St Michael's Woolmer GreenVA C of E School
'Shine as Lights in the World'
Governors
Welcome to our Governors’ section
Our Governing Body actively contributes its skills and expertise to provide strong strategic leadership to support and challenge the School in equal measure. Although this is a voluntary role, Governors have a vital role in ensuring the promotion of high standards of performance and ensuring that resources are well used.
We have two principal sub-committees: Finance and Resources and Learning and Pupil Progress. The responsibilities of the Finance and Resources Committee include, but are not limited to: Finance, Performance Related pay, Human Resources, Health and Safety, the School Buildings and site, Admissions, the Environment for Learning, Safeguarding. The responsibilities of the Learning and Pupil Progress Committee include, but are not limited to: Tracking and Monitoring of School Data, the Curriculum, Pupil Progress, the Quality of Teaching, Safeguarding, SEND, maintaining our Distinctive Christian Ethos. Both committees are involved with the reviewing and adopting of policies
Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories and terms of appointment for each Governor.
Name | Appointing Body | Term of Office | Committees | Link Areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Jan Martin | Head Teacher | Until superseded | Full Governing Body, Finance and Resource, Learning and Pupil Progress, Complaints. | Curriculum, Ofsted, External Advice. |
| Mrs Debbie May | PCC Governor * Chair of Governors | 17th September 2022 - 16th September 2026 | Full Governing Body, Learning and Pupil Progress, Finance and Resource, Admissions, Complaints. | Safeguarding, Early Years, SEND, Pupil Premium, LAC, Early Reading. |
| Mrs Gail Lumsden | PCC Governor * Chair of the Learning and Pupil Progress Committee. | 26th November 2021- 25th November 2025 | Full Governing Body, Learning and Pupil Progress, Complaints. | SIAMS and RE, Maths, Wellbeing. |
| Rev. Christie Gilfeather | PCC Governor * | 3rd July 2022 - 2nd July 2026 | Full Governing Body, Learning and Pupil Progress, Complaints. | Collective Worship. |
| Mrs Karen Wallace-Poultney | PCC Governor * | 18th January 2023 - 17th January 2027 | Full Governing Body, Learning and Pupil Progress, Admissions, Complaints. | Website. |
| Mrs Ashley Cordell | PCC Governor* | 4th December 2023 - 3rd December 2027 | Full Governing Body, Learning and Pupil Progress. | Geography, History, Art. |
| Rev. David Munchin | Ex Officio Governor * | Until superseded | Full Governing Body, Finance and Resource, Complaints. | SIAMS Advisory, Distinctive Christian Ethos, RE, Collective Worship. |
| Mrs Stella Dunlop | LEA Governor Chair of the Finance and Resource Committee. | 1st November 2022 - 31st October 2026 | Full Governing Body, Finance and Resource. | Website, Community Relationships, The Friends, Environmental Issues, Health and Safety, Buildings and Premises. |
Mrs Leah Peters | Staff Governor | 7th March 2022 - 6th March 2026 | Full Governing Body, Learning and Pupil Progress, Admissions. | Admissions, Interventions, Curriculum Days. |
| Mr Jay Nair | DBE Governor* | 23rd March 2023 - 22nd March 2027 | Full Governing Body, Finance and Resource. | Science. |
| Mr Chris Nicholls | Parent Governor | 3rd May 2024 - 2nd May 2028 | Learning and Pupil Progress Committee | |
| Mr James Bainbridge | Parent Governor | 3rd May 2024 - 2nd May 2028 | Finance and Resource Committee | |
| Mrs Abigail Seeley | Clerk to Governors | Until superseded | Full Governing Body, Finance and Resource, Learning and Pupil Progress, Complaints. | |
Governors Whose Term of Office Expired, or Who Retired in the Last 12 Months | ||||
| Mr Tawanda Hondora | Parent Governor | 5th December 2022 - 15th April 2024 | Full Governing Body, Finance and Resource. | Marketing. |
* Foundation Governors
Register of Interests
Below is a record of the register of interests of the Governing Body including business interests, details of any other educational establishments they govern and any personal relationships which may conflict with the individual's duties and authority.
| Name | Business | Financial | Personal | Relationships | Governorships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Jan Martin | None | None | None | None | None |
| Mrs Gail Lumsden | None | None | Supply teacher at a local primary school. | None | None |
| Mrs Debbie May | None | None | None | None | None |
| Rev. David Munchin | None | None | None | None | Chair of Governors at a local primary school. |
| Mrs Stella Dunlop | None | None | None | Parent of children at the School. | None |
| Mrs Ashley Cordell | None | None | Teacher at local primary school | Parent of children at the School. | None |
| Mrs Leah Peters | None | None | None | None | None |
| Mrs Karen Wallace-Poultney | None | None | SBM at a local primary school. | None | None |
| Mr Jay Nay | None | None | None | Parent of children at the School. | None |
| Rev. Christie Gilfeather | None | None | None | None | None |
| Mr Chris Nicholls | None | None | None | Parent of children at the School. | None |
| Mr James Bainbridge | None | None | None | None | None |
| Mrs Abigail Seeley | None | None | Learning Support Assistant at the School. | None | None |
Governor Attendance 2023-24
The figures below include Full Governor Body meetings, Finance & Resource Committee meetings and Learning & Pupil Progress committee meetings. For full details of this data please click on the link underneath.
