The Governing Body is responsible for overseeing the strategic decisions and direction of the school whilst being a ‘critical friend’, offering support, constructive advice, a second opinion on proposals and help where needed, along with challenge, questions, and ideas to so arrive at the best solution for the pupils, staff and whole school community.
Our Governing Body works in close partnership with the Head teacher, Staff, Church and the Local Authority. The governors are involved with monitoring the curriculum, health and safety management, safeguarding, school buildings and finance. Its remit is to ensure the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives. The Governing Body works as a team with shared responsibilities.
We currently have 8 Governors of which 2 are Parent Governors, 1 is a Staff Governor, 1 is the Headteacher and 4 Foundation Governors. We have vacancies for 1 LA Governor and 3 Foundation Governors. Governors are appointed for a four year period of office and are from a wide range of professions to bring expertise to the leadership and management of our school.
Westbury-on-Severn’s governing board is a small board so we do not use committees other than for special projects. We discuss all aspects of school life at the full governing board meetings which we hold 9 times a year. We invite subject leaders to our meetings for them to present to governors which is then followed up by a monitoring visit, alongside monitoring of Safeguarding and Health and Safety. Each meeting we have a focus on SIAMS, Finance, GDPR and Safeguarding alongside a rolling programme of Curriculum and Policy reviews.
If you are interested in joining this dynamic board and supporting your school, please register your interest by emailing Maxine at clerk@westbury-on-severncofe.gloucs.sch.uk
Ms Jen Sigournay
Chair and Parent Governor
I have a daughter in year 3 and have lived in Chaxhill for the last 10 years after moving up from
Bristol. For the last 2 years I have been fitting in being a governor around my day job as a
bookkeeper and have really enjoyed the challenge and reward of governance. My other role on the
board is the Safeguarding Governor.
Mr Ed Cracknell
Vice Chair and Parent Governor
I have 2 children at the school and became a parent governor as it provides a great opportunity to
play a part in the community and understand my life at school. I have been a governor for over a
year and have found it really rewarding to see the hard work being done by staff to build a better
future for our children and contribute to this fantastic team effort.
Ms Anna - Mai Armstrong
Anna - Mai Armstrong, Headteacher of the school who works closely with the board.
Mr Peter Muldrew
Foundation Governor
I have 2 young children and have lived in the area for the past 8 years. I became a governor to help
play a small part in making sure the school can be the best that it can possibly be. It's been really
rewarding to see how passionate the Governing Board and teaching team are about the children and
their development. I help keep an eye on the financial aspects of the school, using my experience of
12 years in the financial markets and working with companies as an advisor.
Mrs Frances Down
Foundation Governor
I have lived in Rodley for over twenty years and I am a private tutor and educational author
specialising in Verbal Reasoning. I have been a Westbury PCC member for many years and currently I am Chair of the Church Friends. I have been a Westbury School Governor for the last seven years
and have found it to be very rewarding to be part of this busy and vibrant school; a true Westbury
Family.
Fr David Gill
Ex Officio
I have recently become the parish priest for Westbury, Flaxley and Blaisdon. I have taken on this role
alongside my responsibilities for Mitcheldean and Abenhall where I have been the parish priest for
the past 12 years, I live in Mitcheldean.
Mr Steven Harris
Foundation Governor
Is a teacher at a local school supporting the board.
Mrs Maxine Godfrey
Clerk to Governors
I have been a clerk since January 2020 and until recently clerked eight schools in the local area. I have just changed my role and now support ECT and Maths trainees in HUBS. I kept a couple of schools on my books including Westbury on Severn as it is a great board to work with. I will be continuing to support the Governing board with their development which has been a fast progression since I started. They are doing great things for the pupils and school community.