and is currently in Year Four. Out of school I enjoy dancing, reading and spending time with family.
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Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2021
| Name | Spring 1 Jan 2021 | Spring 2 Mar 2021 | Summer 1 May 2021 | Summer 2 June 2021 | Autumn 1 Sept 2021 | Autumn 2 Dec 2021 |
| Erika Owen | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Karen Eardley | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | |
Linda Abolins | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Stuart Ainley | N | Y | N | SD | - | |
| Daniel Fyffe | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Nikki Hufton | Y | N | N | Y | N | |
| Jennifer Renshaw | Y | N | SD | |||
| Claire Watson | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Jane Mainprize | Y | Y | Y | Y | SD | |
| Ben Painter | Y | Y | ||||
| Oluwafemi Omodara | Y | |||||
Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2020
Spring 22 Jan 2020 | Spring 10 Mar 2020 | Summer 6 May 2020 | Summer 16 June 2020 | Autumn 16 Sept 2020 | Autumn Nov 2020 | |
| Erika Owen | Y | Y | N/A | Y | Y | Y |
| Karen Eardley | Y | Y | N/A | Y | Y | Y |
| Stuart Ainley | Y | Y | N/A | Y | Y | N |
| Linda Abolins | Y | Y | N/A | Y | Y | Y |
| Daniel Fyffe | Y | N | N/A | Y | Y | Y |
| Jennifer Renshaw | Y | N | N/A | Y | Y | N |
| Nikki Hufton | Y | Y | N/A | Y | Y | N |
| Lynette Leith | Y | N | N/A | N | SD | |
| Claire Watson | Y | Y | N/A | Y | Y | Y |
| Jane Mainprize | Y | Y | N/A | Y | Y | Y |
Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2019
| Spring 23 Jan 2019 | Spring 5 Mar 2019 | Summer 8 May 2019 | Summer 18 June 2019 | Autumn 25 Sept 2019 | Autumn 12 Nov 2019 |
Marilyn Reed | Y | Y | Y | Y | SD | N/A |
Erika Owen | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Karen Eardley | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Thomas Bolton | N | Y | Y | N | SD | N/A |
Neil Kelley | Y | Y | N | N | Y | SD |
Stuart Ainley |
| Y | Y | N | Y | Y |
Linda Stokes | Y | Y | Y | Y | SD | N/A |
Nicole Clarke | N | Y | N | Y | Y | SD |
Claire Watson | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Jane Mainprize | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Jennifer Renshaw | Y | |||||
| Daniel Fyffe | Y | |||||
| Linda Abolins | Y |
Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2018
| Spring 24 Jan 2018 | Summer 9 May 2018 | Summer 12 June 2018 | Autumn 19 Sept 2018 | Autumn 13 Nov 2018 |
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Marilyn Reed | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
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Erika Owen | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
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Karen Eardley | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
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Thomas Bolton | N | Y | N | N | N |
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Neil Kelley | Y | N | Y | N | Y |
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Ben Parker | N | N | N | N | SD |
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Matthew Francis | N | N | N | SD | N/A |
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Linda Stokes | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
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Nicole Clarke | N | Y | N | Y | Y |
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Claire Watson | N | Y | Y | Y | Y |
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Jane Mainprize | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
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SD - Stepped Down