Meet the Governors

Chartham Primary School

Governing Body

The governors are appointed in different ways: one is appointed by the LA; two are parent representatives; two are staff representatives, one of these being the headteacher and seven are co-opted governors.

* Mr D Jones, Mr R Hover and Ms K Foulkes are governors at St Stephen's Infant School as well.

Remit & Structure of the Governing Body

The purpose of the governing board is to:

... provide confident, strategic leadership and to create robust accountability, oversight and assurance for educational and financial performance.

The 3 core functions of the governing board 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 performance management of staff

• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent

The Governing Body Shall Consist of:

2 Parent Governors

1 Local Authority Governor

1 Staff Governor

1 Headteacher

5 Co-opted Governors

Members of the Governing Body

Mr Richard Hover - Chair of Governors

I'm 42 years old, married and have two children who attend Chartham Primary School. I have lived in the Chartham area for 10 years and have 20 years experience working in the Civil Service, where my job is to question, gather information and challenge. I have a proven track record of driving through change, building continuous improvement, and challenging poor performance. I have been a co-opted governor since 2014 and Chair of Governors since September 2018. To me, being a governor means supporting the school to ensure the effective education and well-being of all the children; using my skills, enthusiasm, commitment and experiences in life, to enhance the environment where children continue to thrive for the satisfaction and delight of their families and the community.

Mrs Emma Whitehead - Vice-Chair of Governors

I was delighted to join the Chartham Governing Body in October 2017, finding a new and rewarding role in school life as a Parent Governor and have been Vice-Chair of Governors since September 2018. I have been in Primary Education for over 19 years, firstly as a teacher focused mainly within Key Stage 2 and both leading and developing music throughout the school. During this time I spent 7 years as a Staff Governor with particular interest in teaching and learning, assessment and my first love music and the creative arts.

Now as a governor here, I am enjoying using and sharing some of this valuable experience and insight into strategic leadership aspects of school life. More recently I have moved into peripatetic music teaching. I have two young children, Jack and Mollie and have lived in Chartham for over 16 years. In my spare time I play the cello in a local symphony orchestra and enjoy reading, music and any opportunity for time spent with friends and family. I am excited to be a part of such a dedicated team and look forward to continuing to contribute towards the shared vision and future of the school. 

Mrs Kimberley Foulkes

Mr Daniel Cusani

I am delighted to join Chartham Primary School Governing Body as a Local Authority Governor. I have been in teaching for almost 8 years, having taught Physical Education across all areas of the KS32/3/4/5 curriculum and undertaken a number of roles including Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator, Head of PE and more recently Director of Sport.

Being a governor means that I can use my skills/experience to support and contribute to the monitoring of Chartham Primary School to ensure that all young people develop to their full potential in all aspects of their school and personal life.

I have lived in Chartham for 4 years so am familiar with the school and area. In my spare time, I am actively involved in sport and going for walks in the countryside. Going forward, I am very excited about contributing towards the strategic vision and future of Chartham Primary School.

Mrs Rebecca Knapp

Dr Neil Benson

Miss Joanna Lilley

I joined the Governing Body in September 2014 as a Parent Governor.  I have two children at Chartham Primary School, one in year five and one in year six.  I am a qualified primary school teacher with fourteen years’ teaching experience across both Key Stages.  I have had both professional and personal experience of supporting children with Special Educational Needs.  I was the Planning and Assessment Co-Ordinator at the Firs Nursery in Chartham which has given me a thorough understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage leading up to school entry, to complement the experience I had already gained from teaching in Reception.  As such, I am particularly excited about supporting the work of the Early Years team at Chartham, as well as contributing to the school’s development and continued improvement.

Mr Iain Rudgyard

I have just joined the governing body as a teacher governor, having started working at the school in May 2015 as the Key Stage 2 Leader, and teacher of Dolphin class.

I have been teaching for 12 years. Initially in South East London, where I also worked on the governing body for five years, and more recently in Broadstairs, with a short stint in Hong Kong in between. Before becoming a teacher, I worked in the computer industry as a database consultant.

I have experience in teaching every year group, as well as leading a range of areas, and I am passionate about maths, behaviour for learning and inclusion among other things.

I currently live in Whitstable, where I enjoy walking my dog and I am a keen cyclist and enjoy participating in Triathlon events!​

Mr Dean Jones

I have been in teaching for almost 15 years, having taught across the primary range.  I have held a range of senior positions in schools, including SENco and two Deputy Headships.  I have served on three Governing Bodies, two as a Headteacher Governor, and one as a staff Governor.  I am particularly interested in Governing body strategy and working with Governors and the community in setting the vision for the school. I am married with three primary-aged children, and in my spare time I enjoy cycling and playing squash.