The Pixmore Governing Body
The Governing Body is responsible for working with the school to ensure high standards of achievement for all children who attend it. Together with the head teacher, who is responsible for day-to-day management, the Governing Body sets the aims and objectives for the school, and the policies and targets for achieving those aims and objectives. It sets the budget and makes sure that money is well spent. It monitors and evaluates the progress the school is making and acts as a source of challenge and support to the headteacher.
Pixmore is a community school and its current Instrument of Government (made by order of HCC) came into effect on 24 April 2015. The Governing Body is made up of 11 governors, as follows:
- 2 parent governors
- 1 Local Authority governor
- 1 staff governor
- 1 head teacher
- 6 co-opted governors
The staff governor is Sue Willans, SENCo. Details of the non-staff governors are below.
All governors are appointed for a term of four years. There is no maximum term of office so we can be reappointed. However, to be elected as a parent governor, you need to be a parent or carer of a child attending the school at the time of your appointment. We all take on ‘link’ roles, where we work more closely with the senior leadership team/subject leaders/other staff to ensure that we have an in-depth understanding of what is happening and planned in the school.
We also appoint associate governors to help us. These governors participate fully in our work but are not eligible to vote if the need arises. Associate governors are very important because our Governing Body is small in number, so they help to share our workload. They also provide continuity for the future, so if a full governor leaves, we already have someone ready to take over. Associate governors sometimes also have an area of expertise that can help us, and/or may not be able to commit the same amount of time as a full governor. We currently have 4 associate governors.
We meet once every half term, usually on Monday evenings at 7pm, except in July when we meet at 1pm in order to meet the current year’s school councillors. Minutes of all meetings are available, on request, from the School Office.
The dates of our meetings for the current school year are:
- Monday 19th September 2022
- Monday 21st November 2022
- Monday 30th January 2023
- Monday 20th March 2023
- Monday 22nd May 2023
- Tuesday 4th July 2023
We have two committees, the Resources Committee and the Standards and Outcomes Committee, to help us carry out our work. The Resources Committee is responsible for all matters relating to finances, staffing, premises and other resources. The Standards and Outcomes Committee is responsible for all matters relating to the curriculum including monitoring and evaluation, quality of teaching and pupil achievement and pupil welfare, behaviour, special educational needs and attendance. The dates of the committee meetings are available from the School Office.
Details of the non-staff governors are below. The attendance record is for 2020/21 and covers the meetings of the full Governing Body (FGB).
| Name | Type of Governor (appointed by) |
Roles & responsibilities
|
Term of office | |
| Caroline Nicholson | Co-opted Governor |
Chair of Governing Body PSHCE, Curriculum – Foundation subjects, SEND & Inclusion, Standards and Outcomes Committee, Exclusion Panel, Complaints Panel |
01/12/21 – 30/11/25 |  |
|
Attendance at: FGB meetings |
6 of 6 |
Relevant business interests or material interests | None | |
| I became a co-opted governor in late 2017 and currently have one child attending Pixmore and one child at secondary school. In terms of my professional experience, I have previously worked as a secondary English teacher. During my teaching career I was head of KS3 for a school in Sheffield and a Deputy Head of Department for a school in North London. In my roles within these schools, I also worked as a lead Sex Education teacher, helping staff to delivery this tricky subject and was responsible for the mentoring and assessment of student teachers within the department. I left mainstream education to work for the charity War Child, where I established and implemented a national education program that aimed to teach children about the impact of war globally and encourage youth engagement in active citizenship endeavours. In this role I worked with young people around the country from primary school to university level. I recently gained my Masters Degree in Social and Critical Theory and now work as consultant policy writer. | ||||
| Kath West | Local Authority Governor | Vice Chair of Governing Body, Safeguarding & CLA, Complaints Panel, Standards and Outcomes Committee | 13/09/21 – 12/09/25 |  |
|
Attendance at: FGB meetings |
6 of 6 |
Relevant business interests or material interests | None | |
| I have two sons, the oldest is now an adult and the youngest is at university; both attended Pixmore and enjoyed their time here. I joined the governing body, having previously spent 4 years on the committee of the Pixmore School Association. I trained as a Medical Secretary and worked for Adult Care Services but had to stop work for health reasons. I joined the governing body because I wanted to support the school, and also to do something useful now that I no longer work. | ||||
| Ian Hamilton | Co-opted Governor |
Vice Chair (RC) IT and Science, Exclusion Panel, Complaints Panel |
24/04/19 – 23/04/23 |  |
|
Attendance at: FGB meetings |
6 of 6 |
Relevant business interests or material interests | None | |
| I joined the Pixmore Governing Body in November 2011 as a Parent Governor when my son was at the school. I decided to become a school governor as I wanted to contribute something to the school as they did a lot for my son. I am a software engineer, with my own consultancy business. I have experience of people and project management, budgets and book keeping, all useful skills for a school governor. | ||||
| Catherine Dock | Co-opted Governor |
Chair (SOC) Maths, Pupil data & outcomes, Exclusion Panel, Complaints Panel |
16/09/19 – 15/09/23 |  |
|
Attendance at: FGB meetings |
4 of 6 |
Relevant business interests or material interests | None | |
|
