Governing Body Remit
The purpose of the Governing Body is to conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. Its three core strategic functions are:
- Ensuring that the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school are clearly defined.
- Ensuing that the headteacher performs their responsibilities for the educational performance of the school.
- Ensuring the sound, proper and effective use of the school’s financial resources.
Welcome Message from the Chair of Governors
It is my pleasure on behalf of the Governing Body of Howletch Lane Primary school to offer you a warm welcome to our school.
A Governors’ role is to work with the school, ensuring that your children receive the best education in a supportive and safe setting. As a governing board, we are made up of elected parents, staff, and a representative of the local authority and members of the local community. We work as a strategic team to oversee, challenge and support the work of Mrs Beattie and her senior team as they run the school whilst ensuring that every one of our children has access to an enriched education and to all the opportunities that they deserve.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank parents and carers for encouraging and supporting their children and for taking an interest in their learning and development. We always welcome input, opinions, and feedback from anyone within our school community, so please feel free to get in touch with me via the school office if you would like to have a chat.
Kind Regards
Sharon Lawson
Annual Statement of Governance
Annual Governance Statement 2025/2026
Structure of our Governing Body
| Name | Position | Term of Office | Committees | Register of Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Helen Beattie | Headteacher | 01/01/2023 – Ongoing | Complaints Committee, Finance and Premises Committee, Curriculum Standards and Wellbeing, First Committee | None |
| Mr Mark Chisholm | Co-opted | 26/04/24 to 25/04/28 | Appeals Committee, Complaints Committee, Finance and Premises Committee | Personal or close family interest |
| Mrs Lisa Crombie | Co-opted | 11/09/23 to 10/09/27 | Curriculum | Member of staff (DHT) |
| Mrs Nicola Farren | Co-opted | 26/04/24 to 25/04/28 | Vice Chair of Governors Complaints Committee, Curriculum and Standards Committee | Durham County Council employee, Governor at Escomb Primary |
| Mrs Linda Deakin | Parent (appointed by governing body) | 24/10/22 to 23/10/26 | Appeals | None |
| Mrs Karen Jones | Local Authority | 28/10/04 to 25/11/27 | Curriculum and Standards Committee, Appeals Committee, Finance and Premises Committee, Head Teacher Performance Management | Governor at The Academy at Shotton Hall, Durham County Council Employee |
| Mrs Sharon Lawson | Co-opted | 30/11/17 to 26/01/26 | Chair of Governors Complaints Committee, Curriculum and Standards Committee, Finance and Premises Committee, First/Pay review, Head Teacher Performance Management. | None |
| Mrs Amanda Moon | Co-opted | 07/05/20 to 06/05/24 | Curriculum and Standards Committee, Wellbeing Committee, Finance and Premises Committee, First/Pay review Committee, Head Teacher Performance Management | Chair of Local Academy Trust (Shotton Hall), Trustee of NE Learning Trust |
| Mrs Victoria Moss | Parent | 11/11/24 to 10/11/2028 | Curriculum and Standards | None |
| Mr Jonathan Snelling | Staff | 08/03/22 to 07/03/26 | Curriculum & Standards | Member of Staff |
| Mrs Michelle Watson | Parent | 09/05/25 to 08/05/29 | ||
| Mr Dean Wild | Parent (appointed by governing body) | 24/10/22 to 23/10/26 | Appeals, Curriculum and Standards | Head of Computing and IT at Kings Academy (Emmanuel Schools Foundation) |
Associate to the Governing Body – Mrs Amanda Walker (School Business Manager) attends Finance and Premises meetings and Full Governing Body Meetings when required. Mrs Walker has a four year appointment from 10/02/22 to 09/02/26 and does not have voting rights.
Our school clerk is Mrs Jill Huntington from Education Durham Governance Services.
Recent Resignations and expired Terms of Office
- Mrs Linda Deakin 24/10/2022 to 08/05/2025
Vacancies
Terms of Reference for Howletch Governing Body
Committee Terms of Reference 2025/2026
How To Become A School Governor
If you require further information on the roles and responsibilities of School Governors or you are interested in becoming one, visit the Durham County Council website School Governor section or The National Governance Association website. From time to time there will vacancies for governors in our school and we will send home letters to inform you if a vacancy arises. Please contact the school if your would like to be considered for a governor or if you would like more information.
Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies
Howletch Lane Primary School adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department of Education. This means that governing bodies must have regard to it when carrying out duties relating to the constitution of governing bodies in maintained schools. You can find out more about our Governors roles and responsibilities by viewing or downloading the documents below:
The Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools (2017)
Governor Attendance – Academic Year 2024/2025
Attendance_Meetings_Howletch Lane
Key
A/A apologies accepted, APN apologies not accepted, N no apologies received, OBS observer, N/A not a member of this committee at that time
N/R (associates only) not required at this meeting
