What is a Governing Body and what do we do?
The role of the Governing Body is to oversee the success of the school and work in partnership with the Head and teachers to agree priorities and monitor progress towards them. ALTS Governing Body is there to provide constructive support and challenge to the Head and teachers to enable them to do their jobs to the best of their ability. ALTS Governing Body also works as a decision-making body with corporate responsibility to work in the best interests of the school.
The overall role of a governing body is a strategic one. Its key functions are to:
- Set the aims and objectives for the school
- Set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
- Set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
- Monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
- Be a source of challenge and support to the Head.
Our Governing Body does not run or manage ALTS. It has no responsibility for the internal organisation or management of the school.
Who can become a Governor?
Almost anyone over 18 years of age can become a governor. There are no particular qualifications or requirements, other than a willingness to give time to the role and a capacity for working with other people. Our school governors are people who genuinely want to make a positive contribution to our children’s education. Time commitments can vary but on average we spend between 10-20 days per year on governing responsibilities – monthly meetings, training, school visits etc. A Governors term of office is normally four years.
Our aim is to have a balanced group of governors with diversity in gender, age, experience and skill sets, to ensure our support can be as effective as possible to the Head and teachers.
Parent Governors
We welcome applications for Parent Governors. For further information about this role please click on the document below.
| Title | Download |
|---|---|
| Have a Say as a Parent Governor | Download |
School Governors at Alfred Lord Tennyson School
The Governing Board comprises 15 governors;
- The Head Teacher
- 4 Elected Parent Governors
- 1 Staff Governor
- 1 Local Authority Governor
- 8 Co-Opted Governors
Roles & Responsibilities
School Governors at Alfred Lord Tennyson School
|
Position |
Name |
|---|---|
|
Chair |
Mr R Scarfe – Co-opted Governor Term of Office – 1st September 2023 to 31st August 2027 Pecuniary Interests - Personal or close family relationship - Daughter is a School Improvement Manager for West Northants Council |
|
Vice Chairperson |
Mrs L Baker – Co-opted Governor Term of Office – 1st September 2023 to 31st August 2027 Pecuniary Interests - Personal or close family relationship - Married to Mr J Baker (co-opted governor) |
|
Headteacher |
Mr K O'Connor (Headteacher) Pecuniary Interests - Personal or close family relationship - Husband works in the Finance Department for Adult Social Care at North Northamptonshire County Council |
|
LA Representative |
Mrs Shirley Crooke Term of Office – 1st April 2025 to 1st April 2029 Pecuniary Interests - |
|
Parent Governors (elected) |
Mrs Annette Dagwell Term of Office – 26th November 2023 to 25th November 2027 Pecuniary Interests - None |
|
Ms Sally Love Term of Office – 26th November 2023 to 25th November 2027 Pecuniary Interests - None |
|
| Co-opted Governors (appointed |
Mr J Baker Term of Office – 1st September 2023 to 31st August 2027 Pecuniary Interests - Personal or close family relationship - married to Mrs L Baker co-opted governor and Vice Chair of the Board of Governors |
|
Mrs B Martin Term of Office – 1st September 2023 to 31st August 2027 Pecuniary Interests - None |
|
|
Mr Andy Smith Term of Office – 1st April 2025 to 1st April 2029 Pecuniary Interests - |
|
|
Vacancy |
|
|
Staff Governor |
Mrs C Sturman Term of Office – 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2027 Pecuniary Interests - None |
|
Clerk to the Governors |
Ms L O’Sullivan |
Governor / Committees
|
Committee |
Governor Members |
|---|---|
|
Headteacher’s Performance Management |
Mr R Scarfe, Mrs L Baker, additional member to be appointed |
|
Pay Committee |
Mr J Baker, and Mrs B Martin |
Link Governors
|
Link |
Governor Members |
|---|---|
|
English |
Mrs B Martin |
|
Early Years Foundation Stage |
Mrs B Martin |
|
French |
Mrs L Baker |
|
Health & Safety |
Mr J Baker |
|
Maths |
Mr R Scarfe |
|
PE & Sports Premium |
Mr J Baker |
|
Pupil Premium |
Mr J Baker |
|
Safeguarding |
Mr R Scarfe |
|
Special Educational Needs |
Mr A Smith |
|
Connected Curriculum |
Mrs L Baker |
|
Finance |
Mr J Baker and Mrs S Crooke |
Governors Documents
Governors Who's Who
Richard Scarfe
- If you want somebody to do a good job, give them a good job to do!
- If you want children to attend (and do well at) school, make them want to go to school.
Q: How should education prepare children for the future?
Q: What world can we expect children to inhabit as they grow older?
A: Nobody knows for sure.
Lynne Baker
I am Lynne Baker, and I joined the governing Body at Alfred Street School, when I retired from Teaching in 2011. I am currently the longest serving member of the Governing Body. I have also been elected as Vice Chair in the freshly amalgamated school, which is a great honour and the start of an exciting opportunity to develop the school as a successful new Primary School.
Within my role as a governor, I have a particular interest in the development of the whole school curriculum and specifically the creative and connected approach, which gives rise to a broad and balanced curriculum, with joy , awe and wonder at the heart of it.
I believe it is most important to build up each pupil’s confidence and self-worth, which will enable them to reach their full potential in a range of skills. I firmly believe that a successful pupil is a happy and fulfilled individual and that learning new skills and feeling confident in using them is the key to a well-grounded and capable adult.
My main role is to monitor the curriculum and standards, and to ensure that improvement is made as swiftly as possible.
