SCHOOL GOVERNORS

Do you care about children’s education or are you concerned about how a School is run and financed?

If you have some time to spare, are able to attend meetings (usually between 4pm-6pm) and can call into school during lesson times on various occasions, then why not become a School Governor at Mayflower Primary School and have some input in this important and rewarding role?  You will also be expected to attend Governor Training sessions either locally or at Colchester and read school policies etc. 

Whatever your background if you are interested, please contact the Chair of Governors, John Morgan via  email at admin@mayflower-pri.essex.sch.uk  to arrange an informal discussion.  At the moment, we are particularly keen to hear from potential Governors who have a background in finance and/or have an understanding of data and statistics and how to interpret these.

Our Governing Body

What is it?

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.

Who are we?

In September 2014 the governing body elected to reconstitute.  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

* Two elected parent governors

* 2 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 John Morgan who can be contacted via the school office.

 At The Mayflower Primary School, the Full Governing Body meet once per term with additional Committee meetings.

The governing body of The Mayflower Primary School is currently:

Chair of Governors:          

Mr John Morgan

Vice Chair of Governors:

Mrs Anya Lyons

Co-opted Governor:

Mr Steven Scott

Mrs Lynn Walker

Mrs Kate Finch

Local Authority Governor:    

Mrs Lisa Gridley

Staff Governor:                       

Miss Emily Stephens

Parent Governor:      

Mrs Anja Lyons

Mrs Vanessa Williams

Headteacher:          

Mrs Elizabeth Bartholomew      

Clerk to Governors:        

Mrs Louise Cockerton                            admin@mayflower-pri.essex.sch.uk

Our Chair of Governors and Clerk to the Governors can be contacted via the school office.

Governor Profiles:-

                                                         John Morgan - Chair of Governors

                                      Appointed by GB/Board 13/09/21

I have had a career in education and have been Headteacher of three very different schools. Currently I am a Director of North Essex Teacher Training, a local provider who has had a long association with Mayflower Primary School. With my expertise in education and living in Harwich, I want to support my local school to achieve the best for its pupils. I enjoy being part of the Mayflower School community - a school which has a lot to offer it's pupils. 

Anya Lyons - Vice Chair of Governors & Parent Governor 

                                     Appointed by GB/Board March 2020

Although I have no previous education experience, I work full time running my own business from home, I am enjoying my role as a parent governor and I am working hard to gain knowledge through the training courses that are available.
I have three children, my youngest two attend Mayflower Primary School and are now in year 4 and year 6.
Through my children, and my experience as a parent, I hope to offer a unique viewpoint of the school to the governing body from a ‘users’ perspective.

Lynn Walker - Co-opted Governor

Appointed by GB/Board 20/09/2018

I was a primary school teacher for over 25 years, teaching 3-11 year olds. Until recently I was Programme Manager for the school-centred initial teacher training based at Chase Lane Primary School, training teachers for local primary schools. By becoming a governor I hope to apply my experiences to the advantage of  Mayflower Primary School.

                                           Kate Finch - Co-opted Governor 

I have been a teacher of languages, English and maths for over 20 years and I am currently the Headteacher of our town's partner secondary, Harwich & Dovercourt High School. I have seen 2 children through primary school and now at secondary and I have lived in various parts of Essex all my life, apart from university years, and so the quality of education for young people all over the county is very important to me. I am particularly invested in the opportunity for young people in Harwich and so I am delighted to work with Mrs Bartholomew at Mayflower. 

                                      Lisa Gridley - Local Authority Governor

I have been a Primary School Teacher for over 30 years and have taught in several primary schools in the Tendring area. I currently work for the Local Authority as a SEND Strategy Lead for Language and Communication, and I am passionate about helping our children and young people to achieve their potential. I live in Harwich and look forward to being able to use my skills and experience to support Mayflower Primary School as a Governor. 

  Emily Stephens - Staff Governor

I have worked at Mayflower since September 2020, I started teaching in Year 2 and I am currently teaching in Year 6. I really enjoy working at Mayflower - the pupils are amazing and the school is a growing vibrant community. My experience of working daily with our pupils, alongside my colleagues, will give me a unique insight of the school to bring to the governing body. 

Vanessa Williams - Parent Governor

I have been a French teacher for 23 years and currently work at HDHS, having worked previously at Philip Morant and The Stanway School.  I am passionate about education, high quality teaching for every child and helping all young people to achieve the very best that they can. 

With my own children attending Mayflower Primary School, having a background in education and living and working locally myself,  I am looking forward to working with  parents, teachers, the Head and other Governors in order to help drive the continued improvement of the school.

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

If you want to be part of The Mayflower Primary School’s Governing Body please enquire about any vacancies.

Contact the Headteacher.

If you would like to contact the Chair of Governors, please do so using the contact form below.