Governors
Email: chair@dstp.cheshire.sch.uk
What do school governors do?
Governors work as a team. They are responsible for making sure the school provides a good quality education. Raising educational standards in school is now a key priority. Governors also promote effective ways of teaching and learning when setting the schools aims and policies. They do this together with the Head Teacher, who is responsible for the day to day management of the school.
The governing body’s main role is to help raise standards of achievement. It:
- Is accountable for the performance of the school to parents and the wider community
- Plans the school's future direction
- Selects the Head teacher
- Makes decisions on the school’s budget and staffing
- Makes sure the National Curriculum is taught
- Decides how the school can encourage pupils’ spiritual, moral and cultural development
- Makes sure the school provides for all its pupils, including those with special needs
Our Governing Body:
There are currently 8 governors who serve as part of our Governing Body. Non-confidential Minutes from our Governor meetings are available from the school office if you wish to view them.
Chair of Governors: Katie Pierce
Vice-Chair: Adam Friend (Vicar - Ex officio)
Governors' Register of Interests
Committees:
Finance
Teaching and Learning
https://schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk/School?urn=111281
A big welcome from the governors here at Duddon St Peter’s Primary School. The Governing Body is an elected group including teachers, support staff, parents and members of the local community. We work as a team with the Head teacher for the benefit of all the pupils and staff at Duddon.
We are all volunteers and have a diverse background. We are here to give the school a strategic direction and to act as ‘a critical friend’, helping to guide the school to improving the standard of education for all our children. We do not get involved in the day-to-day operation of the school, but set the criteria by which the school is managed.
We ensure that local and national government legislation and targets are met, that we spend our school budget wisely, that the safety of everyone is paramount, and that the curriculum is delivered to benefit all children. Governors take an active role in the school, not only attending meetings but undertaking visits to classrooms and accompanying school trips too.
A copy of the Part One minutes of Governing Body meetings is available from the school office, on request.
Further details of our governor
|
Becky Butcher: Parent governor and SEND governor I am a parent governor and local resident, having moved to the area in 2019. My professional background is in children and families social work and I have a number of years experience in both child protection and looked after children teams. I currently work for a local primary school in a safeguarding/family support role and look forward to bringing my experience and knowledge of safeguarding and the care system to the Board of Governors. |
 |
|
Claire Entwistle: Co-opted governor I am a teacher at Duddon St Peter's Primary School where it has been my pleasure to teach for 15 years and in total, I have taught for 21 years, starting my teaching career in inner-city Liverpool. In school, I am part of the Literacy team, with my expertise lying within EYFS and KS1, including Year Three. I lead the Maths team with Mrs Tench, and am the Humanities lead, enabling me to share my passion for both History and Geography. I also have the responsibility of being the More Able Lead on the governing body. I have played an active role on the Teaching and Learning Committee and regularly attend all governor meetings throughout the year.
|
 |
|
Adam Friend: Vicar & Foundation governor: Vice-Chair of Governors Having been a governor at four different schools over the past 17 years, I bring with me a wealth of experience as well as general governor knowledge base. I have been a chair of governors in the past and recognise how much time and effort this takes. As a governor, children always come first, with staff and parents a close second. As a foundation governor for St Peter’s, I bring with me a solid church background (I’m sure you would expect nothing more), keeping the moral ethos of the school in all things and a basis of how the church can partner the school for the well-being of the children. I am a link governor for the EYFS and for Mental Health & Wellbeing, as well as the Mental Health First Aider. |
 |
|
Lesley Garnham: Staff governor I have worked for many years at Duddon St. Peter’s as a teaching assistant. I presently work across a variety of different age groups across the school and have a Level 2 qualification in listening and counselling (CPCAB). Apart from my role in the classroom, I have the responsibility of supporting children with nurture groups and with ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support), which covers social and emotional needs, bereavement and loss, autism and challenging behaviours. This includes 1:1 support for some individual children and I am always happy to discuss any of these issues with parents. |
 |
|
Paul Hudson: Head teacher Having taught at Duddon since1997, I became Head teacher in 2005. My philosophy is centred around the interests of the whole child, as children need self-belief in order to become passionate about their learning. I am driven to use funding effectively to maintain a high standard and ensure progress for all children, regardless of any barriers to learning which they may have. |
|
|
Steve Latham: Foundation Governor / Health & Safety Governor I retired from full time teaching in 2015, having been Director of Performing Arts at Bishop Heber High School. I have been associated with Duddon St Peter’s for over 10 years, having had two daughters go through the school and then onto Tarporley High. During this time I have been a member of the PTA, run Drama classes and assisted on school trips. I was also previously a governor at Backford C of E School, so my association with the diocese is well established. During my retirement I have worked closely with the church to run a Drama club and produce small performances in the church. I also work with a local dance school teaching performance skills and staging larger productions. My focus will be on teaching and learning as well as the transition to High School. I am also keen to ensure there is effective communication with parents via regular governor surgeries.
Katie Pierce: Co-opted governor - Chair of Governors / Chair of Finance Committee My daughter is currently a pupil at Duddon School and more years ago than I care to remember I also attended Duddon School. From my years there I have so many fond memories of a wonderful education environment just as it still is today. I’ve worked within financial services for 20 years and my role as a Chartered Financial Planner requires many varied skills which I hope to bring to the governing board. I work with corporate and personal clients and numbers everyday. My job is to listen and understand their life plans and objectives whilst explaining often very technical information and options in a manner that can be clearly understood. I offer a guiding hand when people are sometimes making once in a lifetime decisions. I felt these skills will be of benefit to the school and governing body as Chair of the Finance Committee and a general governor role in supporting the school community. I believe together our pupils, parents, staff and governors can continue to build a fantastic environment for our children. So they can flourish and enjoy a positive educational experience to be the best they can be both now and in their future. |
|
|
Liz Smith: Co-opted governor /Safeguarding governor / Training governor, Chair of Teaching & Learning Committee I have taught Year Five and Six pupils and until recently, was employed at the school for about 20 years. As a local resident, my son attended the school and I have been involved in school life ever since. I am passionate about children achieving their best and as a governor, I hope to help ensure that the learning experience that all children receive at school is of the highest quality. I chair the Teaching & Learning Committee, which meets termly to discuss the progress and attainment of pupils, and aims to help all governors understand how the curriculum is delivered across the school, monitoring priorities in the School Development Plan and considering how to support staff in their teaching roles. |
 |
|
|
