Governors
An Introduction from James Coulson, Chairman of Governors, Barlow Church of England Primary School
My name is James Coulson and I am Chair of Governors at Barlow CofE Primary School. We moved to Barlow about 4 years ago and love the village and the sense of community, with lots going on throughout the year. I’m quite an active person and can often be found out and about in the countryside around the village, either running or walking dogs.
I have a son at school and originally joined the Governing Body as a Parent Governor 2 years ago. I am keen to ensure the children at Barlow have the best possible education, feel safe and secure in our school and they develop into confident, secure individuals.
Our School Governors
Mr James Coulson (Chair)
Mrs Becca Ryan (Vice Chair)
Mrs Vicky Noble
Mrs Michelle Gregory (Clerk)
Mr Liam O'Connell
Mr Graeme Forth
Reverend Sarah Colver
Mr Joseph Shore
Mrs Louise Collins
Becca Ryan - Vice Chair
Hello. I’m Becca. I have two children at Barlow CofE Primary School and am Vice Chair of the Governors.
As a primary school teacher myself, I know the importance of a supportive and robust team of governors, which is why I was keen to be involved. I like to think I can act as a go-between for parents and teachers alike and ensure things are run fairly and efficiently.
My role is to support the school to grow and improve continuously and I hope to be as helpful as possible in this. I am very musical and crafty and enjoy reading and baking. Whenever possible, I will endeavour to share my skill set with the school and the pupils in any capacity I can.
Graeme Forth
As a co-opted governor, I bring experience of education to Barlow Primary's governing body. I used to be a primary school teacher, working mainly in KS2 and have taught in a number of schools around Sheffield and North East Derbyshire. Currently I work as a researcher in an Innovation team - so enjoy listening to the challenges that people face and looking to find new and interesting ways of solving them. Alongside work, I love to learn. I'm currently studying for a doctorate in education; I'm keen to both support the teaching and learning at Barlow with my research, as well as learning from our excellent teaching team. I also enjoy a challenge, having climbed Kilimanjaro and ran a marathon...in Marathon!
Roles and Responsibilities
Mr James Coulson
Chair of Governors
Resources Committee
Mrs Becca Ryan
Vice Chair of Governors
Teaching and Learning Committee
Mrs Vicky Noble
Local Authority Governor
Teaching and Learning Committee
Reverend Sarah Colver
Foundation governor (ex-Officio)
Teaching and Learning Committee
Mr Liam O'Connell
Co-opted Governor
Resources Committee
Mr Graeme Forth
Co-opted Governor
Mr Joseph Shore
Foundation governor
Resources Committee
Mrs Louise Collins
Teacher Governor
Mrs Michelle Gregory
Clerk to Governors
Barlow Church of England Primary School
Governor Attendance at Meetings
Governing Body 8th October 2024
Present: Penny Watkin, Vicky Noble, Michelle Gregory, Reverend Sarah Colver, James Coulson, Liam O'Connell, Becca Ryan, Louise Collins.
Apologies: Greame Forth
Governing Body June 2024
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver, Liam O'Connell, James Coulson, Becca Ryan.
Apologies: Graeme Forth, Gemma Phipps, Vicky Noble.
Governing Body 13th February 2024
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Vicky Noble, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver, James Coulson, Liam O'Connell, Becca Ryan, Graeme Forth
Apologies: Gemma Phipps
Virtual Resources Meeting 9th January 2024
Present: Vicky Noble, Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Heather Morton, James Coulson,
Apologies: Liam O'Connell
Governing Body 5th December 2023
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Vicky Noble, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver, James Coulson, Liam O'Connell, Becca Ryan
Apologies: Reverend Sarah Colver, Graeme Forth
Governing Body 14th September 2023
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Graeme Forth, Vicky Noble, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver, James Coulson, Liam O'Connell
Apologies: Gemma Phipps
Virtual Resources Meeting 10th July 2023
Present: Vicky Noble, Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Heather Morton, James Coulson,
Apologies: Nick Shaw, Graeme Forth
Virtual Governing Body 14th June 2023
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Vicky Noble, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver, James Coulson, Liam O'Connell
Apologies: Nick Shaw, Graeme Forth, Gemma Phipps
Virtual Governing Body 19th April 2023
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Graeme Forth, Vicky Noble, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver, James Coulson, Gemma Phipps
Apologies: Liam O'Connell
Absent: Nick Shaw
Virtual Governing Body 16th February 2023
Present: Penny Watkin, Liam O'Connell, Graeme Forth, Vicky Noble, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver, James Coulson
