Skip to content
  • Governors

    If you have any queries for our Governing Body, please contact our Chair of Governors, Sophie Morgan, at admin@darringtonschool.org.uk or forward correspondence to our school address:

    Darrington CE Primary School

    Denby Crest,

    Darrington

    WF8 3SB

     

    What does a Governing Body do?  

    The responsibilities of a school Governing Body include:

    • Developing the strategic plan for the school
    • Determining the aims, policies and priorities of the school
    • Setting statutory and not statutory targets
    • Monitoring and evaluation the work of the school
    • The appointment of the Headteacher, overseeing the appointment of staff and ensuring the implementation of range of personnel procedures
    • Oversight of the budget
    • Securing high levels of attendance and good standards of pupil behaviour
    • Ensuring that all children in the schools have access to a broad and balanced curriculum which is suitable to age, aptitude and ability, which prepares them for adult life.
    • Ensuring the health and safety of pupils and staff

    The key point to note about this list is that the responsibilities have a strategic focus. In carrying them out, the Governors work with the Headteacher and her team as the professional leaders of the school. The day-to-day responsibility for running the school is the responsibility of the Headteacher and her senior colleagues.

    What do Governors do?  

    They contribute to the work of the governing body in raising standards of achievement for all pupils. This involves providing a strategic view for the school, acting as a critical friend and ensuring accountability. The individual governor has a responsibility, working alongside other members of the governing body, to the staff and pupils of the school, the school’s wider community and, where they are representatives, to the constituency they represent; in the case of parent governors this would be all the other parents in the school community.

    However, while governors may represent a particular constituency they are not delegates of that group and they do not advocate for individual children, staff of interest groups. All governors have the same responsibilities and status.

    In practice, the kinds of things that governors do include:

    • Getting to know the school: its needs, strengths and areas for development
    • Attending meetings (full governing body, committees and working groups)
    • Contributing to task groups or special panels such as those for appointments
    • Acting as lead or link governors for a class or a particular topic
    • Working as a member of a team
    • Speaking, acting and voting in the best interests of the school
    • Reporting the perspectives of constituencies, wherever appropriate
    • Respecting all governing body decisions and supporting them in public
    • Acting within the framework of the policies of the governing body and the relevant legal requirements
    • Committing to training and development opportunities
    When do Governors meet? 

    Meetings of the full governing body take place in school each half term. The two main committees (Resources and Pupils & Standards) meet every term, usually a week before the full governing body meeting. Additional meetings with the Headteacher are called as and when necessary. Minutes of the full governing body are available on request.

    Governor Roles and Responsibilities  

    The Governing Body is responsible for contributing to raising standards of achievement for all pupils. Governing Body members contribute to providing a strategic view for the school, acting as a critical friend and ensuring accountability through full Governing Body meetings as well as smaller committee meetings: a Resources Committee and a Standards & Pupils Committee. Further information about each of our committees is available on our 'Committee Information' page.

    Our Governing Body 

        Mrs S MORGAN

    Chair of Governors
    Resources Committee

     

    Mr C Burden

    Chair of Resources Committee

     

    MrS G Fletcher

    Foundation Governor
    Safeguarding Governor
    Chair of Pupils and Standards Committee

     

    Mr N Davison 

     Parent Governor
    Resources Committee

     

    Mr I Brown

    Governor
    Resources Committee

    Mrs L Davis

    Governor

    Pupils and Standards Committee

     

    Mrs C Leeson

    Parent Governor

    Pupils and Standards Committee

     

    Mrs R Fieldhouse

    Parent Governor

    Pupils and Standards Committee

     

    Mr J Place 

    Governor

    Resources Committee

     

    Mr C LUNN

    Headteacher

    Ex-officio

    Mrs V Meadows

    School Business Manager

     

    MRS A EGAN

    Assistant Headteacher
    Staff Governor 

     

     

    Governor Pen Portraits 

     

     

     

    Mrs Gill Fletcher

     I am a retired teacher and  have lived in Darrington since 1988 and am a foundation governor representing Darrington church and a member of the church choir.  Along with music I also enjoy a variety of sporting activities.

    My son attended Darrington School and I have served on the governing body previously as a parent governor.

    In my role as foundation governor, I run Darrington Collective Worship Committee,  which is made up of pupils from all years .We work to promote Christian values within the school and the local community and to foster links between church and the school.

     We also take a lead in promoting activities related to our link with Buhemba primary school in the Diocese of Mara in Tanzania .

    As a member of the Standards and Pupils committee, I aim to work tirelessly to assist staff, parents and governors in ensuring that all pupils of Darrington School receive a world class education and move on to secondary school as happy, confident, resilient people with a lifelong love of learning.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Mr Ian Brown

    Hello I am a co-opted Governor to Darrington C of E Primary School.

    I am a proud Yorkshire man who lives in Pontefract with my wife and have a strong link to Darrington through my family.  Both of my grandchildren have attended the school and I have a grandchild who is not at school yet.

    I am retired from full time work but do lots of things that help the local and wider community. For example, I was a magistrate until I reached the mandatory retirement age serving in Pontefract, Wakefield and Leeds.

    Before I retired, I had a long career at Yorkshire Imperial Metals, Leeds City Council and Yorkshire Water. I am a qualified accountant by training.

    I have been a school governor since my own two children were at school. My first Governor role was at Halfpenny Lane School in Pontefract as a parent governor. When my children left junior school I was elected as a parent Governor and then at Kings High School. I left both these roles in 1991.

