Governance

Governing bodies are responsible for the strategic management of a school and will make decisions about a wide range of issues.

The core responsibilities involved are:

Ensuring accountability
Acting as a ‘critical friend’ to the Head Teacher
Monitoring and evaluating the school’s progress
Budgetary allocation and control
Planning for the long term future of the school
Setting the school’s aims and values
Appointing senior members of staff including the Head Teacher
Ensure the Christian ethos of the school is maintained and developed.
Ensure there is daily Collective Worship and weekly teaching of Religious Education.

The role of the Governors is to ensure that all the statutory duties of governance in the school are carried out.

In addition they are charged to ensure that the school carries out its School Improvement Plan and becomes an Outstanding school at it's next OFSTED Inspection. We follow a committee model of governance, with governors also allocated to monitor specific key responsibility areas within the school, as identified on the School Improvement Plan. We have 3 full governing body meetings each year as well as 3 committee meetings each for the Standards and Finance committees. Minutes from these meetings are held by the school and the Multi Academy Trust and are available upon request.

The Governors work with the Diocese as part of the Multi Academy Trust.

The Chair of the Governors is more than happy to answer any questions on governance and can be contacted through the school or on the following email address: governor AT reculver.kent.sch.uk

Note: Please replace AT with @ in the above email address (this is to prevent spam).

The Governors Roles and Responsibilities

Governors	Responsibilities (All governors have a shared responsibility for: Risk and Church Distinctiveness)
Lorraine Bondzie-Mensah	Head of Governance of Aquila Trust
Rachel Carnac	Chair of Governors Finance Committee Chair Church Distinctiveness Lower Key Stage 2 Modern Foreign Languages Risk Safeguarding Wrap Around Care
Laura Bullen	Vice Chair Chair of Standards Committee Church Distinctiveness Early Years Foundation Stage Geography Risk Student Council
Steve Hulks	Pay committee Standards committee Art Church Distinctiveness Key Stage 1 Pupil Premium Risk
Gregg Skinsley-Stephens	Chair of Finance Committee Computing E-Safety Church Distinctiveness Risk
Sharon Casey	Standards Committee Upper Key Stage 2 Website Compliance History Church Distinctiveness Risk
Claire Harrap- Stanley	Standards Committee Child behaviour/wellbeing Personal Social Health and Economic Special Educational Needs Disabilities Church Distinctiveness Risk
Susan Martin	Standards Committee Pay Committee Music Parental Links Religious Education Staff Links Staff/Parent Community Link/Wellbeing Church Distinctiveness Risk
Celina Todd	Finance Committee Health and Safety PE Sports Premium Church Distinctiveness Risk
Joanne Tames	Standards Committee Equalities Gender Gap Science Training and Development Church Distinctiveness Risk
Mick Ware	Finance Committee Attendance Design Technology Church Distinctiveness Risk

Pen Portraits

Rachel Carnac

I moved to Herne Bay nearly four years ago from London and have been involved in the local community ever since. I established and have run a small business for 19 years developing and organising international conferences for the global metals industry, particularly specialising in the green technology sector, for instance rare earth magnets in wind turbine blades, and lithium in batteries. I am a journalist by training and am lucky enough to have travelled around the world for my job. In 2019, I was elected a district councillor for Reculver ward, and was elected Deputy Leader of the council in September 2020. I benefited from a very good and broad education, and am passionate about ensuring our young people are given as many opportunities as possible too. I have a love of language, words and music.

Laura Bullen

I have lived in Herne Bay since the age of 5. I qualified as a primary school teacher in 2007 and have worked in 3 primary schools in Kent and Medway in that time. I am passionate about education, particularly interested in children’s early literacy skills and ensuring all children leave school as confident and competent readers. I am currently on a career break from the classroom, but utilise my teaching knowledge to create teaching resources for early years teachers!

I became a governor at Reculver Primary School in 2018 when my eldest child joined the school in Reception. I am looking forward to using my experience to support the school to continue on their exciting journey and ensuring that our children are given the best opportunities to fulfil their potential.

