Our Governors
Introduction to governance at Seaton Primary School
Governors are individuals from the community who give their time on a voluntary basis, joining from different groups with an interest in the school – parents, staff, local authority, including individuals who are co-opted to the Board who bring particular skills and expertise.
We act collectively as a Board, working as a team.
The Board is responsible for making sure the school provides a high quality education for all pupils. Raising educational standards in our school is a key priority through great pastoral care and a curriculum that captures the imagination of learners. This has the best chance of happening when there are high expectations of what all pupils can achieve.
Working with the Headteacher and senior leaders, who are responsible for the day-to-day leadership and management of the school, as governors we set the school’s aims and policies, and promote effective ways of teaching and learning.
Head teachers are recruited and selected by governors, and in our school, the Headteacher is also a governor.
We are accountable to parents, the local community and Devon Local Authority. Governors are appointed for 4 years.
The Governing Board:
- is accountable for the performance of the school to parents and the wider community;
- plans the school’s future direction;
- selects the Headteacher;
- makes decisions on the school’s budget and staffing including the performance management policy;
- makes sure the curriculum is well taught;
- decides how the school can encourage pupils’ spiritual, moral and cultural development ;
- makes sure the school provides for all pupils, including those with special educational needs.
Governors support and challenge the headteacher and senior leaders by gathering views, asking questions and discussing what is best for the school. We are not here to rubber stamp decisions. We are prepared to give and take advice and are loyal to decisions taken by the governing board as a whole.
We are fully focussed on ensuring the best outcomes for all children, in what has been a very challenging year.
If you have any questions or comments, then please do contact the Chair of Governors, Lizzie Rowlands, via the school.
We have two governor sub-committees which meet half termly. The committees are:
- Resources committee
- Teaching and Learning committee
Meet Our Governors
Lizzie Rowlands
LA Governor
Chair of Governors
SEND Lead
Lizzie joined the Board in March 2021 as Vice Chair and became Chair in September 2022. She has lost recently picked up the SEND Lead role in September 2023.
She has over 15 years of experience in a variety of Leadership and Management roles with Tesco Stores Ltd across the UK and hopes to bring some of those skills and experiences to the team.
Lizzie is also a Mum of two children whom attend Seaton Primary. In her spare time she likes to go walking and camping with her family, and is a big fan of sea swims all year round.
Rhys Jones
Parent Governor
Vice-Chair FGB;
Chair T & L
Cirriculum
I joined the Board of Governors in July 2022 and was initially a member of the Resources committee before joining the Teaching & Learning committee in September 2023, when I picked up the role of Curriculum Lead and also Vice-Chair.
In my career I've had experience working in product management, strategy and business development roles within large organisations and hope to bring those skills to my role as a governor. I also help coach Seaton FC Under 11s football team, which includes a number of girls and boys from Seaton primary.
I have two children - one has now left Seaton primary and the other is currently in Year 6. We moved to Seaton in 2021 and love life by the sea.
Rob Gibson
Parent Governor
Vice Chair Resources
Finance
I have worked in the recruitment & HR industry for 25 years and come from a legal background – skills & experience that I hope will be useful in my governance role.
In my spare time I enjoy most sports – running, football & cricket in particular, and enjoying the beautiful outdoors here with my wife & my 2 youngest children who both attend Seaton primary.
I am particularly keen to help promote physical & mental wellbeing among staff & pupils at the school.
Jenny Eagles
Co-opted Governor
Vice Chair T & L Committee
Pupil Premium, Attendance
I currently run a Bookshop in Seaton, and prior to that was a primary teacher in Leicester, working mainly with early years.
Making sure that children have the best school start possible is my passion. As a governor, my two roles are pupil premium children and early years' curriculum.
Susan Herridge
Co-opted Governor
SEND, Safeguarding
I have over 25 years experience working in Education for Local Authorities and in schools in London and Kent.
My passion is SEND and Safeguarding. Although trained in SEND and Designated Safeguarding Lead my roles have included Exclusions Officer and Educational Welfare for the Attendance and Behaviour Service.
I will enjoy sharing my depth of knowledge with the school and Governing Body.
My interests out of school are spending time with family and friends, cooking, reading and walking my two dogs.
Leti Littlewood
Co-opted Governor
Staff Wellbeing, HR
Leti joined the Board in October 2024, representing Staff Wellbeing and HR roles.
She has a background in charity grant writing, and hopes to bring those skills to fundraise for the school.
Leti is a keen outdoor sea swimmer, artist, and also mum of three, with her youngest currently at Seaton Primary.
Zoe Crockett
Co-opted Governor
Proposed
Vice Chair Teaching & Learning
I am delighted to be part of our governing board here at Seaton Primary, where I have been a teacher for the past 7 years. I thoroughly enjoy teaching here and truly believe we have a wonderful team of staff and children. I became part of the governing board to support our new committee to understand teaching and learning within our school and I am very passionate about working together to achieve the best we can for our school. As a governing board, we are striving to support the school at a strategic level and I am linked with one of our key school improvement priorities this year – writing. I grew up in Devon and love living here - the beaches, the community and being surrounded by family and friends. I also teach for a local dance academy, which allows me to delve into the wider community, and in my spare time I enjoy going to the gym, swimming in the sea and spending time with my family. Travelling is a keen interest of mine and I love visiting new places, seeing magnificent landscapes and exploring different cultures. .
