Meet the Governors
Contacting the governing body
The governing body is always happy to discuss its work with members of the school community and members of the board are often in and around school when informal contact can be made. Governors also attend major functions and parent’s evenings during the year when conversations about their work or issues of general interest can be discussed. Failing this the Chair of governor’s can be contacted in writing via the school address.
Issues or queries relating to the overall provision of education are professional matters for the headteacher and all queries should be referred to her for discussion and resolution. The headteacher makes herself readily available to discuss concerns with parents and governors feel sure that issues can be speedily resolved through this route. In the rare event that this approach is not able to resolve the issue satisfactorily the governing body has adopted a complaints procedure which can be found under the policies section of this website. The Chair of governors will only become involved in individual issues of concern as part of the due procedure set out in this policy.
The role of the Governing Body is to support the school in delivering the best education possible for the pupils. Governors are not responsible for the day-to-day running of the school (that's Mrs Ellison’s job) but to monitor and evaluate the school's progress and ensure accountability.
The Governors attend termly meetings to review the school development plan and discuss the quality of learning being provided for your children. Standards, teaching and learning, finance, health and safety and links with the community are also discussed.
The Governors serve for a period of four years and represent a variety of groups from the local community.
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During the school year 2020/21 the governing body agree to work as a full body for all meetings in order to ensure that all new governors have a full understanding of all aspects of the life of the school.
Instrument of Governance
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Governor Declaration of Interests 2020/21​
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Terms of Reference of the Full Governing Body Resources Meetings September 2020
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Terms of Reference of the Full Governing Body Performance and Standards Meetings
September 2020
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Terms of Reference - Pay Committee September 2020
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Terms of Reference - Hearing and Appeals Committee
September 2020
The Governing Body 2020/21
Chair
Lorrie Cooper
Date Appointed:
Category of Governor:
Committee Membership
May 2016
Co-opted Governor
Standards and Performance/Resources
My name is Lorrie Cooper. I joined the governing body of Whitnash Primary School in May 2016 and in September was elected Chair of Governors. I have a background in primary education having been a headteacher at two schools in the South East of England before moving into the Warwickshire Local Authority School Improvement Service where I worked for 18 years. I have previously supported two schools as chair of their governance boards and so am very aware of the pleasures and challenges that school governance brings.
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I am delighted to be leading our very committed team of governors and look forward to developing our working relationship with the staff, children, parents and the wider Whitnash community. My main priority is to ensure that the governing body provides the highest quality support and challenge to the school so that together we ensure that every child has access to an excellent primary education.
Pauline Barker
Date Appointed:
Category of Governor:
Committee Membership
September 2018
Local Authority Governor
Standards & Performance/Resources
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I have worked in and with Warwickshire Primary Schools for most of my career. I have also worked as an Educational Psychologist for Birmingham County Council for three years. I have a real passion for child development and primary education.
I was appointed as Headteacher of two schools and worked as the Headteacher of two other schools which required school improvement. At the end of my professional working life I was a member of the Warwickshire Local Authority School Improvement Team for five years.
I am pleased to be able to offer and use my all previous experience as a headteacher and governor in supporting Whitnash Primary School to continue to further develop in providing excellent education and opportunities for all the children. I am very much looking forward to working for and becoming a member of the Whitnash Primary Community.
Kate Hurst
September 2018
Parent Governor
Standards & Performance/Resources
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Date Appointed:
Category of Governor:
Committee Membership
I am a mum of two young children, and my eldest started Whitnash Primary in 2017. For the last three years, since having my youngest child, I have been running my own business as a marketing consultant, working part-time to fit in with my family.
I believe that every child should have the opportunity to get a good education to support their future in a safe, inclusive and encouraging environment. The positive attitude and friendly nature of Whitnash was one of the things that appealed to us as a family and I am excited to be able to support the school going forward.
Date Appointed:
Category of Governor:
Committee Membership
December 2018
Parent Governor
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Kevin Mullis
I am a former pupil of 'Whitnash Combined', and have a son who started in reception in September 2018. For the past 15 years I have worked in refrigeration engineering and I am currently Technical Manager in this area of a national service provider. My interest in science, technology and engineering began at primary school age and I am very happy to see this is so well supported at Whitnash Primary.
I remember the values and sense of community from my time in the school (long ago as it seems!), and I'm delighted that the same feeling is present now. I believe a child's time at primary school is key to them taking the first steps in finding themselves and their place in society, and I'm grateful to have been given an opportunity to play some small part in this journey.
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Date Appointed:
Category of Governor:
Committee Membership
December 2018
Co-opted Governor
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Margarita Kaloghirou
Avril James Dip.RSA
February 2019
Co-opted Governor
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Date Appointed:
Category of Governor:
Committee Membership
Hello My name is Avril James. I have just recently joined the governing body of Whitnash Primary School. I have been a resident of Leamington Spa for 30 years, I lived in Whitnash for seven of those years. I live reasonably local to the school on the Sydenham. I am self employed and have been for six years my business is offering Virtual Personal Assistant/secretarial support to small micro business and have a good background in business administration and bookkeeping. I was Chair of the Unit Management Committee of Leamington and Warwick Sea Cadets for five years and served as a uniformed instructor for approximately 10 years working with adults and children from 10 years of age.
I look forward to building a good working relationship with all the staff, governors, parents and children at Whitnash Primary School. My main priority at this time, is to get to know the school and its challenges. To ensure that the educational needs of our young people are provided.
Jeanette Livings
September 2019
Co-opted Governor
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Date Appointed:
Category of Governor:
Committee Membership
Gareth Bunn
September 2020
Co-opted Governor
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Date Appointed:
Category of Governor:
Committee Membership
Gareth is a Learning Manager with seven years-experience in the third sector. Based in Coventry and Warwickshire, Gareth leads a team of educational specialists at Crisis UK. Gareth’s teams’ primary focus is to provide opportunity for homeless people to access education and skills which have previously seemed out of reach. This largely involves taking a person centred approach to individuals needs offering a holistic service which provides a foundation for personal change and development.
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Before joining Crisis in 2013, Gareth completed his PGCE at Warwick University and worked at a school for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). This experienced encouraged Gareth to join the third sector to use his experience of developing innovative pedagogy and accessible education to benefit adult learners who have had difficulties engaging with the education system.
Gareth has more recently used his background in Education and the Homelessness sector to work as a Trustee initially for YMCA Coventry and Warwickshire before taking a position on the board for the newly formed YMCA Heart of England.
Staff Governors
Donna Ellison - Headteacher
Date Appointed:
Category of Governor:
Committee Membership
January 2016
Headteacher
Standards & Performance/Resources
I joined Whitnash Primary School in January 2016. Previously I was the Deputy Head at a large two-form entry school in Coventry, where I led on inclusion and curriculum development across the school. The school has made rapid gains since January and I am delighted to be working with a dedicated and professional team of governors and staff. In partnership with parents, we are committed to ensuring Whitnash Primary provides the best educational experience for our children.
Laura Simmons
Date Appointed:
Category of Governor:
Committee Membership
September 2017
Staff Governor
Standards and Performance/Resources
Clerk to the Governors
Stephanie Bell
I joined Whitnash governors as a clerk in September 2018, after attending a meeting as a supply clerk and really enjoyed it.
I am also clerk to governors for four primary schools in Stratford-upon-Avon. In the daytime I am a Teaching Assistant at a Primary School in Years 5 and 6. I am looking forward to working with such a dedicated and determined Governing Body.