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The Governing Body
School Governors
Welcome to the school governors website page for The Grange Academy
The governing body team at The Grange Academy is expected to:
Establish the strategic direction, by:
- Setting the vision, values, and objectives for the school
- Agreeing the school improvement strategy with priorities and targets
- Meeting statutory duties
Ensuring accountability, by:
- Appointing the lead executive/headteacher
- Monitoring progress towards targets
- Performance managing the lead executive/headteacher
- Engaging with stakeholders
- Contributing to school self-evaluation
Ensuring financial probity, by:
- Setting the budget
- Monitoring spending against the budget
- Ensuring value for money is obtained
- Ensuring risks to the organisation are managed
s individuals on the board we agree to the following:
Governors Code of Conduct
Role & Responsibilities
- We understand the purpose of the board and the role of the lead executive/headteacher.
- We accept that we have no legal authority to act individually, except when the board has given us delegated authority to do so, and therefore we will only speak on behalf of the governing board when we have been specifically authorised to do so.
- We accept collective responsibility for all decisions made by the board or its delegated agents. This means that we will not speak against majority decisions outside the governing board meeting.
- We have a duty to act fairly and without prejudice, and in so far as we have responsibility for staff, we will fulfil all that is expected of a good employer.
- We will encourage open government and will act appropriately.
- We will consider carefully how our decisions may affect the community and other schools.
- We will always be mindful of our responsibility to maintain and develop the ethos and reputation of our school/group of schools. Our actions within the school and the local community will reflect this.
- In making or responding to criticism or complaints we will follow the procedures established by the governing board.
- We will actively support and challenge the lead executive/headteacher.
Commitment
- We acknowledge that accepting office as a governor/trustee/academy committee member involves the commitment of significant amounts of time and energy.
- We will each involve ourselves actively in the work of the governing board, and accept our fair share of responsibilities, including service on committees or working groups.
- We will make full efforts to attend all meetings and where we cannot attend explain in advance why we are unable to.
- We will get to know the school/s well and respond to opportunities to involve ourselves in school activities.
- We will visit the school/s, with all visits arranged in advance with the lead executive/headteacher and undertaken within the framework established by the governing board.
- We will consider seriously our individual and collective needs for induction, training and development, and will undertake relevant training.
- We accept that in the interests of open government, our full names, date of appointment, terms of office, roles on the governing board, attendance records, relevant business and pecuniary interests, category of governor and the body responsible for appointing us will be published on the school’s website.
- In the interests of transparency we accept that information relating to governors/trustees/academy committee members will be collected and logged on the DfE’s national database of governors (Edubase).
Relationships
- We will strive to work as a team in which constructive working relationships are actively promoted.
- We will express views openly, courteously and respectfully in all our communications with other governors/trustees/academy committee members.
- We will support the chair in their role of ensuring appropriate conduct both at meetings and at all times.
- We are prepared to answer queries from other board members in relation to delegated functions and take into account any concerns expressed, and we will acknowledge the time, effort and skills that have been committed to the delegated function by those involved.
- We will seek to develop effective working relationships with the lead executive/headteacher, staff and parents, the trust, the local authority and other relevant agencies and the community.
Confidentiality
- We will observe complete confidentiality when matters are deemed confidential or where they concern specific members of staff or pupils, both inside or outside school.
- We will exercise the greatest prudence at all times when discussions regarding school/trust business arise outside a governing board meeting.
- We will not reveal the details of any governing board vote.
Conflicts of interest
- We will record any pecuniary or other business interest (including those related to people we are connected with) that we have in connection with the governing board’s business in the Register of Business Interests, and if any such conflicted matter arises in a meeting we will offer to leave the meeting for the appropriate length of time. We accept that the Register of Business Interests will be published on the school/trust’s website.
- We will also declare any conflict of loyalty at the start of any meeting should the situation arise.
- We will act in the best interests of the school as a whole and not as a representative of any group, even if elected to the governing board.
About our Governors
Jon Legg
Trust governor
"I was a secondary headteacher for over fourteen years and have since worked on the national professional qualification for headteachers (NPQH) for many years. This has given me considerable experience in primary education, and I enjoy supporting the headteacher and her staff in their aim to provide the very best education for all the children in their care. As a governing body, we are a team, and I enjoy working with the other governors to fulfil our role of providing a strategic overview of and acting as a critical friend to the school. It was most rewarding for us all when the school achieved its 'good' Ofsted report in January 2022'
Jamie Sinclair
Co-opted Governor
I have been a co-opted governor at The Grange since 2019, more recently taking on the role of co-chair. I live relatively locally and became a governor because I wanted to do something to support my local community. The best part of my role as a governor is hearing the enthusiasm that the children have for the Grange during governor visits. In my day job I am a management consultant working with the public sector. Previously I worked for the NHS in West Hertfordshire where I helped design services and, more recently, worked on setting up covid testing and vaccine sites during the pandemic.
