Ridgeway School Governing Body- 2021- 22

The Governing Body at Ridgeway School has always played a supportive and committed role, ensuring that the school meets all of its responsibilities. These include:

• A strategic role setting the general direction of the school, looking at how it should develop and grow
• A critical friend, working with the Headteacher and other senior staff to provide support and challenge.
• Accountability- monitoring the financial progress of the school and approving annual budgets.

There are 8 members of the governing body (plus the Headteacher) who attend 6 meetings throughout the year. Meetings are focused on both business and strategy and allow members to work together on current issues as well as developing new policies for the future. There is a wide variety of skills amongst the governors who include parents, staff, community and co-opted members.

As well as attending full governing body meetings each member attends one (or more) of the sub-committee groups that meet specifically to discuss finance, premises, personnel and curriculum issues.

One of the most rewarding aspects of a governor’s role is to visit the school during the day to monitor the work of the school and observe the children and work alongside the staff.

I am a solicitor with many years experience, advising on Wills, Powers of Attorney, Probate, Trusts, Wealth management, Elderly Client and Court of Protection Work and associated tax issues. I am secretary of Bedfordshire Law Society, a post I have held since 1997.

I am married with two children, a son and a daughter.

Term of office 20/11/17 - 19/11/21 

COMMITTEES SERVED ON- Personnel, Curriculum, Finance and  Premises.

RESPONSIBILITY: Well - being

ATTENDANCE AT GOVERNORS MEETINGS- 2020 - 21 - 83%

PECUNIARY INTERESTS: None

After graduating from Durham University and Imperial College, London, I worked in the Meteorological Office for about 8 years before embarking on a career in education. I taught Physics and Electronics and held various management and administrative roles at schools within Bedfordshire.

In my spare time I enjoy keeping fit at a local gym and by playing squash. I have been a member of a local film society for a number of years. I am also an avid follower of motorsport and belong to a local racing club.

Having retired in August 2013, I joined Ridgeway School as a Community Governor, hoping to bring my educational experience into a different setting and to help take the school forward.

Term of Office 20/11/17 – 19/11/21 voted to extend term.

 RESPONSIBILITY - Post 16 

COMMITTEES SERVED ON- Personnel and Finance (Chair) .

ATTENDANCE AT GOVERNORS MEETINGS- 2020- 21 -100% 

PECUNIARY INTERESTS: Parish Councillor

I have lived in Bedfordshire since 1999. Initially trained at the Royal College of Music, I have taught in a range of schools both locally and further afield and was Head Teacher of a school in Central Bedfordshire until 2016. I have worked with a number of Governors and Trustees to improve both provision and standards in schools. I currently work with The University of Bedfordshire’s education department, a consortium of local schools and continue to teach music in both private and school practice. I am very much looking forward to working with the school community at Ridgeway.

Term Of Office: 24/01/2018 - 23/01/2022

Committees Served On: Personnel and Curriculum (Chair)

Responsibility : Curriculum and EYFS

Attendance: 2020 -21 - 100%

Pecuniary Interests: None

I have been at Ridgeway School for several years and have undertaken many roles. I have been a Primary teacher and have spent much of my time at the school as early years co-ordinator. I have also been head of department , assistant head and, for a period , acting headteacher. I am currently deputy headteacher. As well as carrying out my deputy head role I run Forest School sessions in the Primary department and am currently supporting Purple Class in the Secondary department.

I have accepted the role of staff governor in order to use my experience of the school  to represent the staff on the governing body and to give them a voice.

Term of Office: September 18 - September 22

Committees served on : Curriculum 

Attendance : 2020 - 21 - 83%  

Pecuniary Interests : None

“I have lived in Bedford all my life and have worked in Education for 29 years. I am a law graduate and also a qualified social worker. I have been a school Governor intermittently since 1995 at main steam and special schools.  As a professional, I represented Luton Borough Council at Magistrates Court on Educational matters and was also a principal safeguarding trainer for Luton schools. I have managed two teams  of Education Welfare Officers . I currently work in local government and have manage a team of Early Help Practitioners and the local authorities Troubled Families Programme.

Terms of office : 24/01/2018 - 23/01/2022

Committees served on: Curriculum

Responsibilty: Safeguarding 

Attendance: 2020-2021 - 83%

Pecuniary interests: Employed by Bedford Borough Council.

Having been a teacher and part of the Senior Leadership team in my most recent roles, I have experienced first-hand the difference an interested and supportive Governing Body can make. 

