Scheme of Delegation &

Governor and Associate Member Information (inc. attendance)

Correct as of: 10/02/25

The three core strategic roles of Horrabridge Primary and Nursery School’s (HPNS) Governing Board are:

• ensuring that the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school are clearly defined
• ensuring that the head teacher performs his or her responsibilities for the educational performance of the school, and
• ensuring the sound, proper and effective use of the school’s financial resources.

1. SCHEME OF DELEGATION

The Governing Board, co-chaired by Tom Cooper and Nicola Beeching, has 14 members (when at capacity) and meets nine times a year. The Governing Board retains all statutory and strategic functions unless a delegation has been made to a committee or individual Governor using a Terms of Reference. The Finance Committee and Pay & Performance Committee meet at least termly with all other committees/panels meeting as required.

Below is a list of the Terms of References currently in place and a brief overview of the committee/individual’s main roles. All Terms of Reference are reviewed annually and as the board membership changes throughout the school year:

Terms of Reference	Chair of Committee	Brief overview of main roles
Finance Committee	Kat Shipp	Financial planning, budget monitoring & bench marking
Pay & Performance Committee	Nicky Beeching	Monitor the appraisal process & make pay decisions
1st Hearings Committee	Any member	Make initial decisions relating to HR matters and complaints as required
2nd/Appeals Committee	Any member	Make final decisions relating to HR matters and complaints as required
Admissions Committee	Any member	Decide on applications for admission as appropriate
Head Teacher Appraisal panel	Tom Cooper	Conduct the Headteacher's appraisal, monitoring, and make Headteacher pay recommendations
Safeguarding Lead	Katrina Shipp	Monitor safeguarding within HPNS
SEND Lead	Sam Sykes	Monitor SEND within HPNS
Curriculum Lead	Carol Waterman-Smith	Monitor curriculum within HPNS
Personnel Lead	Nicky Beeching	Monitor Personnel arrangement within HPNS
Premises, security, H&S Lead	VACANCY	Monitor Premises, Security and H&S arrangements
Pupil Premium Lead	Tracy Lear	Monitor use and impact of P.Premium funding
School Improvement Lead	Carol Waterman-Smith	Monitor and evaluate the success of the School Improvement Plan
Attendance and Behaviour	Pam Law	Monitor Attendance & Behaviour policies and their implementation
Community, Staff & Parental Links	Nicky Beeching	Monitor communications with stakeholders and monitor wellbeing within the school

If you are interested in becoming a governor for our school, or have a governance related query, please contact the Clerk to Governors: clerk@horrabridge-primary.devon.sch.uk

2. GOVERNOR AND ASSOCIATE MEMBER INFORMATION

Parent Governors

Parent governors are elected for a 4 year term by the parents and carers of registered pupils at the school.

Name	Appointment Date	Declared Business Interests
VACANCY
Natasha Jones	11/12/24
Sam Sykes	13/11/23	None
Kat Shipp*	19/02/24	Employee @ Accurise

* Appointed by the Governing Board following a process of inviting nominations for this role from the parent/carer community, however no nominations were received.

Local Authority Governor

The Local Authority Governor is nominated by the Local Authority and appointed by the Governing Board for a term of 4 years.

Name	Appointment Date	Declared Business Interests
VACANCY

Partnership Governors

Partnership Governors are appointed by the Governing Board for a term of 4 years.

Name	Appointment Date	Declared Business Interests
Tom Cooper (Co-Chair)	20/09/23	Teacher at local school
Carol Waterman-Smith	20/11/23	None

Staff Governor

The Staff Governor is elected by the staff of Horrabridge Primary and Nursery School for a 4 year term.

Name	Appointment Date	Declared Business Interests
Alison Smith	08/09/23	None

Co-opted Governors

Co-opted Governors are appointed by the Governing Board for a term of 4 years.

Name	Appointment Date	Declared Business Interests
VACANCY
Caroline Morgan	15/01/24	Self employed Geography Tutor (A Level) Parent of HPNS pupil
Nicola Beeching (Co-Chair)	17/04/23	Employee @ Unilever PLc Partner/Business @ Broadwood Homes Parent of HPNS Pupil
Tracy Lear (Vice Chair)	20/11/23	Farmer and Administrator @ Great Eddish Farm; Horrabridge Parish Councillor Parent of HPNS Pupil
Pam Law	15/01/24	None

Head Teacher

Head Teachers are automatically appointed to the Governing Board for the term of their employment.

Name	Appointment Date	Declared Business Interests
John Clarke	1/1/09	Charity Trustee: Horrabridge Community Association

Associate Member

Associate Members are appointed by the Governing Body. They have no voting rights at Full Governing Board meetings, only on the Committees for which they are a member.

Name	Appointment Date	Declared Business Interests
n/a

Previous Governors/Associates

Details of those that have left during the last 12 months.

