The Governing Body is made up of a total of 11 Governors, 3 Parent Governors, 2 Staff Governors (including the Headteacher), 1 Local Authority Governor, 3 Co-Opted Governors and 2 Foundation Governors.  We are always available to discuss concerns or ideas for the school and value your feedback.  Any of the Governors can be approached when you see us at school, or please ask at the office so that we can get in contact.

The Chair of Governors is Nicola Ford. She can be contacted via the school office or by email - Nicola.Ford@longford.wilts.sch.uk.  Nic was elected Chair on 1st March 2023.  We are currently updating relevant documents.  

 

The Governing Body of Longford School and Terms of Office

Mrs Debby Underhill            Mrs Louise Knipe       Mrs Jill Broomfield Mrs Jen Witt                    Mrs Nicola Ford Mr Toby Mills Mrs Shelley Bracey	Foundation Governors   Headteacher  Staff Governor Co-opted Chair of Governors Co-opted  Clerk to the Governors	May 2019 - May 2023 Jan 2016 - N/A Oct 2021 - Oct 2025 Jan 2021 - Jan 2025 Sept 2020-Sept 2024  Jan 2021-Jan 2025 March 2016 - N/A
Mrs Sharon Bury Mrs Kay Mills Ms Karen Inglis Mrs Erica Quirk Ms Shell Gray	Parent Governor Foundation Governor Parent Governor LA Governor Parent Governor	February 2023-Feb 2027  Oct 2021-Oct 2025 Oct 2021-Oct 2025 Dec 2022-Dec 2026 Feb 2023-Feb 2027

Sub-Committees

Business Finance, Health and Safety, Premises	Standards Pupils' achievement and progress, Special Educational Needs, Curriculum
Toby Mills-  Chair Louise Knipe Jen Witt Nic Ford	Nic Ford-Chair Louise Knipe Debby Underhill Jill Broomfield Kay Mills

Appeals panel and other responsibilities

Appeals Panel

Any three governors who are not members of staff and do not sit on the Staffing Committee.

Special Responsibilities

Governor Training: Clerk to Governors Shellley Bracey & Louise Knipe Child Protection: Nic Ford Special Educational Needs: Debby Underhill Pupil Premium: Nic Ford Whistle Blowing: Toby Mills Health and Safety: Toby Mills Friends of Longford School - FOLS: Jill Broomfield

Other Responsibilities

Literacy: Kay Mills Mathematics: Toby Mills Science: Toby Mills Early Years Foundation Stage: Debby Underhill Religious Education:  ICT (Information and Computer Technologies): Nic  Ford Physical Education: Jen Witt  Finance: Nic Ford Staff Well-being: Nic Ford SIAMS:  Spiritual Well-being:  P.S.H.E. and Well-being: Jill Broomfield

About the Governors

Toby Mills 

   

Toby Mills is a professional aerospace engineer with experience of a wide range of business activities which he is now using to help Longford School as a Governor.

Born in Banbury Oxfordshire, Toby spent his youth in New Zealand before returning to England to attend university. After graduating from Bristol with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Toby went to Sandhurst and then joined the British Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. In his 24-year career in the Army Toby reached the rank of Colonel and had postings in various engineering, leadership and management roles around the world.

After leaving the Army in 2006 Toby joined Lockheed Martin where, for 11 years, he was the Managing Director of their UK training and logistics business. In this role he gained business experience across many functional and operational business areas (e.g. engineering, IT, commercial, financial, HR, facilities) managing multiple programmes with a diverse workforce spread across the UK. All this experience is invaluable in his role as a Governor for Longford School.

In addition to helping Longford School as a Governor, Toby provides IT support for the local Cress charity in South Sudan, works with Army Cadets and assists the Salisbury Hospital Heart Support Group.

Toby lives in the Chalke Valley, is married to Kay and they have three grown-up children who all attended local schools.

 

Nicola Ford - Chair of Governors and Safeguarding Governor

   

I have been involved in the school for a number of years as a parent, working on the PTA and as a Governor. I am currently a Co-Opted Governor.  I have been a Project Manager for over 25 years and work full time for the NHS. In my spare time I enjoy reading, paddle boarding and taking my Springer Spaniels on long walks.

