St Michael's CE VA Primary School
Do to others as you would like them to do to you - Luke 6:31
Governors
Welcome to the Governing Body page for St Michael’s CE VA Primary School
Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.
The Governing Body is committed to working as a team with staff, parents, children and all other stakeholders to ensure the best outcome for all pupils. Together we aim to make the School outstanding in every way while retaining the school’s unique and individual character within its own community. Our Governors come from all walks of life and represent different bodies such as the Salisbury Diocese (St Michael’s Church), the local education authority, parents and staff. The Governing Body has a statutory duty to regulate the school with a view to:
- supporting staff in raising standards of achievement for all pupils
- providing strategic direction working with the Senior Leadership Team
- act as a critical friend to the Head Teacher to ensure accountability for the performance of the school
The full governing body meets twice a term, with various sub committees meeting regularly to carry out specific responsibilities in the course of the school year. Governors are linked to classes and some have specific responsibilities.
Governors monitor the success of teaching and learning through the reported pupil results, internal school data, direct observation, reference to the curriculum, discussion with teachers and conversation with pupils and parents.
Within this framework the focus of our governance is the wellbeing of the children. We want them to be the best they can be academically as well as being happy, safe and healthy within a caring, positive and Christian environment.
As we are a Church of England School the majority of our governors are Foundation Governors with the responsibility to maintain the Christian ethos and values. Please see below for a list of all our Governors.
Full Governing Body Meetings are held on a Monday evening twice a term. Committees meet when required and at least once a term.
The Committees
Resources
Christian Ethos and Welfare
Strategic Planning (now forms part of the FGB)
Quality of Education
All correspondence for the governors must be sent via the Clerk to Governors who is Miss Ellie Doyle, at St. Michael’s CE VA Primary School, Kings Way, Lyme Regis, Dorset. DT7 3DY
Members of St Michael’s CE VA Primary School Governing Body
| Name | Category of Governor and Positions of Responsibility | Appointing Body | Governor Information | Committees | Term of Office Ends/Date Stepped Down | Relevant Business Interests |
| Betty Wood | Chair of Governors and Foundation Governor
Chair of Curriculum, Standards and Effectiveness Committee
SEND Governor | Diocese | On leaving school I joined the RAF. Following a posting to New Delhi with my husband, where I worked in the Immigration and Passport Office at the High Commission we returned to England and moved to Dorset. While living in Broadmayne I ran a Brownie Pack, was treasurer for the PTFA and steward at my church. I was also a parish councillor and a District Councillor for WDDC for 9years.When both my children were in their teens I gained my B Ed from Southampton and Diploma in SEN from Exeter. I taught in Yeovil and was the SENCo at Ansford Community School in Castle Cary. In 1995 we moved to Lyme Regis and I retired in 1997. Soon afterwards I became a governor at St Michael's. I worship at St Michael's and play a full part in the life of the church and school. | QE / Curriculum and Standards
Resources
Strategic Planning | 30/09/2026 | None Registered |
| Michaela Ellis | Foundation Governor
Chair of Resources Committee | Diocese | I am a Lyme Regis Town Councillor and have lived in Lyme Regis all my life. I have two children who both attended St Michael’s and during their time there I was an active member of the PTFA. | Resources | 11/06/2023 | None Registered |
| Nick Kiddle | Head Teacher and Governor | Ex-Officio | All Committees | On-going | None Registered | |
| Kate Corbett | Staff Governor | Staff Election | 01/03/2024 | None Registered | ||
| Rev. Sarah Godfrey | Foundation Governor | Ex Officio Diocese | I am the Team Vicar for the Golden Cap Team. St Michaels’ Lyme Regis is one of 12 churches in the Team. My first degree was in Geology so I am delighted to find myself living in Lyme Regis. I started working life as a secondary school science teacher in Essex, Southampton and Birmingham. Since becoming a priest in 2005 I have served on governing bodies of various primary and middle schools. I enjoy coming into school to lead collective worship and my interest is in the church school links. | Christian Ethos and Welfare | From 11/10/2021 | None Registered |
| Zoe Swan | Foundation Governor
SIP Governor | Diocese | I have lived in Lyme Regis for over eighteen years and both my children attended St Michaels Primary School. I made a slow start all those years ago at school but was privileged to have very good teaching and support which led to a career in physiotherapy and working with my husband in business. I am still learning! Despite my dislike of sitting on committees, I became a Foundation Governor and am hoping to contribute all I can to ensure the children enjoy and get the best from their education. | QE / Curriculum and Standards | 31/09/2024 | None Registered |
| Diane Benjamin, BA, MA Engl | Vice Chair of Governors and Foundation Governor
Pupil Premium Governor | Diocese
