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Governing Board
Our governing board is made up of committed individuals who bring a wealth of experience from education, business, public service and beyond.
|
Name
|
Category and any Position of Responsibility |
Term of Office |
Interests Declared (with date if not at appointment) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lauren Atallah |
Co-opted |
22.9.22 – 21.9.26 |
Governor St Mary Magdalen Primary School |
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|
Christine Bennett |
Co-opted Chair of BAPD Committee |
22.9.22 – 21.9.26 |
July 2023 Product Manager The Economist |
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|
Sarah Box |
Co-opted |
8.5.25 – 7.5.29 (27.5.21 parent) |
Employed by Chichester College Group (9/22) |
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|
Marc Ducroquet-Lavin |
Co-opted Chair of FHS Committee |
15.7.24 – 14.7.28 |
9/94 Employed by DEFRA as Chief of Staff |
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|
Melinda English |
Co-opted |
14.10.24 – 13.10.28 |
Deputy Headteacher Brighton Girls GDST |
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|
Andy Fisher |
Co-opted Joint Vice Chair |
22.9.22 – 21.9.26 |
Education policy Maker, employed by the DfE |
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|
Hazel Gould |
Co-opted, Chair of Quality of Education Committee. Joint Vice Chair |
8.5.25 – 7.5.29 (27.5.21-8.5.25 parent governor) |
Self-employed Theatre Writer/Director 9.10.24 Trustee Brighton Fringe |
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|
Jonathan Harris |
Co-opted |
11.5.23 – 10.5.27 |
Bench Healthcare Management Ltd (Managing Director). Provision of management consultancy services to NHS 9/94 Spouse employed by BHCC in BHISS SEMH Change Programme Team which provides services to Patcham High School |
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|
Greg Johnson |
Parent |
12.5.22 – 11.5.26 |
Self-employed Barrister, Westgate Chambers, Btn |
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|
Catherine Jordan |
Staff |
21.1.24 – 20.1.28 |
Learning Mentor Patcham High School |
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|
Isa Kwabe |
Co-opted |
4.7.23 – 3.7.27 |
Employed by RMBI then 9.10.24 Employed by Sussex Partnership foundation Trust, NHS Bank Team |
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|
Philip McDonald |
Parent |
17.4.23 – 16.4.27 |
Self-employed garden designer Governor at Westdene Primary School |
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|
John McKee |
Headteacher |
01.09.16 – |
Headteacher, Patcham High School Sept 23 Trustee Care for Veterans Worthing |
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|
Andrew Saunders . |
Local Authority Chair of Governors |
14.10.24 – 13.10.28 (21.9.11) |
1. Actuary. Employed by Swiss RE insurance company
|
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|
Christopher Street |
Co-opted |
13.7.21 – 12.7.25 |
Solicitor – Civil Aviation Authority then 9.10.24 Employed by Willis Lease Finance Corporation |
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|
Rohaise Flint |
Associate Member |
8.5.25 – 7.5.26 (Co-opted 11.7.23 – 8.5.25) |
Employed by Burgess Hill School for Girls, 9/94 West Sussex and Independent Schools Inspectorate UK |
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|
Carol Theobald |
Associate Member |
13.7.21 – 12.7.25 |
Local Councillor |
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Governors who were on the board in the last year that have since ended their term |
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|
Julia Cason |
Co-opted |
11.5.23 – 29.4.25 |
Teacher |
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Last Updated October 2024
All members of the Governing Board at Patcham High School work with senior leaders in the strategic development of the school and in raising standards of achievement. They have numerous statutory duties and follow guidance from The Department for Education.
Governors must both support and challenge the headteacher, so need to gain an understanding of the school’s overall performance in order to explain its decisions and actions. They do this by attending regular meetings, carrying out school visits and meeting with senior leaders. They also attend training in order to keep up to date with the requirements of their role. Although there are different categories of governor, they are all equal, work as a team and make collective decisions. All abide by the governing board code of conduct.
Patcham High School’s governing board is comprised of 10 co-opted governors (appointed by the governing board) and one local authority governor (appointed by the governing board and approved by local authority); 4 parent governors (elected by parents/carers) and one staff governor (elected by the staff) and a headteacher staff governor. There are also associate members, who are appointed by the board to add to its skills and knowledge. They do not have a vote.
Minutes of the Full Governing Board (FGB) and committee meetings (except confidential minutes) including the attendance of governors, will be available below once they have been approved. Papers considered, if not confidential may be available by request to the clerk to governors.
Governor Interests are declared annually and at each meeting. Governors with a conflict of interest on an item withdraw from discussion and are not entitled to vote.
Whilst there are no vacancies at the moment, these do occur from time to time and we are always looking for members to diversify our team. If you might be interested, please direct any enquiries to
All governors are expected to be ‘critical friends’ to the school, supporting the whole school team and, when appropriate asking questions. Broadly the work involves the following:
- Attending full Governing Board meetings.
- Joining a committee and attend its termly meetings.
- Exploring and forging links with the school – for instance with school improvement areas, subject areas or a particular aspect of school life for example, Health and Safety.
- Building links with other governing boards – for instance with our feeder primary schools and other Secondary Schools across Brighton and Hove.
- Occasionally attend school events.
- At least once a year, attend one of the ‘governor’ days held each term. They also commit to undertake training (which is free) as necessary to carry out their role.
Most of the work of the Governing Board is delegated to committees that usually meet termly. There are three main committees and there is provision for a pay committee to meet annually under the terms of the Teachers’ Pay Policy.
|
Chair of governors |
Andrew Saunders |
|
Vice Chair of governors (Joint) |
Hazel Gould and Andy Fisher |
|
Chair of Finance, Health and Safety Committee |
Marc Ducroquet-Lavin |
|
Chair of Behaviour, Attitude and Personal Development Committee (Joint Chairs) |
Christine Bennett |
|
Chair of Quality of Education Committee |
Hazel Gould |
Finance Health and Safety Committee
The committee’s objectives include: ensuring fair and effective performance management and the effectiveness of leadership and management section of the school development plan; overseeing the financial performance of the school, making sure its money is well spent and ensuring financial probity. Due to the significant expenditure involved in approving the budget, business for this Committee in May is undertaken by the full board.
Behaviour, Attitude and Personal Development
The committee’s objectives are to: improve attendance and behaviour for learning for all groups and strive for excellence; engage with stakeholders and remove barriers to learning; improve personal development and support delivery of these sections in the school development plan.
Quality of Education Committee
This committee oversees the implementation of the National Curriculum as prepared by the Headteacher to ensure the school performs its responsibilities to have a clear and ambitious vision for providing high-quality inclusive education to all students at the school. It should be realised through strong, shared values, policies and practice.