Craig Maddox
Headteacher
"I am the Interim Headteacher at The Grange Academy, beginning January 2024. I have worked in education for 18 years, in middle school, primary school and now junior school settings. My roles have been varied, beginning as a teaching assistant, then a class teacher, a year group leader, subject lead, Assistant Headteacher in two schools, and now as Deputy Headteacher at The Grange. I am passionate about education and learning, with a BA Degree in Education Studies, a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership, and currently in the middle of a National Professional Qualification for Headship. I am also passionate about music and drama, and the importance of engaging our young students in creative arts to unlock imaginations, build confidence and support with developing positive mental health."
Joanne Balaam
Co-opted Governor
"I originally applied to become a parent Governor in March 2015 because I have 4 children who would all go through the school so I have a long-term interest in the success of the school, and I wanted to proactively support the leadership in the school. In March 2019 I was re-elected as a co-opted Governor. When I applied back in 2015, I had no knowledge of the education sector at all, apart from my children coming to school each day! But I am a Finance Director for an international non-profit organisation and have worked within the third sector for over 15 years, so had knowledge about the sector as a whole. Sitting on the resources working group, I can bring expertise in accounting, procurement, capital projects, budgets, staffing, data analysis and policies."
Sarah Lewis
Staff Governor
Eleanor Vernon
Staff Governor
After eight years working in Derbyshire Schools and nurseries as a Teaching Assistant, I retrained as a Primary Teacher. I have been working at The Grange since July 2023 and been a Staff Governor since 2024. By joining the governing body, I will hope to bring knowledge from inside the classroom on how to support our children and ensure they enjoy being here as well as thrive. A passion of mine is supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and also those from disadvantaged backgrounds. I am fully trained in MAKATON (children’s sign language), Attention Autism trained and also a Forest School Leader all of which are effective tools to use with children, especially those with SEND.
Nicky Murphy
Trust Governor
"After ten years as a member of staff at The Grange Academy, I chose to stay on as a Trust Governor in order to continue to support and work with the school. I started on the Academy Governing Body in September 2019 in the capacity of Staff Governor through my role as the school's Deputy Headteacher, year 6 teacher, assessment and English lead. I now work for HfL Education as a Primary English Teaching and Learning Adviser and hope to be able to offer an insight into curriculum and quality of education, as well as observations about the journey the school has been on during my time as part of the school."
Kayleigh Abery
Parent Governor
I have been a parent governor since the autumn term 2021. I have children at the school and this drew me to consider being a governor. I have worked in local government for 18 years in an administrative role that has over the years provided support to engineering, planning and transport services. I have a fair amount of interaction with customers and my role requires investigating facts and problem solving alongside some reporting. I have a good mindset for policies and procedures and safeguarding and I feel these skills can support being a governor. I hope to bring an honest, nuanced opinion and the viewpoint of being a parent at the school. I feel comfortable contributing and working as a team for the future of the children at the school.
Sandeep Sandhu
Co-opted Governor
I have been a co-opted governor at The Grange since 2023. I became a governor to support my local community and encourage children to reach their full potential. I work in research and innovation within the public sector, supporting academia and industry to address the global challenges we face today and in the future. Prior to this I was a researcher and have a background in STEM. I’m very passionate about engaging children in STEM, particularly those from under-represented communities, and volunteer as a STEM Ambassador.