| I am married to Richard and we have two children and 5 grandchildren. We bought a home in nearby Chideock 18 years years ago and moved into the area full time 9 years ago. A member of the St Giles Church, Chideock, I served on the PCC as Treasurer for 6 years and am currently Chair of the Friends of St. Giles. I began my working life as a Librarian, becoming chartered in 1973 and was employed within Surrey and Sussex as a Children's Librarian, School Librarian and finally for 12 years as Medical and Nursing Librarian. In 1986 I made a career change into Health Service Management and over the rest of my career to retirement in 2006 was employed at District Hospital, Regional Health Authority and national level posts within the NHS. During this time I enjoyed a secondment into Higher Education to develop learning outcomes and embed these into professional curriculum for health sector employees, returning to the NHS to work with colleagues on national education and HR strategy. I am a busy person who welcomes a new challenge and look forward to bringing some of my experience and commitment as a Governor to St. Michael's Primary School. | Resources
Christian Ethos and Welfare
QE / Curriculum and Standards | 18/09/2026 | None Registered |
| Sally Coade | Foundation Governor
Safeguarding Governor | Diocese | Formerly a speech and language therapist working for the NHS (hospital based) for over 20 years, I moved to Chideock with my husband in 2008 where we had quite a change of career, running a B&B and cafe/tea garden until we retired in 2018. We have 4 grown up children and 5 grandchildren (so far!), 4 of whom attend excellent CofE (VA) primary schools in Berkshire and Leicestershire.. I am a member of St Giles Church, Chideock, where I am an occasional stand-in organist and choir leader, and would describe myself as a practical, community-minded individual and a strong believer in Christian values. | Christian Ethos and Welfare | 30/09/2024 | None Registered |
| Ellie Doyle | Clerk to the Governors | I was appointed as Clerk to the Governors at St. Michael's in June 2014. I retired to Weymouth from North Yorkshire following ten years as the Headteacher's PA, Office Manager and Clerk to Governors in a secondary school. Prior to this I spent 21 years in the pharmaceutical industry. I am currently a clerk for 4 Primary Schools in Dorset and have successfully completed the Professional Clerk's programme. |
Governors whose Term of Office has ended or have stepped down in the past 12 months
| Name | Category of Governor and Positions of Responsibility | Committees | Term of Office Ends/Date Stepped Down | Relevant Business Interests |
| Carole Aldrich | Foundation | 13/01/2023 | N/A | |
| Sian Shaw | Parent | Strategic Planning / QE | 26/07/2022 | N/A |
| Heidi Merrett | Foundation | Christian Ethos | 04/07/2022 | N/A |
| David Edwards | Co-Opted | Resources | 04/07/2022 | N/A |
Instrument of Governance
Attendance at Full Governing Body Meetings
| 14/02/2022 | 21/02/2022 | 28/03/2022 | 25/04/2022 | 23/05/2022 | 04/07/2022 | 26/09/2022 | 14/11/2022 | 21/11/2022 | 30/01/2023 | |
| B WOOD | ✓ | x | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| M ELLIS | ✓ | ✓ | x | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| N KIDDLE | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| K CORBETT | x | x | x | x | x | x | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Z SWAN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| D BENJAMIN | x | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | x | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| S SHAW | ✓ | ✓ | x | ✓ | ✓ | x | x | x | x | x |
| S COADE | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| H MERRETT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| S GODFREY | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | x | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Attendance at Curriculum, Standards and Effectiveness Meetings
Changed Committee Name to QE/Curriculum and Standards
| 10/03/2022 | 12/05/2022 | 26/06/2022 | 15/09/2022 | 03/11/2022 | 12/01/2023 | |
| B WOOD | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| N KIDDLE | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Z SWAN | x | x | ✓ | ✓ | x | x |
| D BENJAMIN | x | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| S SHAW | ✓ | x | ✓ | x | x | x |
| N TOWNLEY (attended as Deputy Head Teacher - no voting rights) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | x | ✓ | ✓ |
Attendance at Resources Meetings
| 24/06/2021 | 25/11/2021 | 10/02/2022 | 17/03/2022 | 07/04/2022 | 13/06/2022 | 15/09/2022 | 16/11/2022 | 20/02/2023 | |
| M ELLIS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | x | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| B WOOD | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | x |
| D BENJAMIN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| N KIDDLE | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | x | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| D EDWARDS | x | ✓ | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| S SHAW (no longer on this committee as at 24.03.2022) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N DUNPHY (attended as School Support Services Manager - no voting rights) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Attendance at Christian Ethos and Welfare Committee Meetings
28/02/2020 (Report from Head Teacher) | 02/03/2022 | 02/05/2022 cancelled | 13/06/2022 | 26/09/2022 | 16/01/2023 | |
| N KIDDLE | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| H MERRETT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | x | x | |
| D BENJAMIN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| S COADE | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Z SWAN | ✓ | ✓ | x | ✓ | ✓ | |
| S GODFREY | N/A | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Attendance at Strategic Planning Meetings September 2021 to July 2022 (Sept 2022 onwards, now part of FGB)
| 01/12/2021 | 20/06/2022 | |
| B WOOD | ✓ | ✓ |
| N KIDDLE | ✓ | ✓ |
| S SHAW | ✓ | ✓ |