OVERVIEW

Every school has a governing body, whose role is similar to that of the board of a company or the board of trustees for a charity.  Governors are the strategic leaders of schools and have a vital role to play in ensuring every child gets the best possible education.  Governing bodies have a statutory role and responsibility to raise academic achievement and promote pupil welfare.  

​Governors support, encourage and challenge the headteacher and staff.  Our core strategic functions are:

​

• ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction,

• overseeing the headteacher's capability to manage and lead,

• overseeing the school's educational and financial performance.
   

The Headteacher presents a report at each Governing Body meeting, commenting on the life of the school in general and progress in relation to the targets laid out in the school’s development plan.​​

​

Members

The governing body here at Bushmead Primary School consists of a total of 11 members as follows:

•  1 Headteacher
• 1 Elected staff governor
• 1 LA Governor
• 3 Elected parent governors 
•  5 Co-opted governors (of which up to 2 could be members of staff)
• Associate governors
   

Clerk to Governors - Richard Walmsley

ABOUT OUR GOVERNORS

BECCI WALKER

I became a governor in 2013 when my youngest daughter was in Early Years at Bushmead.  Both my daughters are at Secondary School now but I remain committed to Bushmead as both girls were very happy there and progressed well.  It is important to me that Bushmead recognises and meets the needs of each pupil to allow them to be happy at school and exceed in their education to enable them to reach their full potential.  I became Chair of Governors in September 2018, I also Chair the Curriculum and Standards committee.   

MAUREEN PLOWMAN

I have been a Governor at Bushmead since 1996 having previously worked as the Bushmead Junior School secretary for 10 years prior to that. I have seen many changes during my time as a governor including the merging of the Bushmead Infant and Junior schools and the building of the newer part of Bushmead Primary School. I have also been part of the recruitment process for the three Headteachers of Bushmead Primary School. I was the Chair of Governors from May 2010 until September 2018 and am now the Vice Chair. Recently I have changed from being an LA Governor to a ‘Co-opted’ Governor and until September 2020 I was Chair of the Finance, Premises & Personnel Committee but am now the Vice Chair. I consider being a governor such an interesting and worthwhile role knowing that we are giving the children who come here a happy and safe environment in which to learn and develop and be the very best they can be. It is good to see that parents who were once pupils at Bushmead are now bringing their own children here.

BECCY WYSE

I started my time as a Governor at Bushmead primary school in 2011, I have taken on various roles within the govening body, including being a Parent Governor, co-opted Governor and more recently becoming an associate member. All three of my children have attended Bushmead and I am passionate and committed to not only seeing children reach their academic potential, but to ensure they are within an environment that supports their growth emotionally and socially. I have a background in education working within post 16 education for 12 years and held a designated safeguarding role within that time. I currently work to support children and families and feel that this extends my experience and understanding of the complexities involved in family life and the support that families may need to overcome the difficulties they may face

SUE BROWN

My name is Sue Brown and I first became a Parent Governor when my children attended Bushmead. Several terms of office followed as Staff and Associate Governor and I am now ‘Co-Opted’. I am also a Link Governor for Pupil Premium/disadvantaged and AMA (academically more abled) children, as well as serving on the Curriculum and Standards Committee.  I form part of the HT Performance Management Review Panel, and offer governor support for pupils on the School Council. 

Having worked in education for 20 years, I was an HLTA before my retirement in 2009. With four grandsons aged 6 to 11, I remain passionate about education! I strongly believe that children of all abilities thrive from learning in a school like Bushmead, one that provides for their individual needs and learning styles.

BECKY RICHARDS

I joined the Governing Board in July 2018 and have two daughters who attend Bushmead.  I am Vice Chair of the Curriculum & Standards Committee, Chair of the Head Teacher Performance Review Panel and am Link Governor to various other areas.  I am a local private piano tutor which I enjoy immensely.  Prior to this, my professional career background was within the corporate sector dealing with legal, contractual and governance for over 20 years.  Being part of the Full Governing Board is very rewarding and enables me to contribute my time, skills and career experience by supporting the school strategically.  I am proud that Bushmead provides a happy and engaging learning environment where each pupil is valued and encouraged to reach their full potential academically and personally by building self-esteem and confidence through their learning and achievements. 

CARA HOLLOWAY

I joined the Governing Board as a Parent Governor in late 2018 when my older daughter started Reception at Bushmead.  I also have a younger daughter who will be attending in a few years. I am from the US and moved to the UK in 2013. I taught primary school in the US for several years and worked in finance before moving to the UK. I currently teach English as a Second Language from my home and am passionate about my role as a Governor to help the school continue in positive growth. I am devoted to helping the local community - in particular by supporting parents and education. I am a certified Sling Consultant and run the local sling library for St Neots and Bedford and previously spent several years as the Treasurer for our local NCT Branch.

PAUL DAWSON

My son is a pupil at Bushmead and I joined Board of Governors to take a more prominent role in his education and the future of the school.   My career background is within the IT industry and I have previously run my own company.  These roles have given me a great deal of business experience which I feel will be of benefit to the school and help define and support it's future development

HEATHER BUCKLE

I started teaching at Bushmead Primary School in January 2016 and have taught in Year 3 and since September 2018 have been teaching in Year 1. I have previously worked in Early Years, Year 1 and Year 2 in a school in Bedfordshire. I am married and have 3 grown up children. As part of my professional development within the school I have completed courses on wellbeing and am a mental health first aider for adults and children. I have also completed a course on how to support pupils who are dealing with bereavement. I decided to become a staff governor to be a voice on the Governing Body for the staff at school and also to help improve our school.

JODIE FLOWERDAY

I am a mum of two.  My eldest has recently moved on to secondary school from Bushmead and my youngest will hopefully be joining in 3 years. My background is within customer service/ Business development & compliance.  Bushmead School has been a great experience and brought us many fond memories, of which we will always be grateful and appreciative of.  I am new to the team and wanted to become a governor so I can give something back to the school as a thank you and help to build on from what they have already successfully achieved.  

INFORMATION REGARDING OUR GOVERNING BOARD

Full Governing Board

Becci Walker (Chair) Maureen Plowman (Vice Chair)

All governors and associate members

Curriculum & Standards (C&S)

Becci Walker (Chair) Becky Richards (Vice Chair).

Other governors: Steve Down, Maureen Plowman, Sue Brown, Becky Richards.  Heather Buckle. Associate members: Mark Leonard.

Finance, Premises and Personnel

Cara Holloway(Chair) Maureen Plowman (Vice Chair)

Other governors: Steve Down, Becci Walker, Beccy Wyse,  Paul Dawson. Associate member: Kay Blenkinsopp.

Headteacher Performance Management (HTPM)

Sue Brown, Cara Holloway, Becci Walker and Becky Richards (Chair)

Disciplinary and Appeals Committees

Members to be selected as and when needed from those governors who are neither associate governors nor school staff.

Linked Roles

Governors are allocated linked roles to various areas and also to areas of the School Improvement Plan:

You can find out more about the work of our governing body in our school’s newsletter and by reading the minutes of our Full Governing Body meetings, copies of which can be obtained by emailing our clerk at clerk@bushmead.cambs.sch.uk   If you are interested in becoming a governor please email chair@bushmead.cambs.sch.uk or contact the school office."