Ann Massey
Trust Governor
Liz King
Clark to the Governors
OUR CURRENT BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Name | Post | Start date | Term end date | Board meetings attended |
Jonathan Legg | Co-Chair of Governors Trust Governor Chair of School Improvement Committee *Special educational needs and children looked after | 02/04/2022
01/09/2017
Further term accepted 01/09/2021 | 04/10/2022
31/08/2021
31/08/2025
| 25.01.22 15.03.22 07.06.22 12.07.22 04.10.22 apologies 29.11.22 24.01.23 14.03.23 06.06.23 11.07.23 03.10.23 apologies 28.11.23 23.01.24 12.03.24 |
Jamie Sinclair
| Co-Chair of Governors
Co-Opted Governor
| 02/04/2022
05/02/2019 Further term accepted 05/02/2024 | 04/10/2022
04/02/2023
04/02/2027 | 25.01.22 15.03.22 07.06.22 12.07.22 04.10.22 29.11.22 24.01.23 14.03.23 06.06.23 11.07.23 03.10.23 28.11.23 23.01.24 12.03.24 |
| Craig Maddox | Interim Headteacher | 3.10.23 28.11.23 23.01.24 12.03.24 | ||
Joanne Balaam | Co-Opted Governor *Governor Training | 29/04/2019 Further term accepted 16/03/2023 | 28/04/2023
15/03/2027 | 25.01.22 15.03.22 07.06.22 12.07.22 apologies 04.10.22 apologies 29.11.22 24.01.23 apologies 14.03.23 apologies 06.06.23 11.07.23 03.10.23 28.11.23 23.01.24 12.03.24 |
| Nicola Murphy |
Staff Governor
Trust Governor |
01/09/2017
01/09/2023 | 31/08/2022
31/08/2027 | 25.01.22 15.03.22 07.06.22 12.07.22 04.10.22 29.11.22 24.01.23 14.03.23 06.06.23 11.07.23 03.10.23 28.11.23 23.01.24 12.03.24 |
| Kayleigh Abery | Parent Governor Safeguarding Governor | 10/11/2021 | 09/11/2025 | 25.01.22 15.03.22 07.06.22 12.07.22 04.10.22 29.11.22 24.01.23 14.03.23 06.06.23 11.07.23 03.10.23 28.11.23 23.01.24 12.03.24 |
| Marc Roberts |
Parent Governor
| 01/01/2023 | 31/12/2026 | 11.07.23 03.10.23 28.11.23 23.01.24 12.03.24 |
| Sarah Lewis | Staff Governor | 01/09/2023 | 31/08/2027 | 03.10.23 28.11.23 apologies 23.01.24 12.03.24 |
| Sandeep Sandhu | Co-opted Governor | 01/01/2024 | 31/12/2027 | 23.01.24 12.03.24 apologies |
| Eleanor Vernon | Staff Governor | 06/02/2024 | 05/02/2028 | 12.03.24 |
| Ann Massey | Trust Governor | 12/03/2024 | 11/03/2028 | 12.03.24 |
Liz King - Clark to the Governors
The chair of governors can be contacted via the school office.
| Governor link area | |
| Discipline/Complaints Panel | Jon Legg / Joanne Balaam |
| Headteacher’s Performance Management Review Panel | Joanne Balaam |
| Safer Recruitment Trained Governors | Jon Legg |
| SEND / Pupil Premium | Jon Legg |
| GDPR | Joanne Balaam |
| Health & Safety | Jamie Sinclair |
| Governor Development Coordinator | Joanne Balaam |
| Safeguarding / PREVENT / Children Looked After | Kayleigh Abery |
Previous Governors (past 24 months)
Name | Date stepped Down | Pecuniary Interest form on file |
| Michael Emmins | 01/03/2022 | |
| Laura Benn | 23/04/2021 | 09/09/2020 |
| Tamsin Thomas | 30/10/2023 | |
| Amanda Hopwood | 31/12/2023 |
Full Governing Body Minutes Academic Year 23/24
Full Governing Body Minutes Academic Year 22/23
Full Governing Body Minutes Academic Year 21/22
Full Governing Body Minutes Academic Year 2020/21
Full Governing Body Minutes Academic Year 2019/20
Full Governing Body Minutes Academic Year 2018/19
Governor Pecuniary Interests
Name | Role | Date appointed | Term of office end date | Nature of interest | Organisation/business in which interest held | Date information supplied |
Jonathan Legg | Trust Governor | 01.09.2021 | 31.08.2025 | None | None | 29/11/2022 |
Jamie Sinclair | Co-opted Governor | 05.02.2023 | 04.02.2027 | Father | Samaritans | 03/10/2023 |
Craig Maddox | Headteacher |
| None | None | 03/10/2023 | |
| Joanne Balaam | Co-opted Governor | 16.03.2023 | 15.03.2027 | Both sons | One Son is a Sports Apprentice at the school Other son is a Teaching Assistant at the school | 02.03.2024 |
| Nicola Murphy | Trust Governor | 01/09/2023 | 31.08.2027 | None | None | 03/10/2023 |
Kayleigh Abery | Parent Governor | 10/11/2021 | 09/11/2025 | None | None | 03/10/2023 |
| Sarah Lewis | Staff Governor | 01/09/2023 | 31/08/2027 | None | None | 03/10/2023 |
| Eleanor Vernon | Staff Governor | 06.02.2024 | 05.02.2028 | Mother and Father | Mother owner of a candle business and Father a company director of a packaging company | 14.03.2024 |
| Ann Massey | Trust Governor | 12.03.2024 | 11.03.2028 | None | None | 12.03.2024 |
| Sandeep Sandhu | Co-opted Governor | 01.01.2024 | 31.12.2027 | None | None | 15.02.2024 |
| Marc Roberts | Parent Governor | 01.01.2023 | 31.12.2026 | Director | Hiyacar (car rental services company) | 03.10.2023 |