Welcome to the Governors’ section of the website.
The governing body consists of the following members:
Christopher Jones
Chair of Governors
Parent Governor
Term of Office: 28/09/2021 to 27/09/2025
Maria Dixon-Amphlett
Local Authority Governor and Vice-Chair
Term of Office:20/03/2023 to 19/03/2027 (Fourth term, formerly Parent Governor)
Fiona Locke
Headteacher
Ex officio from 01/09/2024
Russell Field
Staff Governor
Term of Office: 26/03/2021 to 25/03/2025 (Fifth Term)
Gilford Sweetenham
Co-opted Governor
Term of Office: 18/11/2024 to 17/11/2028
Annabel Smith
Co-opted Governor and Chair of the Curriculum Committee
Term of Office: 25/03/204 to 24/03/2028
(Second term)
Yvonne Pitman
Co-Opted Governor
Term of Office: 20/03/2023 to 19/03/2027) (first term)
Emma Smith
Parent Governor
Term of Office: 10/05/2023 to 09/05/2027
Cllr Carole Jones
Co-Opted Governor
Term of Office: 25/03/2024 to 24/03/2028 (first term)
Peter Hallam
Co-Opted Governor
Chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee and the Environment Committee
Term of Office: 25/03/2024 to 24/03/2028 (first term)
Catherine Dunkley-Jones
Clerk to the Governors
Appointed 09/09/2013
Janine Wager-Hale
Former Parent Governor (resigned)
15/06/2020 to 19/02/2024
Rachel Barbet
Former Co-opted Governor (resigned)
20/03/2023 to 12/03/2024 (second term)
The Governing Body of William Barnes Primary School
The core functions of our governing body are as set out in (regulation 6) and include, but are not limited to ensuring:
- that the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school are clearly defined
- that the headteacher performs their responsibilities for the educational performance of the school
- the sound, proper and effective use of the school’s financial resources
A governing body and its governors must, as required by The School Governance (Roles, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013, regulation 6(2):
- act with integrity, objectivity and honesty and in the best interests of the school
- be open about the decisions they make and the actions they take and shall be prepared to explain their decisions and actions to interested parties
The governing body also has legislative responsibility and strategic oversight for the school’s safeguarding arrangements.
The Appointment of Governors
Our governors are drawn from parents and carers, the wider community and school staff and are appointed for a four-year term of office. Co-opted governors are appointed, based on their skill set, by the Governing Body; parents and carers elect parent governors, and staff governors are elected by school staff. We also have one governor who is nominated by the Local Authority.
Governor Vacancies
We currently have two parent governor vacancies and would be pleased to hear from anyone who would like to learn more about how they might contribute to our school’s continued success as a governor.
To contact the Chair of Governors, please write care of the school address which is
William Barnes Primary School, Bridge Street, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1BZ
Please find links below for more governor-related information.
- Information about the roles, responsibilities and the committee structure of the governing body
- Summary of the Register of Business Interests
- Meeting attendance records
- The Governors’ Financial Statement
- For Financial Benchmarking information about William Barnes Primary School, please visit the Schools’ Financial Benchmarking Service
- The Governors’ Code of Conduct
- Governor Visits Protocol
If you would like to see minutes of governing body meetings, please contact the Clerk to the Governors via the school office. Copies of Full Governing Body meeting minutes will be shared within seven days on receipt of the request.