Our Governors and their roles
2022-23
Our Governors
Our Governors (ID 1208)
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Nicki ClaptonFoundation Governor / Chair of Governors
Nicki Clapton
Current term of office 01/09/2020 - 31/08/2024
Chair of Governors
Hi, I am Nicki Clapton and have been lucky enough to live in Cranham for over 20years. I work with my husband who is a local farmer of cattle and sheep and I am chair of governors at Cranham School. Although I am a parent of the school, I am actually a foundation governor, appointed by the Parochial church council and along with all the other governors we strive to ensure the vision and values of the school are at the heart of all that happens.
Outside of school I am the local Beaver leader, I sing in the village choir and play in the village orchestra (not very well but it is good fun!). Cranham is such a special village and the school is one of its best attributes and I am proud to feel part of both. -
Linda de CossartFoundation Governor / Chair of Ethos Committee
Linda de Cossart
Current term of office 01/06/2020 - 31/05/2024
Chair of Ethos committee
Hello, I am Linda de Cossart, a resident of Cranham for 15 years. I have been honoured and delighted to have been a Foundation School Governor for six years and as such was elected to the role by the Parochial Church Council. I have learned a lot about school education and how our school is developing. It is thriving at the moment and the opportunities that lay ahead are very exciting. If you have never thought of doing this role please think about it. You will not regret it. In my former professional life I was a vascular surgeon in Chester and I continue to be actively involved in postgraduate medical education.
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Sylvia ArdronFoundation Governor
Sylvia Ardron
Current term of office 01/10/2021 - 30/09/2025
Hello, my name is Sylvia Ardron, and I've been a Foundation Governor for five years. In this role, I try to do all I can to encourage the strong link between the Church and the School.
I live with my husband Keith in Upton St Leonards, but we are long standing members of Cranham church, where he is church warden and I occasionally play the organ. We have two grown up daughters and four young grandchildren who like to keep us busy. I am a retired nurse, a former Parish Councillor and a Trustee of a Gloucestershire Dementia charity. In my spare time, I love playing the piano, singing, walking and travel.
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Anna CheesemanFoundation Governor / Chair of Finance Committee
Anna Cheeseman
Current term of office 01/10/2020 - 30/09/2024
Chair of Finance committee
Hi, my name is Anna Cheeseman and I am a Foundation Governor. My family and I moved to Cranham 6 years ago and I have been involved in the school ever since, as a parent, treasurer of FOCS and, in the last two years, joining the governing body.
Part of my role as governor is to chair the Finance Committee. Having to lead and develop a school with limited funding and ever increasing demands is an unenviable task for any Headteacher. I try to bring my experience in financial and business management to ensure we prioritise spending in the best interests of the children, the staff and the school.
I like to spend my spare time with my family and our dog exploring the local area and holidaying by the sea.
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Mike CampbellFoundation Governor
Mike Campbell
Current term of office 01/03/2020 - 29/02/2024
My name's Michael but everyone calls me Mike, which is my preferred name. I've been a Foundation Governor (which means I am chosen by Cranham Church to be a Governor) since 1st March 2020. Although I'm still wondering how I ended up being a Governor it has been a real pleasure to learn about what an amazing school Cranham School is, and what a delightful bunch of children come here. (I'd better also say what an incredible team of staff there is here too, because they really are a great bunch!)
Just as I became a Governor we were hit with Covid, so I wasn't able to spend as much time in school initially as I would have liked, but now that I am able to come in to school a bit more it is always lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves. Getting a chance to speak to some of you is always good and everyone seems so friendly - I almost wish I could come back to school again!
I live in Painswick, am now retired and spend quite a bit of my time doing things in Church. I'm interested in railways, especially model railways, so like spending my leisure time pursuing that as a hobby, and going on holiday, especially to Greece.
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Lyn BarkerFoundation Governor
Lyn Barker
Current term of office 01/03/2020 - 29/02/2024
Hi, I'm Lyn Barker, a Foundation Governor sharing responsibility for safeguarding. I've lived in the village for 22 years, the longest I've ever lived anywhere because Cranham is a great community full of kindness and vitality, all the things we strive to achieve in our school.
Before retiring, I worked as a Psychologist specialising in Leadership and Management and over the years I've had great fun and satisfaction being involved in many of the village social groups.
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Chris HullStaff Governor
Chris Hull
Current term of office 01/09/2022 - 31/08/2024
Hello, I am the Staff Governor here at Cranham having taken up the role in 2018. In school, I work as the Year 5 and 6 teacher (amongst many other roles!), my first teaching role since qualifying as a teacher. I was born and grew up in Coventry, leaving home to begin my degree at the University of Gloucestershire aged 19. I now live in Cheltenham with my fiancée.
