Offham School Governors
Welcome to our Governors’ section
All schools have a Governing Body which is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions of the school. A key role is to act as a ‘critical friend’ which offers support, constructive advice, a sounding board for ideas, a second opinion on proposals and help where needed. However, a ‘critical friend’ also challenges, asks questions, seeks information, improves proposals and helps to arrive at the best solution for the pupils, staff and whole school community.
The Governing Body works in close partnership with the Headteacher, Senior Leadership Team, staff and the Local Authority. Whilst the Headteacher is responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are responsible and accountable for the school. It ensures the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives. The Governing Body works as a team with shared responsibilities.
Governors never make decisions on their own, nor do they act as individuals. The Full Governing Body meets 6 times per year.
Circle Model
The governors at Offham Primary School have adopted a circle model of governance. This means that the Governing Body works as a ‘whole team’, meeting 6 times per year, once in each term, without any separate committees. An agenda for each meeting will include all the tasks which the governing body is required to consider, and the governing body will ‘commission’ assignments or activities arising from the business of the meeting, which will be recorded in the minutes.
In addition to ‘commissioning’ activities or actions on their behalf, the governing body may wish to delegate monitoring activities to ‘monitoring pairs’ or ‘individuals’. This could apply to statutory functions, and/or the priorities of the School Single Plan, which is managed under our 5 values and EYFS as headings. In each case where a function has been delegated there is a statutory duty to report any action or decision to the governing body at the next meeting.
Meet the Governors
Chair of Governors: Mr Ollie Phipps (Parent Governor)
Vice Chair: TBC
Clerk to the Governors: Mr Tim Packham (Judicium Clerking)
Local Authority Governors: TBC
Staff Governor:
- Mr Jonny O'Sullivan
Headteacher:
- Mrs Emily John
Governor Attendance at Meetings
Governor roles and responsibilities
| A little bit about your Governors | Area of responsibility | Monitoring Area of the single plan | Term of Office | Elected By | Declared Business Interests | ||
| Ollie Phipps |
Chair of Governors
Parent Governor |
I live in Offham with my wife and son, who started at the school in 2018. Professionally I am a Consultant Nurse in Acute Medicine and a Clinical Academic. I love education and I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
My family and I moved to Kent in 2016, and set up home in Offham, where we have enjoyed becoming part of village life. I became a parent governor as I wanted to help develop the school, support the staff, but most importantly to help develop our children’s education and give them a bright future.
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Strategic Leadership
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Respect Collaboration |
Jan 2019 - Jan 2023 | The Parents |
Child attending the school
Academic at Canterbury Christ Church University
Resident in local Offham community |
| Malcolm Earl | Co-opted Governor |
I became a Parent Governor in 1996 when our children attended Offham and I have stayed on ever since as a Co-opted Governor. I live in the village with my wife and work locally at a large aerospace company where I'm a Senior Programme Manager. I'm a chartered engineer and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
I enjoy keeping fit and have been a Charlton Athletic season ticket holder for many years. |
SEND & Targeted Funding
Health & Safety |
Compassion | Oct 2016-Oct 2020 | The Governors | Resident in local Offham community |
| Katie Coulson | Co-opted Governor | I live in Ryarsh with my husband Will, our daughter Olivia who attends the school and our son Oscar. Professionally, I am a Chartered Surveyor for the RICS and Partner at a consultancy firm based in central London. I have over 15 years experience in the construction industry with a focus on the education sector, in the capacity of both Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor. In my spare time I enjoy Pilates and yoga and spending time with family and friends. |
Buildings and Maintenance | Responsibility | July 2019 - Jan 2023 | The Governors |
Child attending the school
Company registered to spouse holds school grounds maintenance contract |
| Clare Innes | Co-opted Governor |
My husband and I moved to Offham in 1997 and our three boys all attended Offham Primary School which provided them with an excellent start to their educational journey. I have been a School Governor for many years, first as a Parent Governor and subsequently have retained my involvement with the School after our children left as a Co-opted Governor.
I am a Chartered Surveyor, specialising in Planning and Development work for both residential and commercial property and I am a Director of a multi disciplined Property and Investment Company working throughout the south east of England. I bring to the Governing Body expertise in planning, project management, construction and financial accountability.
I am an active member of the local community having been a Parish Councillor, currently a Churchwarden, Chair of Offham May Day and a Committee Member of our local NSPCC group. In my spare time I enjoy running with my dogs, any activity holiday I can fit in and spending downtime with my family. |
Finance | Resilience | March 2020 - March 2022 | The Governors |
Resident in local Offham community
Church Warden for St.Mary's West Malling
Chair of the Offham May Day committee |
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Jonny O'Sullivan
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Staff Governor | Staff Voice | N/A | Sept 2020- 2024 | The Staff | Works at the school. | |
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Simon Knell
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Parent Governor |
I have been a parent at Offham Primary School for the last 9 years and currently have two children who attend ( Ivan in Yr6 and James in Yr3).
I work for the Ministry of Justice but have previous worked in the city for 25 years as a currency trader. I also have recent experience of working in a primary school environment. I am passionate about education and am very much looking forward to my new role. |
Finance | Responsibility | Sept 2020-2024 | The Parents | Children at the School |
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Dr Tara Rampal
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Parent Governor |
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Safeguarding | Resilience | Sept 2020-2024 | The Parents | Children at the School |
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Laura Gould
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Parent Governor | By September 2021, I will have three children currently attending Offham Primary School. Professionally, I am UK Head of Human Resources for a global family of diverse companies across agriculture, engineering, food services and investments. I have a first degree in Psychology, Masters degrees in Occupational Psychology and Human Resource Management and more recently, a professional accreditation in Coaching. As a family, we love the school and as Parent Governor, I am keen to lend my professional skills to support Offham’s continued focus on excellent academic results, it's nurturing environment and values-based ethos for the children and staff. |
Governance & Human Resources | Respect | Sept 2020-2024 | The Parents | Children at the School |
| Emily John |
Headteacher |
I am the headteacher at Offham Primary school. At Governing body meetings I report back to the governors about the strategic and day to day running of the school. The Governors and I work together to set the Vision, Mission, Goals and Values for the school.
My Governing body is key in helping me to move the school forward, ensuring that we are providing the very best education and learning environment for our children and the best working environment for all of our staff. |
Headteacher | Oversees the single plan | Sept 2016 - Present | Headteacher |
Child attending the school
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Finance Group: Clare Innes, Simon Knell, Ollie Phipps, and Emily John
Pay & Reward Committee: Malcolm Earl, Laura Gould, and Ollie Phipps
Headteacher Appraisal Committee: Malcolm Earl, Ollie Phipps, & Independent Education Advisor