The Governing body

The Governing Body (also known as the Full Governing Body) acts as an important link between the school, parents / carers and the local community so that the school can grow from strength to strength every single year.

The three main functions of the Governing Body are to:

- provide strategic leadership

- act as a critical friend

- monitor and gather evidence to show what progress has been made towards the school development plan

The School Governance (Roles, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013 says that "the 'board of governors’ should operate at a strategic level, leaving the head teacher and senior school leaders responsible and accountable to it for the operational day-to-day running of the school.  The board should avoid its time being consumed with issues of secondary importance.

To carry out their strategic functions, the governors attend meetings at least termly and complete activities such as learning walks and pupil perception interviews.  Our governors come from a range of backgrounds but all have a vested interest in the school's progression. 

We have an instrument of government which outlines the key principles of the governing body's remit and the overall vision for the school. This is read and agreed with at the beginning of each academic year. 

Fordham C of E Constitution

Standards Terms of Reference 

Resources Terms of Reference

We warmly welcome your comments and feedback about our school and, as parents, your involvement with the Governing Body. If you would like to contact any of our governors, please contact Mrs. Wells, our Clerk of Governors, who will happily support your request:

Telephone: 01638 720296              Email:  clerk@fordham.cambs.sch.uk 

Our Chair of Governors, Laura Cox-Watson, is also available. Her email address is: chair@fordham.cambs.sch.uk

Please see below full details of our current Governing Body. Click on the picture to find out more about them.

• Mrs. L. Cox-Watson
  Chair of Governors
  Mrs. L. Cox-Watson

  Category: Foundation

  Appointing Body: ED

  Committees: Standards & Resources

  Other Functions: Chair of FGB; English, Phonics, RE, Pupil Premium and Inclusion Champion, LAC, Young Carers and Equality

  Favourite quote: 'Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light' Albus Dumbledore

  Favourite Children's book: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

  Person who inspires you the most: My Mum who is no longer with us but taught me many valuable life lessons.

  Lifelong ambition: Contentment and fulfilment for myself and my loved ones. And to go on a walking holiday!

  Favourite place visited: Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival

  Favourite memory from school: So many lovely memories but I will say nativity plays in the winter and playing rounders in the summer.

  Favourite food: Chocolate, especially Terry's Chocolate Orange!

• Mr. R. Seal
  Vice-Chair of Governors
  Mr. R. Seal

  Category: Co-Opted

  Appointing Body: GB

  Committees: Resources and Chair of Standards

  Other Functions: Vice-Chair of FGB; Chair of Standards; Data Working Party; Computing; PE; H&S link

• Mr. K. O'Connell
  Associate Governor
  Mr. K. O'Connell

  Category: Associate

  Appointing Body: GB

  Committees: Standards

  Favourite Quote: Education is all about two things, the parents and the teachers working together, with the child in the centre.

  Favourite children's book: Non-Fiction - I have only ever taken to books that allow me to absorb information.

  Person who inspires you the most: Brian Downey - Thin Lizzy

  Lifelong ambition/goal: To complete my autobiography for my children.

  Favourite place visited: 4-week  honeymoon in Wales

  Favourite memory from school: Skiing Trip to Italy

  Favourite food: Fish

• Mr. S. Moffat
  Co-Opted
  Mr. S. Moffat

  Category: Co-Opted

  Appointing Body: GB

  Committees: Resources

  Other Functions: DT and Science

  Favourite Quote: "The more I practice the luckier I get" and "It's better to be lucky than smart."

  Favourite Children's Book: 'Whatamess' series by Frank Muir

  Person who inspires you the most: Captain Tom Moore

  Favourite Place: Zion Canyon National Park, Utah, USA

  Favourite Food: Any family sit down meal

• Mrs. I. Newport-Mangell
  Local Authority
  Mrs. I. Newport-Mangell

  Category:Local Authority

  Appointing Body:LA

  Committees:Standards

  Other Functions: MFL and Music

• Mrs. S. Hacking
  Parent Governor
  Mrs. S. Hacking

  Category: Parent

  Appointing Body: AE

  Committees: Standards

  Other Functions: Appraisal; PSHCE, Early Years, Forest School

  Favourite quote:Honesty is the best policy

  Favourite Children's book:The Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson

  Person who inspires you the most:My Mum

  Lifelong ambition:To see the northern lights

  Favourite place visited:Lapland

  Favourite memory from school:Going on a school trip to London

  Favourite food:Pancakes

• Mr. B. Caves
  Parent Governor
  Mr. B. Caves

  Category: Parent Governor

  Appointing Body: PE

  Committees: Standards

  Other Functions: Curriculum, History and Training Link Governor

  Favourite quote When you eliminate the impossible whatever is left, no matter how improbable, must be the truth - Sherlock Holmes

  Favourite Children's book Danny the Champion of the World

  Person who inspires you the most Sir Ranulph Fiennes the explorer

  Lifelong ambition To travel round Japan

  Favourite place visited Tanzania on safari

  Favourite memory from school The build-up to Christmas

  Favourite food Indian food

• Mrs. K. Pettit
  Parent Governor
  Mrs. K. Pettit

  Category: Parent Governor

  Appointing Body: PE

  Committees: Resources

  Other Functions: Art and LGBTQ+

  Favourite quote: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has" Â Margaret Mead.

  Favourite Children's book Little Women

  Person who inspires you the most Ginger Rogers. People always talk about Fred Astaire but Ginger did everything Fred did, but backwards and in high heels.

  Lifelong ambition: To attend afternoon tea with The Queen.

  Favourite place visited Puglia, Italy

  Favourite memory from school: Being sent an unpublished manuscr1pt from the writer Adele Geras after she read one of my essays.

  Favourite food: You cannot beat toast and a cup of tea.

• Miss. D. Rankin
  Headteacher
  Miss. D. Rankin

  Category: Headteacher

  Appointing Body: GB

  Committees: FGB; Standards

• Mrs. C. Bramley
  Staff Governor
  Mrs. C. Bramley

  Category: Staff Governor

  Appointing Body: SE

  Committees: Standards

• Mrs. D. Shipp
  Fourndation
  Mrs. D. Shipp

  Category: Â Co-Opted Â

  Appointing Body: Â GB

  Committees: Â Standards

  Other Functions: Â Safeguarding and Maths, Pupil Premium and Inclusion champion, LAC, Young Carers and Equality

• Mr. D. Labeeb
  Co-Opted
  Mr. D. Labeeb

  Category: Â Co-Opted Â

  Appointing Body: Â GB

  Committees: Â Standards

  Other Functions: Â Safeguarding and Maths, Pupil Premium and Inclusion champion, LAC, Young Carers and Equality

• Mrs. J. Huffer
  Co-Opted
  Mrs. J. Huffer

  Category: Co-Opted

  Appointing Body: GB

  Committees: Resources

  Other Functions: JTA

• Mrs. C. George
  Co-Opted
  Mrs. C. George

Key:

LA - Local Authority

AE - Auto-elected (when there is a single parent applicant / nomination)

GB - Governing Body

ED - Ely Diocese / Fordham parish

PE - Parental election

SE - Staff election