We have a very active team of governors who play a hugely important part in the success of our school. Our governors are drawn from different parts of the community including parents and staff and currently there are no vacancies. Coming from a wide range of employment backgrounds, our governors offer a valuable range of skills that help support the strategic direction of the school.

Our Chair of Governors is Mrs Heather Levine-Chesler and she can be contacted through her email address which is chair@walton-on-the-hill.surrey.sch.uk.  

The full governing body meets at least twice a term to review the performance of the school. During the 2020/2021 academic year, governors met on 6 occasions and in line with Department for Education guidance, all meetings were held virtually due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 29 September, 2021. 

The Department for Education describes the three core strategic functions of the governing body as ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction, holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, the performance management of staff; and overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

When focusing on the welfare and quality of educational provision at our school, our governors consider quantifiable data alongside reports on any social or emotional aspects of children's development. A key priority is to ensure that the school delivers the highest standards of teaching and learning for all of our children. A small team of governors meet at least once a term to guide, monitor and evaluate the delivery of the curriculum and standards of teaching and learning. They check that teaching quality is monitored and that staff development is implemented, and they evaluate the strategies being used to improve attainment. Governors are also responsible for making sure that the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) aspects of the curriculum and wider school life are being well delivered.

The governing body has three other important responsibilities: the financial management of the school, maintenance of the school premises and looking after issues concerning the school’s staff, both teaching and non-teaching. The financial management role is an important part of the governors’ overall brief to ensure that children in the school receive the best education possible. In seeking to improve the experience of children within the school, the governors’ need to consider how to get the best value out of the resources they purchase. All at Walton on the Hill Primary School work hard to ensure the school site promotes learning in a safe and effective learning environment and governors work with the Senior Leadership Team to carry out safety audits and learning environment inspections to ensure maintenance is carried out and that we are developing the use of our physical resources. On the staffing side, it is up to the governing body to ensure that we have excellent and well-motivated teaching and non-teaching staff looking after our children. To do that, governors take an active role in the appointment of the Headteacher and Deputy and ensure that all staff develop their skills through training and that their performance is regularly reviewed.

The following governor responsibilities were agreed for the 2020/21 academic year and will be reviewed at the next FGB meeting on 29/09/21.

Self-evaluation of Governance

'What have we done at this meeting that has improved the education for the children in our school?'

As a governing body we are constantly evaluating the effectiveness of our performance and striving to improve in order to fulfil our strategic role to the very best of our collective abilities. At the end of each meeting we ask ourselves the above question and we will be sharing our responses with you as we progress through the year.

At our first meeting of the year, Autumn Term 1 on 30/09/20, we identified these areas:

• Reviewed the current position of the school's budget; 
• Considered plans for the Return to School and Covid Readiness;
• Agreed arrangements for the introduction of Gift Aid in relation to fund raising.

At our second meeting of the year, Autumn Term 2 on 24/11/20, we identified these areas:

• Recognised the hard work of all staff and the Headteacher through the pay review and appraisal procedures;
• Received an update on school life and the learning recovery process;
• Approved the Draft Budget Plan 2021/22 and considered the Three Year Plan.

At our third meeting of the year, Spring 1 on 03/02/21, we identified these areas:

• Reviewed Covid arrangements including home learning;
• Agreed the SLAs/Buybacks and resulting cost savings;
• Approved the Schools Financial Value Standard;
• Recognised the ongoing commitment and hard work of all staff and the SLT.

At our fourth meeting of the year, Spring 2 on 17/03/21, we identified these areas:

• Reflected upon the academy agenda;
• Considered the impact of the changes in SEND funding 2021/22;
• Discussed the proposed 2021/22 INSET days;
• Signed off the FGB Terms of Reference.

At our fifth meeting of the year, Summer 1 on 27/04/21, we identified these areas:

• Agreed the 2021/22 Final Budget and Three Year Plan;
• Discussed the monitoring of out of school hours provision;
• Reviewed the Action Plan for the Summer Term;
• Considered subject monitoring;
• Agreed plans for a staff well-being survey;
• Put into effect a drive to increase lettings income.

At our sixth and final meeting of the year, Summer 2 on 07/07/21, we identified these areas:

• Discussed admissions criteria and the impact of a catchment area;
• Set up a working party to look at academies;
• Reviewed pupil progress and assessment data.

Meet Neil Skinner - Co-opted governor and Vice Chair 

I was elected as a parent governor in September 2013 and converted to become a co-opted governor when I became chair of governors in 2017, a post which I held for 3 years, becoming vice chair for 2021/22. During the past year, we've grown the number of people on the governing body to include more specialist knowledge of key areas such as teachers and leaders from other schools.

As you've probably read elsewhere, money is particularly tight within state education at the moment. It's essential that governors work alongside the school leadership team to make sure we operate as efficiently as possible including working with other schools and that we use what funds we do have in the best interests of the children in the school's care.

