Monksdown Primary Governing Body Information
The Role of the Governing Body
The Governing Body works with the Headteacher and senior leaders to provide strategic leadership and accountability. Governors are responsible for:
- Setting the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction.
- Holding school leaders to account for educational performance.
- Overseeing the school’s financial performance and ensuring money is well spent.
- Supporting and challenging school leaders to improve outcomes for pupils.
The Governing Body meets regularly throughout the academic year as a Full Governing Body. The Governing Body provides strategic oversight and holds the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils. Governors receive and scrutinise regular reports on pupil outcomes, attendance, behaviour, safeguarding, finance and school improvement priorities, using this information to ask challenging questions and monitor progress. Through meetings with school leaders, visits linked to their areas of responsibility and review of key performance data, governors provide both support and constructive challenge to ensure that high standards are maintained. The Governing Body works closely with the Headteacher while maintaining an appropriate level of independence to ensure that decisions are in the best interests of all pupils.
Governing Body Membership
| Name | Category of Governor | Appointed By | Appointment Date | End of Term | Position Held |
| Martin Reynolds | Co-opted Governor | Governing Body | 01/03/2019 | 28/02/2028 | Chair of Governors |
| Mr Josh Cliff | Co-opted Governor | Governing Body | 01/09/2020 | 31/08/2028 | -Vice Chair of Governors |
| Katie Lawrenson | Staff Governor | Staff Election | 19/10/2022 | 19/10/2028 | Governor |
| Mrs Gillian Stewart | Associate Member | Governing Body | 01/11/2018 | 31/10/2027 | Governor |
| Miss Joanne Needham | Co-opted Governor | Governing Body | 09/10/2019 | 08/10/2027 | Governor |
| Miss Claire Lucy Essame | Local Authority Governor | Governing Body | 27/11/2025 | 27/11/2029 | Governor |
| Ms Sequola Chapman | Co-opted Governor | Governing Body | 05/10/2023 | 05/10/2027 | Governor |
| Mrs Mayya Diab | Parent Governor | Elected by Parents | 10/02/2023 | 10/02/2027 | Governor |
Former Governors (Last 12 Months)
| Name | Category of Governor | Date Left Office | End of Term | Previous Position Held |
The Governing Body meets six times each academic year as a Full Governing Body (FGB). During these meetings, governors consider and discuss all aspects of the school’s work, including matters relating to Standards and Curriculum and Finance and Resources. Rather than operating through separate committee meetings, these areas are reviewed and scrutinised by the Full Governing Body, ensuring that all governors contribute to decision-making, challenge and support across the full range of the school’s responsibilities. In addition, governors undertake specific Link Governor roles, providing oversight and support in key areas of school improvement and statutory responsibility. Details of individual Link Governor responsibilities can be found below.
Standards and Curriculum
Responsibilities include:
- Curriculum oversight
- Pupil achievement and progress
- SEND provision
- Safeguarding monitoring
- Attendance monitoring
Finance and Resources
Responsibilities include:
- Budget monitoring
- Staffing structure
- Premises and health & safety
- Financial planning
- Value for money
In addition, governors undertake specific Link Governor roles, providing oversight and support in key areas of school improvement and statutory responsibility. Details of individual Link Governor responsibilities can be found below.
Link Governor Responsibilities
| Area | Governor |
| Safeguarding | Martin Reynolds |
| Inclusion | Sequola Chapman |
| Attendance | Martin Reynolds |
| Disadvantaged | Josh Cliff |
| Health and Safety | Martin Reynolds |
Governors Role in Exclusions
The Governing Body fulfils its statutory responsibilities in relation to permanent exclusions. Where a pupil has been permanently excluded, a panel of governors with no prior involvement in the case will review the Headteacher’s decision. The panel will consider all relevant evidence and representations from parents and the school before determining whether the exclusion should be upheld or whether reinstatement should be directed. Governors will ensure that all decisions are lawful, reasonable, fair, proportionate and made in accordance with Department for Education guidance and equality legislation.
The panel includes the Chair of Governors and 2 other Governors
Governor Attendance
Academic Year 2025–2026
Full Governing Body Meetings
| Governor | Meetings Possible | Meetings Attended |
| Martin Reynolds | 6 | 5 |
| Mr Josh Cliff | 6 | 6 |
| Katie Lawrenson/Fabienne Spalveri as Maternity cover | 6 | 6 |
| Mrs Gillian Stewart | 6 | 6 |
| Miss Joanne Needham | 6 | 6 |
| Miss Claire Lucy Essame | 2 | 2 |
| Ms Sequola Chapman | 6 | 5 |
| Mrs Mayya Diab | 6 | 5 |
Register of Interests
| Governor | Business Interests | Governance Roles in Other Schools/Organisations | Relationships with School Staff | ||
| Martin Reynolds | None declared | None declared | |||
| Mr Josh Cliff | None declared | None declared | |||
|
Katie Lawrenson |
None declared | None declared | |||
| Mrs Gillian Stewart | None declared | None declared | |||
| Miss Joanne Needham | None declared | None declared | |||
| Miss Claire Lucy Essame | None declared | None declared | |||
| Ms Sequola Chapman | None declared | None declared | |||
| Mrs Mayya Diab | None declared | None declared | |||
Governor Diversity Data
The Governing Body has collected diversity information from governors on a voluntary basis. Due to the small size of the governing body, detailed data is not published as individual governors could potentially be identified. The information collected is used internally to support recruitment and succession planning.
Schools Financial Benchmarking
Governors Minutes
Please click the links below to view our Governor meeting minutes
Full Governors meeting minutes 15.5.25
Full Governors meeting minutes 3.4.25
Monksdown Primary FGB February 26th 2025
Full Governors meeting minutes 05.12.24
Full Governors meeting minutes 13.6.24
Monksdown.CurriculumComm.29.09.22
Monksdown.GoverningBoard.25.05.23
Monksdown.GoverningBoard.26.10.23
Monksdown.ResourcesComm.23.03.23
Monksdown.ResourcesComm.29.09.22
Monksdown.ResourcesCommittee.05.10.23
Monksdown.ResourcesCommittee.07.03.24
MonksdownPrimary.SpecialGoverningBoard.21.03.24