School Telephone
01702 331356
The Role of the Governing Body
Our Governing Body:
• Sets the broad strategy for the school's development.
• Is accountable to those who fund the school, the parents and the wider community.
• Must act in accordance with the requirements laid down in Acts of Parliament, statutory regulations and the school's Instrument of Government.
• Must at all times act fairly and without prejudice.
Meet the Governors
Name of Governor | Governor Responsibility | Register of Interest | Information |
Mrs Julia Jones (Headteacher since April 2013) Member of the Governing Body by virtue of position in school |
Training Governor | Nature of Business: Southend United Community and Educational Trust Trustee | Having being educated in Southend as a child and then spending my teaching career in the local area I became Headteacher at Barons Court in April 2013 and since then we have worked together to continue to move the school forward. It is a privilege to be the Headteacher at Barons Court where we have a dedicated team who work hard to ensure an exciting learning curriculum. Our children are fantastic and are at the heart of everything we do. |
Sits on all Committees | |||
Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2020-2021 3/3
| |||
Mrs Jessica da Silva Local Authority Governor Appointment Date:30.06.06 Term Ends 30.01.24
| Chair of Governors
Curriculum Governor
Trustee Governor
| Nature of Business: Barons Court Primary School Trustee.
| I have been a governor for 15 years since my oldest son started at Barons Court. I have a background in finance with a business studies degree and having worked in the City in the money markets for 15 years before I left to have my children. My days are filled with volunteering and helping out as a financial adviser for Essex WI , as well as my governor duties and looking after my sons! My other interests include music (playing flute and piano) and anything related to food! I really enjoy my work as a governor and have learnt so much about the school, its ethos, and how a school which is innovative and forward thinking can achieve great results and happy children. |
Contributes to: Full Governing Body
Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee
Performance and Pay Committee
Resources Committee
| |||
Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2020-2021 3/3 | |||
Mr Alex Thornton Staff Governor Appointment Date: 17.07.18 Term Ends 16.09.22
| Health and Safety Governor | None | Having been a parent at Barons Court, worked in a number of industries outside of education, and now a teacher I feel that I bring a unique perspective to the role of Staff Governor. I have had previous experience sitting on the Governing Body of another local primary school for three years, a role I enjoyed enormously. As a Staff Governor I represent the broad views and opinions of the staff and act as we all do; to ensure high standards of achievement for all children in the school. |
Contributes to: Full Governing Body
Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee
Resources Committee
| |||
Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2020-2021 2/3 | |||
Mrs Debbie Docherty Co-Opted Governor Appointment Date: 02.07.15 Term Ends 13.07.23 | Vice Chair of Governors Safeguarding Governor | None | I enjoy my role as a Co-Opted Governor. I have retired from my post as Head of Faculty of Business and Enterprise at South Essex College, a large Further and Higher Education College. I have many years experience in education, albeit in a different sector, and am keen to explore further how I can help Barons Court to maintain high standards for all its pupils. I have always been active in the local community being, in the past, treasurer of a local playgroup and chairperson of the National Childbirth Trust. |
Contributes to: Full Governing Body
Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee
Performance and Pay Committee
Resources Committee
| |||
Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2020-2021 2/3 | |||
Mrs Jan Grover Co-Opted Governor Appointment Date: 28.03.18 Term Ends 27.03.22 | Inclusion Governor | None | I have been a teacher for over 38 years; working in both mainstream and specialist schools, mainly in secondary education. I began as a teacher of English and gained my MBA and a diploma in management studies. I moved into Special Educational Needs, working in a specialist school and gaining a Diploma in Special Educational Needs and Psychology. |
Contributes to: Full Governing Body
Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee
| |||
Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2020-2021 2/3 | |||
Mr James Hargreaves Parent Governor Appointment Date: 02.05.18 Term Ends 02.05.22 | Personal Development Governor | None | I am a parent of one child at the school and have enjoyed joining the Barons Court community. I am a university professor where I teach university students and design and analyse data from research studies. I conduct research on the health of young people and have written articles, worked with governments, charities and the World Health Organisation within this area. I also enjoy music and singing in bands. |
Contributes to: Full Governing Body
Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee
| |||
Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2020-2021 3/3 | |||
Mrs Esther Elegbede Parent Governor Appointment Date: 02.05.18 Term Ends 02.05.22 | Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health Governor | None | I have previously worked in project management, a profession which I thoroughly enjoyed. As a parent with two children who left the school last year I feel extremely fortunate to be able to work in further partnership with the school. I am a committed member of the Barons Court Fundraiser Group which enables me to work in close partnership with the school. |
Contributes to: Full Governing Body
Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee Resources Committee | |||
Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2020-2021 3/3 | |||
Ms Emma Harding Clerk to the Governing Body | I have worked as a Clerk to Governors since 2014 across both the primary and secondary sectors in community and academy schools. Working in a busy school environment, as part of a team with the aim of ensuring quality outcomes for pupils is both inspiring and engaging. I have a National Governors Association Clerking Accreditation and recently undertook a volunteer life coaching role to support young people to achieve their goals. | ||
The Structure of our Governing Body
The Full Governing Body of Barons Court Primary School and Nursery meets at least once a term. Much of the work takes place in meetings of smaller groups of governors, which concentrate on managing specific areas of the school linked to school improvement.
