Hi and welcome to the Governor area of our school website, where we hope you will gain an insight into what we do as a board of governors here at Eastcombe.
Our school Governors play a very important and active role in school life not only attending termly meetings, but also in a more practical supportive role. They run our School Council, they help out in classrooms and support a variety of school events such as Sports Day and the Gnome Hunt. Our school governors are an essential part of our school community.
Whether you are a parent of a child who attends our school, a prospective parent taking a look at what we have to offer or merely an interested visitor, I do hope you find our website of use and feel inspired by what you see when visiting us.
Eastcombe is a small village school that offers fun-learning and engaging teaching which can be found in copious amounts, it’s a place where children can feel safe and staff are empowered to deliver great teaching.
The governors for their part work closely with Mrs Jones and her team by fulfilling the following functions:
- Engage with the Head and staff to develop and manage the school’s ongoing and evolving strategies towards our collective goal of outstanding.
- Ensure the school operates within the legal framework set out by the government, principally through the ongoing assessment of the school’s policies and ways of working.
- Take collective ownership for the school’s budget and financial sustainability, making joint decisions about the best uses of resources available to us.
- Take responsibility for the recruitment and performance management of the Head Teacher, through ongoing challenge and support.
We achieve this through meeting as a board every term and we have a very clear focus on what the priorities are through a close partnership with the head. We make use of committees to manage the more detailed processes; principally our Resources to maintain a stable financial/properties performance and our Standards to monitor the quality of education provided by our teaching team.
Please read our Governors Code of Conduct for more information.
We have a great team of governors who all bring with them skills from outside the world of education which help us make balanced decisions and along with the school team, we all want to make Eastcombe Primary School the very best it can be. Our team of governors is a dynamic one and you will learn a little more about us here on the website.
On behalf of all of the governors, we look forward to seeing you in school!
Giles Webber, Chair of Governors
The Governors:
Mrs Claire Jones
Head Teacher
I am Head Teacher here at Eastcombe Primary School. I started in September 2015 and I am am very proud to be the Head of such a wonderful school. I am married with two daughters. My youngest attends a local secondary school near to where we live and my eldest is off to University to train to be a teacher!
I have no business or pecuniary Interests.
Mr Giles Webber
Chair of Governors
I became a Parent Governor in October 2020 and the Chair in 2021 and I sit on the Resources committee. I live in Chalford Hill with my wife and two children having moved to the area in 2018. Both my children attended the school, my son left in 2020 and my daughter in 2022. My early career was spent in the Wine Industry before moving into Human Resources where I have held positions in both the Private and Public sectors.
I have a keen interest in sport which has led me to become a Football Association Level 1 coach, I currently volunteer for a local club. As a Governor my aim is to support the school leadership team to maintain high educational standards and to ensure a safe and inviting environment for pupils to strive in their early years.
I have no business or pecuniary Interests.
Mrs Catherine Monk
Teacher Governor
Mrs Monk teaches Y5 and Y6 in Owl Class.
Mr Mike Reynolds
Parent Governor
Mike is Dad to two daughters at the school in year 6 and year 3. He is married to wife Michelle and has two dogs and adopted the school incubated chickens earlier this year who are now laying happily which means the family can often be seen giving spare eggs as gifts to other parents in the playground. Mike is a company Director in the energy sector where he works on zero carbon generation solutions in the UK and has worked in low carbon energy for over 15 yesrs. Mike and family only moved to the area in 2021 and as part of joining and participating in the community Mike volunteered to be a school Governor. Mike brings to the board a good understanding of strategy, financial planning and management, and leadership. He is also a drama graduate and has a passion for the arts, particularly music and drama, so Mike is the governor supporting the teaching staff on the provision of English and the Arts in the school.
Mr Alan Crockett
Co-opted Governor
I became a co-opted governor in November 2021. My son is currently in year 6 and my daughter, who also attended Eastcombe Primary, is now in year 9 at Stroud High. Whilst I currently work in IT, in another life, I briefly taught at Thomas Keble and have some insight into the challenges faced by a small school and its staff.
As a governor I sit on the standards committee and I aim to support the school leadership team to continue to maintain a high standard of education in mathematics.
I have no business or pecuniary interests
Mrs Faye Smith
Parent Governor
I have been a parent governor at Eastcombe Primary school since November 2021 and a member of the Standards committee. I live in Chalford with my husband and children. With my daughter currently in Squirrel Class, I am keen to be involved in the development and success of the school.
My background is in Science and I have worked as a healthcare professional for several years in Radiology Departments, performing patient scans and working with trainees. Having an interest in education, I have always taken an active role in teaching and learning.
My aim as a governor is to support staff in delivering high standards of education through continuous development and accessibility of learning opportunities for pupils. I feel the school is an important and valuable part of our local community.
I have no business or pecuniary interests.
Dr Gill Clifton
Co-opted Governor
I joined the Team of Governors at Eastcombe Primary in February this year having moved to Eastcombe from Norfolk in April 2022 to be closer to our family. Following a long career in education and in industry in which I had the opportunity to work cross sector in Early Years Primary, Secondary and Higher Education, I retired last year and now actively enjoy being involved in grand parenting duties! I am passionate about inclusive education and believe if children are encouraged at an early age to develop a sense of curiosity and a love and excitement for learning, it will stay with them for the rest of their lives. I was therefore keen to continue to be involved in education post retirement and was delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to our local village school and community.
As a co-opted Governor my aim is to support the Leadership Team in maintaining the high educational standards they desire for all children whilst ensuring pupils work and play in a safe and happy environment that will set them on a secure path for whatever maybe their future endeavours. As a member of the Standards Committee, I hope my experience in teaching and inclusive educational practice across a range of settings, as well as my experience of working in industry, will enable me to make a valuable contribution to the Committee and the School.
I have no business or pecuniary Interests.
Mrs Emma Hammond
Parent Governor
I joined as a governor in May 2023. I live in Eastcombe and have two young children. My eldest is in Squirrel Class. I have worked in secondary schools for over a decade teaching Geography, holding various pastoral and academic middle leaders roles such as Head of Year 11 and Assistant Director of Sixth Form. I am currently the Head of Geography at a secondary school in Gloucester, a school that has undergone a massive transformation under the Greenshaw Learning Trust and was the 10th most improved school in the country in 2022. I am a Parish Councillor and am working with a team to create the new play area at the Eastcombe Recreation Ground. In my spare time, I enjoy netball, cycling, skiing and swimming. I love to travel and am a qualified scuba diving instructor.
As a governor, I aim to support the school to continue raising academic standards and to share relevant expertise in education.
Mrs Melanie Thomas
Clerk
Clerk to the Governors
Relevant Files
Contact the Governors
If you wish to contact the governors then please email chair@eastcombe.gloucs.sch.uk.