My background is in Art and Design, and I was a Head of Art for most of my 39 years teaching career. I was also a Head of Year in a very large Middle School in Bedfordshire. My pastoral role as a Form Teacher and Head of Year, has given me vast insight into problems and difficulties pupils may have to face, and I am keen to ensure that all our young pupils can access the curriculum and acquire the necessary skills to flourish at the next level of education.
Alfred Lord Tennyson School is very dear to my heart, and I attended the Alfred Street site as a 5-year-old until secondary level, as did all my family.
The atmosphere in the school is always welcoming and friendly, and pupils are always ready to speak to me when I go into school, particularly those who have attended my after-school Art clubs. The school now has a golden opportunity to create a diverse and thriving Primary School, in line with most of the other schools in the Town. I am excited for its future, and to have a role in its success.
Jake Baker
Brenda Martin
Hello I am Brenda Martin. I am a relatively new Governor, serving the last 9 months on Alfred Lord Tennyson School. I was then co-opted on to the Governing board in September 2023 of Alfred Lord Tennyson School.
I moved to Rushden in 2021 from Bedfordshire. I have always been interested in education and worked for over 20 years as a Teaching Assistant working with Children with various needs. I have 2 grown up children, which 1 of them has dyslexia both are in full time employment. I want to support children to be the best possible version of themselves that they can possibly be.
As a Governor I want to make sure that the children have the best access to the curriculum as possible and make their learning journey with the school enjoyable and interesting, and for them to continue to grow in every area.
I look forward to meeting parents at school events as I am keen to be involved as a volunteer as well.
Sally Love
Hello my name is Sally Love.
I am a mum of four; with two of my children having travelled through both schools. I now find myself back in the playground navigating the school runs again.
I am not native to Rushden; having grown up in North London and briefly living in St.Neots. Before settling down to raise my children in Rushden.
Becoming a mum in the playground very much turned Rushden into my home and I have now lived here for nearly twenty years. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
Having left school with fairly good grades despite the failing school I attended. It really showed me what can be achieved with hard work and effort. A value I hope I have instilled in my children and the children I have been in contact with.
My working life has always had to fit around my children and from working in various after school clubs in Rushden. I went into working in a special educational needs college locally.
This insight into special educational needs definitely aided me when my son needed an EHC plan.
I am eager to make a difference and to see children reach their potential so I hope I my position as parent governor I can do this.
Annette Dagwell
Hello. I’m Annette Dagwell. I was a Parent Governor at Tennyson Road Infant School for just under 3 years and have just recently been reinstated as a Parent Governor for ALTS.
The reason I want to be a parent governor is to ensure that the board has a parent perspective involved in some of the crucial decisions that need to be made within school.
Having a child at Alfred Lord Tennyson School myself, it matters to me that all children are getting the best education they possibly can and are being taught a diverse and enriched curriculum to prepare them for the next stage at secondary school.
Charlotte Sturman
Hi I’m Charlotte Sturman, I’m a Level 3 Teaching Assistant that has worked at Tennyson Road infants for 16 years. I also have 3 boys which all came though Tennyson Road and Alfred Street. I was delighted to be nominated for staff governor at ALTS as I’ve held this role for several years at Tennyson Road.
The hands on experience of the school environment has given me a practical understanding of the challenges and opportunities we face daily which drives my strong belief that every child deserves the best start in life.
Dr Andy Smith FRSA
I’m Dr Andy Smith a retired Senior Lecturer in Special and Inclusive Education at the University of Northampton.
I have a particular interest in the professional development of Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs), supporting teachers to become practitioner / school-based researchers and the creation of inclusive learning communities. In addition to teaching, supervision and research at the University, I have undertaken international projects in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Finland, the Czech Republic and Estonia.
I’ve been a member of the Teaching profession since starting as a young, fresh-faced probationer teacher way back in the mists of ancient time (1977). Prior to my role at the University and becoming a Governor at ALTS, I’ve been a secondary school Drama teacher, a middle school Head of English/Drama, a secondary school SENCO, a Local Authority English Advisory Teacher, a middle school assistant headteacher/coordinator for the extended curriculum and a faculty leader in a college of further education.
I have published and researched on a wide range of subjects from the lived experiences of SENCOs to developing Teachers as ‘Storytellers’ (and many things in-between).
Shirley Crooke
Hello my name is Shirley Crooke. I joined the Governors of Alfred Lord Tennyson School as a Local Authority Governor from 1st April 2025.
I have lived in Rushden for over 40 years and have 4 children and 7 grandchildren. My background has been in Business and Office Management in various education related environments. I worked in the Admissions Department of the Royal Institute of Chemistry, the Science Department at Luton University and then once my children arrived on the scene I began working in schools. I was lucky enough to be able to undertake the Government funded School Business Management training between 2004 and 2007. I then worked in a mainstream village Primary School as a Business Manager before taking up a position in 2008 as the Business Manager of a local SEN School that, since my appointment has grown and developed substantially. I have been closely involved in Strategic Planning, Budget Management, Staff Restructures and Premises Management.
Having recently retired from my position as Business Manager, I wanted to retain and extend my links with schools in the local area and expressed an interest with the Local Authority in becoming a Governor. I was introduced to the Chair and Headteacher at ALTS and, having learned more about the journey that the school has and will be going through and the dedication of the staff to its pupils and parents, I hope that my experience and knowledge will be of some help. The school’s ethos and place within the local community struck a chord with me and I am keen to do what I can to help pupils, staff and parents.
Pecuniary Interest: I still have links with Rowan Gate Primary School and occasionally work with the Admin teams during times of staff absence.