Our Governing Body

Our Governing Body is made up of staff, parents of children in our school and members of the local community who all volunteer their time to oversee the work of our school. Our Governing Body has 4 key functions:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
Holding the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.
Ensuring the voices of stakeholders are heard

Committee Terms of Reference June 24

Governor Committee Structure

For further information on who our governors are and what they do, please look at the table below.

Name of Governor	Category of Governor	Term of Office	Register of Interest Declared	Responsibilities
Diane Farrer	Chair Person Co-opted Governor	21.03.2026 - 19.03.2030	Interest declared - Parish Council	Curriculum and Standards Finance and Premises First/Pay Review HT Performance Staffing Leadership and Management Safeguarding
Jane Sams	Parent Governor	26.03.2026-25.03.2030	No interest declared	Curriculum and Standards Appeals Finance Premises and Staffing
Gemma Ferguson	Co-opted Governor	20.09.2023-19.09.2027	No interest declared	Curriculum and Standards Finance and Premises SEND CIC
Kathleen Turner	Staff Governor	8.06.2023-07.06.2027	No interest declared	Curriculum and Standards Finance, Premises and Staffing
Mrs Debbie Slack	Vice Chair Co-opted Governor	01.10.2023- 30.09.2027	No interest declared	Curriculum and Standards First/Pay Review HT Performance Finance, Premises and Staffing
Mrs Allison Chapman	Co-opted Governor	26.01.2025-26.01.2029	No interest declared	First/Pay Review Curriculum and Standards
Sian Atkinson	Headteacher	01.09.21	No interest declared	Appeals Curriculum and Standards Finance and Premises First/Pay Review Staffing
Becky Anderson	Parent Governor	11.10.2023 -10.10.2027	No interest declared	Curriculum and Standards First Pay Review Headteachers Performance Early Years
Darryn Veal	Co-opted Governor	10.09.2025-09.09.29	No interest declared	Curriculum and Standards Appeals
Fay Carney	Parent Governor	08.07.2025- 07.07.2029	No interest declared	Curriculum and Standards First/Pay Review

How To Become A School Governor

If you require further information on the roles and responsibilities of School Governors or you are interested in becoming one, visit the Durham County Council website School Governor section.

Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies

Oakley Cross Primary adheres to the statutory guidance from the Department for Education. Governing bodies must have regard to this guidance when carrying out their duties. For further information relating to constitution of governing bodies in maintained schools please view or download the documents below.

The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)

Additional Governor Information

As a governing body we have adopted the NGA Code of Conduct. Further information regarding our Code of Conduct and the work of our Governing Body can be found by clicking the links below:

Code of Conduct 2025 - 26

Governor Monitoring Visits Policy

Our Governing Body/Governor Allowances Policy 25

Record of Governor’s Attendance

Schools are required to display a record of Governor’s attendance at meetings for each school academic year.

KEY
/ – Attended meeting
A – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
N – Did not attend
X – Not a member of the committee
R – Resigned

Record of Attendance

Name of Governor	Meetings [add date]	Meetings [add date]	Meetings [add date]
Di Farrer
Allan Fletcher
Sian Atkinson
Debbie Slack
Becky Anderson
Kathleen Turner
Alison Chapman
Gemma Ferguson
Lauren Gill
Terri Gooch

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