The Federation of Riders Infant and Junior Schools
Our Governing Body
Our Governors
Setting the strategic direction
Governing bodies are the key strategic decision makers in every school. Along with the Head Teacher, it is the job of a governing body to set the school’s aims and objectives around how the school will develop and improve. They set policies, formulate plans and agree targets to help the school achieve these objectives, as well as regularly reviewing their strategic framework in light of that progress.
Creating robust accountability
The governing body is there to support and challenge the school’s senior leadership team. They play a crucial role in holding the Head Teacher to account for securing the best possible outcomes for pupils. By challenging key decisions and asking pertinent questions about the school’s performance data, governors aim to guarantee high standards in education.
Ensuring financial Sustainability
Governing bodies have a strategic role in the financial management of schools. Their key responsibilities include, setting financial priorities through the school development plan, 3 year financial plan and the annual budget. They also decide on how the school’s delegated budget should be spent in accordance with the school improvement plan and statutory curriculum requirement.
Clerk to the Governors: Susan Phillips
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Riders Governor Details 2024-25 Updated Mar 25.pdf |
The Federation of Riders Infant and Junior Schools
Constitution 1 September 2024
If Spaces are shown in the table below, this indicates places within the constitution which can optionally be filled. Where Vacancies are shown this indicates places within the constitution which should be filled.
| Updated: 20 March 2025 | |||
| Chair of governors | |||
| Name | Appointed by | From | To |
| Carolyn Owens | Governing Body | 18/05/2016 | 17/05/2028 |
| Governors | |||
| Name | Appointed by | From | To |
| Steve Cox | Headteacher | 01/01/2025 | |
| Andy Dabson | Governing Body | 27/11/2019 | 26/11/2027 |
| Keith Marden | Governing Body | 25/01/2023 | 24/01/2027 |
| Alex O'Neill | Elected by staff | 10/07/2024 | 09/07/2028 |
| Alison Watson | Governing Body | 18/07/2023 | 17/07/2027 |
| Vicki Wise | Local Cllr | 08/12/2021 | 07/12/2025 |
| Barry Harwood | Co-opted Governor | 19/03/2025 | 18/03/2029 |
Governor Attendance 2023-2024
Governor Monitoring Plans
| Name | Format | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Files | |||
| Governor Monitoring Plan 24-25 Spring.pdf | |||
| Governor Monitoring Plan Autumn 24-25.pdf |
Governor Recruitment
I wonder why you’re reading this. Are you just curious? Has somebody asked you to read it? What has led you to us? Are you ready for a new challenge and think that we might be able to provide it?
Here at Riders we are genuine and passionate advocates for our community and our school family. Leigh Park is an honest and open community, full of fantastic people. It is a community that makes you earn its respect and then embraces you. It is a community which is rightly proud to be itself and, at Riders, we are rightly proud to be at the heart of it.
If this means something to you, then you might be the person we are looking for. We are seeking people from local businesses and the community to become governors in our team.
The following information explains what the role of a school governor is, the benefits and the expectations.
The role of the school governor
Governing bodies have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and direction
- Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of the staff
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
- Each individual governor is a member of the governing body and all decisions are our joint responsibility.
- No one governor is expected to know it all. We attract and rely upon members from a wide variety of backgrounds, share duties amongst our members, and take decisions as a group.
Benefits of being a governor
Being a school governor is a very rewarding role. The benefits include:
- the knowledge that you are supporting schools and pupils
- the satisfaction of making a contribution to your community
- a sense of purpose and achievement
- learning new transferable skills
- broader horizons
- new colleagues
- training and support in order to help you fulfil your duties and responsibilities
Expectations
At Riders we link governors to specific school improvement plan objectives as well as to specific subjects. Some governors have a special responsibility, for example, Development and Training, Safeguarding or Health and Safety. We suggest that it will require about 20 to 30 hours per term, for tasks including:
- prior reading of paperwork and the preparation of questions before meetings
- attendance at governing body meetings (max 6 per term)
- school monitoring visits
- reviewing policies and the school’s budget
- attendance at governor training
If you are interested in becoming a Governor at Riders or you would like more information to help you decide then please contact me, Carolyn Owens, via the clerk to the governors clerk@riders-jun.hants.sch.uk
The work we do here at Riders is engaged and meaningful, and has an impact at the very heart of the community we prize so highly and are so honoured to be a part of.
So, whatever it is that led you to us – take a moment. Be inspired. We are.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Carolyn Owens, Chair of Governors