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: Mrs Helen Dawes
• Vice-Chair of Governors:  Mrs Lisa Gardner

• Two parent governors: Ms Helen Della Nave and Mr Alastair McKenzie-Kerr
• One staff governor: Miss Sarah Speed
• One headteacher governor: Mr Richard Riordan
• Ten co-opted governors: Mrs Angela Cook, Mrs Helen Dawes, Mrs Janet Fletcher, Mrs Lisa Gardner, Mr Tim Howes, Mrs Kimberley Jones, Mr Philip Rowe, Mr James Shepherd and Mrs Denise Tween (and one vacancy)

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.  Our governing body no longer includes a local authority governor now that our school is part of the LSP.

Governor Committees

The Governing Body committees are

• Finance Committee: responsible for financial matters, and Chaired by Mr James Shepherd
• Admissions Committee: responsible for pupil admissions, and Chaired by Mrs Denise Tween
• Pay Committee: responsible for staff pay, and Chaired by Mr James Shepherd

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 2019. 

• Mr Ky Capel

Staff Governor: 3 December 2015 – 2 December 2019

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

2019/20 Meeting Attendance: 0%

• Mrs Angela Cook

Co-opted Governor: 1 January 2015 – 31 December 2018 and 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2022

Community Governor: 4 September 2013 – 31 December 2014

Business & Pecuniary Interests: none

2019/20 Meeting Attendance: 100% 

• Mrs 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; parent of children attending Portishead Primary School

2019/20 Meeting Attendance: 89%  

• Ms Helen Della Nave

Parent Governor: 27 June 2018 – 26 June 2022

Business & Pecuniary Interests:  Open Source Science Manager at We The Curious; parent of children attending Portishead Primary School

2019/20 Meeting Attendance: 78%  

• Mrs Janet Fletcher

Co-opted Governor: 1 September 2015 – 31 August 2019 and 1 September 2019 – 31 August 2023

Staff Governor: 30 September 2014 – 31 August 2014

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

2019/20 Meeting Attendance: 100% 

• Mrs Lisa Gardner

Co-opted Governor: 1 January 2015 – 31 December 2018 and 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2022

Parent Governor: 29 November 2012 – 31 December 2014

Business & Pecuniary Interests: Director, Mango Consulting Ltd

2019/20 Meeting Attendance: 100% 

• Mr Tim Howes

Co-opted Governor: 21 January 2020 - 20 January 2024

Parent Governor: 18 January 2012 – 17 January 2016 and 21 January 2016 - 20 January 2020

Business & Pecuniary Interests: Business Director, Wellsway Multi-Academy Trust; wife [Beth Howes] is a member of staff at Portishead Primary School

2019/20 Meeting Attendance: 78% 

• Mrs 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

2019/20 Meeting Attendance: 100%  

• Mr Alastair McKenzie-Kerr

Parent Governor: 22 January 2020 - 21 January 2024

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

2019/20 Meeting Attendance: 100%

• Mr Richard Riordan

Headteacher Governor: from 1 September 2012

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

2019/20 Meeting Attendance: 89% 

• Mr Philip Rowe

Co-opted Governor: 3 October 2018 – 2 October 2022

Business & Pecuniary Interests: none

2019/20 Meeting Attendance: 100% 

• Mr James Shepherd

Co-opted Governor: 7 May 2018 – 6 May 2022

Parent Governor: 7 May 2014 – 6 May 2018

Business & Pecuniary Interests: Head of Corporate Banking, HSBC; Member & Trustee, Lighthouse Schools Partnership; parent of children attending Portishead Primary School 

2019/20 Meeting Attendance: 56% 

• Miss Sarah-Jayne Speed

Staff Governor: 28 January 2020 - 27 January 2024

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

2019/20 Meeting Attendance: 100% 

• Mrs Denise Tween

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

Business & Pecuniary Interests: none

2019/20 Meeting Attendance: 60%