Governors

All schools in England have a Governing Body which is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions of the school. A key role is to act as a ‘critical friend’: to support, to challenge, to ask questions, ultimately to represent the school community.

The Governing Body works in close partnership with the headteacher, staff and the local authority. Whilst the headteacher is, of course, responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are involved with such things as staffing, curriculum, school buildings and finance. It ensures the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives.

 

Priory Junior School's Financial Information
 
Please click here to find the latest information about the school's finances.
 

Join in

All governors to a school’s Governing Body must be elected or appointed.

If you want to be part of Priory Junior School’s Governing Body please enquire about any vacancies.

Contact Stephen Hardy shardy@priory.cambs.sch.uk, the Chair of Governors, or Tracy Keefe, the Headteacher.

 

Who We Are

In March 2020 the governing body elected to reconstitute, in keeping with statutory guidance from the Department for Education. We took this decision as it allowed us to change the numbers and types of governors we have and to appoint more people on the basis of the skills they could bring.

The governing body now consists of:

  • The Headteacher
  • One elected staff governor
  • One appointed local authority governor
  • Five elected parent governors
  • Four co-opted governors

The standard term of office for a governor is four years. The Chair and Vice-Chair are elected annually at the first meeting of the academic year.

The Chair of Governors is Mr Stephen Hardy, who can be contacted via the school office or directly via email at: shardy@priory.cambs.sch.uk

Much of the work of the governing body is done by committees. At Priory Junior School, we have the following committees:

  • Resources
  • Teaching and Learning
  • Pay Review

 

The governing body of Priory Junior School membership is as follows:

 

Name Committees Governor Category Appointment Date Term Ends Business Interests Governor at other Schools Relationships with governors or staff
Stephen Hardy
Chair of Governors
Teaching and Learning  (Chair)
Resources
Salary Review
Co-opted
11/03/2023
Governing Board
10/03/2027 None No None
Rachel Coe
Vice Chair
Resources (Chair)
Salary Review (Chair)
HT Appraisal (Chair)
Local Authority
31/01/2023
Governing Board
30/01/2027 None No None
Emma Welch Curriculum and Standards Co-opted
21/09/2022
Governing Board
19/09/2024 Member of Staff No None
Simon Evans
Resources
Teaching & Learning
HT's appraisal
Salary Review
Parent
15/10/2021
Elected
14/10/2025 None No None
Joy Thornhill-Brooks   Parent
01/12/2023
Elected
30/11/2027 None No None
Paul Gray
Resources 
HT’s Appraisal
Parent
15/10/2021
Elected
14/10/2025 Director - Hathaway Gray Financial Advice No None
Suzanne Buckley  Curriculum and Standards (Vice Chair) Parent
14/10/2022 Elected
13/10/2026 UCL Associate Professor No None
Simon Flint
 • Curriculum and Standards
• Resources
Parent
27/03/2023
Elected
26/03/2027 None No None
Tracy Keefe
Headteacher
Resources
Teaching and Learning
Salary Review
N/A
01/08/2002
Appointed HT
N/A Member of Staff No None
Richard Walmsley   Clerk N/A N/A None No None