Governing Board - Patcham High School

Name			Category and any Position of Responsibility		Term of Office (original appointment)	Interests Declared* (with date if not at appointment)
Lauren Atallah			Co-opted		22.9.22 – 21.9.26	None
Christine Bennett			Co-opted Chair of BAPD Committee		22.9.22 – 21.9.26	July 2023 Product Manager The Economist
Sarah Box			Co-opted		8.5.25 – 7.5.29 (27.5.21 parent)	Employed by Chichester College Group (9/22)
Marc Ducroquet-Lavin			Co-opted Chair of QE Committee		15.7.24 – 14.7.28 (15.7.20)	9/94 Employed by DEFRA as Chief of Staff
Melinda English			Co-opted		14.10.24 – 13.10.28	Headteacher Brighton Girls GDST
Andy Fisher			Co-opted Joint Vice Chair		22.9.22 – 21.9.26	Education policy Maker, employed by the DfE
Hazel Gould			Co-opted 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
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
Greg Johnson			Parent		12.5.22 – 11.5.26	Self-employed Barrister, Westgate Chambers, Btn
Catherine Jordan			Staff		21.1.24 – 20.1.28	Learning Mentor Patcham High School
Philip McDonald			Parent Chair of FHS Committee		17.4.23 – 16.4.27	Self-employed garden designer Governor at Westdene Primary School
John McKee			Headteacher		01.09.16 –	Headteacher, Patcham High School Sept 23 Trustee Care for Veterans Worthing
Andrew Saunders .			Local Authority Chair of Governors		14.10.24 – 13.10.28 (21.9.11)	1. Actuary. Employed by Swiss RE insurance company
Christopher Street			Co-opted		13.7.25 – 12.7.29 (13.7.21)	Solicitor – Civil Aviation Authority then 9.10.24 Employed by Willis Lease Finance Corporation
Carol Theobald			Associate Member		13.7.21 – 12.7.25	Local Councillor
Vacancies	One co-opted Two parent governors - nominations will be sought from the parental body early in the autumn term 2025/26
Other members of the board during the last year:
Julia Cason		Co-opted		11.5.23 – 29.4.25		Teacher
Isa Kwabe		Co-opted		4.7.24 - 1.7.25		Employed by RMBI then 9.10.24 Employed by Sussex Partnership foundation Trust, NHS Bank Team
Rohaise Flint		Associate member		8.5.25 – 7.7.25 (Co-opted 11.7.23 – 8.5.25)		Employed by Burgess Hill School for Girls, 9/94 West Sussex and Independent Schools Inspectorate UK

Last Updated August 2025

*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.

Diversity and our Governing Board at Patcham High School

At Patcham High School, we are committed to ensuring that our governing body reflects the varied backgrounds and experiences of the community we serve and is an important part of building our inclusive school.

To support this, we gather diversity information from our governors. This helps us to shape recruitment practices and ensures that our governing board benefits from a wide range of skills, perspectives, and lived experiences. Such variety strengthens decision-making and encourages thoughtful discussion, enabling us to remain true to our values and to serve every member of our school community.

Because our governing body is relatively small, and in line with our duty to protect personal information, we do not publish this diversity data publicly. Doing so could identify individuals, and it is our responsibility to protect their privacy.

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.

The constitution of Patcham High School’s governing board allows for: 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 (who can choose whether to take up the position). Associate members have been appointed the board to add to its skills and knowledge but do not have voting rights.

You can contact the Chair of Governors, Andrew Saunders by email

asaunders@PatchamHigh.org.uk

Vacancies

Parent Governor: Deadline 27th November 2025 at 3:30pm

We are seeking three parent governors to join the governing board which supports the strategic direction of the school – two to fill current vacancies and another to start from 19.5.26. This is an important and exciting opportunity for someone who can contribute fresh and stimulating ideas, while supporting our school’s ethos. You could gain valuable experiences that will have an impact on your personal and professional life, whilst meeting new people, developing teamwork skills and learning more about how the school works. Importantly, you will make a real difference to the development of the children in the school.

For further information:

Parent-Governor-Nomination-letter.pdf

Parent-Governor-Nomination-Form-Nov-25.docx

Co-Opted Governor: Former Student/Alumni

This is a fantastic opportunity for a former student of Patcham High to join our Governing Board. We are looking for an enthusiastic, dynamic and committed person to join our successful and forward-thinking Governing Board who all share a commitment to help the school.

