Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.
We have also provided a Register of Governor Interests and an Annual Statement of Issues for your information.
Name | Governor Role | Governor Type | Governor Responsibility | Appointment and appointed by | Term of Office | Voting Rights | ||
Alan Horton | Chair of Governors
| Co-opted Governor | Compliance Lead. History and Geography.
| 01/03/2020 Appointed by GB/board | 4 Years | Yes | ||
Mark Smith | Vice Chair of Governors
| Co-opted Governor | Quality of Education Lead.. Headteacher Performance management committee. Pay committee | 01/03/2020 Appointed by GB/board | 4 Years | Yes | ||
Edward Murphy | Finance Governor Chair of Headteacher Performance Management committee and Pay Committee. | Co-opted Governor | Pupil Premium Lead. Sports Premium Funding Lead. Science and Technology. | 01/03/2020 Appointed by GB/board | 4 Years | Yes |
Name | Governor Role | Governor Type | Governor Responsibility | Appointment and appointed by | Term of Office | Voting Rights |
Kate Espley | Head of School | Head of School | Overall Curriculum Leader | 17/04/2023 Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher | ongoing | Yes |
Ray Kemsley | Health and Safety Governor | Co-opted Governor | Health & Safety. Headteacher Performance Management committee. Pay committee. | 01/03/2020 Appointed by GB/board | 4 Years | Yes |
Tina Martin |
| Staff Governor | Art and Music. | 01/03/2020 Elected by school staff | 4 Years | Yes |
Name | Governor Role | Governor Type | Governor Responsibility | Appointment and appointed by | Term of Office | Voting Rights |
Emma Aldous | EYFS Governor
| Co-opted Governor | English and EYFS
| 01/03/2023 Appointed by GB/Board | 4 Years | Yes |
| Emily Walker-Smith | Safeguarding Governor and SEND Governor | Co-opted Governor | SEND | 01/03/2020 Appointed by GB/board | 4 Years | Yes |
| Lenore Scott | Governor CPD Governor | Co-opted Governor | Hearts and Mind | 01/03/2022 Appointed by GB/board | 4 Years | Yes |
| Elspeth Baecke | Co-opted Governor | Maths | 22/09/2022 Appointed by GB/board | 4 years | Yes | |
Lee Mitchell
| Parent Governor | Parent Governor | 13/07/2023 Elected by Parents | 3 years | Yes | |
| Abigail Williamson | Parent Governor | Parent Governor | 12/10/2023 Elected by parents | 3 years | Yes | |
| Tracey Snellings | Clerk to Governors | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No |
At each of our meetings, we make recommendations and decisions on a number of key priorities that affect the school. These are recorded along with our discussions and what we have supported and what we have challenged. Part of our role as Governors is to act as a 'Critical Friend' to the school.
Holywell School is led by Kate Espley as Head of School. She has an excellent team of teachers and support staff and I take this opportunity to thank them for their marvellous contribution to the school.
We also have an excellent team in Parents and Friends of Holywell School (PFHS), and they are superb in their efforts to raise money for the benefit of the pupils at Holywell.
The Governors hugely values its links with the local Upchurch community. We are proud to be involved in community events throughout each year and we continue to find new ways to work alongside those in our community.
As Governors, we regularly visit the school and our most recent focus was ‘Curriculum in Action’, observing different activities going on throughout the school and speaking to subject leaders and children about their learning in particular subjects.
When you have a free moment, please provide your thoughts and views on the school as part of ' Parent View' on the Ofsted website. This can be found here.
We are on a continuous journey to be the best school we can be. To achieve this, we are:
Holywell School has a wonderful story to tell. The pupils are excellent ambassadors and are a great credit to you as parents and guardians. There is a vibrant and hugely positive atmosphere at Holywell School. The Governors are most grateful to you for your continued support - which is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I look forward to meeting you in the future.
Alan Horton
Governor Attendance for meetings held 2022-2023
| Governor | Governor Type | FGB meetings |
Emma Aldous | Co-opted Governor | 2 |
| Elspeth Baecke | Co-opted Governor | 3 |
Darran Callaghan | Headteacher | 3 |
| Kate Espley | Head of School | 1 |
Alan Horton | Co-opted Governor | 4 |
Ray Kemsley | Co-opted Governor | 4 |
Tina Martin | Staff Governor | 4 |
| Lee Mitchell | Parent Governor | 1 |
Edward Murphy | Co-opted Governor | 4 |
| Lenore Scott | Co-opted Governor | 4 |
Mark Smith | Co-opted Governor | 3 |
Tracey Snellings | Clerk to Governors | 4 |
| Emily Walker-Smith | Co-opted Governor | 4
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