Name	Appointment date	Resignation/Retirement Date	Declared Business Interests
Caroline Daniel	18/11/20	17/11/24	Business owner: Reflections Hair Salon Parent of HPNS Pupil
Christine James	06/02/22	01/10/24	Charity Trustee for PTFA & Horrabridge Scout Group
Emiko Adjene	18/11/20	23/07/24	Employee @ Babcock Engineering Co-Director @ Occasion Cards Parent of HPNS Pupil
Hannah Downing	11/09/19	25/03/24	HPNS SENDCo

ATTENDANCE at 2023/24 meetings 

Governor	Full Board Meeting	Finance Comm.	Performance & Pay Comm.
E.Adjene	6 of 9	2 of 5	-
S.Bailey	1 of 3	-	1 of 2
N.Beeching	7 of 9	-	-
J.Clarke	9 of 9	5 of 5	3 of 3
T.Cooper	9 of 9	-	4 of 4
C.Daniel	7 of 9	1 of 1	1 of 4
H.Downing	3 of 6	-	-
C.James	6 of 9	-	-
T.Lear	7 of 7	-	3 of 4
P.Law	5 of 6	-	-
C.Morgan	5 of 6	-	-
K.Shipp	3 of 5	5 of 5	-
A.Smith	9 of 9	2 of 3	-
S.Sykes	5 of 6	-	2 of 2
C.Treliving	4 of 4	-	2 of 2
C.Waterman-Smith	4 of 7	4 of 4	-

Get to know your governors

• Nicky Beeching

Both my children are pupils at Horrabridge Primary School and I am in the second year of my term as a school governor. I grew up in the village, but left to spend the last 20 years working in the corporate sector in the UK and abroad, returning after COVID.

Since homeschooling through the COVID lockdowns I have become passionate about children's mental health and working with them to build a love of learning through their interests and natural capabilities. I also believe that this should be coupled with life skills that will enable our children to thrive in the world when they leave formal education. 

I enjoy volunteering at the school (also PTFA), and welcome interactions with parents, carers, families and friends to support the school in its role as a key part of the local community.

• Tom Cooper

Currently, I am a Year 4 Teacher in a local primary school.  For the previous four years, I have been a Year 4 and 6 teacher, both in the local area and in Reading.  I have also completed my Masters (MSc in education) online with the University of Southampton across the past two years, focusing specifically on primary modern foreign languages in my dissertation.  I currently hold a subject leadership role in science, which is a subject I am very passionate about.  As a teacher, I am passionate about establishing a classroom culture that prioritises all children’s wellbeing and encourages all children to have a go and not be afraid to make mistakes.  I also believe strongly in teaching the full extent of the curriculum to ensure we are exploring as much of a variety of topics and skills as possible.   

I am excited to continue to be a governor at this wonderfully inclusive and welcoming school that I myself enjoyed volunteering at, and being part of the community, whilst in secondary school and during my university years.  

• Pam Law

Although, my teaching career was in Further Education, when our 4 children were young (they're now in their 40's...) I was a governor at their primary school for several years.

Now I am delighted to be a governor at my grand daughters' school.  The demands on the governing board are far greater now,  and I think it will be a steep learning curve.  I am prepared to do my best!

• Tracey Lear

We have been involved with Horrabridge school as a family since our eldest child started in the nursery.  Whilst he has now finished his Primary education tenure, our youngest child is still a pupil in the school. 

During my career I held a clinic role in an academic higher education institution teaching clinical skills as well as delivering lectures and held a post as an examiner for the professional qualification in the sphere I worked in. I have also worked in the Further Education sector in a Learning -Support role and in the NHS in physical reablement. I now run a business with my partner.

I am an ongoing volunteer with the school's PTFA and feel the governorship role is a natural progression in continuing to provide support as a parent of the school.

• Caroline Morgan

I have been a secondary school Geography teacher for the last 20 years and have held a variety of positions of responsibility including Head of Faculty (Humanities). I have experience of teaching in varied educational settings in both the state and private sector. As a qualified Mountain Leader, I have seen the considerable benefits of outdoor education for young people through Ten Tors and DofE training and expeditions. I am currently studying for a MSc in Psychology with my research project examining an intervention to support students experiencing high levels of anxiety. I have a particular interest in maintaining and enhancing staff and student well-being at HPNS.   

• Katrina Shipp

I have 3 children, all who have attended Horrabridge and one who is still at Horrabridge.

I am a qualified Management Accountant and I am thrilled to be able to use my skills to chair the Finance Comittee and support Horrabridge meet the challenges they face and build upon its successes.

• Alison Smith

I have been a teaching assistant at Horrabridge primary and nursery school for 15 years.  I've spent 14 of them in early years.  Early years is my passion, and my strengths lie in knowing the EYFS very well.  I love how much the children learn and develop in such a short time with us.  I enjoy seeing how shy and nervous little ones bloom and become confident Learners that are ready to take on year one.  I like to think I can help and support any worries or anxieties any of our parents may have, as sending your little one on their first day at ‘big school’ is a huge milestone for any family.  

I decided to be part of the governing board to give myself a better understanding of the overall operation of the school.  

• Sam Sykes

I grew up in the Southwest and live in Horrabridge with my family. Prior to becoming a stay-at-home mum, I worked in the Youth Service and Education sector across the UK in a variety of differing secondary schools. 

I have taught across multiple subjects, but my main areas of experience have been as a Head of Year, Deputy Safeguarding Lead, PSHE lead, Assistant Head Teacher and SENDCO. I am delighted to become a Parent Governor at Horrabridge School. 

• Carol Waterman-Smith

I live in Tavistock and have three grandchildren at Horrabridge Primary and Nursery School.  Now retired, I have been involved in education for many years, both in the maintained and independent sectors.  I have also worked overseas and ran a small importing business for several years.  Throughout my working life, I have always been aware of the value of education and particularly the importance of the primary years, in providing a firm foundation for later life. 

I consider it a privilege to be a Governor and I look forward to working with the team to build on the school’s success in providing a safe and caring learning environment where all children may flourish. 

COPIES OF DOCUMENTS REFERENCED WITHIN MEETING MINUTES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM THE SCHOOL OFFICE

The Board's diversity data

The board believe it is important that we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Diverse boards promote inclusive school environments and provide diverse role models for staff and young people. We collect data on the diversity of the board, including age, ethnicity and gender and use this data to inform our 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 diversity data online as individual governors could be identified and we have a legal obligation to protect their personal data.”