YOUR SCHOOL GOVERNORS

The Local Authority appoints LA governors.  They liaise between the office and the school.

THERESA VINNICOMBE - LA & Chair of Governors

Having completed a 26 year career as a registered nurse, Theresa now manages the administration for her family business.  She has been involved in supporting the school, on and off, for the last 20 years, initially as a parent helper and now, also as a Governor.  Both Theresa's knowledge of the school and achievements throughout her career, will assist the Governing Body and it's stakeholders in moving the school forward to the benefit of it's pupils. In 2021 Theresa successfully graduated with a BA (Hons) in childhood and youth studies.  

Safeguarding

Inclusion and diversity

Local Authority governor appointed by Suffolk Local Authority

Chair of governors

Term of office 4 years - 23/02/2024

Sitting on Vision and Strategy, Finance, Personnel and Premises Committees.

No pecuniary interest

SHEILA TWEEDY - Foundation Governor

Sheila ran a very successful family business in London for thirty years with over 30 staff, supplying computers and software all over the country. During this time she brought up her family in Frinton on Sea, where she lived for 43 years.

Sheila was a Snowy Owl for eight years, organising many pack holidays for the brownies and is also a qualified Quarter Master, most useful!

Sheila worked at St. Philomenas Preparatory School in Frinton on Sea for 10 years teaching 7 to 11 year old children IT skills.

For six years, Sheila has visited elderly people in care homes and hospitals with her PAT (Pets as Therapy) dog Tilly. She now visits Tattingstone Primary School every Monday where she listens to the children read. Sheila also mentors a child at the school.

Sheila is a Tattingstone Parish Councillor and Trustee of the Village Hall and has recently been appointed a member of the Parochial Church Council.

Sheila enjoys baking and making special occasion cakes and says that she is “a very ordinary proud Grannie”.

Sheila says that she hopes her love of young people will “encourage the children of our delightful school to enjoy every moment spent here. I firmly believe our children are the key to the future happiness of us all.”

Foundation Governor

Term of office 4 years - 29th May 2026

No pecuniary interest

Sitting on HTPM & Vision and Strategy committees

RE & Worship Link

JANE CONNELL-SMITH - Foundation Governor

Jane was born in Birmingham and educated at King Edward IV School for Girls before gaining a B.Sc. Hons. in Psychology.  She worked in both mental health and industry. After marriage to David and having four children, Jane decided, at the age of 45, to embark on a new career.  She trained as a primary school teacher and has taught children across the whole primary range, in schools in North East Essex.  Jane has been a school governor for over 20 years.

Jane and David moved to their cottage in the heart of Tattingstone in 2012 and Jane is on the Parochial Church Council and has recently become Parish Clerk.

Jane says that she "hopes to be able to bring a wide range of knowledge and experience to the governing body in this wonderful school in my home village".

Foundation governor appointed by the Diocese of St Edmundsbury

Term of office 4 years - 31/08/2022

Sitting on HTPM (Chair), Pay, Vision and Strategy committees.

No pecuniary interest

KAT DAINES - Staff Governor

After spending many years managing hotels and restaurants, I made a big change to follow my childhood ambition to be a primary school teacher. I completed an Open University degree in Social Policy & Criminology whilst working full time in order to start the teacher training. After qualifying, I worked at a large school in Harwich & moved to Tattingstone Primary a few years ago.

I live with my partner & my two lovely girls who keep me busy outside of school. We spend lots of time enjoying the outdoors together; going on river walks, playing on the beach & exploring new places.

I have a big passion for reading and I can often be found reading the books that I buy to share with the children in my class. Currently, favourite author is Vashti Hardy.

No pecuniary interest

BEVERLEY DERRETT - Teacher Governor (Role is to represent the views of the staff and to provide a link between teachers & governors in the life of the school)

Headteacher- appointed automatically as part of position.

No term of office

Family members employed at school

No pecuniary interest

LOUISA SAUNDERS - Parent Governor

Louisa has lived in Stutton since 2010 and has two young children.  Her son attends the school.  Louisa is a solicitor with 13 years experience and works at a large firm in Ipswich.  Louisa is interested in education and is qualified to teach English as a foreign language. Prior to having children, Louisa was involved with a charity which runs children's homes in Tamil Nadu in India.  She spent time teaching English in local government schools also evening classes in the charity's children's homes.  Louisa wanted to become a parent governor in order to gain a greater understanding of how the school runs and to contribute to its development. 

