Governors

GOVERNING BODY

The Governing Body of Earls Barton Primary School was established on 1st January 2017 in accordance with the Instrument of Government agreed by the Local Authority, when EBPS was a Community School maintained by the Local Authority. The school joined Hatton Academy Trust on 1st July 2025 and the Governing Body became a Local Governing Body. Governance of Hatton Trust can be found here.

The Local Governing Body is the local tier of the Trust and enables positive engagement with local voices. We are an informed local community resource with a unique local perspective and a delegated responsibility to provide challenge and support to Earls Barton Primary School.  Our local governors are the “eyes and ears” of the trustees in the local community and a vital component for supporting school improvement and engaging with school leaders and the community. 

Our role is to create:-

• a better understanding of the trust’s role and how each school fits into the trust’s structure
• a positive contribution to the checks and balances of trust governance
• more diverse views being expressed, adding to the richness of discussion and challenge
• active engagement between individual schools and their wider community
• more support for individual schools and the trust from stakeholders
• the voices of local communities being reflected in trust board decisions

So what does a Governor do?

We are responsible for working with the Headteachers to raise standards of achievement for all pupils at the school.

Our main responsibilities include:-

• Safeguarding - Monitor safeguarding practice, ensuring compliance with school and trust wide policies and statutory requirements
• SEND - Ensure pupils with special educational needs, vulnerable pupils and disabilities (SEND) get the support they need and seek assurance that staff are adequately trained.
• Standards of Education - Monitor school performance ensuring high standards of teaching & learning –“ Excellence in Everything”
• Stakeholder engagement - Develop communication channels, consult stakeholders and work in partnership with the local community
• Vision & Strategy - Be consulted on Trust’s vision, strategy and key priorities Apply trust vision and strategy to EBPS
• Finance and Premises – agree budget plan to support delivery of strategic priorities

Why do schools need Local Governors?

Hatton Academy Trust as the responsible body considers and agrees the strategic direction for the academies within the Trust. The Local Governing Body is responsible for ensuring the delivery of these strategic objectives and must promote high standards of educational achievement EBPS as outlined above.

How does the Local Governing body work?

Governing bodies must act as a corporate body. They must act with integrity, objectivity and honesty and in the best interests of the school. They must be open about, and prepared to explain, their decisions and actions. The size of the governing body can range from 9 to 20 and local governing body can adopt the most suitable model within certain guiding principles. The local governing body should carry out their functions with the aim of taking a largely strategic role in the running of the school.

At Earls Barton Primary School Local Governing Body we are very fortunate to have a wide range of knowledge and expertise within our governing body, a group of people who volunteer their time who are passionate about serving their community as well as strengthening and supporting the school.

The Earls Barton Primary School, Governors meet formally at least once a term. There is a clear agenda established for the year.

Governors carry out multiple strategic school visits linked to their areas of responsibility to ensure that every aspect of the school’s development is covered throughout the year. Details of specific Governor focus areas have been agreed for this academic year and include new initiatives for which Governors are now responsible.

Every year, Governors review and evaluate their effectiveness in order to plan training needs and recruitment priorities. The meetings of the Local Governing Body are now inclusive for all Governors and are enabling active and productive discussions.

We are fortunate at Earls Barton Primary to have very supportive and involved parents, and are committed to ensuring that as Governors we keep parents involved and informed about what is happening. There is a programme of activities which encourage parents to visit the school and see how their children are learning, as well as new ways of ensuring that both staff and Governors have an understanding of the parent voice. Governors are also trying to have a presence at these activities, and welcome feedback from parents/carers, and can also be contacted through either the email address for the website or through the website contact form.

Should you wish to understand more about the role of the governor please contact one of our existing governors.

CHAIR OF GOVERNORS - Mrs Ruth Palmer and Mr Paul Murphy

VICE CHAIR

CLERK - Mrs Helen Dabrowski

GOVERNORS 2025-2026 AND MEMBERSHIP DETAILS

REGISTER OF INTERESTS 2025-26

GOVERNOR ATTENDANCE 2024-25

Governor Files