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  • Governors

    The Governing Body of Matthew Arnold Primary School

    Welcome to our Governors page.

    We hope to inform you of our responsibilities in ensuring the continued success of the school.

    Our main responsibilities are:

    • Making sure that all children attending the school are happy, healthy and enjoy their learning experience whilst here at the school
    • Making sure the National Curriculum is provided
    • Help to establish the aims and policies of the school
    • Appointing, developing and supporting staff
    • Acting as a link between the local community and the school
    • Help support the Headteacher in their role, act as a critical friend and make decisions about the school

    Register of Governor Interests

    Name and Category Appointing Body Terms of Office Committees

    Official

    Responsibility

    Financial     

    Interests

    Business   

    Interests

    Miss Andrea Connearn

    Partnership Governor

    Governing Body

    20.05.26 to   

              19.05.30

    Committeeless

    Governance

    None None

    Member of staff in another school

    Mr Scott Cordon

    Partnership Governor

    Governing Body

    15.07.26 to 

              14.07.30

    Committeeless

    Governance

    None None

    Member of staff in another school

    Mrs Jean Doran

    Co-Opted Governor

    Governing Body

    08.02.22 to 

             07.02.26

    Committeeless

    Governance

    Staff Mental Health

    & Wellbeing

    None

    Member of Staff

    Mr Graham Twist

    Co-Opted Governor

    Governing Body

    18.03.24 to 

              17.03.28

    Committeeless

    Governance

    SEND / Inclusion None None

    Ms Jennifer McGee 

    Co-Opted Governor

    Governing Body

    25.10.23 to 

              24.10.27

    Committeeless

    Governance

    Vice Chair 

    None

    Parent of children in school

    Mr Peter Winters

    Co-Opted Governor

    Governing Body

    04.02.26 to 

             03.02.30

    Committeeless

    Governance

    None None None

    Ms Shelley Pennington

    LA Governor

    Governing Body

    02.11.22 to 

               01.11.26

    Committeeless 

    Governance

    Chair 

    Attendance

    None

    Member of staff in another school

    Mrs Clare Coombe

    Parent Governor

    Governing Body

    07.02.24 to 

             06.02.28

    Committeeless

    Governance

    None None

    Parent of children in school

    Mr Joe Coombes

    Parent Governor

    Governing Body

    07.02.24 to

             06.02.28

    Committeeless

    Governance

    Safeguarding None

    Parent of children in school

    Member of staff in another school

    Mrs Louise Evans

    Headteacher

    By virtue of 

               position

    N/A

    Committeeless

    Governance

    Advisory Role None None

    Mrs Bethan Badger

    Staff Governor

    Staff

    27.03.26 to 

             26.03.30

    Committeeless 

    Governance

    None None None

    Mr Dave Cadwallader

    Clerk to Governors

    N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

    Organisation and Structure of No Committee Governance Model

    The Governing Body needs to take a strategic role, act as a critical friend to the school and be accountable for its decisions. It should set aims and objectives and agree, monitor and review policies, targets and priorities.

    Here at Matthew Arnold School, we operate a 'no committee' structure and moved away from a traditional committee structure:

    • to increase awareness for all Governors in all aspects of school life
    • reduce repetition
    • to ensure meetings maintain focus and direction

    The meetings will approximately run every half term:

    Standards Meetings Resource Meetings
    • Pupil data
    • Finance                                              
    • Teaching, learning and assessment
    • Staffing
    • Spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) developments
    • Premises                                                                       
    • Safeguarding
    • Health and Safety
    • Attendance
    • Related policies
    • School self-evaluation
     
    • School improvement plan
     
    • Governance
     
    • Related policies
     

    The Headteacher's report to the Governing Body will fall in the autumn second half term, spring second half term and the summer second half term meetings. Information should not be duplicated in the report and appropriate meeting.

    Observers can attend the appropriate meeting. It is not an expectation that observers attend every meeting. If they have an agenda item / contribution, the agenda can be tweaked to accommodate them early and then leave the meeting if required.

    Governors Attendance 2025 / 2026

    Governor

    Category

    22 Oct 2025

    04 Feb 2026

    25 Mar 2026

    20 May 2026

    15 Jul 2026

     

    Bethan Badger

    Staff

     

     

     

    🗸

    🗸

    2/2

    Katie Bauress

    Staff

    *

    *

    *

     

     

    0/3

    Emma Cant

    Co-opted

    A

     

     

     

     

    0/1

    Mark Collins

    Partnership

    🗸

    🗸

    A

     

     

    2/3

    Andrea Connearn

    Partnership

     

     

     

    A

    🗸

    1/2

    Clare Coombes

    Parent

    A

    A

    A

    A

     

    0/4

    Joe Coombes

    Parent

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    5/5

    Scott Cordon

    Partnership

     

     

     

     

    🗸

    1/1

    Jean Doran

    Co-opted

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    A

    A

    3/5

    Louise Evans

    Headteacher

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    5/5

    Jennifer McGee

    Co-opted

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    5/5

    Shelley Pennington (Chair)

    Local Authority

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    5/5

    Graham Twist

    Co-opted

    🗸

    🗸

    A

    A

    A

    2/5

    Pete Winters

    Co-opted

     

     

    🗸

    🗸

    A

    2/3

     

    Rachel Pender

    Observer

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    N/A

    🗸

    4/5

    Sam Nuttall

    Observer

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    🗸

    5/5

    Dave Cadwallader

    Clerk

    🗸

    🗸

    **

    🗸

    🗸

    4/5

    🗸 = Attended

    A = Apology received

       * = Maternity leave

    ** = Alternative Clerk