Vice Chair of Governors

Term of office is 4 years - 09/2024

Sitting on the Vision and Strategy Committee (Chair)

Training Link

No Pecuniary Interest

PETER TOMKINS - Co-Opted Governor

I was brought up in a small village just south of Reading in Berkshire and left to go to university in Cardiff to study English before training at Bath University to be a teacher. I have been involved in schools and teaching now for over thirty years, including six years as headteacher of a secondary school. I live in Harwich with my wife, Jackie, where we care for my mother-in-law. We have three springer spaniels, a cat and six chickens.

In 2018 we set up an Education and Finance Consultancy, TSO Education, which now employs five people and provides support for schools, academies and local authorities working both directly and with the Education and Skills Funding Agency. This takes up most of our time; but when we aren't working or looking after my mother-in-law then we enjoy walking with our dogs.

Tattingstone Primary School is very like the small village primary school I attended in Berkshire and I want to ensure that pupils at the school continue to receive the excellent support and education they deserve.

Finance committee

Personnel & premises (Chair) committee

Vision & Strategy committee

Term of office is 4 years - 05/2024

Pecuniary Interests - TSO Education (Director) & Learning Link Multi-Academy Trust (Trustee)

Attendance Register for Commitee Meetings 2021-2022

Governors 2019

The Governing Body is a corporate body of people drawn from parents, staff, the church, the LA and community to set the strategic direction of the school. The role is a voluntary one, undertaking statutory duties laid down by the government. These include finance, the curriculum, safeguarding, SEND, wellbeing of teachers and support staff. These duties are outlined in more detail in the Governors Handbook located here. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/395789/Governors_Handbook.pdf.

It is not the responsibility of the Governing Body to oversee the day to day running of the school, this is the remit of the Head teacher.

Tattingstone has a constitution of 9 members: – the Head teacher, two foundation governors (one of which represents the incumbent), two parent governors, a local authority governor and two co-opted governors (this can be any-one who has a specific skill required by the Governing Body) and a staff representative. As a Governing Body, we also have an associate member whose place is to advise on finance and premises matters.

The committees have been re-formed to best reflect the needs of the school and the work of the Governing Body. In a bid to self-evaluate and ensure best practice the governing body has adjusted their committees to reflect this.

1. Vision and Strategy – this committee sets the terms workload in line with local and central government requirements as well as the school’s development and self-evaluation plans. The standards section is where governors self-evaluate and looks at ways to improve using a variety of tools, such as skills audits. At this committee parent feedback is also discussed from things that have been brought to governor’s attention or have been raised at the forum. – this committee looks at the curriculum, progress, data, targets and attainment. This committee meets each term. Chaired by Ms Louisa Saunders
2. Pay – this committee determines staff pay increments based on information from the Head teacher. This committee meets in the autumn term. Chaired by Mrs Connell-Smith
3. Finance, Personnel and Premises – the financial management of the school is dealt with here as well as workforce management and the schools premises. This committee meets each term. Chaired by Mr Peter Tomkins
4. Head teacher’s performance management – this is attended by an independent school advisor to determine and set the Head teachers targets. This committee meets once a year.  The Head’s targets are monitored by the committee mid-year. Chaired by Mrs Connell-Smith
5. The full Governing Body – this is where the whole governing body meets to discuss the terms business. The head teachers report, including reports from subject leaders also relevant reports from governors monitoring are distributed and discussed. During the autumn term the chair and vice chair of the Governing Body are elected. At all meetings, various policies that are statutory are delegated for review and discussion in line with any government guidelines. These are then put on the school’s website. Chaired by Mrs Theresa Vinnicombe.

All governors attend training sessions, some are statutory and other relate to relevant committees and subject areas. These sessions are provided by the LA, a register of training is presented to the Full Governing Body each term. Other sessions are offered by the Diocese, Swiss partnership training, online training from the National Governors Association as well as safeguarding online briefings.

How to become a governor?

We are always keen to hear from people who would like to be involved in governance. If you think this is something you would be interested in Suffolk County Council’s website is a good source of information. Current governors are happy to answer any questions you may have.

We currently have no vacancies, but we would like to hear from anyone who may have a future interest.

Who are your Governors?

The school’s website gives details of current governors and their role, term of office, pecuniary interests and the type of governor they are. Linked to this is a short blog about each person. A register is also produced to show the attendance for each committee and its member. Governor photographs can be found in the school office.

Each month governors produce an article highlighting the schools work, this is sent to The Tattingstone News and In Touch magazine for the local area. As a small school, we are lucky that most school events are attended by at least one school governor.