Apologies: Gemma Phipps, David Barnes
Absent: Nick Shaw
Virtual Governing Body 14th December 2023
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Graeme Forth, Vicky Noble, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver, James Coulson, Gemma Phipps
Apologies: Liam O'Connell,
Virtual Resources Meeting 7th November 2022
Present: Vicky Noble, Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Liam O'Connell, Heather Morton
Absent: Nick Shaw
Virtual Governing Body 14th September 2022
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Graeme Forth, Vicky Noble, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver
Apologies: Liam O'Connell
Absent: Nick Shaw
Virtual Governing Body 12th July 2022
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Graeme Forth, Liam O'Connell, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver
Absent: Nick Shaw, Vicky Noble, Natalie Baker
Virtual Resources Committee - 22nd June 2022
Present: Vicky Noble, Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, David Barnes
Apologies: Liam O'Connell, Natalie Baker
Virtual Governing Body - 27th April 2022
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Graeme Forth, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver, Vicky Noble, Gemma Phipps, Liam O'Connell, Nick Shaw
Absent: Natalie Baker
Virtual Governing Body - 9th February 2022
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Natalie Baker, Graeme Forth, Gemma Phipps, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver, Nick Shaw
Apologies: Vicky Noble, Liam O'Connell
Virtual Resources Committee - 1st February 2022
Present: Vicky Noble, Penny Watkin, Michelle Gregory, David Barnes
Apologies: Natalie Baker, Liam O'Connell
Virtual Governing Body 1st December 2021
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Graeme Forth, Vicky Noble, Liam O'Connell, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver, Nick Shaw
Apologies: Vicky Noble and Gemma Phipps
Virtual Resources Committee - 24th November 2021
Present: Vicky Noble, Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, Liam O'Connell
Apologies: David Barnes, Natalie Baker
Virtual Resources Committee - 19th October 2021
Present: Vicky Noble, Penny Watkin, Heather Morton,
Apologies: David Barnes, Liam O'Connell, Natalie Baker
Virtual Governing Body 22nd September 2021
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Natalie Baker, Graeme Forth, Vicky Noble, Gemma Phipps, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver
Apologies: Nick Shaw and Liam O'Connell
Virtual Resources Committee - 14th September 2021
Present: David Barnes, Penny Watkin, Heather Morton
Apologies: Vicky Noble, Gemma Phipps, Natalie Baker, Liam O'Connell
Virtual Governing Body 7th July 2021
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Natalie Baker, Graeme Forth, Vicky Noble, Nick Shaw, Liam O'Connell, Gemma Phipps, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver
Absent: Paul Ryan
Virtual Governing Body 28th April 2021
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Natalie Baker, Graeme Forth, Vicky Noble, Nick Shaw, Liam O'Connell, Heather Morton, Reverend Sarah Colver
Apologies: Gemma Phipps Absent: Paul Ryan
Virtual Governing Body 3rd March 2021
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Natalie Baker, Graeme Forth, Paul Ryan, Vicky Noble, Nick Shaw, Liam O'Connell, Gemma Phipps, Heather Morton, Sarah Colver
Virtual Resources Committee - 10th February 2021
Present: Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, Vicky Noble, Natalie Baker
Apologies: David Barnes, Gemma Phipps, Liam O'Connell
Virtual Governing Body 13th January 2021
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Natalie Baker, Graeme Forth, Paul Ryan, Vicky Noble, Nick Shaw, Liam O'Connell, Gemma Phipps, Heather Morton, Sarah Colver
Virtual Governing Body 18th November 2020
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Natalie Baker, Graeme Forth, Nick Shaw,
Apologies: Vicky Noble, Gemma Phipps, Liam O'Connell, Paul Ryan
Virtual Resources Committee - 18th November 2020
Present: David Barnes, Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, Liam O'Connell
Apologies: Vicky Noble, Gemma Phipps, Natalie Baker
Virtual Governing Body 7th October 2020
Present: Penny Watkin, David Barnes, Natalie Baker, Graeme Forth, Paul Ryan, Vicky Noble, Nick Shaw, Liam O'Connell, Gemma Phipps
Apologies: Heather Morton
Resources Virtual Committee Meeting - 23rd September 2020
Present: David Barnes, Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, Natalie Baker, Liam O'Connell, Vicky Noble
Apologies: Gemma Phipps
Full Virtual Governing Body 2nd September 2020
Present: Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, David Barnes, Natalie Baker, Graeme Forth, Paul Ryan, Vicky Noble, Nick Shaw, Liam O'Connell
Apologies: Gemma Phipps
Full Virtual Governing Body 28th May 2020
Present: Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, David Barnes, Natalie Baker, Graeme Forth, Paul Ryan, Vicky Noble, Gemma Phipps, Nick Shaw
Apologies: Liam O'Connell
