Cirrus Primary Academy Trust
Barrow hedges primary school 15

Governance

Governance Structure

Barrow Hedges has a ‘Local Committee’, which is a sub-committee of the Cirrus Primary Academy Trust Board. The accountability of the academy rests with the Trust Board, but many responsibilities are delegated to the Local Committee.  Please see the Trust scheme of delegation here.

To find out about the structure of the Trust, please see this page on the Trust’s website. 

Barrow Hedges Local Committee consists of:

2 elected Parent Governors

2 elected Staff Governors

Up to 7 other Co-opted Governors

1 Headteacher

We aim to create a balanced group that will have the right skills, connections and dynamic for the Local Committee to work well and support the school in achieving exceptional performance.

Attributes we look for

  • Good insight into the specific challenges at the school and the general challenges of operating top-quality schools
  • Excellent community links
  • Specific skills as needed by/relevant to the school

The term of a governor is four years, except for the Headteacher, who remains a governor for the duration of his or her time in post. Governors may be reappointed for further terms.

Trustees (including the Chief Executive Office) are able to attend Local Committee meetings.

The Local Committee works closely with the Senior Leadership Team to oversee the strategic direction of the school. It does this by offering support, constructive advice, a sounding board for ideas, and help where needed. It challenges, asks questions and seeks information to ensure that the best interests of the children at Barrow Hedges are met. All governors work on a voluntary basis.

The Local Committee meets four times a year, to discuss issues and make decisions related to the teaching and learning within the school. 

Additionally, the Local Committee Chair attends a termly Chairs' Forum meeting with the Chair of the Trust Board and CEO. 

The Local Committee also performance manages the Head and has a Pay Committee which works with the Head as part of the Performance Management Appraisal process.

The Clerk to the Local Committee is Karen Velissarides kvelissarides@cirrustrust.uk. Governors can be contacted via the Clerk.  

Role of the Local Committee

Establishing the strategic direction, by:

  • Setting the vision, values, and objectives for the school
  • Setting all necessary policies to meet the vision, values and objectives set
  • Agreeing the school improvement strategy with priorities and targets
  • Meeting statutory duties

Ensuring accountability, by:

  • Appointing the Headteacher
  • Monitoring progress towards targets
  • Performance managing the Headteacher
  • Engaging with stakeholders
  • Contributing to school self evaluation

Ensuring financial probity, by:

  • Monitoring spending against the budget
  • Ensuring value for money is obtained
  • Ensuring risks to the school are managed

Governors

Name & POSITION

CaTEGORY

Appointed by

Term of Office
 

ATTENDANCE
Current academic year
(last academic year in attachment below)

Louise Wood

Postion of responsibility

Headteacher

Headteacher
 

N/A

N/A

Attended LC meeting 20/9/23, 22/11/23, 19/3/24

Melissa Williams

Postion of responsibility

Chair of Governors,

Deputy Safeguarding Governor,

Behaviour,

Staff workload & wellbeing

Parent

Parents

14/12/20

Attended LC meeting 20/9/23, 22/11/23, 19/3/24

Andrea Todd

Postion of responsibility

Inclusion, SEN & Pupil Premium Link
Governor

Parent

Parents

14/12/20

Attended LC meeting 20/9/23, 22/11/23, 19/3/24

Nidhi
Misri

Postion of responsibility

Vice Chair of Governors, Health & safety

Co-opted

Trust

23/03/20

Attended LC meeting 20/9/23, 22/11/23, 19/3/24

Srinivasan Lyengar

Postion of responsibility

Physical learning environment

Co-opted

Trust

29/06/21

Attended LC meeting 20/9/23, 22/11/23, 19/3/24

Natasha Nardell

Postion of responsibility

Safeguarding Link Governor

Co-opted

Trust

29/06/21

Attended LC meeting 20/9/23, 22/11/23, 19/3/24

Shahid Chowdhury

Postion of responsibility

Finance Link Governor

Co-opted

Trust

02/12/22

Attended LC meeting 20/9/23, 22/11/23, 19/3/24

Norman Dunn

Postion of responsibility

Teaching & learning

Co-opted

Trust

08/06/23

Attended LC meeting 20/9/23, 22/11/23, 19/3/24

Michelle Rondeau

 

Staff

Staff

23/11/20

Attended LC meeting 20/9/23, 22/11/23, 19/3/24

Kate Duncan

 

Staff

Staff

01/10/20

Attended LC meeting 20/9/23, 22/11/23, 19/3/24

Governors Declarations

GOVERNOR’S NAME

BUSINESS / PECUNIARY INTERESTS

OTHER GOVERNANCE ROLES IN OTHER EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT

MATERIAL INTERESTS ARISING FROM RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN GOVERNORS or GOVERNORS AND SCHOOL STAFF

Nidhi Misri

None

None

None

Kate Duncan

None

None

Sister to Barrow Hedges teacher / Parent to a child attending the school

Louise Wood

None

Yes - undisclosed for safeguarding/data protection reasons

None

Michelle Rondeau

None

None

None

Melissa Williams

None

None

None

Andrea Todd

None

None

None

Chantel Dyason

None

None

None

Srinivasan Iyengar

None

None

None

Natasha Nardell

None

None

None

How to contact the Chair of Governors

School address: Barrow Hedges Primary School, Harbury Road, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 4LA

(Chair of Governors)

Telephone
020 8643 4428

General enquiries 

020 8643 4428

Governance arrangements for Cirrus Primary Academy Trust

https://www.cirrustrust.uk/topic/governance

Our meeting dates for 2023/2024

Wednesday 20th September 2023 (6.30pm)

Wednesday 22nd November 2023 (6.30pm)

Tuesday 19th March 2024 (6.30pm)

Monday 1st July 2024 (4pm)