I am married with two children, both of whom attended Pixmore and are now in secondary school. I work for a Financial Services company, where I am the Director of Technology Learning and Careers. My background is in IT, starting in Project Management and Software Testing and then moving into Transformation Programmes, before finding a passion for Learning & Development and Knowledge Management, which I’ve focussed on for the last few years. Aside from spending time with my family, my interests (when I get a chance) include film and theatre, board games, reading and sport – football (Arsenal), rugby (Saracens) and cricket (Middlesex & England). I have been a governor for Pixmore School from 2008-2011 and then again since 2014. School governing is a great way to give something back to our local community and I am proud to be a school governor. |
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| Marian Adams | Co-opted Governor |
Chair (RC) Budget & Finance, Exclusion Panel, Complaints Panel |
01/09/20 – 31/08/24 |  |
|
Attendance at: FGB meetings |
6 of 6 |
Relevant business interests or material interests | None | |
| I retired as the Finance Director for the UK office of an international healthcare charity in 2016 and re-joined the Pixmore GB. I was a governor at Pixmore (for the second time) until July 2013 when my then work commitments meant I did not have the time to carry on. In fact, I was Chair of the GB when Mrs Evans was appointed head teacher! My daughter, who is now in her 30s, attended Pixmore which was when my involvement with the school first started. Now that I am no longer working, I have the time to continue my interest in education and to make use of the professional skills I have acquired during my working life in other ways. | ||||
| Susan Haigh | Co-opted Governor |
Vice-Chair (SOC) Literacy, Website & Remote Learning |
25/11/19 – 24/11/23 |  |
| Attendance at FGB meetings |
6 of 6 |
Relevant business interests or material interests | None | |
|
I have a son currently at Pixmore with a daughter at Hillshott, so I will be part of Pixmore as a parent for a number of years to come. I’m passionate about education in the broadest sense. I want our school to bring out the very best in all its pupils. To be supportive, challenging, to nurture their interests across all areas and help them to flourish and reach their full potential. My background is in strategic communications – working for the past 15 years in the NHS. I would like to use this experience to help the school shout about its successes and bring its achievements to the attention of the wider Letchworth community.
|
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|
Sarah Rooney |
Co-opted Governor | Premises, Health & Safety, Sports Premium, Resources Committee | 24/09/20-23/09/24 |  |
|
Attendance at FGB meetings: |
6 of 6 |
Relevant business interests or material interests | None | |
|
I have a son at Pixmore who is in Year 5. When I joined Pixmore, I was impressed with the way Pixmore has performed under the increased challenge of Covid and I feel becoming a Governor is a great way to contribute and give something back to the school. I’m hoping my experience of 20 years working within the Technology sector and the skills I have gained within a professional environment, will enable me to contribute to Pixmore school life in a positive way, helping both the pupils and the school to exceed in future plans and goals. Outside of work and family, I enjoy fitness, travelling, and with arbitrary success cooking. An area I’m trying to do better in! |
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| Katie Holt |
Parent Governor |
Arts, Pupil Premium, Standards and Outcomes Committee | 13/09/21 – 12/09/25 |  |
|
Attendance at FGB meetings: |
5 of 6 |
None | ||
|
My name is Katie Holt and I have 2 children, a daughter who is in Year 5 at Pixmore and a son who is at Hillshott. I currently work part time as a trend researcher and product developer for a fashion accessories supplier based in New York. My background prior to this is in fashion retail buying and I have a passion in art and design. My motivation for becoming a governor is to help and support Pixmore to develop the arts within the school curriculum and to make Pixmore the best it can possibly be for everyone that does/ will attend the school. Outside of work and family I enjoy running, visiting art galleries and museums and drawing/painting. |
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| Ionela Virciu |
Parent Governor |
21/11/22 – 20/11/26 |  |
|
|
Attendance at FGB meetings: |
n/a |
None | ||
| I have a child at Pixmore and I am a History and French Teacher and the chair of a community group focused on advancing education and promoting children’s wellbeing. I want to use my skills and passion for education to assist the teacher and children and also to represent parents in constructively supporting and challenging our school to continue to thrive. | ||||
| Lindsey Robinson |
Associate Member |
21/11/22 – 20/11/26 |  |
|
|
Attendance at FGB meetings: |
n/a |
None | ||
|
I am currently an events manager at a London university, having worked in the education sector for 20 years. I work closely with the strategy and governance areas and enjoy my role in shaping the future of the institution. I have a strong interest in community and in recent years have been involved in the Friends of Hillshott, chairing for two of those years. I have two busy boys, one in Year 4 at Pixmore and one in Reception at Hillshott. |
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| GOVERNORS WHO HAVE RESIGNED/LEFT IN LAST 12 MONTHS | |||
| Name | Type of Governor | Date of Resignation | Term of Office |
| Sarah Carlson |
Associate
|
12th February 2023 | 13/02/19 – 12/02/23 |
| Dave Wright | Co-opted | 18 May 2022 | 13/02/19 – 18/05/22 |
| Chris Burniston | Associate | 24th June 2022 | 25/11/19 – 24/07/22 |
| Sarah Parkhouse | Parent | 4th July 2022 | 25/11/19-04/07/22 |
| Rob Harris | Associate | 21st November 2022 | 13/09/21 -21/11/22 |
For more information or if you are interested in joining us, we can be contacted via the School Office or emailed at governors@pixmore.herts.sch.uk
Please see our termly newsletters for recent Governor news and information.
For more information or if you are interested in joining us, we can be contacted via the School Office or emailed at governors@pixmore.herts.sch.uk
Please see our occasional newsletters for recent Governor news and information.