Our Governors
Find out about our Governing Board and meet the Governors
Governors
Our Governing Board consists of elected parents, members of the local community, Local Authority representatives and school staff. Parents elect our parent governors, the Local Authority (LA) appoints our one LA governor and staff elect the one staff member. The Headteacher is also part of the Governing Board and the school currently has 8 co-opted Governors from the local community.
The Governing Board has the responsibility of monitoring all aspects of school standards. This is a strategic role and we operate and make decisions as a group; no one governor has the power to make decisions.
What is the Governing Board responsible for?
In state schools the Governing Board has responsibility for raising school standards through three core strategic functions of:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
What is the Headteacher responsible for?
- Day-to-day management of the school. The role of the Governing Board is to provide strategic management, and to act as a "critical friend", supporting the work of the Headteacher and other staff.
How does the Governing Board work?
- We have a committee structure to undertake our monitoring and evaluation roles. Membership and Terms of Reference of committees are determined annually in the Autumn term and each committee meets at least once per term. We have three main committees:
- Finance and Premises Committee, which includes Health and Safety matters,
- Curriculum and Standards Committee
- Personnel, Admissions and Pay Review Committee
- The full Governing Board also meets once each term. The agenda usually includes the Headteacher’s Report to Governors, committees reports, presentation of recommendations when approval by the full Governing Board is required, new business to consider e.g. advice from the Local Authority for a school policy and specific governor reports.
What is expected of an individual governor?
The role of governor is largely a thinking and questioning role, not a doing role. In order to perform this role well, a governor is expected to:
- get to know the school, including by visiting the school occasionally during school hours, and gain a good understanding of the school’s strengths and weaknesses;
- attend induction training and regular relevant training and development events;
- attend meetings (full governing board and committee meetings) and read all the papers before the meeting;
- act in the best interest of all the pupils of the school; and
- behave in a professional manner, as set down in the governing board’s code of conduct, including acting in strict confidence.
You can contact the Governors via the following e-mail address:
Meet our Governors
Carole Green – Co-opted Governor & Chair of the Governing Board
I have been a governor at Aston Clinton School since 1999 starting as a parent governor, now a co-opted governor, and I am Chair of the Governing Board and Chair of the Finance Committee. I live in the village and my two daughters attended the school from reception class onwards and have now finished university!
I worked in banking in the City of London for over 30 years in a variety of roles, including project management. I now work part time as a governance professional and bring a range of skills, knowledge and experience to the Governing Board. Over the years I have seen the school grow with many exciting developments and as Chair and a governor, I want the Governing Board to play its part in supporting the school's vision to provide an outstanding education experience for all children.
Sean Hayward – Co-opted Governor
I joined the Governing Board in November 2019. I retired at the end of 2018 from a position of International Procurement and Ship Chartering. I am married to a now retired Maths and Film studies teacher (ex Tring Park). We have lived in Aston Clinton for 30 years and had two children attend Aston Clinton School and now have two grandchildren attending the school, with a third at Aston Clinton pre-school.
My being a school governor is founded on a strong community interest and I hope to be able to apply my business experience to support and strengthen the schools ongoing position and development.
Jenny Stark – Co-opted Governor
I have lived in Aston Clinton for 21 years and have 2 grown up children, both of whom were educated locally. I recently retired as Head of Employee Relations at a large housing group. I joined the Governing Board in June 2019.
Pete Abdey – Parent Governor
I am a Parent Governor appointed in November 2020. I live in Aston Clinton and I’ve lived in the surrounding area for over 30 years. My youngest child is in the Year 1 and I have a range experiences of the local school system from the perspective of a parent for over 15 years. I work as a Human Resources (HR) leader in companies from a range of sectors (currently TK Maxx and Homesense), much of my time has been focused on improving the performance of my team’s services. I work part-time, so have the time needed to be an active member of the Board of Governors.
Rebecca Taylor – Parent Governor
I am a Parent Governor appointed in October 2020. I have taught History in state secondary schools for the last twenty years, including spending ten of these as a Head of Department and I hope to be able to help support Aston Clinton school as it develops over the next few years.
I have two children at Aston Clinton School in Year 2 and Year 4. My motivation for becoming a parent governor was to become more actively engaged with the school as it negotiates the existing challenges of OFSTED targets and the new ones presented by Covid 19. Every child, with no exception, deserves to benefit from that delicate balance of support and challenge which I now hope to play a part in facilitating.
Katherine Cole – Staff Governor
I joined the Governing Board in November 2020 and I am a Deputy Headteacher at the school.
Carol Macdonald – Headteacher
Keith Armstrong – Co-opted Governor
I became a governor in June 2021. I am currently working as a School Business Leader within a Junior School in Watford with 360 children. I am responsible for the Financial Strategy and Control, the Health & Safety Management of the premises, the Human Resources Management of all services, the sustainable development of the premises and grounds, and all aspects of ICT development and management plus the administration control within the School. I have also worked as a Business Consultant at other Herts Schools and carried out various roles in educational settings.
I moved to Aston Clinton in July 2010 with my family and enjoy the village and local community. I became a governor as I wanted to become more involved in the local community and offer my skill set and experience to support the village school.
Katy Coats – Co-opted Governor
I became a governor in June 2021. I am currently working as a police officer in the Metropolitan Police Service. I have a huge interest in the welfare and education of children and the majority of my police service has involved safeguarding and protection. I feel that education is incredibly important to ensure children are given the best opportunities to grow and develop. I have an understanding of the demands and challenges faced by the public sector and how to overcome these and provide the best possible service.
I have lived in the village for over 10 years and enjoy being part of the community and church. I became a governor as I wanted to give something back and help the community school.
Sophie Fanshawe – Co-opted Governor
I am a newly appointed governor for the school, having been on the board since June 2021. My partner and I moved to Aston Clinton just over a year ago (along with our puppy!), and I am really excited to become involved in supporting the local school. During the week I work as an educational psychologist so volunteering as a governor fits well with my professional role.
Christine Moxham – Co-opted Governor
I became a governor in June 2021. Having moved to Aston Clinton in February 2021, I wanted to be an active member of the local community. I am a Montessori trained teacher and I have worked in residential social work. I retired from the pharmaceutical industry in 2017 and my roles included training and people management. I hope to use my skills and experience to support the school, its staff and pupils.
Louis Redding – Co-opted Governor
I became a governor in June 2021. I am a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Quality Professional, Registered Stem Ambassador, and CQI Mentor working for the Nuclear Sector and also retain a Visiting Fellowship of Cranfield University. I currently live in Aylesbury town centre and I have been a member of St Michael's Church (Aston Clinton) Church Fellowship for over eight years and regularly attend weekly evensong. Originally from Stourbridge in the West Midlands where I was a School Governor at both Primary and Secondary School Levels until I moved to Aylesbury eight years ago.
I believe in promoting the best experience and opportunities for children who are our future. I became a governor as I wanted offer my skill set and experience to support the village school.
Hannah Brunning
I became a governor in April 2022.
