Our Governors
I have been involved with Biddick Primary School since 2002, initially as a volunteer when my oldest grandchildren were pupils and then, two years later, I was invited to join the Governing Body as a community governor. In 2012, I was honoured to be elected as Chair of Governors, a position I still hold today.
I always enjoy my role, no matter how challenging. Having worked with children and families in a professional capacity for twenty-two years, it is a privilege to be able to use my expertise for the benefit of our school and our children. I appreciate being part of such a strong governing body, who work in partnership with leaders to ensure that all of our pupils have the opportunity to reach their full potential in all aspects of school life.
We are so lucky to have such a wonderful school. Visitors and parents frequently comment upon our special, family atmosphere, which you feel from the moment you walk through our door. Our caring and dedicated staff team are passionate about our children achieving their very best and welcome every opportunity to improve their practice and embrace new ideas. Finally, we are so proud of all of our children. They are hard-working, happy and polite and their achievements continue to astound us. They are a credit to our school and continually strive to live up to our school motto: BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE!
Viv Low – Chair of Governors
About the Governing Body
- Two parent governors: elected by the other parents in school;
- One Local Authority governor: appointed by the Local Authority;
- Six Co-opted governors: people from our local community appointed by our governing body;
- One staff governor: elected by our staff;
- The headteacher.
What do we do?
The role of a governor is diverse but the main responsibilities are
helping to:
- develop a vision and strategy for the school;
- oversee the financial management of the school and make sure its money is well spent;
- hold the school leadership to account to ensure that every one of our pupils receives the best possible education.
How do we do it?
At Biddick Primary School, we hold three meetings of the Full Governing Body each year. We also have committees:
- Finance, Staffing, Premises and Health & Safety (three times a year)
- Pay Review (once a year)
- Headteacher Performance Review (once a year)
- Curriculum and Standards (twice a year)
- Appeals (as required)
Some of our governors also fulfill specific roles, such as Safeguarding, SEND and some of our governors link with a specific subject or aspect of the School Improvement Plan.
Governing Body Information
*Diversity Data to be collected at next meeting.
*Chairs of committees are appointed at start of each meeting.
Name | Term of Office | Appointed by | Committees | Responsibilities | Register of interest + School Governance |
Mrs Viv Low Chair of Governors |
14.10.20 - 13.10.24 |
Governing Body |
Curriculum, First (Chair) Finance, Premises, Staff, Health and Safety (Chair) Pupil Discipline (Chair) |
Child Protection and Safeguarding Attendance Behaviour Premium Funding Filtering and Monitoring |
none |
Mrs Suzanne Dawson |
17.12.20 -16.12.24 |
Governing Body |
Curriculum (Chair) Staffing, FPSHS and First |
English | none |
Mrs Wendy Fowler | Headteacher | Governing Body | Curriculum and FPSHS | Headteacher | none |
Mrs Debbie Percival |
17.10.21 - 16.10.25 |
Staff | Curriculum and Pupil Discipline | Early Years | none |
Mr Ian Cole |
23.5.23 - 22.5.27 |
Governing Body | FPSHS |
Website Play |
none |
Mrs Sharon Jopling | 3.11.21 - 2.11.25 | Governing Body | First, Appeals | SEND | none |
Mrs Geraldine Perry | 15.7.22 - 14.7.26 | Parent Election | Curriculum | Curriculum | none |
Mr Ross Blenkinsop | 15.7.22 - 14.7.26 | Governing Body | FPSHS | Mathematics | none |
Cllr Beth Jones | 5.9.23 - 4.9.27 | Authority | Curriculum | Curriculum | Sunderland City Council and Governor at Wessington Primary School |
Mrs Jill Hoogewerf | 23.11.23 - 22.11.27 | Parent election | Curriculum | STEM | none |
Governing Body Attendance 2024/25
KEY
P - PRESENT
AA - APOLOGIES ACCEPTED
A - ABSENT WITHOUT CONSENT
NM - NOT A MEMBER OF COMMITTEE
NG - NOT A GOVERNOR AT THAT TIME
* Governors, who left in 2023/2024 Academic Year - Mrs M. Bramwell
CURRICULUM STANDARDS 18/9/24 |
FIRST 2/10/24 |
FPSHS 9/10/24 |
FGB 9/10/24 |
CURRICULUM STANDARDS 5/3/25 |
FPSHS 12/3/25 |
FGB 12/3/25 |
FPSHS 25/6/25 |
FGB 26/6/24 |
|
Mrs V. Low | P |
P |
|||||||
Mrs S. Dawson |
NM |
P |
|||||||
Mrs W. Fowler | P |
P |
|||||||
Mrs D. Percival |
P | NM | |||||||
Mr I. Cole | AA |
P |
|||||||
Mrs S. Jopling | NM | AA | |||||||
Mrs G. Perry | NM | NM | |||||||
Mr R. Blenkinsop | NM | NM | |||||||
Mrs B. Jones | AA | NM | |||||||
Mrs J. Hoogewerf | P | NM |