The Governing Body's remit is to

• set the school's vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• hold the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and
• oversee the financial performance of the school, making sure that its money is well spent

Governing Body Structure

The Governing Body structure is reviewed annually by the Local Governing Body (LGB) to ensure that it meets the demands of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership (LSP) Scheme of Delegation.

• Chair of Governors: Helen Dawes
• Vice-Chair of Governors: Nathan Gee

• Two parent governors: James Gooding (and one vacancy)
• One staff governor: Sue Hawkes
• One headteacher governor: Richard Riordan [until 31 August 2023]; Lucy Sargent [from 1 September 2023]
• Ten co-opted governors: Jacob Bacon, Adam Bishop, Helen Dawes, Nathan Gee, Kimberley Jones, and Tim Perkin (and four vacancies)

Appointment of Governors

• Co-opted Governors are appointed by the Governing Body (as were Community Governors, prior to the discontinuation of this category on 31 December 2014)  [The appointment of co-opted governors is ratified by the LSP Trust Board]
• Parent Governors are elected by the school's parents and carers
• Staff Governors are elected by school staff
• Local Authority Governors were recommended by North Somerset Council, and appointed by the Governing Body.  Now that our school is part of the LSP, its governing body no longer includes a local authority governor.

Governor Committees

The Governing Body committees are

• Finance Committee: responsible for financial matters, and Chaired by Helen Dawes
• Admissions Committee: responsible for pupil admissions
• Pay Committee: responsible for staff pay, and Chaired by Helen Dawes

Information About Our Governors

The DfE requires all schools to publish some specific information about its governors.  This is given below for our current governors, and those who completed their terms of office or resigned since 1 September 2022. 

• Jacob Bacon

Co-opted Governor: 6 December 2022 - 5 December 2026

Business & Pecuniary Interests: none

2022/2023 Meeting Attendance: 83%

• Adam Bishop

Co-opted Governor: 12 July 2022 - 11 July 2026

Business & Pecuniary Interests: none

2022/2023 Meeting Attendance: 86%

• Helen Dawes

Co-opted Governor: 30 March 2016 – 29 March 2020 and 30 March 2020 - 29 March 2024

Business & Pecuniary Interests:  Programme Manager, Lloyds Banking Group; husband [David Slack] is Manager, High Impact Families Team, North Somerset Council

2022/2023 Meeting Attendance: 100%  

• Lisa Gardner

Co-opted Governor: 1 January 2015 – 31 December 2018 and 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2022  (end of term)

Parent Governor: 29 November 2012 – 31 December 2014

Business & Pecuniary Interests: Director, Mango Consulting Ltd

2022/2023 Meeting Attendance: 50% 

• Nathan Gee

Co-opted Governor: 9 December 2020 - 8 December 2024

Business & Pecuniary Interests: none

2022/2023 Meeting Attendance: 100%

• James Gooding

Parent Governor: 1 August 2022 - 31 July 2026

Business & Pecuniary Interests: parent of children attending Portishead Primary School

2022/2023 Meeting Attendance: 83%

• Sue Hawkes

Staff Governor: 5 October 2022 - 4 October 2026

Business & Pecuniary Interests: member of staff at Portishead Primary School

2022/2023 Meeting Attendance: 83%

• Kimberley Jones

Co-opted Governor: 1 September 2016 – 31 August 2020 and 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2024

Local Authority Governor: 24 July 2014 – 31 August 2016

Business & Pecuniary Interests: Manager, Portishead Youth Centre

2022/2023 Meeting Attendance: 100%

• Alastair McKenzie-Kerr

Parent Governor: 22 January 2020 - 21 July 2023  [resigned]

Business & Pecuniary Interests: parent of children attending Portishead Primary School

2022/2023 Meeting Attendance: 64%

• Tim Perkin

Co-opted Governor: 8 December 2021 - 7 December 2025

Business & Pecuniary Interests: parent of children attending Portishead Primary School; director of C19 Testing Network Ltd, FFT Education and Grofar Ltd

2022/2023 Meeting Attendance: 93%

• Richard Riordan

Headteacher Governor: 1 September 2012 to 31 August 2023  [resigned]

Business & Pecuniary Interests: member of staff at Portishead Primary School

2022/2023 Meeting Attendance: 75% 

• Philip Rowe

Co-opted Governor: 3 October 2018 – 2 October 2022 and 3 October 2022 - 1 February 2023  (resigned)

Business & Pecuniary Interests: none

2022/2023 Meeting Attendance: 100% 

• Lucy Sargent

Headteacher Governor: from 1 September 2023

Business & Pecuniary Interests: member of staff Portishead Primary School 

2022/2023 Meeting Attendance: not applicable

• Sarah-Jayne Speed

Staff Governor: 28 January 2020 - 16 September 2022  (resigned)

Business & Pecuniary Interests: member of staff at Portishead Primary School

2022/2023 Meeting Attendance: not applicable