For further information:

Governor-Alumi-Former-Student.pdf

Expression-of-Interest-Proforma-PHS.docx

Being a school governor

Time commitment

The term for the elected parent governor is four years. All governors are expected to attend the full governing board (FGB) meetings (currently four per year) and. The FGB meetings run from 5.30 – 7.30 pm on dates that suit the current membership. You will also be a member of at least one of our three committees and they usually meet termlyfrom 5.00 – 7.00pm. Governors also spend time reading papers and preparing questions prior to meetings, as well as carrying out school visits (usually two or three a year), attending training and being members of working groups or panels as required. On average, you should expect to spend between 10 and 20 days during the school year on duties, depending on your responsibilities. More information about our governing board is on the website.

Training

You will be expected to complete the Governor Induction Programme including training provided by Brighton & Hove City Council. This takes approximately five hours and includes an online welcome session, a workbook to carry out at your own pace and a face-to-face or online plenary where you can meet other new governors. The programme is offered several times throughout the year, with daytime and evening sessions available. After Induction, we encourage attendance at other training courses as needed, and there are eLearning modules you can undertake in your own time.

The governing board

Our governing board is made up of four parent governors, one staff governor, the headteacher, one local authority governor and nine co-opted governors. The core functions of the governing board include ensuring:

that the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school are clearly defined
that the headteacher performs their responsibilities for the educational performance of the school
the sound, proper and effective use of the school’s financial resources

Department for Education: Maintained schools governance guide

Parent governors

As a parent governor, you will bring the voice of a parent to the governing board. You are not elected to represent all the parents in the school. There are other ways for parents to make their views known. In governing board meetings, you will report on issues that may be affecting parents but you do not have to adopt these as your own opinions when you vote, as you must ultimately decide on what is right for the school after listening to the views of all governors.

Code of conduct

On appointment, you will sign a code of conduct to show you are clear about your roles and responsibilities as a governor, and how to conduct yourself when carrying out duties. By signing this, you will also agree to adhere to the Nolan principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

Most of the work of the governing board is delegated to three main committees that usually meet termly. There is also provision under the Teachers' Pay Policy for a Pay Committee. No powers have been delegated to any individual governor.

Chair of Governors	Andrew Saunders
Vice Chairs of Governors	Hazel Gould and Andy Fisher
Chair of Finance, Health and Safety Committee	Philip McDonald
Chair of Behaviour, Attitude and Personal Development Committee	Christine Bennett
Chair of Quality of Education Committee	Marc Ducroquet-Lavin

Finance Health and Safety Committee

The committee’s terms of reference 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 terms of reference include: 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.

Minutes of the full governing board (FGB) and committee meetings, which include the attendance of governors, will be available below once they have been approved unless they are confidential. Papers considered, if not confidential, may be available by request to the Clerk to Governors at jjohnson@patchamhigh.org.uk.

Meetings scheduled for 2025/26 are:

Full board: 9th October 2025; 22nd January 2026; 7th May 2026 and 7th July 2026.

Behaviour Attitudes and Personal Development Committee: 8th December 2025; 9th March 2026 and 8th June 2026.

Finance Health and Safety Committee: 10th November 2025 and 23rd February 2026.

Quality of Education Committee: 21st October 2025; 26th March 2026 and 4th June 2026.

Meetings 2024/25:

Full board: 9th October 2024; 23rd January 2025; 8th May 2025 and 7th July 2025.

BAPD Committee: 5th December 2024 and 9th June 2025.

FHS Committee: 24th October 2024 and 3rd March 2025.

QE Committee: 13th November 2024; 27th March 2025 and 30th June 2025.

Meetings 2023/24

Full board: 19th September 2023; 18th January 2024; 29th April 2024 (Confidential); 9th May 2024 and 9th July 2024.

BAPD Committee: 14th December 2023; 4th March 2024 and 6th June 2024.

FHS Committee: 15th November 2023 and 22nd February 2024.

QE Committee: 14th November 2023 and 6th March 2024.

Meetings 2022/23:

Full board: 22nd September 2022; 19th January 2023; 11th May 2023 and 11th July 2023.

BAPD Committee: 29th November 2022 and 8th June 2023.

FHS Committee: 14th November 2022 and22nd February 2023.

QE Committee: 7th November 2022; 21st February 2023 and 12th June 2023.