Governors
Welcome to Homer First School and Nursery Governors
What do school governors do?
The role of the governing board is to promote high standards of achievement to ensure every child at the school fulfils his/her potential. It does this by:
- Setting the strategic direction of the school and contribute to the school’s improvement plan
- Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure it is money well spent.
- Monitoring that the school fulfils its statutory obligations, e.g. in terms of safeguarding, special educational needs, equality and diversity, financial reporting, health & safety etc.
- Support the provision for a rounded education for all pupils.
Governors bring a broad range of knowledge and professional expertise, as well as differing experience and perspective, to the table to enable the board to make well-researched and reasoned decisions in the best interests of the pupils at the school. There are no specific qualifications or experience required to be a school governor, however, it is important that governors understand the importance of the governance role and are therefore are committed to preparing well for meetings and attending governor trainings to support their personal development. Meetings are held regularly and are supported by the Clerk to Governors.
Vision Statement
Our vision is to provide a safe, caring and stimulating environment where each child will recognise and achieve their full potential, so that they can make their best contribution to society.
The Governing Body Instrument of Governance to consist of:
3 x Parent Governors | 1 x Local Authority Governor (LA) | 2 x Staff Governors | 2 x Co-Opted Governors |
Governors are normally appointed for a 4-year term. Details of all the Governors and their appointed dates are detailed in table below. Each Governor takes a lead on an area of the school development and may also be responsible to evaluate progress of subject development areas. | |||
Meeting | When and Time | Who attends | Documents for meetings are sent out 7 days in advance. |
Governor meetings are held on Friday mornings starting at 08.15. The rotation is Finance, Curriculum and Full Governing Body. There are between 12 and 14 meetings per academic school year. | |||
In addition, Associate Governors can be appointed by the governing board for between one and four years and may bring with them specific areas of expertise and experience. Associate Governors have no voting rights on Full Governing Body meetings, but may vote on any committees they are appointed to. If you feel that you would like to contribute in this way, then please contact the Clerk to Governors for more details.
Name |
| Governor representation | Term | Category |
Ashley Cox-Higgins ( Chair) | ACH | Finance | 28.11.2022 – 28.11.2026 | Co-Opted Governor |
Matt Bowley (Vice Chair) | BM | Finance | 28.4.2023 – 28.4.2027 | Co-Opted Governor |
Clive Haines | CH | Safeguarding | 14.9.2015 – 14.9.2028 | LA Governor |
Vicky Brand | VB | Curriculum | 20.4.2012 – 31.7.2029 | Co-Opted Governor |
Gurveer Padam | GP | Science & Computing | 07.02.2025 – 07.2 2029 | Parent Governor |
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Gemma Sharma | GS | Headteacher | 20.4.2012 - ongoing | Ex-officio as Headteacher |
Elaine Young | EY | Deputy Head | 13.9.2024 – 13.9.2028 | Co-Opted Governor |
Pauline Clark | PC | Staff Governor | 1.5.2025 – 1.5.2029 | Elected by staff |
Karin Taylor |
| Clerk | 01.01.2019 - ongoing | Clerk |
1 governor expressed a Business Interest | ||||
Governors who have moved on
| Name | Category | Start date | Leaving date |
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| Dave Topping | Parent Governor (Elected) | 6.7.2021 | 31.7.2024 |
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| Sam Lawrence | Staff Governor | 18.6.2021 | 18.6.2025 |
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| Elly Wrighton | Parent Governor (Elected) | 24.11.2024 | 18.1.2024 |
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Our Governors
Ashley Cox-Higgins | Chair of Governors with responsibility for SEND & PP |
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I have been a Parent Governor since November 2018. I am a Father of two children; one in Reception and another in Year 4. I have always had an interest in wanting to put something back into the community and I am excited to work with the team at Homer First School. I believe that all children should have the opportunity to enjoy and thrive in an environment that will enable them to achieve their full potential. As a Parent Governor, I hope to support the School in providing our children with the very best all round educational experience. Interests Golf, tennis and cycling in Windsor Great Park with the family.
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Matt Bowley
| Vice Chair of Governors with responsibility for Finance, English & Health & Safety |
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My daughter was in KS2 at Homer, having joined in Reception and has found the school a positive environment which has helped her learn and develop. I believe that all children should receive the best possible education, in surroundings which support all individuals and abilities. As a parent governor, I am committed to working collaboratively with other governors and staff to make decisions that are in the best interest of the school and its students.
Outside of work I enjoy being in the outdoors, visiting the countryside and parks with my family, or cycling around the local area.
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Clive Haines
| Responsibility for Safeguarding | |
I have been a governor for many years within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. I also hold the position of Deputy Director of Education within RBWM. I currently train all governors in maintained schools and Academies and also have a wide skill set that enables me to hold the school to account for the pupils it serves. I am is passionate about all children being able to learn in a safe environment and being able to ensure they have all the tools they need to develop in their education.
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Vicky Brand
| Responsibility for Curriculum & Maths | |
I have been involved in Education for the past thirty years, more recently at Homer First School. Following my retirement, I am thrilled to still be involved as a Governor. Homer is a wonderful school with a strong nurturing and kind ethos due to the community of staff, parents and the fantastic children. I look forward to supporting the continuing growth and development of the education whilst maintaining the special qualities at Homer.
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Gurveer Padam
| Responsibility for Science and Computing |
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I’m very proud to be part of the school community as a Parent Governor. I work as an Engineering Account Manager, where I manage projects, budgets, and customer relationships—skills that I hope will help me support the school’s ongoing development. Alongside this, I run my own Events Production business, Audio Visuals, DJs, and Live Acts which has taught me a lot about organisation, creativity, and teamwork. I’m also involved in various charity projects, which has given me a strong sense of how important community and collaboration are in helping young people reach their potential. I’m passionate about contributing to the school’s success and ensuring that every child has the best possible experience during their time here.
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Pauline Clark
| Staff Governor |
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I am the Opal Class teacher and have been part of the Homer community for eight years, teaching across EYFS, KS1, and KS2. I enjoy teaching all subjects, but my favourites are Art and DT, as I love exploring creative techniques and experimenting with different materials. I have two daughters who now attend Dedworth Middle, and they still love coming back to visit Homer as much as I enjoy working here. Outside of school, I spend my time with family, crafting, and reading—either on my own or with my children. I became the staff governor earlier this year and am committed to representing the views of my colleagues and supporting the school’s vision and values.
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Mrs G. Sharma – Headteacher is on the governing board and attend meetings Mrs E. Young – Deputy Head is on the governing board and attend meetings |
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If you would like any further information or would like to discussion becoming a governor please contact Mrs K. Taylor, Clerk to Governors karin.taylor@homerfirstschool.co.uk