Governors at Nettlebed School
The Governors of Nettlebed provide a critical role in the development of the school. The body is formed of four parent governors, one teacher governor, four co-opted governors and the Headteacher.
The governing body has 3 key responsibilities:
-
To provide strategic direction for the school
-
To act as a critical friend to the Headteacher
-
To hold the leadership of the school to account (is the school improving its educational performance? Is the budget being spent wisely?)
There are four full governor meetings each year. There are also two sub committees, Resources and Curriculum, which meet termly.
Parent and Staff representatives are elected to the governing body. Oxfordshire Local Authority appoints our LA governors. Co-opted governors can be anyone and are recruited by the governing body (often members of the local community with skills sets or experience that the school could benefit from).
Governors carry out a number of other important duties, which include:
-
Determining how the school's budget is spent
-
Hearing appeals and grievances
-
Setting standards for pupils' behaviour and discipline
-
Making sure the school environment is welcoming and safe
-
Setting and monitoring the school's policies
-
Appointing the Headteacher
If you wish to get in touch with the Chair of Governors, please contact Mrs Jenny McBean: chairofgovernors@nettlebed.oxon.sch.uk
Meeting Minutes
Minutes of Curriculum and Resource meetings can viewed in a file, in the school Reception area.
 |
 |
 |
Meet the Governors
Chair of Governors
Jenny has lived in Nettlebed with her family for twenty years and her two, now adult children were pupils at Nettlebed School before moving to Gillotts for their secondary education. During this time Jenny sat on the FONS committee, volunteered in the classroom and, for a short time, was employed as a Teaching Assistant. Professionally, Jenny has worked in recruitment, taught in adult education and mentored small business owners. She now volunteers with the Prices Trust, mentoring young people and working on fundraising campaigns.
Parent Governor
Curriculum
Tamara Laughton joined the governing body in April 2019. She has worked in Secondary Education for 15 years, with a strong understanding of the current challenges facing local schools. She has a wide knowledge base of curriculum changes and a passionate interest in the development of children, not only academically but as well rounded happy individuals with the resilience to tackle modern life.
As a parent governor she has one child at Nettlebed School.
Parent Governor
Resources
Sarah joined the school governing body as a Parent Governor in January 2019, shortly after her eldest child joined the school. With a background in strategic planning and business development, she brings experience in effective resource allocation and optimization.
Having previously mentored at secondary level, Sarah is excited to be involved in the education sector once again.
Headteacher
Mrs Greenwood joined the school in September 2017 having previously worked in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Co-opted Governor
Safeguarding
Mr Tebbutt joined the governing body in October 2016 as a parent governor and was made Vice-Chair in February 2017 followed by Chair in July 2018. He previously served as a parent governor at a primary school in South London for six years. During his time there he experienced a wide range of challenging issues from an Ofsted inspection, a bulge year and well as the school expansion onto a second site to become a six form entry school. In his professional life, he works in financial services technology and has done for over 20 years.
Parent Governor
Alexandra joined the governing body in December 2022 as a Parent Governor. She currently has one child in Nettlebed School. She works as a project manager in Financial Services and brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning and organization as well as implementation and gauging efficacy of processes. Alexandra volunteers extensively in community initiatives that are mainly focused on youth development and mentoring.
Local Authority Governor
Resources
Ms Bett became a school Governor in February 2017 and chairs the Resources Committee. She works locally in Henley and has had an interest in supporting education for a number of years, having previously volunteered as a 'Reading Buddy' at another primary school. Ms Bett is a qualified chartered accountant and has responsibility for a finance team at her employer, so brings a focus on financial control and oversight to the governing body.
Savannah Foister
Curriculum
Ms Foister has worked in a range of schools in London, Oxfordshire, and Bucks running therapeutic intervention units and now alternate provisions for young people who are failing to thrive in mainstream education. She volunteers helping with English GCSEs for a PRU and am passionate about education reform and finding ways to use the outdoors to re-engage young people with learning.
Co-Opted
Resources
Mrs Foister joined the governing body in September 2017. She founded the Adventure Learning Foundation (ALF) which is a partnership between Longridge Activity Centre and Buckinghamshire County Council to provide leadership, direction and core services to not for profit education, training and sporting facilities in 2004. In addition, she is the CEO of Royal Albert Docks Trust where she provides company, secretarial, marketing and financial support.
Staff
Curriculum
With 30 years teaching experience in a variety of schools, Sarah has spent the last 14 years at Nettlebed and is currently a KS1 class teacher. She is also PE and MFL lead. As a firm believer in the state system of education, her own three children all attended the school, before moving on to Gillotts and then Henley College.