All schools in England have a governing body which is responsible for overseeing many of the strategic decisions of the school. A key role is to act as a ‘critical friend’: to support, to challenge, to ask questions, ultimately, to represent the school community.
The Governing Body works in close partnership with the headteacher, staff and the local authority. Whilst the headteacher is, of course, responsible for the day to day running of the school, the governors are involved with such things as staffing, curriculum, school buildings and finance. It ensures the school functions well and maintains the proper range of academic and social objectives.
In July 2015, the governing body elected to reconstitute, in keeping with statutory guidance from the Department for Education. They took this decision as it allowed them to change the numbers and types of governors we have and to appoint people on the basis of the skills they could bring.
Since the start of the academic year 2016/17, instead of having separate committees, we have chosen to have Full Governors meetings every half-term. Governor attendance at meetings from the last academic year can be seen in the document at the bottom of this page, as can the Governing Body Constitution document which includes the roles held by current members.
The governing body now comprises:
1 Headteacher governor
1 Staff governor
2 Parent governors
1 Local Authority governor
6 Co-opted governors
Governors approved the constitution as detailed above to come into effect from 16 July 2015 and that the term of office of Staff Governors would be two years, all others would be four years. For details of roles and responsibilities of our current school governors, please see the constitution document at the bottom of this page.
The chair of governors is Kristie Wren, who can be contacted via the school office.
For details of dates of appointment and attendance at Governors meetings over the last academic year, please see the attached documents at the bottom of this page.
Kirstie Wren - Chair of Governors
Chair of Governors
Term of office from 6 Feb 2020 to 5 Feb 2024
First appointed on 14 Mar 2016
Register of interests: None
Has voting rights
I am a co-opted governor and joined the board in March 2016. Currently my main responsibility on the governing board is data/outcomes for pupils.
I grew up in Coventry before attending Imperial College London where I obtained a degree in Chemical Engineering (2010-2014). After graduating, I returned to Coventry to take a job as a Paint Manufacturing Engineer in the automotive industry.
I also volunteer as a STEM Ambassador, a role which allows me to volunteer in various schools to promote the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) skills. It is a real privilege to be able to continue my involvement with Stivichall and to help ensure all its pupils have access to the best possible education.
Mike Ballinger - Vice Chair of Governors
Vice Chair of Governors and Co-opted Governor
Term of office from 16 Jul 2023 to 15 Jul 2027
First appointed on 1 Sep 2005
Register of interests:
- Director of Builders Supply Stores (Coventry) Ltd, occasional supplier to the School
Has voting rights
I was originally a parent Governor back in the mid 1990s. Since then I have been a Community Governor and I am now a Co-opted Governor. I was elected Chair of Governors in February 2021.
Over the years I have been involved in both the Performance and Standards and the Resources Committees and their predecessor committees. Using my business background, I have been particularly able to contribute to matters of health and safety, finance, and premises. I am on the Coventry City Council Outdoor Education Steering Group and I am involved with the Coventry Governors Association – experience on both of these has helped me to contribute further to the work of the Governing Body. I am a holder of a certificate in Safer Recruitment. For several years I was a volunteer assistant to a Maths tutor in Adult Education, again helpful experience.
I am married with two adult children who both went to Stivichall, I still live 5 minutes walk from the School. My wife is a former chair of PTA at Stivichall and I was Chair of PTA at Finham Park (many years ago). I am a supporter of Coventry Rugby Club and like to watch Warwickshire and England cricket matches. I am heavily involved in a major political party in Coventry but never bring party politics into Governing Body matters. I have an interest in mental health matters and I am a Samaritan listening volunteer. I am Chair of the Friends of Plas Dol-y-Moch.
Karen Ferguson - Headteacher
Headteacher Governor
A member of the governing body by virtue of position in school
Term of office from 1 Sep 2013 to present
First appointed on 1 Sep 2013
Register of interests:
- Governors have been notified of any commercial or educational interests
Has voting rights
After graduating from The University of Warwick with a BA Honours degree in English with QTS in 2002, I began my teaching career in Coventry. I then moved to Warwickshire before later taking on my first headship in Leamington Spa. Stivichall Primary is my fourth school and second headship. Throughout my time here, as a result of hard work from pupils, staff, parents and governors, the school has gone from strength to strength. I am extremely proud of our school.
Pauline Parkes
Co-opted governor
Term of office from 16 Jul 2023 to 15 Jul 2027
First appointed on 2 May 1998
Register of interests:
- Director at Finham Park Multi Academy Trust since September 2017 SEND/Inclusion/Safeguarding background
Has voting rights
I was elected as a Parent Governor at Stivichall Primary school in the early 1990s. Since then I have been a Community Governor and I am currently a Co-opted Governor.
I am a retired teacher and have worked in the City of Coventry for over 30 years. I have been involved in all of the committees of the governing body over the years, though my background in Education has meant my particular interest has always been in curriculum issues and the health and welfare of young people. I held the position of SENCO, Inclusion Manager and Safeguarding Lead at a local secondary school and continue to act in a consultancy role for the Multi Academy Trust where I was employed.
