Governing Body

Welcome to the section of the website where you can find out more about the school’s governors, and the work that they do. If you would like a copy of the latest approved minutes from the Governing Body please request via the school office.

Jayne Ingman is our Acting Chair of Governors – she has substantial experience of leading schools both as a Governor and as a Headteacher.

Jayne is currently the substantive Vice Chair of Governors and was voted into this role in January 2025. Until September, she will also be the Acting Chair of Governors at which time the Board will vote in a new substantive Chair.

Jayne leads the Governing Board and works closely with school staff, to challenge, support and lead the school. The School team are grateful to all the Governors for their hard work and their drive to support us to set and reach targets, striving for excellence across the whole spectrum of school life.

Claire Harris
Headteacher
July 2025

All Governing Bodies have three key roles:

Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and setting the strategic direction of the school;
Challenging the head teacher on the educational progress of the school’s pupils and ensuring school improvement, whilst being supportive – this is often describe as being “a critical friend”; and
Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent and has a positive impact on school improvement.

Governing Body Membership

At St Matthew’s we aim to have ten governors in the Governing Body:

Three Foundation Governors – representing the Church and appointed by St Matthew’s Church and the Rochester diocese;
Two Parent Governors – elected by the parents of children registered at the school;
Three Co-opted Governors – recruited and appointed by the Governing Body, often from the local community;
One Staff Governor – including the Head teacher and a further staff governor elected by staff; and
One Local Authority Governor – normally recruited by the Governing Body and then approved by the Local Authority or they can be appointed by the Local Authority with agreement from the Governing Body.

All our Governors term of office runs for four years from the date they are appointed.

The Governing Body also has the ability to appoint Associate Governors with specific skills and expertise. Associate governors do not necessarily have a vote and their term of office can vary.

How Our Governing Body Works

The governing body at St Matthew’s operates the Committee Model, which means that the Governing Body meets together six times a year as a full Board. Governors also meet as members of specific committees. The two main sub-committees are:

Curriculum and Learning
Finance, Resources and Personnel

There are further sub-committees, such as the Pay Committee and the Headteacher Performance Management Panel, who meet when needed.

Governors visit the school across the year to monitor the improvements within the School Plan. Additional safeguarding, pupil premium, SEND and financial monitoring visits, take place throughout the school year too.

Finally, all Governors at St Matthew’s are expected to attend and complete training in order to enhance their skills and knowledge, ensuring that the Governing Body continues to improve its effectiveness.

Click on the link below to see the Governing Body Information.

Governing-Board-Members 2024-25

2024-25 Terms of Reference

Standing Order for the Election of Chair and Vice Chair 2024

Standing Order for the Appointment of Co-opted Governors 2024

Group-Diversity-St Matthew’s High Brooms Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

2024-25 Governor Attendance register

*ALL GOVERNORS SERVE A 4-YEAR TERM OF OFFICE

Vacancies:

1 Co-opted
1 Parent
1 Local Authority
1 Foundation

Clerk to the Governors: Sue Buchanan

How to become a governor

If you are interested in finding out more information about the work of the governing body please do contact the school and we would be pleased to discuss the role with you..

You can also find out more online at:-