These smaller groups which also meet at least once a term are the:
Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee - (Jessica daSilva, Julia Jones, Debbie Docherty, Jan Grover, Alex Thornton, James Hargreaves and Esther Elegbede)
Chair: Debbie Docherty
Resources Committee - (Jessica daSilva, Julia Jones, Debbie Docherty, Alex Thornton and Esther Elegbede) Chair: Alex Thornton
Performance and Pay Committee - (Jessica daSilva, Julia Jones and Debbie Docherty)
Chair: Jessica daSilva
Each of these committees have a defined role to support school improvement. Governors are all volunteers, and the numbers and types of governors are set out in the Instrument of Government for the school. The composition of the Governing Body reflects a wide range of groups in the community. The Governing Body has a business of interest register which is reviewed and updated termly.
Timetable of Meetings 2021-2022
Full Governing Body meetings
Autumn 2021 | Spring 2022 | Summer 2022 |
Friday 24th September - 9.00 am | Friday 28th January - 9.00am | Friday 15th July – 9.00am |
| Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes | Performance and Pay | Resources |
Autumn Term 2021 | Friday 3rd December | Thursday 21st October | Wednesday 13th October |
Spring Term 2022 | Friday 4th March | Thursday 24th February | Wednesday 16th March |
Summer Term 2022 | Wednesday 8th June |
| Wednesday 22nd June |
Governors Information Board
Following parental feedback we are pleased to see that many of our parents find the information provided by our Governors on their role and work highly beneficial. We will continue to use our newsletters and school website for regular updates on the work of our Governing Body. Please see the welcome from our Chair of Governors below:
“I would like to introduce myself as the Chair of Governors. I have been a Governor for 15 years now and was the Vice Chair of Governors for a year before becoming the Chair of Governors. I have been working in the school kitchen as a volunteer and both of my children have attended the school.
I am proud and excited to be working with an enthusiastic team of governors who are striving to ensure high standards of achievement for all the children in our school, so that each child leaves the school emotionally and academically ready for the next stage of their education career.
As Governors we have 3 main roles:-
We have continued to re-structure the governing body to try to make it even more effective and focused on the areas that have been identified for development. We will be reporting to parents regularly through the newsletter and via the website - look out for more updates coming soon.”
Jessica da Silva – Chair of Governors
Feedback from The Full Governing Body - Friday 24th September 2021
Firstly, I would like to wish a warm welcome from the Governors to all the new families starting at Barons Court this term, and a welcome back to those who are returning. It has been so wonderful to see the children coming back in to the school and able to participate in activities that have not been possible for the last 18 months. I was lucky enough to be in school when the children were having a Friday afternoon outdoor assembly and it was very moving to see them laughing, singing and enjoying being together. Governors met last week and it was exciting to discuss the School’s Development Plan for the coming year. We heard about how the school’s ambitious curriculum is planned to inspire children and the high expectations that are held for every child in the school. As Governors, we will be monitoring this over the coming months. In the next few weeks we will be looking to recruit two new parent Governors onto our team. Governors make a positive contribution to the education of all children in the school by offering supportive challenge to help raise standards and monitor resources effectively. Our Governing Body works as a team and we come from a wide variety of backgrounds. If you think you may have time, skills and expertise to offer then please do consider applying.
A big thank you, as always to our parents and carers for all your support for the school and I will look forward to seeing everyone at the wonderful events that are being planned over the next few months.
Mrs Jessica daSilva - Chair of Governors