Governors
What is the role of our school governors?
The school’s governing body, referred to as the Local Academy Committee (LAC), is made up of staff, co-opted (community) and parent governors. LAC Governors are experts on their school and its community and help the Trust Board understand its unique context, challenges and strengths.
LAC governors encourage school improvement by providing effective support and challenge to the school's senior leadership team with a particular focus on Standards, Inclusion, Safeguarding and Stakeholder communication with parents, pupils and the school’s wider community.
School Governors are the largest volunteer force in the country: there are over a quarter of a million volunteers governing state-funded schools in England. School governors and trustees make an essential contribution to children’s education, opportunities, and futures.
Click on the link below to find out more about governance within our Multi Academy Trust - Governance within the Aspire Educational Trust
The Department for Education (DFE) Academy Governance Guide details that the purpose of governance within Academy Trust’s is to provide:
- strategic leadership
- accountability and assurance
- strategic engagement
The Trust Board has collective accountability and strategic responsibility for the trust. It has a focus on ensuring that the trust delivers an excellent education to pupils while maintaining effective financial management. The board must ensure compliance with:
- the trust’s charitable objects
- regulatory, contractual and statutory requirements
- its funding agreement
The board also has strategic and statutory responsibility for:
- safeguarding and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) arrangements within (and across) the academy trust
- promotion of pupil welfare
- keeping the trust’s estates safe and well-maintained
- making sure that it delivers its commitment to other schools and academies
In the Aspire Trust, the Trust Board delegates responsibility for some of these items to the LAC in accordance with our Scheme of Delegation, whilst maintaining oversight and overall responsibility. Click on the link below to find out more about governance within our Multi Academy Trust - Governance within the Aspire Educational Trust
If you have a query about governance within Aspire or want to find out more about becoming a governor in one of our schools, please contact our Trust Governance Professional Lisa Benskin – [email protected]
Governors are responsible for the effective use of public funds, so the LAC oversees the school's annual budget and financial forecasts as well as ensuring the school's grounds and buildings are well maintained and safe.
The LAC is advised by the Aspire Central team as well as sharing ideas and best practice with other schools in the trust.
To learn more about Finance with the Trust please visit Aspire Educational Trust - Finance
Who are our governors?
At Holmes Chapel Primary School, we have one Governor meeting each term which all of our LAC Governors (Local Academy Committee) attend.
Chair of Governors:-
Richard Gregson - [email protected]
Click here to visit the NGA website and learn more about being a school governor
As a school we recognise that a diversity of thought, voices and perspectives is essential to good governance and the effective running of any organisation. We regularly collect diversity information from our governors and, depending on current data, can use this to:
- target recruitment to address gaps in experience and diversity
- develop and adapt board practices to ensure full participation
- prioritise training and awareness-raising in identified areas
- address potential ‘blind spots’ through seeking wider advice and perspectives on current and upcoming opportunities, challenges and risks
However, we are unable to publish this information as it would mean that individual members of our governing body are identifiable.
Governors
Chair of Governors - Richard Gregson
Vice-Chair - Jenny Gough
Staff Governors - Fiona Gresty (Principal), Vicki Bradford (Head of School/Associate), Nicky Waddington, Tiffanie Noble
Parent Governors - Naomi Mitchell
Co-opted Governors - Chris Jackson, Jean McLaren, Jess Winter
Pen Portraits:
Richard Gregson (Chair) - I became a School Governor in 2019. I have three boys, who attended Holmes Chapel Primary School but are now at High School/University. Charlotte and I have lived in the village for several years, having previously lived in Manchester, where I continue to work in Commercial Banking. My motivation to become a School Governor was due to seeing the school go from strength to strength over the past 8 years that my children have been associated with HCPS. I have always found the school to be a welcoming, safe and engaging environment as a parent. Outside of work and volunteering as a governor, I am a coach for the local Hurricanes Junior football team and I also have a passion for Golf, Northern Art and Stockport County in roughly that order.
Jenny Gough (Vice-Chair) - I have two daughters, one who currently attends HCPS and is in Year 6 and one who is now at High School. I attended this school in the 1980s and have many fond memories of my time there. I went on to study at the Comprehensive School, Sir John Deane's and then qualified as a solicitor specialising in Commercial Property. After the arrival of my second daughter I have worked part-time in the education sector and now work for another local Multi-Academy Trust. I have been a governor at HCPS for a number of years and I am committed to helping the school.
Naomi Mitchell (Parent Governor) - I have 3 children who are currently attend HCPS (my youngest 2 in Year 1and my eldest in Year 3) as a teacher and SENDCO myself I wanted to have an active role in my own children’s education and use my expertise to support in any way I could. After moving to the area in 2021, my family and I have enjoyed getting to know the local community and great local walks, we are a family who love to be outside and active. I am passionate about allowing children to develop into individuals with a strong feeling of self-belief who have had the ability to grow their life experiences throughout their education. As a governor I am committed to helping the school develop and grow in any way I can.
Chris Jackson (Co-opted Governor) - I moved with my family to Holmes Chapel in 1986 and our three boys all attended Middlewich Road Primary School. Shortly after moving my wife joined the staff and taught at the school for over 20 years up to retirement, followed by 7 years supply teaching.
During our youngest boy’s final year, I was elected Chair of the PTA.
I have previous experience as a governor, having served on the board of an independent co-educational day school in Cheshire for 25 years. I have been a director of two charity-based organisations.
I am a Chartered Civil engineer by profession with wide management and community liaison knowledge including Health and Safety legislation and practice. Although retired from full-time employment I act as Transport Consultant to the Civil Engineering Contractors Association. I am a member of Holmes Chapel Parish Council.
I enjoy reading and railway modelling among my leisure activities.
Jean McLaren (co-opted governor) - I moved to Holmes Chapel in 2019 from Poynton with my husband Rob, when he became vicar of St Luke’s church. We really enjoy being part of the village and I’d heard lots of good things about HCPS. I was a parent governor when our own 2 children were at primary school in Stockport (several years ago as they’re now both teachers themselves) and when I was approached about being a governor for HCPS I was happy to get involved. I work in the NHS in Manchester for a Psychological Therapy Team as a counsellor and counselling supervisor so I always have a particular interest in wellbeing. I’m really enjoying starting to get to know the school, the staff and the students.
Vicki Bradford (Associate Governor) - I joined Holmes Chapel Primary School in 2022 as Deputy Headteacher and Associate Governor. I have been in the teaching profession for 19 years and a senior leader for the last 11 years at schools also in Cheshire East. I am an active learner myself and I have recently achieved the NASENCO Masters Level Award, and am currently studying for the NPQH Award. I am from North Wales originally, but along with my husband and two children, I have been living in Sandbach for the past 8 years. In my spare time I enjoy travelling, reading, coffee and cake!