Governor Information
Welcome to the Governors page. The Governors at Abbey Gates who act as "critical friends". Governors support the Head Teacher and the school but also have a monitoring role asking relevant questions such as "Is it working?", "How do we know it is working?", "How can we get better?".
Governors need no formal qualifications but do need these particular qualities:
- an interest in the education and well-being of our children
- a willingness to ask questions
- the time commitment to attend meetings
- a commitment to be part of a team which, by working together, can make a real difference to the school.
The work of the Governing body is wide-ranging and there are, therefore, Working Parties which have specific areas of work delegated to them. These committees report back to the full Governing body meeting for ratification of their decisions. Abbey Gates has the following committees: Full Governors, Pay, Performance Management and Discipline. A brief description of the remit of these committees are as follows:
- Full Governors – all governors are members. Meetings are half-termly (see below).
- Pay Committee - reviews and implements the pay policy.
- Performance Management - reviews and implements the performance management policy.
- Other working parties organised through Full Governor Meetings.
The Full Governor Meetings are held half-termly and focus as follows:
Term | Meeting Focus |
Autumn 1 | Strategic Review - SIP / SEF, Year Ahead |
Autumn 2 | Business |
Spring 1 | Academic |
Spring 2 | Business |
Summer 1 | Academic |
Summer 2 | Strategic Review - SIP / SEF, Possible SIP headlines for next academic year. |
Governor Roles and Responsibilities
Colin Barnard
Co-opted Governor
Term of office from 1 Aug 2017 to 31 Jul 2025
First appointed on 28 Sep 2007
Roles/Responsibilities: HT Appraisal, Governor Training, Communication, Health & Safety, Overall Effectiveness, Leadership & Management, Quality of Education, Personal Development and Attitudes & Behaviour, Pupil Premium.
Business and financial interests: n/a
Abi Quant-Epps
Headteacher
Term of office from 31 Aug 2021
Business and financial interests: n/a
Andrew Elkington
Co-opted Governor
Term of office from 18 Oct 2017 to 17 Oct 2025
First appointed on 18 Oct 2017
Roles/Responsibilities: HT Appraisal, Finance, Personal Development and Attitudes & Behaviour.
Business and financial interests: n/a
Anna Evans
Associate Member – Office Manager
Term of office from 20 Sep 2017 to 29 Sep 2025
Business and financial interests: n/a
Voting right - No
Kenneth Fallows
Local Authority Governor
Term of office from 4 Jun 2022 to 3 Jun 2026
First appointed on 4 Jun 2014
Roles/Responsibilities: Inclusion/SEN, Appraisal, Complaints, Overall Effectiveness, Leadership & Management.
Business and financial interests: n/a
Carl Boettcher
Parent Governor
Term of office from 2nd Feb 2022 to 1st Feb 2026
First appointed on 2nd Feb 2022
Roles/Responsibilities Outdoor Play And Learning Working Group, Personal Development and Attitudes & Behaviour.
Francesca Potter
Co-opted Governor
Term of office from 30th March 2023 to 29th March 2027
First appointed on 30th March 2023
Roles/Responsibilities Quality of Education / SEND.
Business and financial interests: n/a
Stuart Bestwick
Co-opted Governor
Term of office from 30th March 2023 to 29th March 2027
First appointed on 30th March 2023
Roles/Responsibilities Leadership and Management.
Business and financial interests: n/a
Andrew Miles
Staff Governor
First appointed 18th Apr 2022 to 17th April 2026
Roles/Responsibilities N/A
Samantha Taylor
Associate Member - Assistant Headteacher
Term of office from 30 Sep 2021 to 29 Sep 2025
First appointed on 30 Sep 2021
Roles/Responsibilities: n/a
Business and financial interests: n/a
Voting right - No
Keeley Bowell
Associate Member - Assistant Headteacher
Term of office from 1st Sep 2024 to 31st Aug 2028
First appointed on 1st Sep 2024
Roles and Responsibilities: n/a
Business and financial interests: n/a
Voting right - No
Governor Attendance 2023-24