Governance

School Governors are a voluntary group of people with a range of expertise. The Governing Body is made up of volunteers from staff, parents and the local community.

The Governing Body’s main aim is to raise standards of achievement and make sure the school provides a good quality of education. The day-to-day management of the school is the responsibility of the Head Teacher and staff, if you have any queries or concerns, these should initially be directed to your child's class teacher, any serious concerns should be reported to the Headteacher. The governors are there to offer support and advice to the Senior Leadership team. If you have any concerns please follow the procedures outlined in the complaints policy.

Aims:

Provide a strategic overview
Act as a critical body to the school
Accountability

If you would like to discuss anything with the Chair of Governors, Mr Sam Barcroft or our Clerk to Governors, Helen Gough, you can do via the school office.

Tap on a photo for further information on each Governor:

Peterchurch Primary School - Governors (ID 1226)

Sam Barcroft

Chair of Governors

Sam Barcroft

Sam Barcroft is a father of three whose children all attended Peterchurch Primary School over the last two decades.
He is a media entrepreneur and experienced leader across small, medium and large business settings.
As well as working as an advisor to business leaders, Sam is currently restoring an upland farm in Dorstone.
Bridie Sullivan

Vice Chair

Bridie Sullivan

Bridie Sullivan moved to Herefordshire in 2007. All four of her children attended Peterchurch Primary School (as did her husband in 1970s!). Bridie joined the PTA in 2010 and the Board of Governors in 2022. She sits on the school's Finance Committee. Bridie is CEO of the Herefordshire Community Foundation and a founding trustee of the Snodhill Castle Preservation Trust.
Kate Humberstone

Parent Governor

Kate Humberstone

Kate Humberstone has lived in Peterchurch since 2011 and has two children at Peterchurch Primary. She was a Primary School teacher before starting a family, then ran her own childminding business until her children started school. Kate now works at Fairfield High School in the SEND department and teaches one day a week at Longtown Primary school. Kate loves being part of the Peterchurch community.
Xanthe Hill

Staff Governor

Xanthe Hill

Xanthe is a teacher at our school, starting with us in 2010. She grew up in London but has enjoyed living in the rural Welsh hills since 2003. Xanthe has two primary-aged daughters and is a keen swimmer. In her spare time, Xanthe loves to spend time adventuring with her family. She is a keen caver and canoeist but loves participating in most outdoor activities.
Katie Pace

Parent Governor

Katie Pace

Katie lives in Peterchurch with her 2 children. She moved to the village when her eldest started in year 1 at Peterchurch primary school and he is now in year 7 at Fairfield. Her youngest is in year 4 at Peterchurch Primary school. Katie works for a local printing and embroidery company and is Chair and Secretary of the primary school PTA.
Rachel Pritchard

Parent Governor

Rachel Pritchard

Rachel Pritchard has lived in Newton St Margarets since 2010 and is married with 4 children. The oldest 2 attend Fairfield High School, 1 attends Peterchurch and the youngest is to start Peterchurch in 2023. She is a Swimming Instructor who also teaches some of the school's swimming lessons and is an active member of the school PTA.
Barry Leach

Safeguarding Governor

Barry Leach

Barry Leach has lived in Peterchurch since 2016 having previously lived in Craswall for 8 years. He is married with three children two of whom live in Peterchurch and six grandchildren four having attended the Primary school.
Barry previously worked in management in Rank Xerox and HSBC and after retirement with two local childcare companies as a care homes inspector.

If you need to contact the chair of governors please do so using email address sbarcroft@peterchurch.herford.sch.uk

Category of Governor	Name	Relevant Business Interests	Term of Office All 4 Years	Committee Responsibilities
Head Teacher	Mrs. Nia Powell	Ex Officio	Jan 2023	Curriculum Committee and Resources Committee.
Chair of Governors LA Governor	Mr Sam Barcroft	None	Sept 2023-27	Resources Committee
Vice Chair Governor	Mrs Bridie Sullivan	None	Dec 2021-25	Resources Committee (Chair of committee)
Staff Governor	Mrs Xanthe Hill	Staff	Sept 2019-23	Curriculum Committee
Parent Governor	Mrs Katherine Humberstone	None	Dec 2021-25	Curriculum Committee (Chair of committee)
Parent Governor	Katie Pace	None	Nov 2022- 26	Resources Committee
Co-opted Governor	Rachel Pritchard	Staff	Nov 2022-26	Curriculum Committee
Co-opted Governor	Barry Leach	None	April 2023 - 27	Resources Committee and Curriculum Committee
Associate Member	Brendan O'Keeffe	None	Nov 2022 - 24	Resources Committee None voting member
Clerk to Governors	Helen Gough	None	May 2023 -

Full Governing Body minutes available upon request. Please contact the school office.

During the course of 2022/2023 a number of changes took place within Peterchurch Primary School including the appointment of several new Governors, the appointment of a new Headteacher in January '23 and the appointment of a new highly qualified and experienced Clerk to the Governing Body. On this basis Governors agreed that a review of the structure and responsibilities of the governing body was appropriate. As an outcome of this review, the Governing Body have decided to combine the functions of several of the previously established committees to improve efficiencies, communications and to reduce the number of meetings Governors are expected to attend. This decision will be reviewed on an annual basis.

The Governing Body now operates with the following committee structure.

Full Governing Body - with meetings taking place on 6 occasions through the academic year.

Curriculum Committee - to focus on Safeguarding, Curriculum, Performance, Standards and Communications.

Resources Committee - to focus on Finance, Health & Safety and Buildings.

The Curriculum Committee and Resources Committee also meet on 6 occasions throughout the academic year, normally two weeks prior to the Full Governing Body meetings, to which they report.

Additional committees such as "Complaints Committee" and "Appeals Committee" are formed as required.

Full details on the Terms of Reference for each committee are available through the links below.

Governor & Key Staff - roles & compliance pecurniary & business interest

Governor and Key Staff - meeting Attendance September 22 to July 23

Full Governing Body-Terms of Reference

Curriculum Committee-Terms of Reference

Resources Committee-Terms of Reference

Full Governing Body minutes are available upon request. Please contact the school office.