Local Governing Board

Overview

Following our successful conversion to an academy, under The White Horse Federation, the governors have set the following objectives in line with the school improvement plan for 2018-2019:

• Monitor standards and the quality of teaching and learning, offering support and challenge where needed.
• Support and challenge the SLT so that their actions are effective.
• Monitor the impact of introduction of values-based education on learning and behaviour.
• Assess the impact of improvements to the learning environment and monitor if they reflect high expectations around school.

Register of Interests 2022-23 & Attendance 2021-22

Governors have been appointed by the board of trustees and will serve a four-year term.

Previous Governors (resigned in the last 12 months):

Emily Taylor - Left 31/08/22 (attended 4 of 6 meetings)

Katie King - Left 11/04/2022 (attended 4 of 6 meetings)

Jo Rowell - Left 08/06/2022 (attended 3 of 5 meetings)

Minutes of meetings are available from the school office upon request.

Dr. Moira Laffey – Chair of Governors

Champion – Safeguarding, Maths & English

Moira has a PhD in Chemistry. After a few years working as a civil servant, she saw the light and retrained to teach. She initially specialised in supporting adults with difficulties with maths; then by a happy accident embarked on a career in independent prep schools. Over the years she held posts as teacher, head of department, deputy head, and head.

In 2016 Moira became a governor of a primary school in Wiltshire and as chair in 2018 took the school through the due diligence to join TWHF in March 2018. She has particular interests in the teaching of maths and the opportunities for governors to network and obtain training. She is delighted to be the representative of TWHF local governing bodies on The Trust Board and will work to support good communication.

Trevor Wood - Co-opted School Governor

Champion - Premiums

Trevor has served all of his adult life in the British Army. He has enjoyed a varied career serving and living in several areas in the UK and abroad. He has had the privilege of serving a full career as a soldier and also a commissioned officer, with the latter holding down various staff roles predominately in the trade and collective training area and has no plan to retire just yet.

In October 2020, Trevor became a co-opted school governor of Larkhill Primary School responsible for assisting the school with their pupil premiums’ strategies and any other related premiums such a service families and sports premiums. His aim is to ensure our children are supported both pastorally and academically in the best possible way to help attainment and of course make their learning and growing experience as positive as possible.

Trevor along with his wife have now settled down in a sleepy village in Wiltshire, they have one son who has flown the nest and works in finance sector in London. To bridge that gap, they now have a mad little Miniature Schnauzer puppy, who happens to be much better behaved than their boy😊.

Trevor enjoys downhill skiing, cycling and when it starts driving his TVR sport’s car at weekends.

Fiona Jenkins

I am Fiona Jenkins and I am currently teaching y5 at Larkhill. I have 3 daughters; my youngest is in Y2 at Larkhill. Before moving back to Wiltshire we were lucky enough to experience life in Germany, Cyprus and Kenya. Outside of school, I love to play netball; going on bike rides, and lovely scenic dog walks although my English bulldog isn’t as keen!

I have been teaching for just over 10 years and have taught in a variety of different schools in difference countries and can honestly say I have never been anywhere quite like Larkhill!

I enjoy working at Larkhill and being part of this incredible community: we are very lucky to have such a dedicated team who are continuously striving to achieve the best for all children.

Kerry Ball

Kerry Ball is a support staff governor for Larkhill Primary School. She is a proud military wife and a super proud mother to two girls. She enjoy reading, crafting and being outdoors. Kerry has worked at Larkhill Primary School since September 2019 in varying roles and with a variety of responsibilities; she is currently working as a TA in our Reception Class which is giving her fresh challenges to work with! Before moving to Larkhill Kerry was a TA in a school in Germany, where she lived for 7 years, and so she has a combined total of 7 years of experience working within a school environment. Kerry is proud to be part of such a vibrant and happy school, where the children are absolutely the number one priority. Kerry became a staff governor to become more involved in the life of the school, as well as to represent her colleagues. She feels very lucky to be part of such a hard-working and dedicated team and look forward to seeing Larkhill Primary School progress even more as time goes on.

The White Horse Federation Local Board of Governance

Each school has its own local governing body (LGB). The chair of each LGB will also sit on a collective group of similar chairs, from which one representative will be elected and then co-opted onto the executive board. This process will be repeated every two years, thus affording new chairs the opportunity to be similarly elected.

TWHF executive board has clearly identified the areas of responsibility that they delegate to the LGBs. Although not in any way legally responsible, and not itself accountable for the statutory functions, the LGB has an important role to play in assisting the school to operate effectively in line with the wishes of TWHF executive board as communicated to the LGB.

To learn more, visit The White Horse Federation website.