Governors

The Governing Body of Busbridge CofE Junior School has three core strategic functions:
  • Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
  • Hold the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its individual pupils.
  • Oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure that its money is well spent.

To do this effectively, the full Governing Body meet at least once a term and, in addition, each Governor sits on at least one committee, which also meets at least once a term. The committees are:

  • Children & Learning (Chaired by Philippa Baker)
  • Resources (Chaired by Matt Rooke)
  • Headteacher Performance Review

Each governor also has a specific area of responsibility (for example safeguarding, SEND, Equality & Diversity) to ensure that someone has specific oversight of a particular area and to deepen the governing body's knowledge of a particular area. The role involves visiting the school and meeting with staff leads to understand how the strategic objectives are being embedded, how money is being spent and any particular issues affecting delivery. However, these roles do not remove the governing body's collective responsibility for these areas.

The Governing Body is not responsible for the day to day management and operation of the school which is the responsibility of the Headteacher, Richard Catchpole and his Leadership team. As a Governing Body we work closely with the Headteacher and his Leadership team to fulfil our statutory obligations.

Governors are elected or appointed as follows:

  • Foundation Governors: Appointed by the Church.
  • Parent Governors: Elected by parents; must have at least one child in the school at time of election. Are representative parents not representatives of parents.
  • Staff Governors: Elected by the staff, and must work at the school.
  • Co-opted Governors: Appointed by the Governing Body; bringing special expertise to the Governing Body.
  • Local Authority Governor: Nominated by the local authority

Training

Our Governors regularly attend training provided by organisations such as the National College, the Diocese of Guildford and Local Authority.

Contact Us
If you would like to speak to our Chair of Governors, Martin Hanak-Hammerl, please contact him via his Chair email address chairofgovs@busbridge-junior.surrey.sch.uk, or contact him via the school office on 01483 417302
 
The governing body is supported by a governance professional, Becky Saunders, she can be contacted via clerk@busbridge-junior.surrey.sch.uk  
 
Constitution, Register of Interests & Meeting Attendance:

Governor                                        

Start of Term of Office

End of Term of Office

Appointed by

Category

Relevant Business & Pecuniary Interests

Meeting Attendance 2023-2024 (Present/Expected)

Martin Hanak-Hammerl (Chair of Governing Body)

29/03/21

28/03/25

Parents

Parent Governor

Royal Grammar School (Employee). Declared on 24/6/24.

11/11 (Full Governing Body and Children & Learning Committee)

Rebekah Whiteman (Vice-Chair of Governing Body)

10/02/24

9/02/28

PCC/Diocese

Foundation Governor

Speech & Language Therapist (Self-employed)

11/11 (Full Governing Body and Children & Learning Committee)

Richard Catchpole

01/09/17

-

Ex-Officio

Headteacher

Busbridge Junior School (Employee) Declared 24/6/24.

15/15 (Full Governing Body, Resources Committee, and Children & Learning Committee)

Philippa Baker

25/10/21

24/10/25

PCC/Diocese

Foundation Governor

Surrey County Council (Employee). Declared on 26/6/23.

9/11 (Full Governing Body and Children & Learning Committee)

Matthew Rooke

27/10/22

26/10/26

PCC/Diocese

Foundation Governor

None. Declared on 24/6/24.

11/11 (Full Governing Body and Resources Committee)

Sarah Speirs

05/10/20

04/10/24

Local Authority

LA Governor

Old Chase Consultants Ltd (Director); Rodborough School PTA (Co-Chair). Declared on 24/6/24.

10/11 (Full Governing Body and Resources Committee)

Max Stuart

01/02/24

31/1/28

Staff

Staff Governor

Busbridge Junior School (Employee). Declared on 16/9/24.

6/7 (Full Governing Body and Children & Learning Committee)

Vacancy

 

 

Ex-Officio/ PCC/Diocese

Foundation Governor

 

 

Tom Allner

 14/12/22

 13/12/26

Parents

Parent Governor

Vistex UK (Employee). Declared 24/6/24.

9/11 (Full Governing Body and Resources Committee)

Ben Barnes

 07/09/23  06/09/27

PCC/Diocese

Foundation Governor

Youth Minister and Director of Children and Youth Ministries at Busbridge and Hambledon Church. Declared 24/6/24. 4/9 (Full Governing Body and Children & Learning Committee)

Tony Nunn

7/11/23 6/11/27

PCC/Diocese

Foundation Governor

None. Declared on 24/6/24. 7/8 (Full Governing Body and Resources Committee)

Gemma Taylor

7/11/23 6/11/27

PCC/Diocese

Foundation

None. Declared on 16/9/24. 8/8 (Full Governing Body and Resources Committee)

Emily Dove

 11/12/23  10/12/27

PCC/Diocese

Foundation Governor

Education Officer & Assistant Curator, Chertsey Museum. Declared 16/9/24.  4/8 (Full Governing Body and Children & Learning Committee)

Amy Watson

 2/9/24

1/9/28 

Governing Body

Co-opted Governor

 None. Declared on 31/7/24.

 0/0

Historic (In the past 12 months)

Patrick Samuels

05/09/22

21/7/24

Ex-Officio/ PCC/Diocese

Foundation Governor

Busbridge & Hambledon Church (Curate). Declared on 26/6/23.

5/11 (Full Governing Body and Resources Committee)

Shelly Greenfield

10/01/20

9/1/24 (Maternity Leave 01/10/21-31/07/22)

Staff

Staff Governor

Busbridge Junior School (Employee). Declared on 26/6/23.

3/3 (Full Governing Body and Children & Learning Committee)

Cathy Brook

07/09/23

30/11/23

PCC/Diocese

Foundation Governor

None. Declared 6/10/23

0/0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Governing Body Meeting Dates (2024-2025)
Full Governing Body:
  • Monday 16th September 2024 at 3.45pm   
  • Monday 2nd December 2024 at 3.45pm   
  • Monday 17th March 2025 at 3.45pm   
  • Monday 14th July 2025 at 3.45pm
Resources Committee: 
  • Wednesday 20th November 2024 at 9.15am  
  • Wednesday 5th March 2025 at 9.15am  
  • Wednesday 23rd April 2025 at 9.15am  
Children & Learning Committee: 
  • Wednesday 6th November 2024 at 4pm  
  • Wednesday 26th February 2025 at 4.30pm  
  • Wednesday 7th May 2025 at 4pm  
Admissions Panel FGB: 
  • Wednesday 26th February 2025 at 3.45pm 
 
Governing Body Meeting Dates (2023-2024)

Full Governing Body 

  • Monday 11 September 2023 at 3.45pm  
  • Monday 4 December 2023 at 3.45pm 
  • Monday 18 March 2024 at 3.45pm  
  • Monday 20 May 2024 at 3.45pm
  • Monday 24 June 2024 at 3.45pm  
  • Wednesday 17 July 2024 at 4.45pm

Children & Learning Committee 

  • Wednesday 8 November 2023 at 4pm 
  • Wednesday 21 February 2024 at 4.30pm 
  • Wednesday 15 May 2024 at 4pm 
  • Wednesday 17 July 2024 at 4pm 

Resources Committee 

  • Monday 27 November 2023 at 4.30pm  
  • Friday 1 December 2023
  • Tuesday 5 March 2024 at 9.15am  
  • Tuesday 23 April 2024 at 9.15am  
 
The Diocesan Director of Education is:
Mr Alex Tear 
Diocesan Education Centre
The Cathedral, Stag Hill
Guildford, Surrey GU2 5UP
Telephone: 01483 450423