Governors
The Governing Body of Southbourne Infant School would like to welcome all the users of this website. The Governing Body values achievement in all areas. Children are encouraged to develop their abilities in a happy, safe and secure learning environment. The Governors are proud to be a proactive part of a very successful and dedicated team.
Being a school governor is rewarding in many ways including ensuring every young child receives the quality of education and personal development expected. Governors are actively involved in many aspects of school life from appointing staff, overseeing budgetary expenditure and ensuring a safe environment for staff and children. They work with staff to set the school's vision, ethos and strategic direction. The Governing Body holds the school to account for all aspects of performance together with the headteacher and senior leadership team. Governors monitor the school curriculum, safeguarding arrangements, help to decide how the budget is spent and have a responsibility for interviewing and appointing staff. They meet twice each term as a full governing body. Pay & Personnel are discussed at committee meetings as required.
There are 12 governors drawn from parents, staff, Headteacher, Local Authority and co-opted. The Chair and Vice-Chair of Governors are elected by governors at the first meeting of the educational year. The Governing Body is supported by Mrs K Pugh, Clerk to Governors. The Governing Body operates with guidance from the Department for Education as applied to maintained schools. Southbourne Infant School is maintained by West Sussex County Council.
Please click here to view the Terms of Reference for the Pay and Personnel sub-committee.
Minutes of the full Governing body meetings are available from the school office once they have been agreed by the governing body at the following meeting.
One of our governors also holds a governance role in another school.
If you would like to become a school governor or know more about the role please contact the school.
Ray Watson - Co-opted Governor - Chair
My name is Ray Watson, and I am a co-opted governor. I moved to Emsworth in 2021 to be closer to my grandchildren, aged 9, 7, 4 and 2. I recently retired after a long career in education involving a variety of senior roles and have been considering becoming a school governor for some time. I was fortunate to join the Governing Body of Southbourne Infants School in 2023 and look forward to helping the school become even more successful. I am fully committed to helping all children in their learning and all-round development.
David James - Co-opted Governor - Vice Chair (Curriculum)
My name is David James, a coopted governor. My career in the Royal Navy prevented me from being a school governor when my children were at school but I am now retired and with a grandson who joined the reception classes in September 2023, so I am able and keen to support this excellent local school to the best of my ability.
Tom Lawler - Parent Governor (Safeguarding)
There are two reasons why I wanted to be a Parent Governor. First, I wanted to do all I could to ensure that all children, including my own two, receive the best possible start to their education they can. Second, having had accumulated a broad range of skills and life experience to date, I wanted to ensure that these were used in a positive way, for the benefit of the local community, of which the school plays a significant part.
Linda Sherlock - Co-opted Governor
I have taught at Southbourne Infant School for many years and really enjoyed my time here. I recently trained to become a Special Needs Co-ordinator and have held this position in school since 2017. I am our staff governor.
Being a governor can be hard work and time consuming, but being involved and help to make a difference can be hugely rewarding. If anyone is interested in becoming a governor or has any questions regarding governance, the Chair of Governors or Headteacher will be only too pleased to help and can be contacted through the school.
The school must also publish governor details for each governor who has served at any point over the past 12 months. Please see document below.
Please see below for the current governor membership.
If you would like to contact the Governing Body directly please email our Chair of Governors:
Ray Watson RWatson@southbourneinfants.co.uk
Alternatively, you can contact the Chair in writing via the school, putting any correspondence to the attention of 'The Chair of Governors'.