Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA). The Governing Body meets regularly. They are committed to ensuring the highest quality of education and welfare for your child. All correspondence to the Chair of Governors can be be sent to c/o Toft Hill Primary School. If you wish to contact any members of the governing body, this can be done by contacting the school.
- Mrs Helen Pepper –(Acting Chair) – Co-opted Governor
- Mrs Amanda Majer – (Vice Chair) Co-opted Governor
- Leanne Nesbitt – Headteacher
- Mrs Merion Owen – Parent Governor
- Mrs Kelly Reynolds – Co-Opted Governor
- Ian Smithwhite – Parent Governor
- Pippa Gard – Parent Governor
- Victoria Bell – Parent Governor
- Alison O’Sulliavn – Parent Governor
- Lisa Shaw – Staff Governor
Recent Retirements
- Mr John Stelling – Co-opted Governor (retired from Governing Body 2022)
- Miss Jordan Donohue – Co-opted Governor (retired from Governing Body 2022)
- Mr Marc Sproat – Staff Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2021)
- Alex Eley – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2021)
- Mrs Natasha Robson – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2020)
- Miss Samantha Benson – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2020)
- Mrs Paula Wilson – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2020)
- Mr Martin Broom- Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2020)
- Mrs Leanne Crook – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2019)
- Mrs Karen Studholme – Parent Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2019)
- Dr Mark Ward – Co-opted Governor (Retired from Governing Body 2019)
Paul White – Clerk to Governors
The Governing Body of Toft Hill Primary School has a strong focus on its three core strategic functions
1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2. Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
How To Become A School Governor
If you require further information on the roles and responsibilities of School Governors or you are interested in becoming one, visit the Durham County Council website School Governor section.
Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies
Toft Hill Primary School adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department for Education. This means that governing bodies must have regard to it when carrying out duties relating to the constitution of governing bodies in maintained schools. For further information please view or download the documents below.
The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
Committee Terms of Reference 25 May 2021
Governing Body Committee Structure
Name | Representing | Term of Office | Committee | Responsibilities | Register of Interests | Relationship to Staff |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leanne Nesbitt | Head Teacher | |||||
Mrs Helen Pepper | Acting chair - Co-opted | 20/10/2025 | Appeals (chair). Curriculum and standards (Chair). | Maths | None | |
Mrs Amanda Majer | Acting Vice Chair - Parent | 27/11/2024 | Finance, premises and staffing (Chair). 1st Pay review. | SEND Equalities GDPR | None | |
Mrs Kelly Reynolds | Parent | 13/11/2023 | Curriculum, standards and appeals | Safeguarding Pupil premium | None | |
Mrs Meirion Owen | Parent | 11/12/2023 | Curriculum and standards. Finance, premises and staffing | Recovery Curriculum | None | |
Mr Ian Smithwhite | Parent | 11/10/2024 | Finance, premises and staffing | Foundation Curriculum | None | |
Miss Pippa Gard | Parent | 11/10/2024 | Appeals Curriculum and standards | Catch up premium | None | |
Mrs Alison O'Sullivan | Parent | 01/12/2025 | Curriculum and standards. | None | ||
Mrs Victoria Bell | Parent | 28/04/2025 | Curriculum and standards. | None | ||
Mrs Lisa Shaw | Staff | 08/12/2025 | Curriculum and standards. |
Governor Attendance
Schools are now required to display Governor attendance at meetings for each academic school year.
Key
✓- Attended meeting
A/A – Apologies sent and accepted
N – Did not attend
n/a – Not a member of the committee
Record of Attendance 2021-2022
Name | Finance Meeting 21.10.21 | Full Governing Body Meeting 2.11.21 | Standards & Curriculum Meeting 10.3.22 | Full Governing Body Meeting 29.3.22 | Finance Meeting 6.4.22 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mrs L Nesbitt | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Mrs H Pepper | n/a | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Mrs A Majer | ✓ | ✓ | n/a | ✓ | ✓ |
Miss J Donahue | n/a | ✓ | n/a | ✓ | n/a |
Mrs M Owen | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Mrs K Reynolds | n/a | A/A | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Mr I Smithwhite | A/A | ✓ | A/A | N | N |
Miss P Gard | n/a | N | n/a | N | n/a |
Mrs Victoria Bell | n/a | ✓ | A/A | ✓ | n/a |
You can view archived attendance on our website.