Our Governing Board
Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA). Following the federation of Hamsterley Primary School with the Upper Durham Dales Federation on 01/09/2023, a new governing body has been appointed consisting of governors from the two previous governing bodies. Roles of responsibility will be allocated at our first meeting and the website updated accordingly.
Federation Governor Committee Structure
| Name | Representing | Term of Office |
Committees | Monitoring Link Governor |
Relationship to Staff |
Register of Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Sarah Hodgkinson (Executive Headteacher) |
Staff | 01/01/2021- ongoing |
Curriculum, School Performance & Welfare Finance, Staffing & Resources |
Headteacher Hamsterley, Rookhope, St John's Chapel, Wearhead | ||
| Mr Richard Sains (Federation Deputy Headteacher) |
Staff | 01/09/2023- 31/08/2027 First Appointed 30/01/2021 |
Finance, Staffing & Resources Curriculum, School Performance & Welfare |
Teacher St John's Chapel, DHT | ||
| Mrs Ruth Nattrass | Co-opted | 01/09/2023- 31/08/2027 First Appointed 15/03/2016 |
Finance, Staffing & Resources First/Pay Review HT Performance Management |
Health & Safety | ||
| Mrs Hannah Walter Co-Vice Chair |
Parent | 01/09/2023- 31/08/2027 First Appointed 18/10/2022 |
Curriculum, School Performance & Welfare Appeals |
SEND, & LAC Maths |
Parent | |
| Mr Thomas Jack Bullen | Co-opted | 01/09/2023- 31/08/2027 First Appointed 06/10/2022 |
Curriculum, School Performance & Welfare Appeals Pupil Discipline |
Art & Design DT Humanities |
Parent | |
| Miss Laura Woods | Co-opted | 01/09/2023- 31/08/2027 First Appointed 01/01/2021 |
Curriculum, School Performance & Welfare | Teacher Rookhope | ||
| Cllr. Edward Henderson | LA representative | 01/09/2023- 31/08/2027 First Appointed 01/01/2021 |
Finance, Staffing & Resources First/Pay Review |
County Councillor | ||
| Mark den Hollander Chair |
Co-opted | 01/09/2023- 31/08/2027 First Appointed 08/06/2016 |
Curriculum, School Performance & Welfare Finance, Staffing & resources First /Pay Review Pupil Discipline |
|||
| Hilary Currie | Co-opted | 01/09/2023- 31/08/2027 First Appointed 12/07/2017 |
Appeals Finance, Staffing & Resources Pupil Discipline |
Governor Training & Development | Parent | |
| Susan Kirby | Co-opted | 01/09/2023- 31/08/2027 First Appointed 28/03/2022 |
Appeals Curriculum, School Performance & Welfare Headteacher Performance Management |
Literacy | ||
| Deborah Pinchen | Parent | 01/09/2023- 31/08/2027 First Appointed 30/09/2020 |
Finance, Staffing & resources Pupil Discipline |
Pupil Premium & Sports Premium | Parent | |
| Barbara Scott Co-Vice Chair |
Co-opted | 01/09/2023- 31/08/2027 First Appointed 24/09/2020 |
Finance, Staffing & Resources First/Pay Review Headteacher Performance Management |
Safeguarding PSHE & RE EYFS |
Parent |
How To Become A School Governor
If you require further information on the roles and responsibilities of School Governors or you are interested in becoming one, visit the Durham County Council website School Governor section.
Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies
St John’s Chapel Primary School adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department of Education. This means that governing bodies must have regard to it when carrying out duties relating to the constitution of governing bodies in maintained schools. For further information please view or download the documents below.
The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
Federation Governor Attendance
Schools are required to display a record of Governor attendance at meetings for each school academic year.
Committee Terms of Reference
National Governors Association (NGA) – Code of Conduct (2023)
Durham Dales Federation – Terms of Reference (2023-2024)
Adobe Reader
You may need a product like Adobe Reader (free download) to view our PDF documents on our website.