Governors

Our Governors have an important role in our school. They meet regularly in full governing body meetings to lead and manage our school, but they are also regularly seen helping in school and at school events, as well as overseeing and monitoring school development. Governors regularly attend training relevant to their roles and offer support for all aspects of school life.

Our Governing Body has twelve members, who are proposed and elected by various interests. This board is made up of two Parent Governors who are voted for by parents and carers of the children in school, one Local Authority Governor, one Staff Governor and the remaining Governors are Foundation Governors and the head teacher of the school. The Chair and Vice-Chair are elected annually at the first meeting of the year in September. The minutes of Governing Body meetings, with the exception of matters deemed confidential, are available on request to the Clerk to the Governors on governors@bothel.cumbria.sch.uk . Declaration of Business Interests forms are completed annually and declarations of interest are also declared at the start of each meeting.

We currently hold six full governors meetings per year and do not hold separate sub-committee meetings, although an Appeals Committee may also be drawn from available Governors depending on circumstances and if the situation arises.

Mrs Clare Macaulay is the Chair of the Governing Body. You are able to contact Clare, via email, at: admin@bothel.cumbria.sch.uk and mark your email for the attention of the Chair of Governors.

Instrument of Government

Governor Code of Conduct and Role Descriptions

Our Full Governing Board:

Mrs Clare Macaulay - Chair of Governors and Parent Governor

Reverend Stephen Banks - Vice Chair of governors and Foundation Governor (ex-officio)

Mrs Polly Page - Head teacher (ex-officio)

Sandra Hillyard - Foundation Governor and SEND Governor

Mrs Gillian Marr - Foundation Governor

Mrs Gayle Fennell - Staff Governor

Mrs Jill Perry - LA Governor

Mrs Carol Marr - Foundation Governor

Vacancy - Parent Governor

Vacancy - Foundation Governor

Clerk to the Governors - Vacancy

Full Governing Board Meeting Attendance Register:

Full Governors

Role

Start of Term

End of Term

19/09/24

26/11/24

18/3/25

20/05/25

08/07/25

30/09/25

25/11/25

Declaration of Interests

Mrs Polly Page

Head

Ex-officio

Present

Employed as head teacher

Mr Neil Milligan

Foundation

08/07/22

07/07/26

Present

N/A

None

Revd Stephen Banks

Foundation

Ex-officio

Present

Also Governor at Plumbland, Ireby and Boltons Schools

Mrs Gillian Marr

Foundation

08/02/18

07/02/26

Present

Related to school administrator

Mrs Clare Macaulay

Parent

15/09/22

14/09/26

Present

None

Mrs Gayle Fennell

Staff

17/04/23

16/04/27

Apologies

Present

Apologies

Present

Employed as teacher

Mrs Sandra Hillyard

Foundation

14/10/24

15/10/28

N/A

Present

Apologies

Present

Admin for Binsey Mission Community

Mrs Gill Perry

Local Authority

20/05/25

19/5/29

N/A

Present

None

Mrs Carol Marr

Foundation

25/11/25

24/11/29

N/A

Present

Employed as odffice administrator

Meeting Clerked by:

Julie Gibson

Clare Macaualay

Clare Macaulay

None

Mrs L Bowe stood down as parent governor in October 2023.

Miss L Gibson's term of office expired in April 2023.

Mrs Nicola Storey stood down as LA Governor in July 2024.

Mrs Elizabeth Armstrong's term of office expired in August 2024.

Mr Neil Milligan stood down as foundation governor in May 2025

Governing Body Diversity Data

As a Governing Body, we have a duty to recognise that diverse thoughts, voices and perspectives are essential to good governance and the effective running of any organisation.

We believe it is important that our Governing Body reflects the diversity of the school communities which we serve. Diverse boards promote inclusive school environments and provide diverse role models for staff and children.

The governors are currently gathering data on the diversity of our governors, including data on age, gender and ethnicity. We will use that data to inform recruitment and training needs and ensure there is always a diverse range of perspectives around the table to support robust decision making.

We do not publish any diversity information that may disclose personal information about individual governors. This is due to our legal obligation to protect their personal data.