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West Blatchington Primary and Nursery School

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Governing Body

"Governors are committed and ambitious for the school's future, and have the skills and knowledge to ensure that the school continues to improve. They have a good awareness of how well the school is performing in relation to other schools nationally, and an accurate understanding of the progress of different groups within the school. They challenge the Headteacher and other leaders and hold the school to account effectively for its performance."

Ofsted, February 2015

We are all voluntary and unpaid and have joined the Governing Body of West Blatchington Primary & Nursery School because we want to support the Headteacher and her staff in making our school fulfill its potential. The full Governing Body has responsibility for reviewing core aspects of the school including Teaching & Learning, Assessment and Pupil Premium, whilst nominated governors hold a Committee for other designated areas of the school, which deal with the detailed business of holding the school to account for its decisions and actions. The working groups are for; Curriculum Standards and Diversity and Resources and Strategy. We do this against the basic questions of 'how does this help the school to improve' and 'how does this ensure that all pupils do as well as they can'. Although the governors stand apart from the school staff in our role as 'critical friends', we are also about offering guidance and support.

You will find further information below about the Governing Body and also how to contact us if you have questions, concerns or want to tell us how well you think the school is doing.

Meet Our Governors

Natalie Bellis - Staff Governor

I have been a Staff Governor since 2015 and am relishing the exciting challenge of being part of the school's governing body. I am passionate about working with families to help them achieve the best possible outcomes for their children. I also love to run and thoroughly enjoy to bake cakes.

Rachel Simmonds - Headteacher

I was appointed Headteacher in September 2014 after spells as Acting Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher since joining the school. I am thrilled and proud to be both a leader in our school and a governor at this exciting point in our school's improvement in order that we achieve the best possible outcomes for all of our pupils.

Andrew Rogers - Co-opted Governor

I am a Data Analyst for an American Communications company, working for the past 11 years helping to improve the customer ordering data and identifying and resolving reporting gaps. I am glad to be part of the Governing Body to learn more about the Education System and to my part to make West Blatchington Primary and Nursery School an amazing place for student and teacher.

Julia Collen

I have joined the governors this year, and look forward to working with staff and parents at the school to be the best it can possibly be. I am a trained teacher and now work as a welfare benefits and debt adviser for a local charity. I also previously worked as an education social worker, supporting children and families to improve their attendance, which is vital for children to get the most from their education and feel safe and part of the school community.

I was the secretary of the Parent Teachers Association throughout my son’s primary school career and believe it is vital for parents and carers to be involved with the school and what it has to offer. I hope to use my background to help and support all aspects of school life, and look forward to getting to know you all better.

Matt Parsons - Parent Governor - Vice Chair

I am a father of two girls who are both currently attending West Blatchington Primary School. I have been teaching for eighteen years and I am currently the Subject Team Leader of Physical Education for a secondary school in Horsham. I hope to use my experiences to help the teachers and children of West Blatchington to achieve their best.

Michael Bellis - Co-opted Governor

I was born and educated in Brighton. I am married with two grown up children and I have four grand children. My grandchildren are all currently going through various stages of the education system. In my working life I was the managing director of a local company that designed, installed and retailed Bathrooms. I retired in 2018.

I was given the opportunity to become governor at West Blatchington and I thought that with my business experience I had something to offer and hopefully help the school progress forward and continue its upward trend.

Rahima Begum - Parent Governor

My name is Rahima Begum. I graduated with a 1:1 in Early Childhood Studies (BA Hons) and after recently completing a PGCE in primary teaching, I am now a year 2 teacher. Growing up as a child I attended West Blatchington Infants and Juniors myself, having a fabulous experience.

Over the years and especially now I can really appreciate how the environment and community have flourished and merging both sites into a primary school can only mean a positive learning environment! I am looking forward to meeting and working with many parents, staff, children as well as governors to support the betterment of our school’s ethos, values and visions.

Simon Sharron - Co-opted Governor - Co-Chair

I am really happy to have joined school's governing body. I have in the reception class a grandson who totally loves being at the school. I have spent my whole career in education as a secondary languages teacher and then in school management. For the last eleven years I was Headteacher of a mixed 4-18yrs European School in Oxfordshire and Brussels.

Previously, I was deputy headteacher at Hove Park School. I look forward to supporting the school in any way I can.

Appointments to the Governing Body

The Governing Body is made up of the following appointments:-

Name	Role	Term of Office	Appointed by	Appointment Date
Rachel Simmonds	Head Teacher	01.09.14 - Ongoing	By virtue of role	01.09.14
Andrew Rogers	Co-opted Governor	23.03.17 - 25.03.22	Governing Body	23.03.17
Michael Bellis	Co-opted Governor	20.05.19 - 19.05.23	Governing Body	20.5.19
Matt Parsons	Parent Governor	07.06.19 - 06.07.23	Parents	07.07.19
Rahima Begum	Parent Governor	07.06.19 - 06.07.23	Parents	07.07.19
Simon Sharron	Co-opted Governor	11.09.19 - 10.09.23	Governing Body	11.09.19
Julia Collen	Co-opted Governor	07.10.19 - 06.09.23	Governing Body	07.10.19
Janet Cole	Co-opted Governor	20.07.20 - 19.07.24	Governing Body	20.07.20
Lianne Morrison	LA Governor	25.01.21- 24.01.25	Local Authority	25.01.21
Natalie Bellis	Staff Governor	20.05.19 - 19.05.23	Staff	20.05.19