Governors

School Governors play a key role in overseeing the management of the school. Their main responsibilities include planning the budget, recruitment and appointment of staff and the development and implementation of policies in consultation with staff and parents.

Robert Owen Nursery School’s Governing Body is currently composed of the Headteacher, a Staff Governor, Parent Governors and co-opted Governors who bring a range of skills, experience and expertise to the role.

All Governors aim to visit the school regularly, usually with a specific brief to examine one or more areas of school life in some detail. Many are in school on a daily basis and have a close involvement with everything that goes on.

Sub-committees

Much of the work of the Governing Body is done by sub-committees whose recommendations and decisions are verified by the main Governing Body. People who are not Governors can be co-opted onto sub-committees.

The current sub-committees are:

Resources, chaired by Graham Miles
Learning & Development, chaired by Sarah Davies

The Governing Body also fulfils its statutory duties through the Pay Committee, Pay Appeals Committee and Complaints Committee (formed as needed.)

Our Governors

Name	Committee Membership	Term of Office Start/End	Relevant Business & Financial Interests	Other Governance Roles
Jo Graham Executive Headteacher	Resources, Learning & Development	Ex-officio	Executive Headteacher of Meridian Primary & Robert Owen Nursery	Ex-officio Governor at Meridian Primary
Maggie Shields Chair	Resources, Learning & Development, Pay	06/10/2022 - 06/10/2026	None	Chair of Governors at Meridian Primary
Katherine Dossa Vice-Chair	Resources, Pay Appeals	18/06/2020 - 18/06/2024	None
Ben Jamieson Staff Governor	Learning & Development	17/07/2017 - 10/10/2025	None
Sarah Davies Co-opted Governor	Learning & Development (Chair), Pay	08/10/2018 - 06/10/2026	None
Graham Miles Co-opted Governor	Resources (Chair), Pay	18/01/2023 - 17/01/2027	Director of the company which built the school website
Gennie Joy Co-opted Governor	Learning & Development	23/03/2023 - 22/03/2027	None
Punya Grover Parent Governor		12/10/2023 - 11/10/2027
Tom Groves Parent Governor		12/10/2023 - 11/10/2027

Recently resigned Governors

Name	Committee Membership	Term of Office Start/End	Material interests or relationships	Other Governance Roles
Linda Pound Co-opted Governor	Resources, Learning & Development (Chair), Pay	31/08/2011 - 31/08/2023	None	Vice-chair of Governors at Sherington Primary
Lotte Jeffs Parent Governor	Resources, Learning & Development	08/10/2021 - 11/01/2023	None
Myriam Bah Parent Governor		29/04/2022 - 03/12/2022	None

Name

Committee
Membership

Term of Office Start/End

Material interests or relationships

Other Governance Roles

Linda Pound
Co-opted Governor

Resources,
Learning & Development (Chair),
Pay

31/08/2011 -

31/08/2023

None

Vice-chair of Governors at Sherington Primary

Lotte Jeffs
Parent Governor

Resources,
Learning & Development

08/10/2021 -

11/01/2023

None

Myriam Bah
Parent Governor

29/04/2022 -

03/12/2022

None

Governor Attendance at Meetings

Governor Name	06/10/22 FGB	11/11/22 R C	01/12/22 L&D C	18/01/23 EGB	26/01/23 R C	23/03/23 FGB	29/06/2023 FGB	28/09/23 R C	12/10/23 FGB	18/01/24 R C	26/03/24 FGB
J Peach	IA		IA	IA	IA	IA	IA	IA	IA	IA	IA
L Pound	XA		P	P		P	P
B Jamieson	P		P	P		P	P		P		P
S Davies	P		P	P		P	P		P		P
K Dossa	P	P		P	P	P	P	P	P	XA	P
M Bah	P
L Jeffs	XA	XA
J Graham	P	P	P	XA	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
M Shields	P	P		P	P	P	P	P	XA	P	P
G Miles					P	P	P	P	P	P	P
G Joy							P		P		XA
P Grover										IA	P
T Groves										IA	P

Key

FGB = Full Governing Board
EGB = Extraordinary Governing Board
L&D C = Learning & Development Committee
R C = Resources Committee
P = Present
XA = Absent with apologies
IA = In attendance

Becoming a Governor

The school is always keen to hear from anyone who is prepared to be a Governor or would like to join a sub-committee. Please contact us to discuss any opportunities for greater involvement in the running of the school.

Governor Diversity

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 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 don’t publish this diversity information so as not to disclose personal information about individual governors.