Our Governors

Welcome to Melbourne Primary School Governors' page. The most important thing about our school is the people in it. At Melbourne we are very proud of both our staff and the children and the way they contribute to the calm, positive and productive atmosphere that visitors always comment on.

We believe that children are happy at Melbourne and see our school as a place where they can achieve and succeed. The Local Governing Body (LGB) is a strong working group committed to the welfare of the school. It is responsible for the appointment of the Headteacher and in legal terms is the “responsible authority” with employer responsibility for all staff.

It currently comprises:

Six trust-appointed governors
One staff governor plus the Headteacher
Two parent governors (elected by a ballot for which all parents and guardians are eligible to vote)

The Governing Body

Jane Henley - Chair of Governors

My three children were at Melbourne School and now one of my grandsons is in Dragonflies class. I wanted to give something back to the school, supporting all the amazing work the staff do for our children and their commitment to high standards, through the many changes in education policies and practices. As a result I have been a school governor at Melbourne for well over thirty years, through some challenging times! I am a retired professional librarian, and worked in York University Library in various roles. I am Chair of Seaton Ross Parish Council. I enjoy reading and walking and am interested in local history, currently helping to write a history of Woldgate School with other members of the Pocklington Local History Group.

Kelly Foxton (Headteacher) - In post by virtue of office

Over the course of my 17 years of teaching I have taught in three schools across two local authorities. The schools I have worked within include those situated in an inner city, large town and village. I have been incredibly fortunate to teach all year groups from the Foundation Stage through to Year 6 and couldn't possibly select a favourite! I have held a range of leadership positions throughout my career including: Phase Leader, English Lead, Curriculum Lead, Assessment Lead, Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator, Deputy Head and more besides. These positions have provided me with a vast range of experiences, knowledge and skills.

During my spare time I love to watch my two beautiful boys play football, go mountain biking, running, paddle boarding or even climb a mountain or two! I can also often be found reading children’s literature!

Finally, I feel privileged to be part of Melbourne Primary School. It is a wonderful place filled with talented and committed staff and remarkable children - both of which inspire me to improve further. I look forward to working together with the children, staff, governors and community to continue to improve outcomes at Melbourne Primary School.

Martin Braidley - Trust Appointed Governor

I am a retired secondary headteacher and have been a school governor in both primary and secondary schools for over 30 years. As a headteacher, I greatly valued the advice and support offered by my governors and wanted to offer my experience and expertise to my new local community. I feel privileged to have been a governor at Melbourne for the last 5 years and my twin grandsons are currently in Dragonfly class. I am a Parish Councillor in the village and attend several U3A groups. I am a keen walker, an avid reader and a massive sports fan with a dry sense of humour - hence my season ticket at York City FC!

Joseph Holland - Trust Appointed Governor

I have been a Trust appointed Governor since May 2019 and have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Governing Body at Melbourne. With an undergraduate Degree in Education, I have always taken a keen interest in the Education sector and saw the opportunity to become a Governor as a fantastic way to support the local community upon moving to Melbourne. Since graduating, I have worked in a variety of Human Resources roles within both the private and public sectors, allowing me to bring my experience as an HR professional to the Governing Body. I live in Melbourne with my wife and young daughter.

Paul Markham - Trust Appointed Governor

I have worked as an Engineering Manager in food and beverage manufacture for the past 25 years. As a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, I have a particular passion for the delivery of STEM fundamentals across all stages of education. I have enjoyed many opportunities in the workplace to support apprentices, graduates and employer sponsorship of a University Technical College. I have been a Governor at Melbourne Community Primary School since 2014, when our daughter was in year one. I’ve always been proud to have a small level of involvement with such an impressive team of school staff, who always prove so dedicated and resilient, even in the most challenging of times. A day at the coast with the dogs is our favourite family day out and I often spend my spare time working on home improvements.

Rebecca Major - Trust Appointed Governor

I moved to Melbourne from Leeds just before lockdown in March 2020. I am a retired civil servant, working as a project manager in Leeds having moved up from Reading in 1992. I have two daughters, one living in Sheffield and one in Amsterdam. I have always been interested in education as my mother was a primary school teacher. I was a member (and chair) of the Governing Body at Manston Primary School for many years and I also spent 2 years as a governor at John Smeaton Academy in Leeds. I must say that I enjoyed my time working with the primary school considerably more than the high school and am looking forward to being able to use my knowledge and experience at Melbourne Primary School.

The Governor Membership list can be found here.

The Register of Business Interests is available to view here.

The LGB attendance record for 2019-20 is available to view here.

Governors meet twice every term for a full Local Governing Body meeting. Governors also sit on one or two committees which also meet regularly (eg Pay/Performance Review).

The most important quality we seek in a governor is the desire to make a difference to children’s lives through education. In addition to this, attributes that a make a good school governor include:

A desire to help the local community
An external perspective
A willingness to change assumptions
The time to get involved
The ability to work as part of a team

What do governors do?

Among other responsibilities they:

Set appropriate targets for pupil achievement
Develop and review the School Improvement Plan
Manage the school’s budget
Review curriculum
Act as a “critical friend” to Headteacher and other professionals
Appoint Headteacher
Establish and review performance management
Manage legal duties e.g. to pupils with Special Educational Needs
Self evaluate school’s strengths and weaknesses, prepare for Ofsted inspections and draw up action plan post Ofsted visit
Hear exclusion and disciplinary appeals
Governors do not get involved in the day to day operational aspects of school – this is the job of the Headteacher and her staff. Their role is more strategic and long term

Why does it matter?

According to Ofsted, “…where governance is good, standards of attainment are more likely to be higher than in other schools. The quality of teaching, the behaviour of the pupils, and leadership and management are also more likely to be good. Where governance is weak, schools are more likely to be less successful overall.”

'Governors have a wide range of skills and expertise to support the school’s work and do so effectively. They, too, are ambitious for the school and are confident in asking searching questions about the school’s performance, any proposed actions to make improvements and the impact of these actions to accelerate pupils’ progress. They are astute in recruiting high-calibre staff because they want the best for the school, and hold leaders to account effectively for the progress pupils make.' OFSTED October 2017

How might I become involved?

If you’d like to have an informal discussion about the possibility of becoming a Governor, do contact Jane Henley Chair of the Local Governing Body, via the school.

Governing Body Meeting Dates 2021 - 2022

	Date
Autumn 1	5th October 2021
Autumn 2	16th November 2021
Spring 1	18th January 2022
Spring 2	8th March 2022
Summer 1	12th May 2022
Summer 2	7th July 2022

Any issues concerning pupils at the school should, in the first instance, be discussed with the class teacher and thereafter with Mrs Foxton, Headteacher. If you do not feel the matter has been resolved to your satisfaction, then you can write to Mrs Henley c/o the school.