School Governors have an important and responsible role in the management of schools. The Governing Body meet regularly to discuss issues and plan strategy for the school. The “behind the scenes” roles are vital for the school to progress and improve.

All governors are encouraged to play an active and participating role. The governors are drawn from all walks of life and represent the local community, parents and political parties.

The structure of the Governing Body is as follows:

Category                                               No. of Seats                  Appointed            Vacancies                             

Co-opted Representatives:                         5                                     5                                 0

Head Teacher                                             1                                     1                                 0

LA Representatives                                    1                                     1                                 0

Parent Representatives                              4                                     4                                 0

Staff Governor Representative                   1                                     1                                 0

Horsforth Featherbank School Governing Board

Chair: John Millar           Vice Chair: Marc Eatough

The constitution of the governing board is: 

• Headteacher

• 1 x Local Authority (LA) governor, recommended by the LA and approved by the governing board

• 4 parent governors, formally elected through a ballot of parents unless the election is uncontested

• 5 co-opted governors, nominated and appointed by the governing board

• 1 staff governor, formally elected by staff employed at school

• 1 associate members, appointed by the governing board (can/can not vote in committee meetings)

The governing board operates with the following committees:

• Resources committee - responsible for staffing including the appointment and role of the SENCO, equality and diversity, finance, property management, health and safety and nutritional standards. 

Committee chair: Marc Eatough

• Teaching and learning & Pupil support committee  - responsible for teaching and learning matters including target setting, standards and achievement, SEN (including reporting annually on the success of the SEN policy),  monitoring teaching and learning and curriculum provision and ensuring that the governing board is represented at school improvement. Also responsible for behaviour, safeguarding, attendance, children’s spiritual moral social and cultural development, children, parent and staff voice, extra-curricular activities, cluster and other partnerships. 

Committee chair: Chantel Horsbrough

• Pay Review committee – responsible for ensuring the implementation of the school Pay Policy and Teacher Appraisal Policy (responsibility delegated to Headteacher through Resources committee)

• Pay Appeal committee – responsible for hearing pay appeals and ensuring a fair and proper process has been followed.

Current Governors

Current and recent (in the last 12 months) governors and business/other interests declared are provided in the table below.  

Previous Governors

Attendance at meetings 2020 - 21

Y - in attendance

N - not in attendance & no apologies received / accepted

A - apologies received & accepted

X - not in post / not a member

Attendance at meetings 2019-2020

Y - in attendance

N - not in attendance & no apologies received / accepted

A - apologies received & accepted

X - not in post / not a member

Attendance at meetings 2018-2019

Y - in attendance

N - not in attendance & no apologies received / accepted

A - apologies received & accepted

X - not in post / not a member

I was co-opted as a Governor in October 2019. I have always been passionate about the environment, and have a degree in Environmental Studies. I trained as a teacher when our daughters were young (including a teaching practice at Featherbank in the early 1990s). We moved to Horsforth over 20 years ago and my younger daughter spent Year 2 at Featherbank. I spent 10 years teaching in primary schools before moving into prison education and then managing Lineham Farm, a children's residential outdoor education centre just outside Leeds. I also volunteered at a Rainbow unit (Girlguiding) for 16 years. When my husband died suddenly 4 years ago I decided to retire and have become involved in many community groups in Horsforth. I run Horsforth Community Cafe and help with Horsforth in Bloom, Friends of Hunger Hills Woods, Friends of Horsforth Hall Park and the Walk of Art. I also now have 2 young granddaughters and try to get away for walking holidays in my camper van whenever I can.

I am keen to support such an excellent school and to help it continue to develop in the interests of all the children.

Having the opportunity to be a Parent Governor is an honour at such a fantastic school. My son has just started Reception last September and although we’re currently in challenging times, I love being more involved with his education and contribute to the school as a whole.

My background is management and includes people, account and service delivery and so I have a variety of transferable skills across several industries including telecoms, health and currently, software.

I’ve lived in Leeds for most my life, originally from Portsmouth and have lived in Horsforth since 2014.

Spare time is usually spent with family and friends on walks or days out, rules permitting! I also enjoy reading or binge watching a good box set!