 

Louise Knipe - Headteacher 

Hello.  I feel proud and privileged to be the headteacher at Longford. I am enthusiastic about education 

and believe in the power of education to change lives. 

I am married with three grown-up children. We live in the Chalke Valley.  I am an avid reader, dabble with watercolours and am keen to get better at photography. 

 

Erica Quirk - Local Authority Governor - Vice Chair of Governors

I spent almost 40 years working as a teacher and headteacher in Essex and East London.  Following my retirement, we moved to Salisbury in 2018.  I am passionate about the education of children so felt I would be able to make a valuable contribution as a governor.  I am delighted to have been appointed to the Governing Body of Longford Primary School.

Jill Broomfield -Teacher

I teach Years 5 and 6.  I am a deputy safeguarding lead, Maths and Science Lead. I live with my family in Salisbury. I have a passion for baking, gardening and all things creative. 

 

Kay Mills - Foundation Governor

Area of focus: Literacy.  Standards Committee.  Date of appointment: September 2021

I have lived in the Chalke Valley for 25 years and taught in Wiltshire for nearly 20 years.  I have been working one day a week as a tutor at Longford School since March 2021, and it has been a pleasure during this time to get to know the staff and pupils.  Longford is a very special school and as a governor I feel it is a privilege to be part of such a dedicated team.

 

Debby Underhill - Foundation, Special Needs & Early Years Governor

I enjoy being involved.  I garden with the children. I arrange Open the Book acting out Bible stories for the children with a group from the church.

 

Shelley Bracey - Clerk to Governors

I have been the Clerk to Governors since 2016.  My background is in HR, but I currently work for the NHS as a Complaints and Patient Experience Advisor.  My grown up children went to the other Longford Primary School, in Derbyshire!  I love animals and nature and enjoy spending time with my dogs, hens and my horse.

Please note-We are in the process of adding governor profiles.

General Information About Governor Roles:

Parent Governors

Parent governors are elected by other parents at the school. Any parent, or carer, of a registered pupil at the school at the time of election is eligible to stand for election as a parent governor. Two new parent governors are joining the governing body once DBS checks are completed.

Staff Governors

Staff governors are elected by the school staff. It is important that prospective staff governors understand the nature of the role of a governor and specifically that their role is to operate as part of the governing body to provide strategic leadership. Teaching and support staff who are employed by the local authority to work at the school under a contract of employment, are eligible to be staff governors. Supply Teaching staff are not eligible.

Headteacher

The headteacher is a member of the governing body by virtue of their office.

Local Authority Governors

Local authority governors are nominated by the local authority but appointed by the governing body. The local authority can nominate any eligible person as a local authority governor, but it is for the governing body to decide whether their nominee has the skills to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school and meets any other eligibility criteria the Governors have set.

Foundation Governors

Foundation governors are either appointed or take the role by virtue of an office that they hold. Where appointed, the appointment is made by the person identified in the instrument of government (usually the school’s founding body, church or other organisation). A foundation governor is someone who, in the opinion of the person entitled to appoint them, has the skills to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school

If an ex-officio foundation governor is unwilling or unable to act as a governor or has been removed from office then a substitute governor can be appointed

Co-Opted Governors

Co-opted governors are appointed by the governing body. They are people who in the opinion of the governing body have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school. Co-opted governors have full voting rights, the same as any other governor.

If you would like more details about the Governing Body please contact the Clerk to Governors via the school office.

All Governors must adhere to a code of conduct. This is available to download below.

 

Meeting Attendance

FGB - 1st Dec 2022 - meeting held in school

Attended - Toby Mills (Chair), Nic Ford (Vice Chair), Louise Knipe (Headteacher), Jill Broomfield (Staff Governor), Debby Underwood, Kay Mills, Karen Inglis, Erica Quirke, Shelley Bracey (Clerk)

Apologies - Jen Witt

Attending visitors - Vicky Christophers (Wiltshire County Council), Dan Roberts (Board of Education)

FGB - 13th Oct 2022 - meeting held virtually

Attended - Toby Mills (Chair), Nic Ford (Vice Chair), Louise Knipe (Headteacher), Jill Broomfield (Staff Governor),Debby Underwood, Kay Mills, Karen Inglis, Shelley Bracey (Clerk)

Apologies - Jen Witt 

FGB - 7^th July 2022 - held virtually

Attended - Toby Mills (Chair), Nic Ford (Vice Chair), Louise Knipe (Headteacher), Kay Mills, Shelley Bracey (Clerk)         Despite attempting to attend both Debby Underhill and Karen Inglis were unable to join the meeting due to technical issues.   

