Governing Body

The Governing Body's ethos statement is:

Recognising its historic foundation, the school will preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the Church at parish and diocesan level.

The school aims to serve its community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice. It encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all its pupils.

Please contact the school offices if you would like copies of non-confidential governing body minutes.

The governing body is comprised of up to 16 people:-

The Governing Body structure

As set out in our Terms of Reference, we are structured with a Full Governing Board (FGB) supported by two committees and one steering Group.  The Strategic Steering Group consists of Headteacher, Chair of Governors and Vice Chair of Governors. The committees are Education, Development and Safeguarding (EDS) and Finance, People and Premises (FPP). 

In September 2022, we merged the meetings of our committees into the Full Governing Board, which we find provides us with improved oversight and a much better understanding of all of the relevant factors in decision-making. We find it is also a more efficient use of our Governance time and reduces duplication.  Every meeting starts with a focus on Safeguarding, and through the year we have an alternating focus in our meetings, between EDS and FPP agendas.  Our Scheme of Delegation framework on the Governance Page sets out in detail which responsibilities are allocated to FGB, EDS, FPP or to individual governor roles.

We maintain an allocation of Governors to the committee structure (see below) which allows us to delegate certain matters and decisions to each committee, outwith FGB, should that be required.

We also have specific Governor roles for key statutory areas such as Safeguarding, Data, Attendance, SEND, Disadvantaged Learners etc.

Jo Maitland, Foundation Governor, Chair

Jo Maitland, Foundation Governor, joined the Governing Body in 2021. An engineer by background, Jo has nearly 20 years’ experience in British Army leadership roles, and has worked in engineering, training, safeguarding and consulting in Defence. She now divides her time between consulting, life coaching and parenting. She is a Christian and attends Brinkworth church. She is a school parent, with a children at both sites.  Email: governors@brinkworthearldanbys.wilts.sch.uk. 

Fiona Hegarty, Co-opted Governor, Vice Chair

I joined the Governing Body in July 2022 and am the link governor for safeguarding. I am retired, but spent almost 40 years working in the NHS initially as a community nurse, but finally as the Director of Clinical Services for a social enterprise providing a range of Community Health Services. Although new to Wiltshire and Brinkworth Earl Danby’s I have several years experience as a school governor in Surrey. I am kept busy by five young grandchildren and love walking, reading and singing in a choir.

Leo Lester, Foundation Governor

Leo Lester joined the Governing Body in 2024. He is an international Programme Director with a career of successfully building institutional capabilities. His experience spans multiple sectors, including energy, finance, consulting, education and government. Leo holds a PhD in evolutionary biology from the University of Reading and a Ba(Hons) from the University of Oxford, and is both a Chartered Financial Analyst and a certified Financial Risk Manager.

Matthew McGrady, Parent Governor

Matt joined the governing body in 2021 as a parent governor. He has one daughter in lower site and a second who will join reception in 2023. He has spent his career as a mechanical engineer in the electricity industry. Outside of work and family life he enjoys running, cycling and tinkering in the garage.

Nandi Mellor, Local Authority Governor

Nandi Mellor, Local Authority Governor.  Joined the Governing Body in 2021.  Has 2 children, with the youngest in Year 6.  My background is in nursing, however, over the last 15 years I have specialised in Occupational Health.

Konstantinos Beis, Parent Governor

Kostas joined the governing body in 2021. He has two children at the school. He has a daughter in Year 3 and a son in Year 5. Kostas has over 15 years experience in the higher education sector, including teaching biochemistry, and he is also running a research lab. In his spare time, he is an amateur astronomer and enjoying hiking and travelling.

 

Individual Governor Roles 2024/25

 

Committees:

  Governor Attendance - 2023-2024

Voting rights are not held by any Associate Governor.