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HampsthwaiteChurch of England Primary School
Enjoy, Achieve…. Flourish
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Meet the Governors
Welcome to our Governors’ section.
In order to support the achievement of our vision Enjoy, Achieve...Flourish Hampsthwaite's School Local Governing Board plays a key role in ensuring the school is strategically well led. Governors are volunteers who want to make a positive contribution to children’s education.
The three core functions of governance are;
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff
- Overseeing financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent
Local Governing Board Operation
The Governing Body meets 4 times throughout the academic year. Much of its work is carried out through two committees; School Development and Finance & Resources. Copies of agendas, approved minutes and any reports, documents or other paper considered at each meeting are available upon request via the school office.
To understand more about the role of school Governors and Trustees, please watch the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRqJ_bFipHk
Below are details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.
Governors at Hampsthwaite regularly visit school bringing with them a whole host of skills and experience. They play a key role in monitoring and evaluating the impact of provision.
Our Scheme of Delegation can be located here
Governing Body 2025 - 2026
The values and aims of our school are built firmly on Christian beliefs and principles, embodied not only in our heritage as a Church School but also in our everyday interactions and activities. It is through the support we give to each other that we build up respect, friendship and effective teamwork. We put children's enjoyment and achievement at the centre of everything we do, working with creativity to develop imagination and skills in an exciting yet challenging way
Responsibilities:
Together, the Governors are responsible for:
Setting aims and targets for the School/Academy and checking the Academy’s progress towards attaining these.
Monitoring how well the School/Academy’s policies and plans are working.
Accounting for the performance of the School/Academy and the Governing Body.
Working with the Headteacher to make sure that teaching at the School/Academy is effective and good quality and the children are making the best possible progress.
Taking general responsibility for the School/Academy and its budget.
Challenging and supporting the senior management team and taking opportunities to show interest in and appreciation of staff and pupils.
Promoting the interests of the School/Academy and its pupils in the wider community.
Types of Governors:
There are several different types of Governor:
Parent Governor
Elected from parents at the school by parents at the Academy.
Staff Governor
Elected from staff at the school by staff at the Academy
Co-opted Governors
Appointed by members of the Governing Body. They are intended to be representative of the local community and may add particular kinds of expertise.
Foundation/Academy Governors
Foundation governors are representatives of the Church of England.
Our Governors
Chair of Governors: Rebecca Gale (r.gale@hampsthwaite.ycway.uk)
Name | Type | Term | Full Governing Body | Finance | Attendance at FGB 2024/2025 |
Amy Ross | Head Teacher
|
|
| 2/4 | |
Michelle Coghlan | Staff | 14tth March 2018- 13th March 2026
|
| 1/4 | |
Sophie Fisher | Parent | 28th May 2021 - 27th May 2025 | 1/4 | ||
Rebecca Gale - Chair | Parent | 25th May 2022 - 24th May 2026 | 2/4 | ||
Chulanga Jayawardana | Appointed by the GB/board | 19th July 2022 - 18th July 2026 | 2/4 | ||
| Gordon Scammell | Appointed by the GB/board | 8th April 2024 - 7th April 2028 | 0/4 | ||
| Jennifer Bowles | Appointed by the GB/board | 16th April 2024 - 15th April 2028 | 2/4 | ||
| Scott Phillips | Appointed by the GB/board | 30th September 2024 - 29th September 2028 | 1/4 | ||
| Andrew Miller | Parent | 11th November 2024 - 10th November 2028 | 1/4 |
|
Meeting attendance 2022/2023
Name | Full Governing Body | School Development
| Finance |
Amy Ross | 4/4 | 3/3 | 4/4 |
Michelle Herrington | 4/4 | 2/3 | - |
Andrew Wood | 4/4 | - | 4/4 |
Rebecca Gale | 4/4 | 3/3 | - |
Abhishek Khurana | 3/4 | - | 4/4 |
Claire Mace | 4/4 | 3/3 | - |
Sophie Fisher | 4/4 | 3/3 | - |
| Chulanga Jayawardana | 3/4 | - | 3/4 |
Meeting attendance 2021/2022
Name | Full Governing Body | School Development
| Finance |
Amy Ross | 4/4 | 3/3 | 4/4 |
Michelle Herrington | 4/4 | 2/3 | - |
Andrew Wood | 4/4 | - | 4/4 |
Geoff Ellis | 2/4 | - | 4/4 |
Abhishek Khurana | 3/4 | - | 4/4 |
Claire Mace | 3/4 | 3/3 | - |
David Barker | 3/4 | 3/3 | - |
Simon Bollon | 1/4 | - | 3/4 |
Sophie Fisher | 4/4 | 2/3 | - |
Robert Smith | 3/4 | 2/3 | - |
Meeting attendance 2020/2021
Name | Full Governing Body | School Development
| Finance |
Amy Ross | 4/4 | 3/3 | 4/4 |
Michelle Herrington | 4/4 | 2/3 |
|
Andrew Wood | 4/4 |
| 4/4 |
Gill Hart | 3/4 | 3/3 |
|
Geoff Ellis | 4/4 |
| 4/4 |
Michael Nunns | 2/4 |
| 2/4 |
Abhishek Khurana | 4/4 |
| 4/4 |
Claire Mace | 3/4 | 3/3 |
|
David Barker | 4/4 | 3/3 |
|
Simon Bollon | 2/4 |
| 1/4 |
Meeting attendance 2019/2020
Name | Full Governing Body | School Development
| Finance |
Amy Ross | 4/4 | 3/3 | 3/3 |
Michelle Herrington | 4/4 | 3/3 |
|
Anna Ashford | 4/4 | 3/3 |
|
Andrew Wood | 4/4 |
| 3/3 |
Gill Hart | 3/4 | 2/3 |
|
Geoff Ellis | 3/4 |
| 3/3 |
Michael Nunns | 3/4 |
| 3/3 |
Abhishek Khurana | 3/3 |
