Governing body

Our main role is to support the Headteacher and the staff – the phrase often used to describe this role is ‘a critical friend’. We help them to set and reach targets and to strive for excellence across the whole spectrum of school life. The two key documents used for this are the School Improvement Plan (SIP) and the Self Evaluation Form (SEF). The SIP is an annual strategic plan for the school, with targets that everyone works towards and the SEF sets out how well the school is doing and where we aim to make improvements.

Our legal duties include:

  • setting strategic direction, policies and objectives

  • approving the school budget

  • reviewing progress against the school’s budget and objectives

  • appointing, challenging and supporting the headteacher

The Governing Body meets once every new term. We  have committees: teaching & learning,  finance and health & safety that also meet termly. All governors are informed about what happens at these committee meetings.

There are several categories of governor, appointed by different groups that have an interest in the school. These are Foundation, Co-opted, Authority, Parents, and Staff. All governors have equal status, however they are appointed.

We are committed to providing an excellent environment for all pupils to enjoy during their time at our school.

 

Who’s Who on the Governing Body

Paul Martin – Chair/Co-opted governor

I am a Chartered Accountant by trade and now run my own design, packaging and communications group with my business partner. My daughter, Eleanor, is a former pupil of the school and left in 2008. I have been a Governor, an active PTA father and treasurer whilst Eleanor was at the school. Since Eleanor left I have remained a Governor becoming Chair in 2015.

Appointed: 1/9/2004 by Full Governing Body

Term of office ends: 23/9/19

Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Chair of Academy Members of Weald of Kent Grammar School

Attendance: 5/5

 

Wieb Vuursteen – Parent governor/ Vice Chair

Appointed: 31/1/2014 Term of office ends: 31/12/2019 Elected by parents

Resigned:  2/2019

Relevant business and pecuniary interests: None declared

Attendance: 1/2

 

Alison Saunders - Headteacher

Alison Saunders

Appointed: 1/9/2002

Term of office ends: ex officio

Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Married to Mr Guy Saunders, who conducts the St Lawrence School Orchestra

Attendance: 6/6

Mary Green – Staff governor

Appointed: 4/2/2014 by staff Term  of office ends: 03/02/2022

Relevant business and pecuniary interests: None declared

Attendance: 4/5

 

Rachel McQuillin - Authority governor

Appointed: 10/5/2017  by local authority

Term of office ends: 9/5/2021

Relevant business and pecuniary interests: Employee at Sevenoaks school

Attendance: 4/4

 

Mr Marc Russell-Jones – Parent governor

Appointed:  13/9/16 by parents

Term of office ends: 12/9/2020

Relevant business and pecuniary interests: None declared

Attendance: 1/3

 

Rev. Serena Willoughby – Foundation governor – ex officio

Appointed: 01/9/2017

Term of office ends: on resignation

Relevant business and pecuniary interests: None declared

Attendance: 4/4

 

Max Sinclair - Foundation governor

 

Formally a chartered accountant, more recently has run a charity with his wife Sue focusing on conferences and seminars on relationships, marriage and parenting. He is the author of four books. He has 3 grown up children, 12 grandchildren (two of whom have attended the school) The school has a link with a Charity project in Zimbabwe which is run by one of Max’s daughters Annie who lives in Harare.

Appointed: 28/1/2019 by Rochester Diocese

Term of office ends: 27/1/2023

Attendance: 0/1

 

Sue Fortune - Co-opted Governor

Appointed: 7/2/2019 by governing body

Term of office ends: 6/2/2023

Attendance: 1/1

Committees

Teaching and Learning (Chair: Rachel McQuillan)

Resources;  (Chair: Paul Martin )

Andrew Braisted - Clerk to the Governors

Hi, My name is Andrew Braisted and I am the Clerk to Governors for the Full Governing Body and the Resource Committee. I live in Meopham, am married and have two daughters, one of whom is a trainee Solicitor based in Chichester and the other is a newly qualified teacher in Reading. My wife is an Assistant Head at Ifield School in Gravesend. I have previously worked for Coutts & Co, UBS and Barclays Wealth and currently work for a Health and Safety Company in Rochester. I am also a fully qualified London Black Cab driver, having completed ‘The Knowledge’ a year or so back.