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
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Name of Governor |
Governor Responsibility |
Register of Interest |
Information |
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Mrs Julia Jones (Headteacher since April 2013) Member of the Governing Body by virtue of position in school |
Training Governor |
None |
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. Before joining the school I worked as a class teacher in Upper Key Stage 2 and then became a Teaching and Learning Consultant for the Local Authority. I have also worked as a Deputy Headteacher in Shoebury for 9 years and helped support the successful move to a brand new school building. I love working 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. |
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Sits on all Committees |
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Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2019-2020 3/3
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Mrs Jillian Robinson (Deputy Headteacher since September 2019) Member of the Governing Body by virtue of position in school |
Curriculum Governor | None |
I have taught for more than 10 years in various settings across Kent before moving to Essex and becoming the Deputy Headteacher here at Barons Court in September 2019. I have experience of teaching in mainstream and special schools as well as experience of supporting teachers in other settings through the National Teaching School status. I have lead year groups and phases for the last 5 years. The children at Barons Court deserve the best and it is a privilege to be a part of providing this for them and for our community. |
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Contributes to: Full Governing Body Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee Resources Committee |
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Mrs Jessica da Silva Local Authority Governor Appointment Date:30.06.06 Term Ends 30.01.24
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Chair of Governors
Inclusion Governor
Trustee Governor
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Nature of Business: Barons Court Primary School Trustee.
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I have been a governor for 14 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. Although not working at present, my days are very full with volunteering and helping out as a financial adviser for Essex WI , I also support with some life coaching at one of the secondary schools in the area, 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. It is a real privilege to be a governor at Barons Court. |
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Contributes to: Full Governing Body Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee Performance and Pay Committee Resources Committee
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Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2019-2020 3/3 |
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Mr Alex Thornton Staff Governor Appointment Date: 17.07.18 Term Ends 16.09.22
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Health and Safety Governor |
Nature of Business: Finish Line Fund - Charity Trustee |
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, found fulfilling and during which time I hope that I acted as the critical friend that the Governor role requires. 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 and young people in the school. I look forward to helping Barons Court achieve the best that it can for all our children |
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Contributes to: Full Governing Body Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee Resources Committee
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Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2019-2020 2/3 |
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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. Currently, I am a member of the WI, a local running group and a book club. |
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Contributes to: Full Governing Body Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee Performance and Pay Committee Resources Committee
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Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2019-2020 2/3 |
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Mrs Jan Grover Co-Opted Governor Appointment Date: 28.03.18 Term Ends 27.03.22 |
SEND Governor | None |
I have been a teacher for over 37 years; working in both mainstream and specialist schools, mainly in secondary education but lately also in the primary sector. I began as a teacher of English moving to head of department, during which time I 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. |
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Contributes to: Full Governing Body Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee
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Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2019-2020 3/3 |
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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 sit on several committees and I am support the school in its strategy development. 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. |
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Contributes to: Full Governing Body Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee
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Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2019-2020 3/3 |
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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 this 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. |
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Contributes to: Full Governing Body Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee |
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Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2019-2020 3/3 |
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Mrs Jane Cross Co-opted Governor Appointment Date:07.02.19 Term Ends:08.02.23
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Curriculum Governor |
None |
I am very pleased to be a governor at Barons Court. I have lived in Westcliff with my husband and two daughters for 25 years. I have worked in the education sector for 25 years starting at the Special Needs Support Centre and then at a local secondary school, finishing my career in a primary school in Basildon. As both of my daughters attended Southend schools I wanted to support local primary schools with my wealth of knowledge and skills in finance management. I enjoy walking, photography and riding horses. |
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Contributes to: Full Governing Body Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes Committee Resources Committee
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Governor Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2019-2020: 2/3
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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. |
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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, Jane Cross and Esther Elegbede)
Chair: Debbie Docherty
Resources Committee - (Jessica daSilva, Julia Jones, Debbie Docherty, Alex Thornton and Jane Cross)
Chair: Jane Cross
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 2020-2021
Full Governing Body meetings
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Autumn 2020 |
Spring 2021 |
Summer 2021 |
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Friday 25th September - 9.00 am |
Friday 29th January 9.00am |
Friday 9th July – 9.00am |
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Curriculum and Pupil Outcomes |
Performance and Pay |
Resources |
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Autumn Term 2020 |
Friday 4th December |
Wednesday 21st October |
Friday 16th October |
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Spring Term 2021 |
Friday 5th March |
Wednesday 24th February |
Friday 19th March |
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Summer Term 2021 |
Friday 18th June |
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Friday 21st May |
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 14 years now and was the Vice Chair of Governors for a year before becomg 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 challenges of secondary school.
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 - September 2020
Firstly, I would like to wish a warm welcome from the governors to all new families starting at Barons Court this term, and a welcome back to the families who are returning. I have been so impressed with how calmly, yet excitedly all the children have started the new term. They have all settled in so quickly and picked up the new arrangements in place to keep everyone safe. It was a joy for me to help out with taking the reception children to the beach this week and to see that Barons Court outdoor learning is still making the curriculum come alive for children in all year groups. We even saw the seals (even if they were a very long way off in the distance!)
Governors have met several times over the course of the last few months initially just focusing on decisions that were critical to the school’s safe operations and to ensure that the provision of education has been in line with government guidance. We have scrutinised risk assessments for the school and continue to make sure that these documents are ‘live’ and adapted to mitigate current and future risks. Safeguarding the welfare of all members of our school community has been upmost in our minds over the last months, but it was also exciting to discuss the School’s Development Plan for the coming year. We heard how the school plans to assess where every child is in their learning, to plug any gaps, and to move forward to help every child achieve their full potential. As governors, we will be monitoring this over the coming months.
It is inspiring to see that even in unsettled times, our school community is incredibly strong and resilient and I really want to thank all staff for their unfailing dedication to making sure that children are safe and can keep learning. Staff have radiated support, reassurance and positivity and I feel incredibly proud to be part of a school where we have such an amazing team. I would also like to thank all of the Barons Court families for working with the school. For your continued patience and understanding in constantly changing times and for making Barons Court ‘the core of a collaborative, creative and confident community’.
Jessica daSilva - Chair of Governors