Olivia Mellor
Staff Governor
Olivia relocated to Devon in 2022 after teaching in Sussex for 10 years. She has experience teaching across both primary key stages as well as previously working in a Pupil Referral Unit for children with emotional and social needs.
She is passionate about PSHE in schools and has lead the subject at Seaton for the past year.
Olivia's interests outside school are the outdoors, music, the natural world and cooking. She is very much looking forward to being involved with the Governing Body for a school she is proud to work for.
Rency Anz Abraham
Clerk to Governors
I joined Seaton Primary School as Clerk to Governors in August 2024 and also serve as the Personnel and HR Assistant.
With 14 years of experience in educational administration and HR, I am excited to bring my skills to this dynamic team. I look forward to supporting the governors and contributing to the continued success of the school.
Outside of work, I love enjoying the comfort of my home, mom of 3 wonderful boys and my family is at the heart of everything I do.
Jenna McCaffery
Headteacher
I originally trained to be a teacher in Devon before taking my first teaching post in Crewe, Cheshire where I spent the rest of my career up until recently relocating back to Devon. I am pleased to be back in the South West, nearer to some of my family. I am also delighted to be Headteacher and governor here at Seaton Primary School. I am exciting to lead and strategically work as a team of governors in contributing to the future of the school. My biggest passions in life are my family, especially my nieces and nephews, acting, theatre, the arts, swimming, travelling and exploring the great outdoors.
Table showing names, type of governor, appointment terms
| Name of governor | Type of governor | Appointed | Office terminates | Role as a governor | Registered Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lizzie Rowlands | LA | 2/3/2021 | 1/3/2025 | Chair of Governors, RC and SEND Lead role | None declared |
| Rhys Jones | Parent | 01/07/2023 | 07/06/2027 | Vice Chair FGB and Curriculm Lead | None Declared |
| Robert Gibson | Parent | 08/06/2021 | 07/06/2025 | HR Lead/Welfare Governor Vice Chair Resources | Employed by Emerald Group |
| Jenny Eagles | Co-opted | 01/07/2023 | 07/06/2027 | Pupil Premium Lead | None Declared |
| Susan Herridge | Co-opted | 08/10/2024 | 07/10/2028 | SEND, Safeguarding | None Declared |
| Leti Littlewood | Co-opted | 08/10/2024 | 07/10/2028 | Staff Wellbeing, HR | None Declared |
| Jenna McCaffery | Headteacher | 01/01/2022 | Headteacher | ||
| Zoe Crockett | Staff | 06/07/2021 | Proposed Vice Chair Teaching & Learning | EDDA teacher | |
| Olivia Mellor | Staff | 08/10/2024 | Staff | Teacher | |
| Governors who have left in the last 12 months | |||||
| Simon Lewis | Staff | 06/07/2021 | 15/12/2023 | Resources | |
| Dr Fiona Hammans | Co-opted | 01/03/2021 | 27/07/2023 | Teaching & Learning | |
| Ben Matthews | Co-opted | 01/03/2021 | 08/02/2023 | Resources | |
| Andrew Mills | Co-opted | 07/06/2021 | 25/04/2023 | Teaching & Learning | |
| Lucy Hanley | Parent | Teaching & Learning | |||
| Ed Stockwell | Parent | 21/09/2020 | Vice Chair RC |
Governor's Attendance - Full Governing Board
| Governor | 02/03/2021 | 11/5/2021 | 08/06/2021 | 06/07/2021 | 28/9/2021 | 23/11/2021 | 25/1/2022 | 5/4/2022 | 24/5/2022 | 12/7/2022 | 28/11/2022 | 21/2/2023 | 28/3/2023 | 27/4/2023 | 10/10/2023 | 6.02.23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Fiona Hammans | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | N/A | N/A |
| Lizzie Rowlands | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Anna Vine | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Ed Stockwell | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ben Matthews | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Amanda Lacey | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No Longer in role | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Eimear Oliver | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Andrew Mills | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | N/A | |
| Simon Lewis | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Zoe Crockett | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Jenna McCaffery | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rhys Jones | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Jenny Eagles | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rob Gibson | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||||||||||
| Lucy Hanley | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Governor's Attendance - Resources Committee Meetings
| Governor | 20/4/2021 | 15/06/2021 | 14/09/2021 | 02/11/2021 | 18/1/2022 | 03/03/2022 | 08/03/2022 | 10/5/2022 | 28/06/2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ed Stockwell (Chair) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Ben Matthews (Vice Chair) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Lizzie Rowlands | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | ||
| Andrew Mills | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| Amanda Lacey | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No Longer in Post | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | ||
| Simon Lewis | N/A | N/A | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Jenna McCaffery | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Governor's Attendance - Teaching & Learning Committee
| GOVERNOR | 19/5/2021 | 20/7/2021 | 15/09/2021 | 03/11/2021 | 12/01/2022 | 16/03/2022 | 18/5/2022 | 06.7.2022 | 21.9.2022 | 15.11.2022 | 22.03.23 | 21.06.23 | 15.11.23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Vine (Chair) | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Resigned | ||||
| Fiona Hammans | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Resigned | |
| Amanda Lacey | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No Longer In role | N/A | N/A | Yes | N/A | |||||
| Jenna McCaffery | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Eimear Oliver | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Resigned | |||
| Zoe Crockett | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |