Meet the Governors

Confidentiality Statement: Governors respect the confidential nature of discussions and do not disclose governor business or decisions. When minutes of governing body meetings, Part 1, are approved they are made available to any member of the public who requests sight of them.

Professional Negligence Statement: Advice given by governors at this school is incidental to their professional expertise and is not being given in their professional capacity.

The Governing Body has adopted an open meeting protocol, which is published here for those who might wish to attend a meeting. The Governing Body has also agreed a Code of Conduct, which sets out the expectations and commitment required from members of the governing body.

The Governing Body of Thames Ditton Infant School was reconstituted on 1st September 2016 with a change of status to a Foundation School.

The Governing Body currently comprises a total of 14 governors:

• 4 elected parent governors,
• 1 elected staff governor,
• 1 Local Authority governor,
• 1 Headteacher,
• 5 Co-opted governors, and
• 2 Foundation governors

Governors are appointed for a term of four years.

There are three committees:

• Finance and Resources;
• Personnel and Safeguarding (with a Pay Committee from time to time);
• Curriculum and Data.

These committees do much of the work and report to the Full Governing Body.

There are four FGB meetings in an academic year – two in the first term – and each Committee meets three times during the year. Governors work for the good of the school, providing a strategic overview and holding the Senior Leadership Team to account.

Our Governors are :

2018/19: 

Mr. Bruce Perry, LA Governor, was appointed 1 Sept 2016, Co-Chair of the Full Governing Body. Mr. Perry attends Finance and Resources, Personnel and Safeguarding and Curriculum and Data Committees; in addition to Co-Chairing the Full Governing Body. He is the Health and Safety Governor and the trustee on the ELT representing TDIS, together with the Head Teacher. Attendance at the four FGB meetings from September 2018 to July 2019 and at two Curriculum and Data, three Personnel and Safeguarding and four Finance and Resources Committee meetings: 13 out of 14. My Perry’s daughter works as a Teaching Assistant at the Infant School. He has no conflicts of interest to register.

Mr. Richard Ascough, Co-opted Governor, was appointed 20 Sept 2017. He is Chair of the Personnel and Safeguarding Committee, in addition to Co-Chairing the Full Governing Body. Attendance at three out of the four FGB meetings from September 2018 to July 2019 and at three Personnel and Safeguarding Committee meetings: 6 out of 7.He has no conflicts of interest to register.

Mr. Ian Benjamin, Parent Governor, was elected 12 July 2016. He is a member of the Finance and Resources Committee. Attendance at the four FGB meetings from September 2018 to July 2019 and at four Finance and Resources Committee meetings: 8 out of 8. Mr. Benjamin is a member of BCLPaisner LLP. He has no conflicts of interest to register.

Mr. Matt Bowen, Parent Governor, was elected 12 July 2016. He is a member of Finance and Resources Committee. Attendance at one of the four FGB meetings from September 2018 to July 2019 and at four Finance and Resources Committee meetings: 5 out of 8. He has no conflicts of interest to register.

Mr. Jay Bimbrah, Co-opted Governor, was appointed 16 Oct 2018. As a new Governor he is attending each of the Committee meetings initially. Attendance at three out of four FGB meetings and at one Personnel and Safeguarding and one Curriculum and Data Committee meetings: 5 out of 7. He has no conflicts of interest to register.

Mr. Robert Cloete, Parent Governor, was elected 31 Oct 2017. He is Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee. Attendance at the four FGB meetings from September 2018 to July 2019 and at three Finance and Resources Committee meetings: 7 out of 8. He has no conflicts of interest to register.

Ms Charissa Fiander-Derry, Foundation Governor, was appointed 20 June 2017. She is Chair of the Curriculum and Data Committee. Attendance at the four FGB meetings from September 2018 to July 2019 and at three Curriculum and Data meetings: 7 out of 7. She has no conflicts of interest to register.

Mrs. Sophie Frame, Staff Governor, was elected 29 Jan 2016. She is a member of the Personnel and Safeguarding Committee and of the Curriculum and Data Committee. Attendance at the three out of the four FGB meetings from September 2018 to July 2019 and at three Personnel and Safeguarding Committee and one Curriculum and Data Committee meeting: 7 out of 10. Mrs. Frame is a Teacher at the School and Welfare Office at the Comet Triathlon club. She has no other interests to register.

Mr. Adel Mozammel, Co-opted Governor, was appointed 16 Oct 2018. Attendance at all four FGB meetings from September 2018 to July 2019: 4 out of 4.He has no conflicts of interest to register.

Mr. Jeremy Scroxton, Foundation Governor, was appointed 20 June 2017. He is a member of the Curriculum and Data Committee. Attendance at three FGB meetings from September 2018 to July 2019 and at one Curriculum and Data meeting and two meetings as SEND Governor: 6 out of 9. Mr. Scroxton is a Citizen Advice volunteer. He has no conflicts of interest to register.

Dr Claire Thorne, Co-opted Governor, was appointed 26 Oct 2018. Attendance at all four FGB meetings from September 2018 to July 2019: 4 out of 4. Dr Thorne is a Director of various University of Surrey startup/spin out companies with university shareholdings. She has no conflicts of interest to register.

Dr Elizabeth Scott-Baumann is a Parent Governor, elected 12 December 2018. She is a member of the Curriculum and Data Committee. Attendance at one FGB meeting and one Curriculum and Data Committee meeting from December 2018 to July 2019: 2 out of 4. She has no conflicts of interest to register.

Mrs. Rebecca Hicks is Head teacher Governor, appointed 1 September 2012. She attends all committees and has attended a total of 14 out of 14 meetings.

Ivo Gatto is an Associate Member, appointed on 2 April 2019. He has attended two out of two possible FGB meetings from April 2019 to July 2019: 2 out of 2. He has no conflicts of interest to register.

Ms Davina Whitten is an Associate Member, appointed on 2 April 2019. She has attended one out of a possible two FGB meetings from April 2019 to July 2019: 1 out of 2.

Mrs. Hannah Evans is an Associate Member, appointed on 27 March 2018. She is a member of the Personnel and Safeguarding Committee. Attendance at three of the four FGB meetings from September 2018 to July 2019 and no Personnel and Committee meetings: 3 out of 7. She has no conflicts of interest to register.

Clerk to the Governing Body is Sara Morgan.

Governors must also declare any conflicts of interest in agenda items before every meeting.

There is currently a Co-opted Governor vacancy.

Iain Campbell stepped down as a Co-opted Governor in March 2019 and Elizabeth Scott-Baumann joined the Governing Body as a Parent Governor in December 2018.