I am married with two adult children, both of whom went to Stivichall Primary School, and I continue to live within the school catchment area. I started my career as a teacher of PE and music and moved to Coventry to teach at a local secondary school in 1980. I believe that all young people should have the best possible start in life and that school can play a big part in this. I continue to be a keen advocate for sport and for all of the expressive arts and see them as an extremely valuable and intrinsic part of the school curriculum.
Rachel Leonard
Parent governor
Details tbc
Pat Hunt
Co-opted governor
Term of office from 16 Jul 2023 to 15 Jul 2027
First appointed on 1 Apr 2011
Register of interests: None
Has voting rights
I am recently retired having spent my working life in Banking, Financial Management and finally as Director of Corporate Resources at the government funded British Educational Technology Agency (Becta)
I have experience in Finance, Human Resources, Building and Facilities management and organisational Performance Management.
I have lived in the community for the past 30 years and seen the exciting growth and development of Stivichall School, and more recently through the eyes of 2 of my grandchildren who have been part of the school.
When I retired from a very busy job, I was pleased to have some time to use the skills and the experience gained through work and through bringing up a family, in such a positive way.
Initially I came into school to help with reading then was elected to be a Community Governor in 2011, and recently re-elected as a co-opted governor.
I really enjoy my involvement with the children and the staff at Stivichall and am looking forward to supporting them in another busy and successful year.
Gavin Holmes-Wilson
Co-opted governor
Term of office from 6 Feb 2020 to 5 Feb 2024
First appointed on 6 Feb 2020
Register of interests: None
Has voting rights
For 20 years, I worked in retail management, before joining the newly formed Nexus Institute of Creative Arts. From there I became a self-employed sound engineer/musician, with considerable work at Coventry Cathedral, including organising their Sunday evening worship services.
In September 2008, I started teaching for Warwickshire Music Service. I have provided my music and sound services for many different organisations and events, including, in 2018, the most high-profile services at the cathedral and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s visit. At Warwickshire Music I have been working in a mix of around 13 primary and secondary schools, with up to 200 children from years 1 to 13, including pioneering the concept of ‘Well-being’ groups.
The whole health and wellbeing of children is close to my heart. It is marvellous to witness how a child, fragile with low self-esteem, begins to grow stronger and start to smile at their achievements, under gentle and careful guidance and encouragement.
I enjoy making art, time permitting, song writing, recording when time permits, cooking, comfortable camping and family times. But as a Christian, my greatest love and joy is to keep improving what I can do for my family, friends, colleagues and others I meet each day.
Charlotte Tull
Parent Governer
Term of office from 2nd Jan 2022 to 1st Jan 2026
First appointed on 2nd Jan 2022
Register of interests: None
Has voting rights
I joined the Stivichall family in 2020 when my daughter’s joined reception, which gave me the insight into how important it is for the foundations to be laid in EYFS. From this I developed an interest in the role of the governing body and I was elected as a parent governor in 2022. Currently my main areas of responsibility are Leadership and Management and Outcomes for pupils, Assessment, Teaching, Learning and the Curriculum.
These areas are of keen interest to me, as in my professional career I am a senior leader in a local Coventry Primary School. I grew up in the local area and I have taught in Coventry since graduating in 2009 from Birmingham City University with BA Honours in Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status. Throughout my career, I have seen first-hand how fundamental it is to provide a nurturing curriculum which celebrates all children’s achievements, whilst equipping them to become life- long learners, though an immersive curriculum which is ambitious and bespoke, enabling all pupils to become first-class citizens in modern society. I am a firm believer that school is the door to the rest of the world, and it is our moral duty to open that door, providing the best opportunities to support our children to succeed, achieve and encounter a world of endless possibilities.
Outside of my job I enjoy spending time with my family and have a keen interest in baking and forest schools. It is a real privilege for me to be involved in my daughters education at Stivichall.
Parminder Mudhar
Co-opted Governor
Term of office from 2/2/23 to 1/2/27
Date appointed: 2/2/23
Register of interests: none
Has voting rights
My role as a co-opted governor allows me to utilise my financial background and understanding of financial pressures faced by the school, the public sector and other businesses through my career as an accountant in the public sector. I am confident in my ability to challenge and ask questions, to enable me to understand why a specific course of action may be undertaken, as well as to consider options and assess the risks and benefits of proposals. A key part of my role does involve review of business cases and justifying a specific course of action based on the outputs of financial and non-financial assessments.
My current full time role is a good balance of public - private sector, as the Financial Director for a holding company managing the Council’s commercial investments. This gives me an appreciation for the importance of good governance with previous experience at the Council with reporting to Members, drafting reports for specific decisions. In my current role I was heavily involved in the determining the governance process for the companies in the group and reporting requirements for the Council/ Shareholder Committee. I feel I can draw on experiences in my professional life in relation to good governance to support me in this role.
As a mum to two children who will complete their primary education at Stivichall Primary, I am keen to see the school go from strength to strength and my role on the Governing Body and working with the management team can support this.
Lucy Beyer
Staff Governor
Details tbc