Governors

The Governing Body warmly welcomes you to the Churcham Primary School website.

Our governors work hard to support the Headteacher, staff and pupils, ensuring that Churcham Primary School provides the best possible education and prepares children for life in modern Britain. School governors are volunteers who want to make a positive difference to children’s education. Together with the Headteacher, they help set the strategic direction of the school, oversee the use of the school’s budget and make collective decisions on key matters such as policies and the school development plan. Governors also act as a critical friend, offering both support and challenge.

Members of the Governing Body are appointed by the local authority, the community and parents. All our governors bring a wide range of skills and experience from their own careers and responsibilities. Some are able to visit the school regularly, while others contribute financial, legal, strategic or practical expertise. Every governor is valued for the commitment they bring to our school.

Alongside their shared desire to support Churcham, governors also have statutory duties. They are legally responsible for areas including teaching and learning, safeguarding, health and safety, staffing, premises, and ensuring financial accountability and sustainability. The full Governing Body meets once every term, and two committees meet regularly to focus on specific areas of school leadership:

  • Teaching & Learning Committee

  • Resources Committee

Resources Committee – Remit

The Resources Committee is responsible for overseeing the school’s financial management, staffing, premises and health & safety. Its remit includes:

  • monitoring and approving the school budget

  • ensuring financial probity and compliance with the Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS)

  • overseeing staffing structure, recruitment and HR matters

  • monitoring the impact and sustainability of staffing decisions

  • overseeing premises, site security and health & safety compliance

  • ensuring statutory policies relating to finance, HR and premises are reviewed and up to date

  • monitoring risk management and ensuring appropriate controls are in place

This committee ensures the school uses its resources efficiently, safely and in the best interests of pupils.

Teaching & Learning Committee – Remit

The Teaching & Learning Committee is responsible for monitoring the quality of education, pupil outcomes and safeguarding. Its remit includes:

  • monitoring the curriculum, teaching quality and learning provision

  • reviewing pupil progress and attainment across all groups

  • ensuring the school meets statutory curriculum requirements

  • overseeing SEND provision and inclusion

  • monitoring safeguarding arrangements and compliance with Keeping Children Safe in Education

  • reviewing behaviour, attendance and personal development

  • ensuring statutory policies relating to teaching, learning, safeguarding and inclusion are reviewed and up to date

  • monitoring the impact of school improvement priorities

This committee ensures the school provides a high‑quality, safe and inclusive education for all pupils.

Full Governing Body

The Full Governing Body:

  • sets the school’s strategic direction

  • approves key policies

  • monitors overall performance

  • ensures statutory duties are met

  • holds the Headteacher to account for educational and safeguarding outcomes

  • ensures financial and resource decisions support the school’s priorities

If you have any concerns or matters you would like to discuss, please contact the Chair of Governors or any member of the Governing Body.

Churcham Primary School Governing Body Membership:

For full details of governing body membership, responsiblities, attendance and register of interests see below:

Meet our governors:

Mark Davies – Headteacher

I started as Headteacher at Churcham Primary School in January 2025. I joined the school from a small rural school in Gloucestershire where I was previously Deputy Headteacher. I am passionate about ensuring all children are safe, happy and are supported in fulfilling their full potential. When I'm not in school, I love to spend time with my family, enjoy a variety of sports and continuing to expand my lego collection!

Roles: Headteacher, member of Teaching & Learning Committee and Resources Committee

John Cutter - Parent Governor

Roles: Co-Chair of Governors, Teaching & Learning Committee member, Safeguarding lead

Matt Hart – Parent Governor

I became a Parent Governor at Churcham Primary School in April 2022. Growing up in nearby Minsterworth, I attended Minsterworth Primary School and have fond memories of participating in sport days and other events at Churcham Primary School. I am an Executive Director of a scientific consultancy and have previously worked in both public and private sectors in a variety of roles across the UK. Although I have never worked in education, I have a range of transferable skills and experience that I hope will benefit the school and allow me to make a meaningful contribution from the outset. I am passionate about our community and delighted to have been given the opportunity to support the continued success of Churcham Primary School. In my spare time I enjoy being out and about in the countryside and (as for long as my knees and shoulders allow) coaching and playing for a local rugby team.

Roles: Vice Chair of Governors, Resources Committee member, Health & Safety lead

Roger Ingham - Co-opted Governor

Roles: Co-Chair of Governors, Resources Committee Chair, member of Teaching & Learning Committee, GDPR lead

Rebecca Dodd - Staff Governor

I started at Churcham Primary School in September 2024 and have enjoyed every minute so far. I am the class teacher of Year 3 and 4 in the mornings and then do PPA cover in Class 1 and for the whole of Class 2. I thoroughly enjoy working across the school as it allows me time with different children and in the afternoons seeing their creative side. At home you will often find me in my kitchen baking tasty treats or spending time relaxing with my cat, Sooty. 

Roles: Teaching & Learning Committee member

Glen Balmer - Local Authority Appointed Governor

Roles: Governor, member of Teaching & Learning Committee.

John Francis - Governor

I have recently been appointed Local government representative in the role of Churcham School Governor. I’m looking forward to this and providing input and guidance as we move forward in the development of the school. I have been Chairman of Churcham Parish Council for over 10 years and am also District councillor for Longhope, Huntley, Tibberton and Churcham.I have been fortunate enough to marry into a long established Churcham family: we have a fifth generation now living at the family home and my wife attended Churcham school in the dim and distant past.  I have worked in senior management in the UK and abroad over the years including working for central government in education where my remit included management of the National Grid for Learning, Computers for Teachers and the Inclusion service. I have also run my own business in print and media before retraining in my latter years to be a plumber working locally. As for my hobbies, I enjoy restoring vintage vehicles and a bit of sailing when time allows.

Roles: Governor, member of Resources Committee.