Governors

Our Governors are a group of volunteers which include parents, staff and members of the local community. Their main role is to promote ongoing improvements in standards throughout the school. They support the Headteacher and staff in identifying and planning the school’s long-term direction and they monitor and evaluate progress. They also help to set the school’s aims and values and are responsible for staff appointments, including the Headteacher. Many of their responsibilities carry a statutory requirement, which means they are obliged by law to do certain things, such as agree the annual budget. Everything our Governors do is in the best interests of our pupils and the wider community. We want our children to thrive and achieve their full potential and ensure that our children learn in a safe and eco-friendly environment. There is one Full Governing Board meeting per term. The Resources sub-committee meets every half term. The Teaching, Learning and Progress sub-committee meets once per term.

Below are details of the membership of the Governing Board:

Mr Simon Hamilton - Chairperson and Parent Governor

Date of appointment: 08/02/2022. Date term of office ends: 09/02/2026. Elected by: Parents. Declaration of Business & Personal Interests: Child attends this school.

Meeting attendance for 2022/23: 3/3 Full Governing Board Meetings; 5/5 Resources Committee Meetings; 3/3 TL&P Committee Meetings.

Simon has been a parent governor since February 2018 and has been Chair of Governors since June 2021, he is also Vice-chair of the Teaching, Learning and Progress sub-committee, and was SEND Governor for a few years prior to becoming Chair. In his regular job, he is a Clinical Psychologist working in adult mental health in Barnsley. He has two children, both of whom have been to Lydgate Junior School. In his spare time he enjoys playing hockey, knitting and baking bread.

Mrs Rosemary Fletcher - Vice Chairperson and Co-Opted Governor

Date of appointment: 01/09/2019. Date term of office ends: 31/08/2023. Appointed by: Governing Board. Declaration of Business & Personal Interests: None.

Meeting attendance for 2022/23: 3/3 Full Governing Board Meetings; 5/5 Resources Committee Meetings; 3/3 TL&P Committee Meetings.

Rosemary has been a governor at Lydgate Junior School for 22 years. Her daughter attended both Lydgate schools. She is the Vice Chair of Governors and Chair of the Teaching, Learning and Progress sub-committee. Her background is primarily in paediatric nursing as a ward sister, but developing rheumatoid arthritis led to early retirement and she has focused on volunteering at both Lydgate schools since then. Prior to Covid she was volunteering one day in Year 5 and one afternoon in Year 4 on a weekly basis, and she has recently re-commenced this.

Mrs Rachel Hurding - Headteacher

Declaration of Business & Personal Interests: None.

Meeting attendance for 2022/23: 3/3 Full Governing Board Meetings; 5/5 Resources Committee Meetings; 2/3 TL&P Committee Meetings.

Miss Alix Wall - Staff Governor

Date of appointment: 06/12/2022. Date term of office ends: 05/12/2026. Elected by: School Staff. Declaration of Business & Personal Interests: Teacher at this school
Meeting attendance for 2022-23: 0/3 Full Governing Board Meetings; 4/5 Resources Committee Meetings; 2/3 TL&P Committee Meetings.

Miss Charlotte Thew - Co-opted Governor

Date of appointment: 10/05/2022. Date term of office ends: 09/05/2026. Appointed by: Governing Board. Declaration of Business & Personal Interests: None.
Meeting attendance for 2022-23: 2/3 Full Governing Board Meetings; 0/5 Resources Committee Meetings: 1/3 TL&P Committee Meetings.

Charlotte has been a governor since May 2022. She is the link governor for RRS and RSHE. In her regular job, Charlotte is the pastoral support in a local Sixth Form, providing mental health support to Year 12 and 13s. Charlotte's background is predominantly in young people's mental health and supporting 16-18 year olds in planning their futures. In her spare time, Charlotte loves reading, cooking and eating out, and walking in the Peaks.

Mr Gehan Sri-Pathmanathan - Co-opted Governor

Date of appointment: 10/11/2022. Date term of office ends: 09/11/2026. Appointed by: Governing Board. Declaration of Business & Personal Interests: None.
Meeting attendance for 2022-23: 3/3 Full Governing Board Meetings; 3/5 Resources Committee Meetings: 2/3 TL&P Committee Meetings.

Gehan has been a Co-Opted governor since September 2023, he was previously a governor at Lydgate Infants until April 2019. He is the curriculum link governor for Maths. He’s a Senior Highways Engineer for AECOM, working in Chesterfield (when not wfh). Gehan is married to Claire, a EFL teacher and lives in Crosspool. He has three boys, all of whom attend, or have previously attended, local schools and pre-schools (including Lydgate Junior School).

