Welcome to our Governors' section. Here you can find information on the role of the Governing Board, who the governors are and find minutes of previous meetings. 

The Governing Board consists of 11 individuals who are committed to improving the education of all pupils at Langdale Primary School.

School governors are drawn from different parts of the community and can be parents and staff or from the Local Authority, the community and other groups. This helps ensure the governing body has sufficient diversity of skills, views and experience but does not mean governors of a particular category represent that group on the governing body. For example, parent governors do not represent the parents at the school and do not report back to them.

Governors are the strategic leaders of our school and have a vital role to play in making sure every child gets the best possible education. For maintained schools such as ours, this is reflected in the law, which states that the purpose of maintained school governing bodies is to ‘conduct the school with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement at the school’.

In all types of schools, governing bodies should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
2. Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

When a school is inspected by Ofsted, its governing body will be required to show evidence that governors conform with their three core functions.

As part of these three core functions governors have to:

• Ask the right questions
• Be aware of the importance of objective data and their sources
• Set policies, targets and priorities for achieving those objectives
• Monitor performance and progress towards those objectives
• Review achievements against the set aims and objectives
• Enable better governance through training, review and planning

Another aspect of the governors role has traditionally been referred to as being a ‘critical friend’ of the school, whereby, in addition to the duties laid out above, governors can and should also:

• Offer support
• Provide constructive advice
• Act as a sounding board - for the headteacher’s ideas
• Give a second opinion on proposals - which includes asking questions and challenging assumptions
• Help in arriving at the best solution - to further the best interests of the school

If you have any queries about the school please contact the Headteacher in the first instance, but the governors will be keen to hear from any parents who wish to provide feedback. You can contact the governors by email at chair@langdale.staffs.sch.uk

Meet the team:

Jenny Herbert: (Chair) Foundation Governor - serving until September 2023

Jenny sits on the Staffing Committee and is responsible for governor training and development.

Business or pecuniary interests: Employee of Staffordshire County Council

Membership of other school governing boards: None

Caroline Brunt: (Vice Chair) Parent Governor - serving until November 2022

I have two children within our wonderful school and see the fantastic potential this school has to build on the improvements of recent years.  I am a Mortgage Broker with too many years' experience to mention and love working with people to realise their dreams.  I really appreciate the opportunity of helping inspire children to achieve their dreams too.  I meet with various local businesses on a regular basis and feel I can use my experience and contacts to enhance the schools' ambitious plans.

Business or pecuniary interests: None

Membership of other school governing boards: None

Lucielle Cartwright: Parent Governor - serving until September 2022

Lucielle is the link governor for Inclusion and is a member of the Pay Committee

Business or pecuniary interests: None

Membership of other school governing boards: None

Lisa Probert: Foundation Governor -  Serving until September 2022

Lisa is our community engagement link governor and is a member of the Staffing committee. 

Business or pecuniary interests: None

Membership of other school governing boards: None

Rosie Howells: Co-opted Governor - serving until July 2022

Rosie is the EYFS link Governor and is a member of the Pay committee.

Business or pecuniary interests: Owns a local childcare provision

Membership of other school governing boards: None

Sophie Probert: Staff Governor - serving until June 2023

Sophie supports the teaching and learning governor in their role and attends on behalf of the staff. I have worked at Langdale for the last 6years. I am currently teaching in Year 1 and lead Art. I thoroughly enjoy my job and have a passion for teaching and supporting children in their learning journey. 

Mrs Cartwright: Headteacher

​Mrs Cartwright automatically became a member of the Governing Board when she became Headteacher in November 2019, and will remain a member throughout her employment in this role. She is also a member of the Staffing Committee

​Business or pecuniary interests: Employee of Langdale Primary School

Membership of other school governing boards: None

Associate members:

​When the Governing Board have a skills gap or require additional capacity they are able to appoint Associate Members to help fulfill their duties. Associate Members attend meetings and receive all paperwork but do not have voting rights. Our current Associate Members are:

Mrs Nadin: Deputy Headteacher