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Welcome From The Governors

Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards. The role of the Governing Body is key to the effectiveness of our school.

The Governing Body at Mudeford Infants School exists to support and contribute to the strategic development plan of our school. Whilst the Headteacher is responsible for the day-to-day management and leadership of the school, the Governing Body are involved with overseeing the curriculum, pupil welfare, premises, personnel and school finances at a strategic level. The best description of a Governor is a ‘critical friend’. We support the school and its management but we also challenge by asking probing questions.

Our Governing Body currently have 11 members,  the full Governing Body meets at least once every term. We also have two sub-committees that meet regularly – Resources, and Learning. Each Governor is assigned to one of these, depending on their area of interest and/or expertise. All Governors are informed about what happens at these sub-committee meetings.

There are several categories of Governor, appointed by different groups that have an interest in the school. These are Community governors, the Local Authority (“LA”), Parents, and Staff. All Governors have equal status, however they are appointed.

We attend training sessions to keep us up to date with changes in schools and education, and to help us do our job effectively. We also go into school to meet with the Headteacher, other members of staff, and pupils, to help us find out how the school is progressing towards its targets.

The Role of The Governing Body at Mudeford Infants
The governing body fulfils a largely strategic and good governance role in the running of the school.

It’s main functions are:

  1. To establish a strategic framework to clearly define the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction by:
    Setting the aims and objectives of the school;
    Developing policies to achieve those aims and objectives;
    Setting targets to ensure those aims and objectives are met.
  2. To monitor and evaluate progress towards the achievement of its aims and objectives, and regularly review the strategic framework for the school in light of that progress. In establishing and monitoring the strategic framework, the governing body considers any advice given by the headteacher and must comply with any trust deed relating to the school.
  3. To ensure the sound, proper and effective use of the school’s financial resources.
  4. To act as a critical friend to the headteacher: it will support the headteacher, offer constructive criticism, and hold the headteacher to account to ensure that they meet their responsibilities for the educational performance of the school.
Governors Strategic Vision
The school will provide the very highest standard of education that will prepare the children for the next stage of their learning. Sound financial planning will enable the school to serve its community and to continue to innovate and develop its educational provision.

The Governing Body will measure the progress of the school achieving this aim by the use of the following statements:

  • 90% of children will make at least expected progress in reading, writing and maths.
  • Pupil attainment will be at least in line with the national average and mostly above in reading, writing and maths (although the Governing Body recognises the potential for cohort reflected dips).
  • The school will continue to serve and to be involved in its local community.
  • The Governing Body will continue to develop its role of effectively challenging and supporting the school.
  • We will continue to create a positive and supportive working environment for staff and pupils.
  • We will continue to ensure children are happy and engaged at school. Their personal development will be nurtured, and they will be encouraged to gain an understanding of their rights and responsibilities as global citizens.
  • A broad, well balanced child centred curriculum will be delivered in a cross curricular topic based approach.
  • Pupils’ good behaviour will be maintained through consistently high quality teaching, excellent staff-pupil relationships and clear procedures.
  • Effective use of resources will allow the school to give pupils the best possible education on a long term basis.
  • Governors will use a range of tools to understand the views of parents.
Meet The Governors

 

Frank Paines – Chair of Governors (Co-opted Governor)

I’ve been a governor at Mudeford Infants School for a number of years, my eldest was in year 2 when I first became a governor and he’s now left home and got married.  My years in the school have given me the opportunity to work with 3 head teachers and to gain a detailed understanding of all aspects of the school and the responsibilities of being a Governor.  In my day job I’m a Project Manager working on major programmes; my experiences in industry are the basis of the skills I bring to the Governing Body.

 

Nic Stevenson – Vice Chair of Governors  (Parent Governor) 

Having grown up in Mudeford, and moved away for university and then work, my family and I moved back to Mudeford in 2018, and my son Eddy started at the Infant School in 2019. Although he has now moved on to the Juniors, I wanted to continue to support the school, its teachers and the wonderful children there. Professionally I worked as Head of Strategy for the UK’s aviation regulator, and bring experience of strategy, policy-development, engagement and government to the governors. I’m a very keen cyclist and love the outdoors – weekends and spare time usually find me in the forest or at the beach, either on two wheels or with the dog.

 

Daniel Pope – Headteacher

I began my teaching career in 2007 at a Primary school in Surrey before leaving to become Deputy Head Teacher here at Mudeford Infants School in 2011.  I then went to be Deputy Head Teacher of Hill View Primary school in Bournemouth before returning to be Head Teacher at this wonderful school in February 2017.  I wholeheartedly seek to make a positive contribution to the education and lives of the children in our community.  Away from school, I really enjoy running and you will more often than not find me at a Parkrun somewhere every Saturday!   I love spending time with my children and family and enjoy competing in various ways with my friends.

 

Emily Harvey  (Co-opted Governor)

I have been involved with Mudeford Infants for a number of years as an associate and then co-opted governor and as a parent of two boys who have recently attended the school. I bring 15 years’ experience as a property solicitor to the Governing Body and regularly dealt with the public sector during my career, acting for or liaising with schools, local authorities and central government bodies. I live locally in Mudeford and enjoy getting out on the water on kayaks and paddleboards with my young family.

 

Sarah Church  (Parent Governor)

I grew up in Mudeford, attended Mudeford Infants School and been local to the area my whole life.  I now have a son who started the school this year and my youngest will attend in a few years’ time.  Outside of work, I enjoy outdoor adventures with my family especially camping in our VW camper. For a profession, I am a Housing Enforcement Officer for a local government and keen to use my transferable skills in the governor’s role.   I am looking forward to working with the team in supporting the school.

 

Maddie Mulcahy

I moved to Dorset from Windsor in Berkshire in 2001 and consider Dorset to be my home as this is where I have mostly grown up.  After I left school I attended Bournemouth Arts University and gained a diploma in art before going on to study 3D Design at Bath Spa University.  I decided that I wanted to become a teacher and started working as a TA at my local first school in Cranborne before training to be a teacher where I then qualified as an NQT in 2018.  I have worked at Mudeford Infants School since and I am very passionate about the children, their development and their growth within the school and their general wellbeing.  I love listening to the daily chat from the children and I am so proud at the end of the school year to see the progress the children have achieved.   In my spare time I love spending time with my husband and our dog, Bruce, and my family.  I enjoy cooking, walking and travelling and going to the theatre.

Julie Sims (Parent Governor)

Our family moved to Christchurch from Canada in 2015.  My youngest son attends Mudeford Infant School, as did his older brother.  Their dad and grandad also attended!  I love the warmth and community spirit of this school and am pleased for the opportunity to contribute as a parent governor.  I have experience as an environmental educator and ecologist.  Currently I work on a bird conservation project on the Solent coast.  Our family love spending time outdoors; watching the boys climb trees or explore our local nature reserve is one of my favourite things to do.

Leanne Shuttleworth  (Parent Governor)

Dimitrios Pegioudis  (Co-opted Governor)

Lucy Brown (Co-opted Governor)

Matthew Rippon (Parent Governor)

John Churchill (Associate Governor)

Caroline Watkins (Associate Governor)

Any of the governors can be reached by e-mail at  governors@mudefordinf.dorset.sch.uk