Welcome to our Governors’ section. 

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

Welcome to the Governing Body page for St Michael’s CE VA Primary School

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.

We have 12 Governors and 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.

Full Governing Body Meetings are held on a Monday evening twice a term. Committees meet when require and at least once a term.

The Committees

Curriculum, Standards and Effectiveness

Resources

Christian Ethos and Welfare

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

Mrs Betty Wood – Chair of Governors & Foundation Governor
I am a Foundation Governor with responsibility for SEN and a member of the staffing and curriculum committees. 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 Ibecame 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.

Michaela Ellis - Vice Chair of St Michael’s Governing Body

I am a foundation governor and a member of The Curriculum, Standard & Effectiveness committee and the Resources Committee.  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.

Mr Nick Kiddle – Headteacher/Governor

Mrs Kate Corbett - Staff Governor

Mrs Zoe Swan - Foundation Governor
I have lived in Lyme now for over eleven years and both my children have been or are still attending 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.

Mrs Diane Benjamin, BA, MA Engl - Foundation Governor 

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.

Mr David Edwards – Co-opted Governor

Mrs Sian Shaw - Parent Governor

I am Dorset-born and returned to my home-county in January 2019 with my husband and son, who currently attends St. Michael's. I believe learning is a lifelong experience but the joy of it starts in primary education with the positivity and encouragement of a committed team of staff, governing body and parents. I returned to education later in life myself, achieving 1st Class Honours in BA Creative Writing and MA Non-Fiction.

Following brief stints working as an actor, a barmaid, an administrator in Social Services and then Financial Services, I spent nearly seventeen years working in broadcast media for organisations including Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd, the BBC, YouView Television Ltd and Arqiva Ltd. My executive assistant role included project management, internal policy communications, writing press releases, and working closely with the Business Strategy Team to deliver our Director's vision. I worked on pan-industry projects to deliver media literacy materials for secondary education, and established cohesive working practices for environmental awareness and off-screen diversity along with other Corporate Social Responsibility projects.

Ellie Doyle – Clerk to the Governors