Welcome to the Governors' section:
ST LAWRENCE CE PRIMARY SCHOOL, LECHLADE
GOVERNORS and ASSOCIATE MEMBERS DETAILS and REGISTER of INTERESTS
The Local Governing Board of St Lawrence CE Primary School was constituted in March
2018 when the school joined the Diocese of Gloucester Academies Trust (DGAT). It has a
total of 12 Governors who each serve a four- year term of office. They have a broad range of
experience and knowledge and all governors are volunteers.
Governors are appointed as follows:
• The Head Teacher (ex officio)
• The Vicar of St Lawrence Church (ex officio)
• 1 Staff Governor elected by school staff
• 2 Parent Governors elected by parents of the school
• 1 Co-Opted Governor appointed by the Local Governing Board
• 6 Foundation Governors, nominated by the Parochial Church Council and appointed by the Diocesan Board of Education.
The Local Governing Board can invite people to join a specific committee to share their expertise.
These people are Associate Members. They do not have voting rights at any Local
Governing Board meetings.
The Vice Chair are elected annually by the Governors at the last meeting of the academic year, and the Chair is appointed annually by DGAT, following nomination by the Local Governing Board.
The Local Governing Body meets up to six times each academic year to help guide the overall strategic direction of the school with a scheme of delegation set by the DGAT Board of Trustees to enable pupils to learn most effectively and achieve their best.
All Foundation governors are also members of the Christian Ethos committee – monitoring Christian distinctiveness, ensuring policies match Christian
vision and preparing for Statutory Inspections of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS)
Local governors do not get involved in the day to day running of the school, as that is the responsibility of the Head Teacher and the school management team. However, Governor duties do include:
• To provide a strategic view and act as a critical friend
• To ensure accountability
• To help set the strategy, policies and objectives for the school
• To challenge and support decisions made by the school management team
• To assist in the appointment of staff
• To monitor results and other aspects of school life such as behaviour and attendance
Academic Year 2025/26
GOVERNORS – 12 in total, all with a 4-year term of office.
PARENT governors are appointed by parents following an election when a vacancy
arises. The next one is due to be held in October/November 2026.
Mrs Joanne Baker
• Serves from 5 November 2020 until 4 November 2028
• Vice Chair of Governing Body
• Link governor with Reading and Writing
Mr Jason Roberts
• Serves from 31 October 2022 until 30 October 2026
• Governor with responsibility for the school website
FOUNDATION governors are appointed by Diocesan Board of Education, following nomination by the Parochial Church Council. There are 7 in total.
Vacancy X 2
Reverend Dr Andrew Cinnamond
• Ex officio
• Christian Ethos Committee (Chair)
Mrs Tessa Cobb
• Serves from 1 September 2023 until 31 August 2027
• Christian Ethos Committee
• Link governor with EYFS
Mr Matthew Ryan
• Serves from 1 October 2019 until 30 September 2027
• Christian Ethos Committee
• Link governor with Science
Mrs Rachel Binns
• Serves from 1 December 2025 until 30 November 2029
• Christian Ethos Committee
The STAFF governor is elected by all staff members who are eligible to vote. There is 1 in total. The Head Teacher is also an ex-officio member of the Governing Body.
Mrs Helen Bailey-Candlish
• Serves from 1 January 2025 until 31 December 2029
Mr Gordon Soutar
• Ex Officio
• Christian Ethos Committee
The Co-Opted governor is appointed by the Local Governing Body and there is 1 in total.
Mrs Freya Moreby
• Serves from 12 December 2022 until 11 December 2026
• Chair of Governing Body
• Governor with responsibility for Special Needs & AGAT, Looked After Children, Child Protection & HT Appraisal
• Link governor with SEN & PHSE
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS are appointed by the Local Governing Body to sit on a specific
committee and share their expertise.
During the 2023/2024 school year there were additional people who served on the
Governing Body.
Reverend Dr Gareth Griffith
• Serves from 1 September 2021 – 31 March 2024
• Associate Member of the Christian Ethos committee
Mr Michael Baker
• Serves from 1 September 2022 until 31 August 2024
• Resources Committee
• Christian Ethos Committee
• Appeals Committee
• Link governor with Maths and PE
Mrs Rachel Chamberlain
• Serves from 1 September 2022 until 31 August 2024
• Curriculum Standards Committee (Chair)
• Christian Ethos Committee
• Pay Policy Committee
• Review Officer
• Link governor with Music, History and Geography
Register of Pecuniary and other interests
Andrew Cinnamond is a Foundation Governor at Southrop School and is married to Kate Cinnamond who is employed by the school as a Teaching Assistant.
Matthew Ryan is married to Claire Ryan who is employed by the school as a Mid-Day Supervisor and Teaching Assistant.
There are no other interests arising from relationships between governors or relationships between governors and school staff.
No other member of the governing body performs a governance role in other educational institutions.
There are no pecuniary or other interests declared.
If you would like more information about the Local Governing Body and its work at St Lawrence CE Primary School, or if you are interested in becoming a governor, then please contact Ruth Cooper, Clerk to the Local Governing Body, c/o the School Office.