| 3/3 |
Claire Mace | 3/4 | 3/3 |
|
David Barker | 4/4 | 2/3 |
|
Simon Bollon | 2/4 |
| 2/3 |
CLERK TO THE GOVERNORS
Alex Mawson
REGISTER OF GOVERNOR INTERESTS
Governor Name | Declared Pecuniary Interests | Other Governance Roles | Relationship to Staff
|
Amy Ross | Declared | None | None |
Michelle Herrington | None Declared | None | None |
Suzy McCarter | None Declared | None | None |
Gordon Scammell | None Declared | None | None |
Sophie Fisher | None Declared | None | None |
Rebecca Gale | None declared | None | None |
| Chulanga Jayawardana | None declared | None | None |
| Nuno Arroteia | None declared | None | None |
| Jennifer Bowles | None declared | None | None |
RESIGNATION FROM THE GOVERNING BODY
Sally Haigh – December 2018
Joy Walker – September 2019
Anna Ashford - September 2020
Gill Hart - September 2021
Mike Nunns - September 2021
Geoff Elis - July 2022
Simon Bollon - July 2022
David Barker - August 2022
Robert Smith - October 2022
Andrew Wood - July 2023
Abhi Knurana - July 2023
Claire Mace - January 2024
Mike Harris - March 2024
Suzy McArthur - May 2024
Nuno Arroteia - July 2024
Scott Phillips - August 2025
Jennifer Bowles - August 2025
Governors' profiles and interests
Mrs Coghlan
I was appointed as the Acting Headteacher of Hampsthwaite School in September 2025 and I'm really enjoying using my knowledge of the school as Assistant Headteacher to support myself and the staff team during this interim period.
I have worked at Hampsthwaite School for 20 years in the EYFS and KS1 classes. I have enjoyed leading a variety of subjects over the years including P.E. and PSHE. I am now English leader and EYFS/KS1 leader, both of which I am particularly interested in. I am also part of the Senior Leadership Team, a role which I really enjoy.
Having grown up in a village close to Hampsthwaite, I am very passionate about small village schools and enjoy being part of the village community. I have seen the school change whilst working under the last 3 headteachers and am looking forward to the new opportunities and challenges in the future.
I live in Knaresborough with my husband and two children, who all enjoy walking and going out for Sunday lunch.
Chulanga Jayawardana (C.Jayawardana@hampsthwaite.ycway.uk)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chulanga-jayawardana-6138953/
I live in Hampsthwaite with my wife Rebecca and two children who both attend the school. We moved up to Yorkshire over 6 years ago to be closer to family and feel very lucky to call this beautiful part of the country home. I care deeply about my children’s education and contributing to society, and therefore I am extremely delighted to be appointed on to the board of governors.
I have over 22 years of experience working in the accounting profession with a background in financial due diligence, auditing, financial reporting, and corporate governance. I will use my skillset and experience to support the leadership team to help drive the strategic direction of the school, and help it continue to meet its high standards and the quality of education it offers the children in this community.
Rebecca Gale (r.gale@hampsthwaite.ycway.uk)
I live in Bishop Thornton with my husband and two children (both at Hampsthwaite), having made the move from London to be nearer family. We struck gold when Mrs Ross said she had space for our son back in 2020: we couldn't believe the warmth, dedication and quality of the learning environment. I am delighted to be part of the Governing Board to support the leadership team to continue to take the school from strength to strength. I am currently the Assistant Director of Primary Care at NHS Confederation, a national organisation for NHS leaders, advocating for our members and influencing national policy makers on their behalf. The majority of my career has been spent in health and care regulation, and I hope to translate some of that expertise to an educational setting.
Gordon Scammell (G.Scammell@hampsthwaite.ycst.co.uk)
I live in Harrogate with my wife Lucy and two children Orla and Neve. Orla attends Hampsthwaite School and Neve is in the nursery, with her starting in the school in September 2024. Originally from the South Coast, I moved up to Harrogate 9 years ago and love living here.
I have my own accountancy practice and have over 34 years of experience working in the accounting profession. I put myself forward for the position of Governor as I want to be able to offer my financial sector experience and abilities to the school and help the team continue with the excellent work it does.
Andrew Miller (a.miller@hampsthwaite.ycst.co.uk)
I have recently moved to Hampsthwaite in June 24 from Huddersfield with my wife Sarah and two children Elsa aged 10 and Jasper aged 8. Both Elsa and Jasper attend Hampsthwaite and love the school having settled incredibly quickly.
Our decision to move to Hampsthwaite was very much based on our initial visit to the school and meeting Mrs Ross and all the wonderful staff who made it an easy choice as to where our children should be educated and in turn where we should live.
I have recently retired after a career in the Police and, after a few months off, I have now started a new role as Safeguarding Officer at a local secondary school.
I am really looking forward to using my past experiences as well as my recently gained knowledge to positively influence the school and to do my bit for the local community. It’s an honour to be able to represent the school and to help shape the education of all our children.
