Meet the Governors
Welcome to our Governors’ Section
We are a dedicated group of community, parent and staff governors who support and challenge the Headteacher 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@awsworth.notts.sch.uk) 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.
Please find below details of how our Governing Body is structured including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each governor.
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Name: Jane Mainprize Governor Category Head Teacher Appointed by: Automatic appointment on taking up role as Head Teacher Date joined Governing Body: September 2002 Current term of office: The Head Teacher is a permanent member of the Governing Body Register of interests and other Governor positions held: None Committees: Finance, Curriculum & Pupils
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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, Complaints, Whistleblowing, Annual Planner, Code of Conduct, CPD, Home/School Agreement, Governor Induction, Data, Curriculum, Assessment, Music, Art & Design, Design & Technology SIP 4: Leadership & Management Hello my name is Erika, parent to George and Thomas. 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: 25/01/17 - 24/01/2021 Register of interests and other positions held: Governor at Kimberley Primary School Link Roles: Quality Assurance Appraiser, Pay, Finance, Safeguarding, SCR, CPOMs, Peer on Peer Abuse, EYFS, English, Languages SIP 5: Early Years Provision
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: Jennifer Renshaw Governor Category: Parent Appointed By: Parent Community Date joined Governing Body: 2019 Current term of office: 08/10/19 - 07/10/23 Register of interests and other positions held: Member of the Awsworth Parish Council Link Roles: HT Appraisal, Pupil Premium, Curriculum, Teaching & Learning, Assessment, Marking, English, History, Geography SIP 1: Quality of Education
Hi my name is Jennifer and I'm the parent of William who is currently in Year 4. I am originally from Canada but have lived in Awsworth since 2002. I have worked at Nottingham Trent University for the last 7 years in international student recruitment and supporting those students who make the decision to undertake undergraduate/postgraduate study in the UK. I have previously been employed in the Further Education sector and then working for an engineering management consultancy company in bidding for EU- funded projects in less fortunate countries. |
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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: Link Roles: Business Interests, Equality Objectives, Admissions, Attendance, Behaviour Mgmt, Maths, Computing, Physical Education SIP 2: Behaviour & Attitudes
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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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: GDPR, Inclusion, SEND, Pay, Anti-Bullying, School Council, Collective Worship, Religious Education, Science SIP 3: Personal Development
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: Lynette Leith 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: Link Roles: |
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Name: Stuart Ainley Governor Category: Community Appointed By: The Governing Body Date joined Governing Body: 2019 Current term of office: 05/03/19 - 04/03/23 Register of interests and other positions held: None Link Roles: Training Coordinator, Pay, Health & Safety, Business Continuity Mgmt. – Emergency Plan, Premises Mgmt., Lettings and Charges, Equality Scheme - Access Plan I am married and live in Oakwood. I recently retired having worked in Building and Civil Engineering for some 40 plus years. My background is Purchasing, Contract Finance, Budgetary controls, and an awareness of Health & Safety. I am delighted to be a member of Awsworth’s Governing Body, and my aim is to help maintain and improve the school infrastructure and environment within the parameters of budgets and timescales. My spare time hobbies include photography and travel with the main one being football where I have held and continue to hold administrative positions.
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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: Link Roles: |
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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 Committees Resources, Curriculum & Pupils Link Roles: CPD, Teaching & Learning, Curriculum, Anti-Bullying, RRSA, Computing, Website SIP 1: Quality of Education 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 2020
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Spring 22 Jan 2020 |
Spring 10 Mar 2020 |
Summer 6 May 2020 |
Summer 16 June 2020 |
Autumn Sept 2020 |
Autumn Nov 2020 |
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| Erika Owen | ||||||
| Karen Eardley | ||||||
| Stuart Ainley | ||||||
| Linda Abolins | ||||||
| Daniel Fyffe | ||||||
| Jennifer Renshaw | ||||||
| Claire Watson | ||||||
| Jane Mainprize |
Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2019
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Spring 23 Jan 2019 |
Spring 5 Mar 2019 |
Summer 8 May 2019 |
Summer 18 June 2019 |
Autumn 25 Sept 2019 |
Autumn 12 Nov 2019 |
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Marilyn Reed |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y | SD |
N/A |
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Erika Owen |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y | Y |
Y |
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Karen Eardley |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y | Y |
Y |
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Thomas Bolton |
N |
Y |
Y |
N | SD |
N/A |
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Neil Kelley |
Y |
Y |
N |
N | Y |
N |
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Stuart Ainley |
|
Y |
Y |
N | Y |
Y |
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Linda Stokes |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y | SD |
N/A |
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Nicole Clarke |
N |
Y |
N |
Y | Y |
SD |
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Claire Watson |
N |
Y |
Y |
Y | Y |
Y |
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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
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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