In my spare time you will often find me back in Coventry watching football, playing football across Gloucestershire, in a snooker hall honing my cue skills or at a gig watching live music.
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Kathy DonaldsonParent Governor
Kathy Donaldson
Current term of office 01/09/2020 - 31/08/2024
My name is Kathy Donaldson and I have been a parent Governor at Cranham C of E school for 6 years. I am a teacher and Senior Leader in a local primary school and feel that my day to day experience in a school helps me greatly in my role as a Governor. I really enjoy hearing about the developments in teaching and learning at Cranham School and it has been lovely to read the children's writing in our local parish magazine.
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Nikki HaleParent Governor
Nikki Hale
Current term of office 01/09/2021 - 31/08/2025
Hi there, I'm Nikki and I'm a Parent Governor. I joined the Cranham School governors team in 2021 because I wanted to support the school and ensure it continues to provide a great place for children to learn and grow. Being a governor is not easy - there's lots to learn but it's really rewarding, and I hope to contribute my skills and experience - some gained in HR and business - towards the school's continued success. I'm an active member of Friends of Cranham School (FOCS) and for the last three years I have been the team's Chairperson. I live in Cranham with my husband and daughter, and together we enjoy being outdoors, either in the mountains, or spending time by the coast.
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Angela WilsonLocal Authority Governor / Vice Chair of Governors
Angela Wilson
Current term of office 13/09/2022 - 12/09/2026
Vice Chair of Governors
Hello! My name is Angie Wilson. I am Vice Chair of Governors and LA Governor at Cranham school. I have been a Governor here at Cranham since September 2021, but was a Foundation Governor at Christ Church CoE School at Chalford from 2000-2021. I was Chair of Governors at that school for 6 years until we closed in August 2021. I really enjoy being a school Governor and find it very rewarding. I enjoy working with teachers and others to develop the learning environment for children.
I am married to Jeff and have a 15 year old daughter, who attended Christ Church school. My 'day job ' is in the NHS and I enjoy reading and craft.
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Laura HodgesNon-voting Member / Teacher
Laura Hodges
Current term of office 01/09/2021
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Sarah ScottEx Officio Governor / Headteacher
Sarah Scott
Current term of office 01/09/2022
I feel absolutely privileged to be leading Cranham Church of England Primary School. Just as our vision implies, our school is all about nurturing, and as a keen gardener and a mother of four I've had plenty of experience in just what this means! I live just outside the village with my husband, our children and our huge deerhound. I love to stay fit and healthy and enjoy early morning running in the woods. As a family, we love walking and camping; we even climb the odd mountain. I have a passion for English and one of my very favourite things in the whole world is curling up with a good book - in fact I can't remember a single day when this hasn't been something for me to especially look forward to. I also love art and all things creative.
Cranham Primary is a very special family to belong to, with staff, children, parents and governors all working together as such a close compassionate community supporting each other and making this school the very best it can be. I'm so fortunate to be a part of this most special place.
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Laura CookeClerk to the Governors
Laura Cooke
clerk@cranham.gloucs.sch.uk
Our Governors are always willing to hear from anyone with a comment, an issue or a concern, though formal complaints should follow the Complaints Procedure. To contact the Chair, please e-mail chair@cranham.gloucs.sch.uk
Vacancy
Ex-Officio Governor – Current term of office 04/11/2019
Governor attendance
Link Governors
Each year group has a Governor who will follow their progress as they work through the school.
Additionally, the Governors of Cranham Primary school have a subject or curriculum area they are responsible for supporting and monitoring alongside the respective member of staff:
Remit of the Governing Body
Governors are responsible for a number of areas including attainment, finance, policies and procedures. Their role involves working closely with the Head Teacher, as critical friend providing challenge and support to ensure that every child can grow academically, socially, morally, spiritually, culturally and emotionally and create relationships underpinned by our Christian values. Together we aim to ensure all those who are touched by our school share our journey – love, live, laugh, learn.
What are the Governing Body’s core responsibilities?
Establishing the strategic direction, by
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Setting the vision, values, and objectives for the school
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Agreeing the school improvement strategy with priorities and targets
Meeting statutory duties Ensuring accountability, by:
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Monitoring progress towards targets
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Performance managing the headteacher
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Engaging with stakeholders
Contributing to school self-evaluation Ensuring financial probity, by:
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Setting the budget
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Monitoring spending against the budget
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Ensuring value for money is obtained
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Ensuring risks to the organisation are managed