School governors are unpaid volunteers who hold headteachers to account and ensure that schools are meeting their strategic objectives. Governors do not manage the operational day-to-day functions of a school, but are required to oversee its long-term development.
The school has a Governing Body which consists of Governors, elected parents and an elected member of staff. The Full Governing Body meets a minimum of six times per academic year (once per term). Our Governors hold the Head Teacher to account for standards in the school and offer guidance and support in all areas of school life. Additionally, Governors have specific areas of responsibility and these include Health & Safety, SEN, Pupil Premium, Safeguarding and Subject areas in order to monitor the progress the school is making. Governors work closely with the Headteacher, the Senior Leadership Team and Subject Leaders.
Shepton Mallet Community Infants School & Nursery – Governor Roles and Committee Membership 2021-22
| Post | Name |
| Chair of Governors | Kate Lovell |
| Vice Chair of Governors | Graham Cockill |
| Clerk to the Governors | Clare Bamford |
Composition of the Governing Body – 10 in total (plus Associate Member)
| Headteacher | Honoria Thompson |
| LA Governor | Graham Cockill |
| Staff Governor | Claire Dargie |
| Parent Governor | Kim Reeves |
| Parent Governor | |
| Co-opted Governor | Kate Lovell |
| Co-opted Governor | |
| Co-opted Governor | |
| Co-opted Governor | Frank Short |
| Co-opted Governor | Vacancy |
| Associate Member | Elaine Hewitt |
Governors with Special Responsibility
| Child Protection Governor (looked after children) | |
| SEND Governor | |
| Health and Safety | Kate Lovell |
| Training | Clerk |
| Disadvantaged Children | Kate Lovell |
| EAL Governor | TBC |
| Attendance Governor | Kim Reeves |
| GDPR Governor | TBC |
| Lead Governor – EYFS | |
| Lead Governor – Curriculum Monitoring | Kate Lovell |
| Lead Governor – Gifted and Talented | Kate Lovell |
| Lead Governor – Buildings/Premises | Graham Cockill |
| CLP | Honoria Thompson – Headteacher |
Headteachers Performance Management
Kate Lovell
Graham Cockill
Derek Watts
Subject Governors
English –
Maths – Frank Short
Humanities –
Science/PE – Kim Reeves
Creative Arts – Kate Lovell
RSHE – TBC
ICT – Graham Cockill
Early Years –
Meet the Governors
Kate Lovell – Chair of Governors/Co-opted Governor
With a background in education, I have many years’ experience of school governorship and over that time have learned a lot about how schools best operate to ensure that their students thrive. My children, all grown up now, started their school careers at Shepton Mallet Infants and it is a privilege to be able to provide support to the school community and another generation of children.
Graham Cockill – Vice Chair of Governor/LA Governor
‘Now retired, the whole of my professional life was in education, as a secondary school teacher in London, Cornwall and Somerset, and latterly as a Local Authority Education Adviser. Both my children attended Shepton Mallet Infants School, and I am very pleased to be able to use my knowledge and experience to support the school and local community as a governor.’
Clare Bamford – Clerk to the Governors
Elaine Hewitt – Associate Member
Claire Dargie – Staff Governor
I joined the school in 2010 as the Teacher in the Nursery. Over the years my role in the Nursery has grown and now includes the coordination of Special Educational Needs support. In 2016 I became the Manager of the Nursery and shortly after we were awarded Outstanding when inspected by OFSTED. Outside of school I enjoy gardening and have a flourishing allotment.
Frank Short – Co-opted Governor
I am semi-retired, with a background in finance, although my early career was as a development chemist. I have been married to an educational professional for over thirty years and have absorbed, through osmosis, the fascination for effective teaching and learning. Both of my grandchildren have or are attending Shepton Mallet Community Infants’ School and Nursery, and I was grateful to have the opportunity to act as a governor to the school that gave, and is giving, such a good grounding to their education.
Kim Reeves – Parent Governor
I was keen to get involved with the school that my children attend/have attended and was appointed parent governor in October 2019. I now work in the School office as Finance Assistant and Nursery Administrator and was previously a Primary School Teacher in Hertfordshire. I am currently the PE and Science governor.