I have a teaching degree in PE & Business from Brighton University.  I taught in Secondary schools for 20 years, was involved in the School Sports Coordinator Programme for Primary schools and I am currently running our family business.  We have been part of the Ridgeway family for 5 years and it is now time to offer my support more formally. 

I believe in the schools aims and ethos, and wish to be part of the group of likeminded people who will be supportive, critical and challenging in order to ensure they School Leadership Team achieve all they set out to do.   

I love being out and about. I was a lacrosse player, I still coach the juniors weekly, but can most often be found walking our dog in my spare time!

I was a secondary teacher for twenty years in a Bedfordshire school until early retirement in 2019. I initially taught French and I then specialised in diagnosing and  teaching students with learning difficulties. For several years I was also SENDCO. I continue to be interested in special needs education and I am looking forward to working with the Ridgeway governing body. 

I have lived in Bedfordshire since 1993 and I am parent to three adult children. I enjoy walking, travel, theatre and spending time with friends and family .

Brad Dooley Parent Governor

I worked for 26 years in I.T. followed by several more years as a consultant for HMRC. I’m married with 4 children and in addition my wife and I have been fostering for over 10 years. We have a very happy child who’s been attending school at Ridgeway for many years.

 I am very passionate about being a critical friend to the Senior Leadership Team at Ridgeway, supporting and challenging as appropriate.

The school has a strong ethos to be inclusive, offering an holistic approach. Encouraging each child to reach their full potential drives my desire to be a positive member of the governing body.

I enjoy cycling, camping, theatre, rugby and travel in general.

I am returning to the governing body having previously served for 3 years.

Terms of office: 20/02/2019 - 19/02/2023

Committees Served On – Personnel and Finance

Responsibility: Health and safety, Primary

Attendance: 2019 -20 - 100%

Pecuniary Interests: Governor at another school in the Borough.

Pat Olney

I have retired as a borough councillor for Oakley after 29 years. I was a teacher for 30 years working at a number of schools, Balliol Lower, Bedford Road and Rice Trevor Junior in Bromham

Term of Office 8/7/14 -7/7/19

RESPONSIBILITY-  Outdoor learning

COMMITTEES SERVED ON-  Personnel (Chair).

ATTENDANCE- 2019 -20 - 1 apology

PECUNIARY INTERESTS: Former Borough Councillor

Mim Kendrick

I have always had an interest in special and alternative education. I hold a psychology degree specialising in neuroscience. I have worked for Norfolk, Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire local authorities in SEND teams, youth work teams, and vulnerable children's education teams; working with children and young people from the early years through to further education. 

I have become particularly interested in assistive technology, and the potential for new technology solutions to transform day to day experiences for children and young people with complex needs, and I am currently working for Hertfordshire council to evaluate how digital solutions could support children, parents and professionals in the SEND community.

Terms of office: 04/07/2018 - 03/07/2022

Committees served on: Curriculum

Governor responsible for: SEND, Pupil Premium , Secondary Dept, Training

Attendance: 2019 - 20  - 100%

Laurence Turner  (Ex community governor)

(Resigned because of work commitments.)

I work as a researcher for the GMB trade union, covering a variety of issues relating to school support staff employment, SEND provision, and Department for Education policy. Previously I worked in political roles in Westminster and in the charity sector.

Terms of office: 11/06/2018 - 10/06/2022

Committees served on: Personnel and finance.

Responsibility: 

Attendance : 2019 - 20 - 1 apology

Pecuniary interest: Employee of the GMB union.

My name is Caroline Romain and I have a daughter in Post 16. (Ex parent governor)

I have worked as a Learning Support Assistant for many years supporting children in Special and Mainstream Schools.

Term of Office

RESPONSIBILITY

COMMITTEES SERVED ON   - TO BE DECIDED

ATTENDANCE-100%

Louise Simpson (Ex Staff governor)

I have worked at Ridgeway for nearly 5 years. I have worked with children that have special needs for 20 years, I am passionate about supporting our children both inside and outside of the classroom.

I am The Chairperson of Ridgeway School Association, which is growing each year, I am a bus driver and a first aider

In 2015 I became the manager of Bedford Mencap Playscheme where we support children with learning difficulties for the 1st 3 weeks of the summer holidays.

I was an active Parent Governor for 3 years whilst my children were at Upper school.

Term of office Sept 17-June 18

Committees served on: Personnel