Governors

What does the Governing Body do?

The Governing Body works in close partnership with Mrs Pollard and the school staff to ensure that the children get the best possible education, support, care and guidance.

We have a number of duties and responsibilities, and help to set the strategic direction of the school through agreeing aims and objectives, setting policies and targets, reviewing progress, monitoring standards and providing advice and support. We monitor the use of Pupil Premium money and the impact of this on children’s learning, and also oversee how the Sports Premium money is spent. We approve the annual budget, and monitor it, and ensure that the school meets statutory requirements.

As well as meeting as a Governing Body six times a year, the Governors also belong to different committees including: Finance, Curriculum, Personnel and Premises. Membership of these committees is shown in the table below.   It reflects the committees the governors are currently on.

The governors are unpaid, and take on the role on a voluntary basis. No governors have business interests associated with the school.  Further down the page are pen portraits of the governors.

Our Governing Body

Governor Appointments

The Governing Body is keen that the people on it reflect the school, church and village community. Our governing body includes:

• Parent governors: elected by parents of the children at the school
• LEA governors: appointed by the local education authority (LEA).
• Foundation governors: appointed by Church authorities.
• Staff governors: elected by staff at the school
• Ex officio governors: The Headteacher and Vicar have an automatic right to be a governor at the school.
• Co-opted governors: Governors, who, in the opinion of the governing body, have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.

Governors may be contacted via the school office.

Governor Pen Portraits

Debbie Williamson – Chair
Debbie Williamson has been a Governor at Codicote CofE School since 2005 when her children were pupils, and is proud of having the privilege of serving as Chair of the Governing Board since 2008. She is currently a member of the Finance committee, and also attend termly meetings with Mrs Pollard and our external School Improvement Partner. This gives her the opportunity to see the school in action and understand the current education climate. Her professional background is in Finance, and she is the Bursar in a local Special School. She believes that all children are entitled to receive the best possible education to enhance their life chances, whatever their challenges or background. School should be a positive, harmonious place where all contributions are valued and everyone feels safe and secure.

Su Murley – Vice Chair
Su has served on the Governing Body since 2009, starting as a parent governor but has remained with us as a co-opted governor. She is the Vice Chair of Governors, Safeguarding Governor, and chairs the Personnel Committee. Su has worked in the education sector for over 15 years, and currently works in a primary school office as Finance Administrator. Su is also a published children’s author and she has visited Codicote School to do assemblies and workshops with the children. She is a regular part of our school community.

Nick Black
Nick has been a co-opted governor for 12 years and is Chairman of the Finance Committee and a member of the Premises Committee. His daughter joined the school in Reception and went through to Year 6, leaving in 2019. He is a chartered certified accountant with 35 years of experience in finance and currently works as Finance Director for Britain’s largest independent fuel station operator. He takes a keen interest in school building projects and enjoys helping out with Year 6 cycle training.

Kate Woodhead
Kate is a parent governor with a child in Year 1, as well as a one-year old son. Professionally, Kate is an expert in sustainability-related reporting and disclosures. Through this, she brings a wide range of skills to the governing board, including project management, stakeholder management, robust governance, data analysis and communications.  Kate has always been passionate about education, and during her time at University spent a year working as a British Language Assistant in Lyon, France. Since then, she has remained closely engaged with the sector, serving as a Trustee at a local secondary school since 2016.

Sue Harry
Sue has been a School Governor at Codicote for 25 years, and considers the role to be a privilege. She started as a parent Governor and is now a co- opted Governor with a focus on SEN requirements and personnel. In her twenties she worked in marketing for a large tech company then in her early 50s she retrained , with the support of Codicote school, to become a primary school teacher. She is now mainly retired but keeps her hand in by doing some cover work on an ad hoc basis and volunteers with Citizens advice.

Liane Dyson
Liane has been a Parent Governor at Codicote Primary School since March 2023. Her areas of responsibility are Geography and Phonics/Early Learning, and she is a member of the Curriculum and Appeals Committees. She has worked in education for over 20 years. Until September 2022, she had been working as a secondary English and Media Studies teacher in both state and independent schools in Hertfordshire. She is also an experienced GCSE examiner. Liane currently works for HFL Education.

Sue Grant
Sue is the Diocesan representative on the Board of Governors. She was appointed in 2020 during the pandemic. She is chair of the Premises Committee and undertakes curriculum reviews in relation to worship, PE and RE.
Prior to retirement, she worked at the University of Hertfordshire for 38 years; her last role being as the Secretary & Registrar and member of the University senior team. In this role she was responsible for Governance, Audit, Health & Safety, Equality and was the Head of the Administration of the University. During this period, Sue also served as a director of several Companies associated with the University. She served on the Board of Oaklands FE College from 2013 and became Chair of Oaklands in September 2018 until July 2021.
Sue has lived in Codicote since 1993 and all her 3 children attended the school. She currently volunteers at the Codicote foodbank, and St Giles church, you may see her in the kitchen at the Friday coffee shop or the Sunday Café Church in the PMH. She also looks after her grandchildren at least 1 day per week.

Caroline Maddocks
Caroline is the  Programme Director for MCR Pathways in England, the charity works with schools to enable disadvantaged and care experienced young people to fulfil their potential through one to one mentoring. After graduating, Caroline worked in marketing and was a Business Development Director before moving into education. As a school leader, Caroline led on disadvantaged young people, SEND, Safeguarding and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.  She lives in the village and is very proud that both her daughters attended and thrived at Codicote school. She is the PCC Governor. 

Kate Grainger
Kate is a Staff Governor. She has been a teacher at the school since graduating, in 2000.  She is part of the senior leadership team, and provides support for a number of children through the Drawing and Talking, Sand Play and Lego Play therapeutic programmes.  Alongside coordinating different areas of the curriculum, she leads the Eco Team and is proud of the Green Flags the team has been awarded. She is also a mentor for Early Career Teachers.
Kate takes great pleasure in being part of a hardworking, harmonious team of staff and supports everyone’s wellbeing through organising low/no cost social events for the whole staff.  When the opportunity came up to be part of the Governing Body, Kate was delighted to be unanimously elected.

Kevin Browne 
Kevin is a Staff Governor. He joined the school in 2010, as the Deputy Headteacher. Throughout his time at the school, he has led a number of different subject areas, as well as coaching the football teams and providing technical IT support throughout the school.  He is the chair of the local deputy Headteacher’s consortium, and is a mentor to Early Career Teachers. Kevin particularly enjoys the role of deputy head, as it enables him to teach every day, as well as be involved in the leadership and management of the school. He is always impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the whole  staff team and the way everyone works so well together.

Liz Pollard
Liz has been a member of the Governing Body since joining the school in January 2005 and sits on all of the sub committees. She has extensive experience of teaching and learning in Hertfordshire schools, attending primary school, secondary school and university in the county. Liz enjoys working with colleagues across the education sector, representing headteacher colleagues in a range of contexts and supporting new headteachers. Liz is very proud to be part of  the harmonious and happy team of hardworking children, staff and governors.