| Governor | Number of Meetings Attended |
| Debbie May | 13/13 |
| Jan Martin | 13/13 |
| Gail Lumsden | 10/10 |
| Stella Dunlop | 9/10 |
| Rev. David Munchin | 5/10 |
| Ashley Cordell | 7/8 |
| Leah Peters | 6/7 |
| Rev. Christie Gilfeather | 5/8 |
| Karen Wallace-Poultney | 6/8 |
| Jay Nair | 8/10 |
| Chris Nicholls | 1/1 |
| James Bainbridge | 1/1 |
| Tawanda Hondora | 2/5 |
Governing Body Meeting Dates
Wellbeing at St Michael's Woolmer Green
The wellbeing and mental health of children and staff at St. Michael’s is of paramount importance to the Governors of the school, as is supporting the school in the provision needed for this, looking for wellbeing to be embedded in the curriculum and in other school activities. We support the Wellbeing policy and have a link governor for wellbeing; however, the governing body as a whole continually address and monitor wellbeing. This is done through link visits, conversations and communications, at any time, and in updates at the governor’s meetings. The school wellbeing lead is encouraged to communicate with us as she needs to.
We are confident that the systems in place within the school to provide a positive place of work and learning. This is led by the school vision, ’Shine as lights in the world’, places child and staff wellbeing as a priority and that the school responds at whatever level is needed to support anyone who needs it. These things can happen through, amongst other things, exploring spirituality, daily nurture, learning about the vision and values, ‘My personal best’, SEN provision, staff encouragement of each other, special wellbeing days and in seeking external support from appropriate providers.
Parent Questionnaire
Regularly, the parents are asked to complete a questionnaire that reflects the Ofsted standards. The responses are then analysed and presented to the parents by the Governors. Please see below for the most recent questionnaire results.
Recent Governor Visits
Academic Year 2024-2025
12th November - Early Years; Early Reading
11th November - Data Protection
8th November - PE
23rd October - SEND
18th October - Maths
18th October - RE
Academic Year 2023-2024
10th June - RE Visit
3rd May - EYFS
March - SIAMS
4th December - Collective Worship
Academic Year 2022-2023
27th June - Science.
20th June - Single Central Record.
20th June - First Aid.
3rd December - Winter Wonderland.
13th October - Art.
3rd October - Early Reading.
29th September - Maths.
Governor Communications
Governors report regularly to parents either by way of newsletters or presentations at parent consultations. Please see below for recent examples.
Business Plan Summary 2024
Collective Worship and Christmas Services
The governors have been delighted to attend, collective worship and special Christmas services this term, Autumn 2023.
As RE and SIAMs link governor I was pleased to attend a Monday morning collective worship in November 2023, led by Mrs Martin, where the theme was the current Christian value, Courage. The time together to worship was clearly special to the children; they all entered quietly and respectfully. The worship was started with a reference to the Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and was ended with a similar blessing. There is some amazing art work by the children in the reception area which has been inspired by their discussions of the Trinity which I recommend you look out for if you haven’t seen it already.
Through the telling of part of the story of Moses, Mrs Martin inspired the children to think of the times when they had needed to be courageous and how they could show similar courage to that of Moses, in school and in out of school situations.
As we came to pray there were many children who volunteered to lead us in prayer. It is very uplifting that our children are so confident to pray together and to form their own prayers.
On Monday 4th December 2023 I was delighted to attend the Key Stage 1 Nativity. It was an enthralling telling of the Nativity story in which the Year 1 and Year 2 children took part. There had clearly been a huge amount of preparation and practice by the children to produce such a polished performance of story telling and singing. The recorded narrations blended well with the stage action and the singing was that of a well-practised choir.; the costumes were absolutely wonderful. I would like to thank the teachers, Mrs Egerton and Mr Seery, and teaching assistants, Ms Greenwood and Mrs Edge, for the motivation and encouragement which they gave to the children. The production was very well supported by parents and carers who, like me, marvelled at the commitment and level of detail whilst enjoying a laugh along the way too.
Reception Class Nativity
I was delighted to be invited to the Nativity performance on Tuesday 12th December 2023 presented by our Reception children. The children sang, spoke, danced and played musical instruments in their 'Going on a Bear Hunt' inspired telling of the Christmas story. What a delight it was to witness the joy, not only that the children displayed in delivering their performance, but also that of parents, carers and families gathered to watch. The children showed such confidence in front of a large audience that filled the school hall. They were a credit to their parents and carers and the nurturing and motivational support that they are given by the class teacher, Mrs Peters and classroom assistant, Miss Wilson. It was truly an honour to see our youngest children shining so bright!
Carol Service
What a wonderful Carol service with KS2 – the children filtered into church superbly behaved and really sang their hearts out. The whole service was just so atmospheric and gorgeous - the lovely clear readings from year 6, the beautiful singing of Douce Nuit (Silent Night in French) and the superb singing and ukulele playing from years 3, 4 and 5. The service was then finished off with Gail, our governor, doing a lovely reading and some poems written and read by two year 6 children. I was lucky enough to attend both services and it was just as special the second time through.
How to contact the Governors
The Governors can be contacted directly using the email address chair@woolmergreen.herts.sch.uk