Who are the Governors?

The Governing Board is made up of 10 volunteers, drawn from different parts of the school community, to ensure that a sufficient diversity of views and experience is represented:

• Parent governors are selected by election and are drawn from parents and carers of pupils at the school.
• Staff governors are selected by election from teaching and support staff paid to work at the school.
• Local Authority governors are appointed by the governing body, following an application to become a school governor to the LA.
• Co-opted governors are appointed by the governing body because they have particular skills or experience.

Apart from the Head Teacher who will be a governor for as long as they are at the school, all other governors serve for a term of four years. A governor may serve for more than one term.

All of our volunteer governors are listed below. 

• Kate Watkins
  Chair of Governors & Safeguarding Link Governor, Personal Development and Wellbeing Link Governor
  Kate Watkins

  I joined the Governing Body in October 2018. I used to be a teacher and SENDCo in a large Secondary School, and currently work part-time as an Operations Manager for Churchcentral. I have two young children; my daughter is currently in Key Stage 2 at the Meadows, and my son started reception in September 2021. I became a governor to support the Meadows in ensuring all pupils enjoy school and reach their full potential.

  As Chair of Governors I am responsible for ensuring the Governing Body functions well as a team, and that we challenge, support and contribute to the strategic leadership of the school.

• Claire Craddock
  Maths Link Governor, Sports Premium Link Governor
  Claire Craddock

  I have been on the Governing Body since 2014, initially as a parent governor, and then as a community governor. I am a Senior Leader in another primary school in the city, and have 2 children at Secondary school. I love being a governor because it gives me an opportunity to help shape the strategic direction of The Meadows and work to enable all children to achieve and succeed.

• James Muscat-Sharp
  Pupil Premium Link Governor
  James Muscat-Sharp

  I joined the Board as a co-opted governor in early 2023 and am excited to share my passion for education. I believe that every child deserves access to high-quality education. I have over a decade of experience in strategy and innovation roles at the University of Birmingham, which has helped me to develop skills and knowledge in areas such as finance, risk management, and data analysis. I am committed to using this experience to support the school to achieve its vision.

  I love to spend my free time cooking, watching films and visiting new places.

• Charlotte Dunbar
  Finance Link Governor, Health and Safety Link Governor
  Charlotte Dunbar

  I became a governor in October 2023, after my daughter started in reception in September 2023. I have an interest in finance, and experience in retail, and in my spare time I love dancing. I wanted to become a governor because I felt that I could use my finance skills to help the school, and I believe that no matter their circumstances each child should receive quality education to give them the start they deserve for a bright future and wanted to support this.

• Mia Edwards
  Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Link Governor, Stakeholder Engagement Link Governor
  Mia Edwards

  I am a member of the local community, joining the Governing Board in late 2023.

  I have over six years' experience in Social Housing and am currently a Senior Project Manager at Sanctuary, a large Social Housing provider throughout England and Scotland.

  During my career, I have continuously strived to ensure people live in safe, comfortable homes, within welcoming communities and am particularly focused on assisting those who find themselves within Digital Poverty, aiming for total Digital Inclusion.

  Becoming a governor allows me to apply my knowledge within the Social Housing sector to support the strategic leadership of The Meadows and in turn positively contribute to my local community

• Ian McGuff
  English Link Governor, EYFS and Early Reading Link Governor
  Ian McGuff

  During my career I worked in children’s social care, teaching, school inspection and local government. I am now retired from full time employment. My daughter attended the Meadows, and I was a parent governor at the school during the 1990s. I believe that the role of school governors is to both support and challenge the professional staff of the school. By acting as a critical friend, and by drawing upon my experience of working with young people, I hope to help the Meadows achieve its aims and objectives. I want to see our wider community thrive and our pupils be given the best possible educational start in life. Working in, and with schools, is a delight because all children have so much potential and helping them realise it is a privilege and a pleasure.

• Angela Clewer
  Training and Skills Link Governor
  Angela Clewer

  I am a staff governor, teaching in KS2. I have been a teacher for over twenty years, and have been employed at The Meadows since 2019. I love working at The Meadows and was happy to become part of the governing body this year, to be able to help take the school from strength to strength. My role as skills and training governor is to ensure every governor develops the skills they need to be effective and make an active and valuable contribution to the work of the GB.

  I live locally with my husband, daughter, dog and cat. Outside of teaching, I enjoy making my own jewellery and have a passion for anything artistic and creative.

Previous Governors:

Rebecca Martin - Staff Governor  Term Ended: 02/11/2021

Cheryl Goode - Cheryl served the Governing Body as clerk for a number of years, until she sadly passed away in October 2021. She was incredibly hardworking and supportive and her work enabled the Governing Body to fulfil its role.