I have two children, one of whom is still at the school, and I work in network engineering for a mobile telecommunications company.

Meet David Stevenson: Co-opted Governor

I joined the governing body in 2011 as a local authority governor.  Post reconstitution in July 2015, I became a co-opted governor and have now been re-elected for a second four year term of office which will finish on 19/07/23.  I have three children at the school, and I work for a multinational  financial services company overseeing the implementation of new clients across one of our product lines. This involves elements of project management, governance, financial discipline and risk mitigation, all disciplines that are helpful in my role as school governor. 

Meet Kirsty Stratford - Staff Governor

I was elected staff governor for four years from September 2018 until 15/09/22. I have been a teacher at the school for the last 5 years and, in that time, have taken on a number of different roles within the school including; PE leader, English leader, Key Stage Two leader and, most recently, SENDCo and Inclusion leader. I have an in-depth understanding of the workings of the school and will be able to bring this knowledge to the governing body.

Meet Samantha Parnell: Parent Governor

I was elected as a parent governor for a 4 year term of office commencing on 02/10/17 and I am a local mum and business person with an entrepreneurial spirit! I have recently sold a successful worldwide business which I ran from Walton for 10 years. My husband Dickon and I have two children at Walton Primary and I am on the PTA and have been a Girl Guiding leader. We enjoy services at St Peter's Church and I am an active member of the community and regularly arrange village events. With the above in mind, I'm confident I will complement the current board of governors and my business acumen will support the staff, children and school.

Meet Nickie Woodroffe: Local Authority Governor until 31/07/21

I was appointed by the Local Authority in June 2018 and am Head of House at Therfield secondary school and Head of Year 7 with responsibility for transition and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead. Overall I have responsibility for tracing attendance, progress, behaviour, leading the tutor  team and meeting with outside agencies.  A key aspect of my role involves tracking the achievement of vulnerable groups such as Pupil Premium students and those with SEND and then working collaboratively with colleagues to ensure there are targeted interventions in place. I am keen to develop, teach and support the PSHE curriculum at Walton on the Hill. PSHE is important to the holistic development of the student in an ever evolving world and technology focused era. 

Meet Brendan Stones: Associate Member

I joined the team of governors at Walton in the Autumn of 2018 as an associate member. I started teaching 12 years ago and have taught in both primary and secondary settings in state and independent schools. I am currently the Deputy Head at Reigate Grammar School where I've been working for the last 6 years. I am looking forward to collaborating with the other governors and leadership team to support the pupils, parents and staff of Walton on the Hill. Out of school I enjoy spending time on the allotment and attempting DIY (with varying degrees of success).

Rachel Whitton - Associate Member

Meet Rachel Whitton: Associate Member

I am Deputy Head Pastoral and Boarding, DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) at Heathfield Girls School in Ascot. I have lived in Walton on the Hill all my life and value the community which the village provides for its residents, the May Pageant being the highlight of my year! I am a PE teacher with 16 years' experience working in numerous prestigious state, independent day and boarding schools. Over the last nine years I have specialised in pastoral care, becoming an DSL and well-being lead, and am passionate about the role of promoting the well-being and holistic development of students and staff enabling every member of a school's community to flourish. I hope that each Walton on the Hill pupil will build the confidence to embrace opportunity, develop a love of learning in and out of the classroom and above all feel supported and listened to as they embark on their journey to adulthood.

Heather Levine-Chesler - Parent Governor and Chair

Meet Heather Levine-Chesler: Parent Governor and Chair of Governors

I joined the governing body at Walton on the Hill Primary School as a parent governor in March 2019 and was Vice Chair for two years up until my appointment as Chair in July 2021. I currently run my own architectural and interior design practice with diverse projects spanning across London and the Southeast of England. Prior to starting my own architectural firm, I worked for larger practices that specialised in University buildings and Primary School expansion projects. In the past I regularly worked with teaching staff, head teachers, governing bodies, local authorities and students to improve school environments, both inside and outside. I work well in a team and I am very enthusiastic about being involved in the strategic decisions and monitoring roles of the governing body. I have two children that continue to happily thrive and grow at Walton on the Hill Primary!

Meet Nicola Fannin: Co-opted Governor

I joined the governing body in March 2019 as an Associate Member and was appointed a co-opted governor in September. I am a parent of three children at the school, with my youngest child hopefully joining next year, and I work for a large financial services company in the local area. My job involves providing strategic and financial advice to senior management and governing bodies of financial institutions and incorporates financial analysis and people management, all of which are skills I believe will have relevance in my role as governor. My aim is to support the school and its staff to ensure that every child continues to have the opportunity to reach their full potential and feel happy and confident in their school environment.

Register of Governors' Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings 2020/21

Register of Governors' and Senior Leadership Team's Interests reviewed September 2020 and updated as required