Mr Andrew Hogg - Parent Governor

Date of appointment: 04/10/2019. Date term of office ends: 03/10/2023. Elected by: Parents. Declaration of Business & Personal Interests: Child attends this school & Parent Governor at Lydgate Infant School.
Meeting attendance for 2022/23: 3/3 Full Governing Board Meetings; 3/5 Resources Committee Meetings; 0/3 TL&P Committee Meetings.

Andy has been a parent governor since October 2019, and a governor at another school since April 2017. He is the link governor for safeguarding and also Vice Chair of the Resources sub-committee. In his regular job he leads on equality, health and wellbeing for a staff association and also performs the role of Treasurer for the association. Andy lives in Crosspool and has three children, all of whom attend, or have previously attended, local schools and pre-schools (including Lydgate Junior School).

Mrs Ruth Tully - Parent Governor

Date of appointment: 24/11/2020. Date term of office ends: 23/11/2024. Elected by: Parents. Declaration of Business & Personal Interests: Child attends this school.
Meeting attendance for 2022/23: 3/3 Full Governing Board Meetings; 0/5 Resources Committee Meetings; 2/3 TL&P Committee Meetings.

Ruth has been a parent governor since November 2020. She has three children at the school in Y3 and Y5. Outside of being a governor, Ruth works as an Infant feeding worker for Sheffield Family Centres, supporting parents as they begin their parenting journey. Prior to this, she worked as a Solicitor in Equalities Law. She is the curriculum link governor for P.E, Music, R.E and Art and sits on the Teaching, Learning and Progression sub-comittee. In her spare time she enjoys reading, walks with her children and dog and cooking.

Mr Alex Howlett - Parent Governor

Date of appointment: 10/05/2022. Date term of office ends: 09/05/2026. Elected by: Parents. Declaration of Business & Personal Interests: Child attends this school.
Meeting attendance for 2022/23: 3/3 Full Governing Board Meetings; 4/5 Resources Committee Meetings; 3/3 TL&P Committee Meetings.

Alex has been a parent governor since May 2022, in December 2022 he took on the role of SEND Governor. In his regular job Alex has worked in various roles in a neighbouring local authority including senior roles in Children’s Social Care and Education. He lives locally and has one child who attends Lydgate Junior School. In his spare times he enjoys making pizza and going for walks.

Mrs Krysia Wooffinden - Parent Governor

Date of appointment: 10/05/2022. Date term of office ends: 09/05/2026. Elected by: Parents. Declaration of Business & Personal Interests: Works for 'The Skills Network' & Child attends this school.
Meeting attendance for 2022/23: 1/3 Full Governing Board Meetings; 3/3 TL & P Committee Meetings; 1/5 Resources Meeting

Krysia has been a parent governor since May 2022. She is the curriculum link governor for English. In her regular job Krysia has worked in education and skills policy for over 15 years in both the public and private sector. She has two children and enjoys eating out and walking their cocker spaniel puppy!

Mrs Andrea Baker - Parent Governor

Date of appointment: 16/12/2022. Date term of office ends: 15/12/2026. Elected by: Parents. Declaration of Business & Personal Interests: Child attends this school.
Meeting attendance for 2022/23: 1/3 Full Governing Board Meetings;

Andrea was elected as parent governor in February 2023. She has one child at LJS soon to be in Y4. She is the link Governor for history and geography. She is on the teaching and learning committee. Andrea is an Occupational Therapist at a University and provides mental health support for students. In her spare time she enjoys bike ride and swimming with her children and going to gigs and festivals.

Governors who have resigned / term of office has ended during the last 12 months:

Dr Toyin Aderiye. Date of appointment: 14/10/2019. Date term of office ends: 13/10/2023. Appointed by: Governing Board. Declaration of Business & Personal Interests: None.

Meeting attendance for 2022/23: 0/3 Full Governing Board Meetings; 0/3 TL&P Committee Meetings. Resigned 10/11/2022.

Mr Mark Alexander. Date of appointment: 20/11/2018. Date term of office ends: 20/11/2022. Appointed by: Governing Board. Declaration of Business & Personal Interests: None.

Meeting attendance for 2022/23: 0/3 Full Governing Board Meetings; 0/5 Resources Committee Meetings; 0/3 TL&P Committee Meetings.

Mr Tom Finnemore. Date of appointment: 24/11/2020. Date term of office ends: 23/11/2024. Elected by: Parents. Declaration of Business & Personal Interests: Child attends this school.
Meeting attendance for 2022/23: 0/3 Full Governing Board Meetings; 1/5 Resources Committee Meetings; 0/3 TL&P Committee Meetings. Resigned 10/11/2022.