Our Governing Body

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	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.

Governing Body and Committees

Full Governing Body

Remit
The purpose of the Governing Body is to conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. Its three core strategic functions are:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Finance, Premises and Personnel Committee

Remit The purpose of this committee includes:

In conjunction with the Headteacher to draft the first formal budget plan of the financial year, for approval by the full Governing Body.
To monitor income and expenditure
To ensure the school operates within the financial regulations of the County Council
Oversee the use of the premises and keep under review an asset management/building development plan.
To carry out an annual review of the staffing structure in consultation with the Headteacher and the Finance Committee
To oversee the appointment procedure for all staff
To act as the pupil discipline committee for fixed term and permanent exclusions.

Standards and Curriculum Committee

Remit The purpose of this committee includes:

To review the school’s curriculum statement and policies regarding the National Curriculum, policies and provisions for sex education and for collective worship and RE.
To monitor and review information about school performance and reporting to parents according to statutory requirements.
Ensure that the school’s policy on SEN is consistent with the code of practice and Equalities Act
Monitor the provision of RE and PHSCE
Ensure the school is fulfilling its responsibilities regarding child protection and the requirements of “Working Together to Safeguard Children”.
Monitor the school’s performance against targets set for achievement at KS1.
Monitor the achievement of disadvantaged groups.
Set attendance targets and monitor the school’s performance against these targets.
In general terms, monitor teaching and learning and the progress of pupils.
Ensure the school has an effective behaviour and anti-bullying policy.

First / Pay Review Committee

Remit The purpose of this committee includes:

To act in accordance with the Teachers’ Pay Policy adopted by the governing body.
To make any decisions under the personnel procedures adopted by the Governing Body.

Appeals Committee

Remit The purpose of this committee includes:

To consider any appeal against a decision to dismiss a member of staff made by the First/Pay Review Committee.
Headteachers Performance
Remit The purpose of this committee includes:
To arrange to meet with the Education Development Partner (EDP) to discuss the Headteacher’s performance targets.

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