    In 2002 as part of a Government initiative I took a Governor role at a school in Doncaster that had just gone into Special Measures. After some difficult decisions and hard work by the staff and Governors the school was rated good three years later, and in 2010 outstanding and again in 2015. It has now converted to an Academy along with two other schools. I am still very much involved in that school.

    In my spare time I am a keen gardener, like making our home habitable, enjoy Nordic walking, getting afloat and most of all family life.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Mrs Lynne Davies 

     

    Hello I am a retired teacher.

    It seems a long time ago that, as a 16 year old teenager, I decided that my life’s work was to be a teacher of Religious Studies. It is a decision that I will never regret as it has been a joy and a privilege to explore the thoughts, ideas and questions that young people have about the fundamental questions of life. It was through this work that I met and worked with both Gill Fletcher and Lyndsay Ranby. A part of my Department’s role was to also teach Personal, Social, Health and Relationships Education, which will become a part of the curriculum for all Key Stages this year.

    I have two granddaughter who attend Darrington School, so when an opportunity arose that allowed me to contribute to the Governing Body I was delighted to accept. This is my first year as a governor and I am a member of the Standards and Pupils Committee.

    I am also a member of St Giles Church in Pontefract where I also lead Junior Church. So, I look forward to working alongside the Darrington Collective Worship Committee.

    I have previously been a Parent Governor at Carleton High School and a Teacher Governor at Outwood Grange Academy.

    As a parent, grandparent and a teacher, the education of children has always been of paramount importance. I am really looking forward to working with such a dedicated team of Governors, to ensure that our children receive a first class education in a loving and caring environment so that they can shine in the world.

     

     

     

     

     

    Mrs Sophie Morgan

    Joining the school governing board in 2022 as a Governor, my ambition is to have a positive contribution towards continuous development for the children, their individual growth, their learning, and for the school to realise their objectives; not only to achieve them but excel and surpass expectations. I attended Darrington CE School as a pupil many years ago.

    My own personal experiences have brought me strength through real adversity, and a high level of perspective, motivation and understanding over a wide variety of matters that can impact on everyday life, and as a parent of a child at Darrington School, I would hope these experiences can assist a true equal and diverse approach.

    Professionally, I have over 15 years comprehensive experience in the fields of construction; social housing, project management and technical estimating, mostly as a Quantity Surveyor, leading financial management, monitoring, and analysis of large projects. Recently moving into the field of Category Management, of Property Services procurement, I utilise my contracting experience, and have previously undertaken audits and hold experience in Environmental Management and ISO accreditation.

    As the Chair of Darrington School PTFA, and as a parent, ultimately my objective is to enhance the school journey for each and every child, to make as many happy memories as possible throughout the pupil experience which will last a life time. I hope to achieve this through the Governors role within strategic approach.

     

      Mr Nick Davison

     

    Awaiting content

    Mrs Beckie Fieldhouse

    I have 16years plus experience in secondary education - teaching 11-16  Design Technology and Food studies. I also have vast amounts of experience in early years and development with my own business running baby groups in the local area.
    Both of my children attended Darrington school with one still here in year 6. I am a member of the Pupils and Standards Committee assisting staff and students with teaching and learning.

     

     

    Mrs Catherine Leeson

    I joined the school governing body in September 2024. I have two children at Darrington CE Primary School, in years 3 and 6. I currently work for Teach First, as a Subject Development Lead for Science. This involves working with science trainee teachers across the country, as they complete their ITT training programme. My role combines delivery of subject specific training, lesson feedback, supporting trainee well-being, tracking progress, and supporting trainees gain QTS. Prior to this role I worked for 16 years at The Kings School Pontefract in a variety of teaching positions within the Science Department. I feel passionate about enabling every child to fulfil their potential, and the power that education can have on children’s futures. I am looking forward to the opportunities that working with the team of governors here at Darrington will bring.

     

     

     

     

    Mr Chris Burden 

    I joined the school governing board in October 2024 as a Governor.

     

    As a resident of Darrington, I am passionate about giving back to our local community and making a positive difference in our area. I have three young daughters, one of whom is attending the school, with the other two set to join soon. I’m proud to say my children attend here and I genuinely believe the school and teachers are outstanding. I have a passion for supporting young people to learn and have more than 10 years of experience in supporting graduates transition into the workplace while also furthering their education through professional accountancy qualifications.

     

    Professionally, I have built a successful career as an accountant and currently serve as the Chief Financial Officer of two dynamic businesses, both have the same parent company. These are large IT and process transformation businesses focused on supporting the Public Sector. In these roles, I have contributed to savings of approximately £700 million for central government departments. Previously, as Finance Director of a similar business, I contributed to savings exceeding £500 million for the NHS.

     

     

     

    Mr Jamie Place

     

     

    Committee Information
     
    RESOURCES COMMITTEE PUPILS AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE HEADTEACHER PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
     Mr Chris Burden (Chair) Gill Fletcher (Chair) Ian Brown (Chair)

    Chris Lunn (Headteacher)

    Chris Lunn (Headteacher) Sophie Morgan
    Nick Davison 

    Amy Egan (AHT)

    Gill Fletcher
    Sophie Morgan

    Lynne Davis

     
    Mr Ian Brown

    Beckie Fieldhouse

     
    Mr Jamie Place

    Catherine Leeson

     
    Vicky Meadows (SBM) Vicky Meadows (Clerk)