Apologies - Jill Broomfield (Staff Governor), Jen Witt,  Victoria Harvey 

FGB - 19^th May - Hybrid meeting -held in school with some virtual attendees

Attended: Toby Mills  (Chair of Governors),  Nic Ford (Vice Chair), Louise Knipe (Headteacher), Kay Mills, Jill Broomfield (Staff Governor), Debby Underhill, Jen Witt, Karen Inglis, Shelley Bracey (Clerk)

Apologies:     Victoria Harvey, Karen Inglis, Rev. Roger Leake 

FGB - 17^th February - Hybrid meeting -held in school with some virtual attendees

Attended: Toby Mills  (Chair of Governors),  Louise Knipe (Headteacher), Kay Mills, 

Jill Broomfield (Staff Governor), Shelley Bracey (Clerk) 

Virtual attendance:  Nic Ford (Vice Chair), Debby Underhill, Jen Witt, Karen Inglis

Apologies:    Victoria Harvey, Rev. Roger Leake 

FGB - 2nd Dec 2021 - meeting held in school

Attended - Toby Mills (Chair), Nic Ford (Vice Chair), Louise Knipe (Headteacher), Jill Broomfield (Staff Governor), Jen Witt, Debby Underwood, Kay Mills, Karen Inglis (attended for part of the meeting), Shelley Bracey (Clerk)

Apologies - Rev.Roger Leake, Victoria Harvey 

FGB - 14th Oct 2021 - meeting held virtually

Attended - Toby Mills (Chair), Nic Ford (Vice Chair), Louise Knipe (Headteacher), Jill Broomfield (Staff Governor), Jen Witt, Debby Underwood, Kay Mills, Shelley Bracey (Clerk),  

This meeting was also attended by Karen Inglis and Victoria Harvey (prospective parent governors)

Apologies - Jen Witt, Rev. Roger Leake

FGB - 6th July 2021 - meeting held in school

Attended - Toby Mills (Chair), Nic Ford (Vice Chair), Louise Knipe (Headteacher), Jill Broomfield (Staff Governor), Jen Witt, Debby Underwood,  Shelley Bracey (Clerk)

Apologies - Rev. Anna-Claar Thomasson-Rosingh has relocated so unable to attend - no replacement identified yet.

FGB - 20th May 2021 - meeting held in school

Attended - Toby Mills (Chair), Nic Ford (Vice Chair), Louise Knipe (Headteacher), Jill Broomfield (Staff Governor), Jen Witt, Debby Underwood, Jane Ward, Shelley Bracey (Clerk)

Apologies - Anna-Claar Thomasson-Rosingh

FGB - 4th March 2021 - meeting held virtually

Attended - Toby Mills (Chair), Nic Ford (Vice Chair), Louise Knipe (Headteacher), Jill Broomfield (Staff Governor), Jen Witt, Debby Underwood,  Shelley Bracey (Clerk)

Apologies - Anna-Claar Thomasson-Rosingh, Jane Ward

FGB - 3rd Dec 2020 - meeting held virtually

Attended - Toby Mills (Chair), Nic Ford (Vice Chair), Louise Knipe (Headteacher), Jill Broomfield (Staff Governor), Jen Witt, Debby Underwood, Jane Ward, Anna-Claar Thomasson-Rosingh, Shelley Bracey (Clerk)

Apologies - None

FGB - 8th October 2020 - meeting held virtually

Attended - Toby Mills (Chair), Nic Ford (Vice Chair), Louise Knipe (Headteacher), Jill Broomfield (Staff Governor), Jen Witt, Debby Underwood,  Shelley Bracey (Clerk)

Apologies - Anna-Claar Thomasson-Rosingh