Governing Board

The Governing Board carries out a very important job behind the scenes in supporting and challenging the school staff to improve the outcomes for children.

 Forestdale School’s Governors    

The Full Governing Board comprises eleven voting members including:

• 2 Parent governors (appointed by parents)                                 
• 1 Local Authority Governor (appointed by Croydon)
• 1 Staff Governor (appointed by staff)                                             
• 9 Co-opted Governors (appointed by the Governing Body)
• Head Teacher 

The Governors at Forestdale Primary School are a friendly and dedicated group of volunteers responsible for overseeing the management side of the school: strategy, policy, budgeting, safeguarding and staffing, in order to enable the school to run as effectively as possible.  They are motivated to contribute time and knowledge by the enthusiasm of the school community and to make a difference to the education of Forestdale children. 

The Full Governing Board is the school's accountable body.

The Board has 3 core functions:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

2. Holding the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and

3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

 

The Full Governing Board has a code of conduct that sets out the expectations, commitment and behaviour required to enable the Board to effectively carry out its work within the school and the community. These standards are upheld by using the Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles)

 

Governors act as ‘critical friends’ to the Head Teacher and senior leadership team, bringing a range of skills and expertise from their professional and personal lives to the Governing Board.  Each governor has one or more defined areas of responsibility linked to the School Development Plan, generally based on their skills and expertise, and as an integral part of their strategic monitoring of these roles and to ensure robust school accountability make termly Governor visits and report back to the Board.

The Full Governing Board meets together at least twice a term, currently online, and are supported by a professional Clerk, who ensures statutory responsibilities are met.  There is a wide range of training available and support in the role along with networking opportunities.

The Governing Board are always looking out for new governors, if you would like more details on becoming a governor please click here to contact Lisa Chick, Chair of Governors (please see above).

 Who We Are    

  

• Mrs S. Aburrow
  Ex Officio Governor (Head Teacher)
  Mrs S. Aburrow

• Mr A. Aderinola
  Parent Governor
  Mr A. Aderinola

  Roles: Healthy Schools

  Adeposi has lived in the Selsdon / New Addington area of Croydon for about 15 years and currently has a child at the school following two older children who also attended the school. His professional skills are in IT auditing, security and risk and he works as IT Audit Manager for a financial services firm in London. He has been a parent governor since 2019.

• Mrs S. Archer
  Vice Chair and Parent Governor
  Mrs S. Archer

• Ms L. Chick
  Chair and Co-opted Governor
  Ms L. Chick

  Roles: Safeguarding, Looked After Children, Pupil Premium

  Lisa has lived and worked in the Croydon area for over ten years. Her professional background is that she is a Solicitor at Blackfords LLP, based in Croydon, often working with children and young people. She sits on committees to help ensure that the rights of children and young people are protected. Education was always a top priority for her family, with her mother having been a primary school teacher and school governor.

• Mrs S. Eardley
  Local Authority Nominated Governor
  Mrs S. Eardley

  Roles: Head Teacher Performance Management; Website.

  Sue has lived in Croydon for over 30 years, and her three grown up children went to Croydon schools. Sue brings 25 years' experience of health service management, including at Croydon University Hospital, and for a children's medical charity. Sue was a governor at Park Hill Junior School and Tunstall Nursery school in the nineties. Alongside joining the governing body she is involved with various local charities and is secretary of St Paul's Church in South Croydon.

• Mrs C. Hart
  Senior Leader Observer (non voting)
  Mrs C. Hart

  In attendance at Full Governing Board Meetings  (non-voting)

• Mr G. Hopper
  Parent Governor
  Mr G. Hopper

  Roles: Health and Safety; Premises; GDPR; Risk Management

  Geoff has lived in Croydon for around 15 years and has two children at the school. Geoff brings a wealth of experience associated to his link Governor roles. This experience acquired whilst working in a variety of roles in the public sector. He has been a Principal Facilities Manager and has managed a residential police training college so is well versed in health & safety, premises issues and risk management. Geoff has worked for Harris Academy and currently works for  Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust.  He has previously been involved in supporting local issues through membership of the Croydon Council's Scrutiny Sub-Committee for Children & Young People as well as being a former member of the local residents association with a particular focus to protect our green spaces.

• Mr F. Mirza
  Co-opted Governor
  Mr F. Mirza

  Roles: Finance; Head Teacher Performance Management.

  Faheem has been a Governor at Forestdale Primary School for over ten years  he has supported the school by taking on different roles. He is a Chartered Engineer and enjoys volunteering - he is also a Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Ambassador and is involved with International Development to support humanitarian aid and development in the most deprived parts of the world.

• Mrs S. Scott
  Clerk to Governors (non voting)
  Mrs S. Scott

  In attendance at Full Governing Board Meetings (non-voting)

  Sara  has over 10 years of clerking experience and is also the Governance Manager at The Collegiate Trust. Â

• Mr D. Simmonds
  Co-opted Governor
  Mr D. Simmonds

  Roles: Chair of Governors; Head Teacher Performance Management; Human Resources; Pupil Premium; Finance support; Key Stage 1; Inclusion; Equalities; SEND.

  See welcome box above.

• Miss J. Turner
  Teacher Governor
  Miss J. Turner

For details of terms of office, attendance and relevant interests please see here.

 Our activities in the past year    

In the last year the governors have met seven times. 

We have supported the Head Teacher and staff with post-pandemic challenges and monitored and reviewed the implementation and impact of a recovery curriculum. 

 This has included detailed planning and assurance underpinned with risk assessments and review.

• We have overseen budget setting and annual accounts, and reviewed and accepted our standing orders (how we work)
• We have reviewed and monitor the safeguarding, special needs and inclusion policies and their implementation
• We have reviewed and approved all school policies (see elsewhere on this website) that were due for review
• We have monitored the refurbishment for reuse of the caretaker’s house
• We have overseen planning and delivery of elements of the curriculum; individual governors focus on specific areas
• We have reviewed and refreshed the school development plan to set priorities for this school year, and monitor progress through data and monthly reporting including surveys and other feedback.
• We have linked with other schools and supported observers at our meetings from other governing bodies.

 Contact us     

If you would like to know more about what the Governors do, /or if you might be interested in joining us, please get in touch with us through the school office or email the Chair of Governors, Lisa Chick, on chair@forestdale.croydon.sch.uk