Resources Committee - 29th January 2020
Present: David Barnes, Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, Natalie Baker, Liam O'Connell
Apologies: Vicky Noble, Gemma Phipps
Full Governing Body 4th December 2019
Present: Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, David Barnes, Natalie Baker, Graeme Forth, Liam O'Connell Paul Ryan
Apologies: Vicky Noble, Claire Wilson, Gemma Phipps
Absent: Nick Shaw
Full Governing Body 23rd September 2019
Present: Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, David Barnes, Vicky Noble, Natalie Baker, Father Peter, Paul Ryan, Gemma Phipps
Apologies: Claire Wilson,
Absent: Nick Shaw
Resources Committee - 18th September2019
Present: David Barnes, Father Peter, Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, Vicky Noble
Apologies: Nick Shaw, Natalie Baker
Full Governing Body 8th July 2019
Present: Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, David Barnes, Vicky Noble, Natalie Baker, Father Peter, Nick Shaw
Apologies: Claire Wilson, Paul Ryan
Resources Committee - 3rd July 2019
Present: David Barnes, Father Peter, Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, Vicky Noble
Absent: Nick Shaw, Natalie Baker
Full Governing Body 8th May 2019
Present: Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, David Barnes, Vicky Noble, Natalie Baker, Father Peter
Apologies: Nick Shaw, Natalie Vick, Paul Ryan
Absent: Claire Wilson
Resources Committee - 18th April 2019
Present: David Barnes, Father Peter, Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, Natalie Baker
Apologies: Nick Shaw, Vicky Noble
Full Governing Body 8th April 2019
Present: Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, David Barnes, Vicky Noble, Natalie Baker, Father Peter, Paul Ryan, Natalie Vick
Apologies: Nick Shaw, Claire Wilson
Resources Committee - 27th March 2019
Present: Vicky Noble, David Barnes, Father Peter, Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, Natalie Baker, Nick Shaw
Resources Committee - 6th March 2019
Present: Vicky Noble, David Barnes, Father Peter, Penny Watkin, Heather Morton
Absent: Nick Shaw, Natalie Baker
Resources Committee - 29th January 2019
Present: Vicky Noble, David Barnes, Father Peter, Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, Nick Shaw
Apologies: Natalie Baker
Full Governing Body 14th January 2019
Present: Penny Watkin, Heather Morton, David Barnes, Vicky Noble, Natalie Baker, Father Peter, Paul Ryan, Claire Wilson, Natalie Vick
Apologies: Nick Shaw
What does a governor do?
Role of a school governor: To contribute to the work of the governing body in ensuring high standards of achievement for all children and young people in the school by:
• Setting the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
Activities: As part of the governing body team, a governor is expected to
1. Contribute to the strategic discussions at governing body meetings which determine:
• the vision and ethos of the school;
• clear and ambitious strategic priorities and targets for the school;
• that all children, including those with special educational needs, have access to a broad and balanced curriculum;
• the school’s budget, including the expenditure of the pupil premium allocation;
• the school’s staffing structure and key staffing policies;
• the principles to be used by school leaders to set other school policies.
2. Hold the senior leaders to account by monitoring the school’s performance; this includes:
• agreeing the outcomes from the school’s self-evaluation and ensuring they are used to inform the priorities in the school
development plan;
• considering all relevant data and feedback provided on request by school leaders and external sources on all aspects of
school performance;
• asking challenging questions of school leaders;
• ensuring senior leaders have arranged for the required audits to be carried out and receiving the results of those audits;
• ensuring senior leaders have developed the required policies and procedures and the school is operating effectively according to those policies;
• acting as a link governor on a specific issue, making relevant enquiries of the relevant staff, and reporting to the governing body on the progress on the relevant school priority; and
• listening to and reporting to the school’s stakeholders : pupils, parents, staff, and the wider community, including local employers.
3. Ensure the school staff have the resources and support they require to do their jobs well, including the necessary expertise on business management, external advice where necessary, effective appraisal and CPD (Continuing Professional Development), and suitable premises, and that the way in which those resources are used has impact.
4. When required, serve on panels of governors to:
• appoint the headteacher and other senior leaders;
• appraise the headteacher;
• set the headteacher’s pay and agree the pay recommendations for other staff;
• hear the second stage of staff grievances and disciplinary matters;
• hear appeals about pupil exclusions.