Stephen Hulks

I have lived and worked in the Herne Bay area for over 50 years. I attended Reculver School myself as did my wife and children. I was married at Reculver Church in 1981. Having benefited directly from the high standard of teaching and development available at Reculver, I wanted to give something back to the school by supporting its ongoing endeavour to nurture our children’s talents and abilities. This I am endeavouring to do through the role of a Governor.

Having worked in banking In Herne Bay, then in Beltinge as a butcher, I moved to the NHS in 1989, becoming a Paramedic in 1991. Until recently I worked out of the Ambulance Station in Herne Bay and worked for several years on the Kent Air Ambulance. I have a particular interest in staff welfare and developed staff support schemes and structures within the Ambulance Service including peer support schemes.

With my wife I worked in a voluntary capacity with disabled children providing respite care in our home, working with Kent Social Services.

I am excited to be involved with the School and am enjoying working more closely with all at Reculver as we aim to help our children find their full potential.

Gregg Skinsley-Stephens

I have lived in Herne Bay since 2014, living locally in Whitstable previously to that. I have been working within the Further Education sector for the past 11 years in a variety of roles, starting out after leaving Canterbury College to be their first cohort of Student Ambassadors in 2011. I have progressed in a number of roles serving as a Commercial Centre Manager for a number of years encompassing commercial activity and strategy for the group I work for. More recently, I have taken up the role of Head of Support Services, in which I have both operational and strategic responsibility for a variety of campus functions from General Administration, Finance, Careers & Employability, Marketing, Admissions to name but a few. I served as a Full Board Governor within the group for 2 years, sitting on various boards/committee’s and continue to serve as a local board member at Dover Technical College.

I am passionate about creating meaningful relationships through new and existing networks to enhance the opportunities for students and empower the learner's voice. I hope to use both my network and background to leverage future opportunities for the benefit of Reculver Primary School whilst serving as an advocate for the Parent Voice.

Sharon Casey

I have lived in Kent all my life, including studying at University of Kent and, having returned to the local area in 2021, am keen to be actively involved in the community. Much of my career has been as a Buildings and Facilities Manager in housing, the public sector, and higher education, and I am now self-employed as a Project Manager. My leisure time is spent gardening, decorating, and being a mystery shopper!

Claire Harrap-Stanley

I have a wide experience of various educational provisions over 20 years, both as a school leader and teacher, across SEND and mainstream establishments from EYFS to KS5. I currently hold the position of Deputy Headteacher in an SEMH all through special school, I am therefore able to contribute to professional discussions from a grounded and well-informed position. I am passionate about education and ensuring that all children have access to a high quality educational offer that meets their individual needs and facilitates access to a meaningful and well-rounded adult life.

Both of my children have attended and loved Reculver School, my youngest is currently in YR5 and enjoying every minute ! We have also been active members of the St Bart’s church congregation for the past 14 years, I am excited at both being a part of Reculver School’s journey and also at the prospect of contributing further to the local community.

Rev. Sue Martin

Hi everyone you all will know me as Rev Sue the local Vicar and I have been a Governor at Reculver School for 3 years now. Before getting ordained in 2010 I have worked as a Youth and Children’s Worker for Churches and also as a Learning Mentor for a Primary School in Kent. I am married to Simon and we have a son Samuel who is at present a pupil at the school. My role means I am in school quite a lot taking assemblies, for meetings and helping with RE subjects. As a Governor my special roles are Church Distinctive Governor and Parent Link Governor.I am delighted to be a Governor at Reculver to work with an amazing staff team and with the lovely children and to serve the Reculver Family.

Clive Packham

I have lived in Herne Bay all my life and actually was a pupil at the school until 1975 I then went to Greenhill School after finishing there I went to Smithfield College for 3 years to train in all aspects of butchery, I then worked at my father's shop in Herne Bay before taking it over, after I had sold the business I worked for the Food Standards Agency as a Senior Meat Hygiene Inspector, I then worked for Morrisons PLC for a while before training to be a secondary school teacher of business studies. I have been both a parent governor for a primary school as well as a teacher governor for a secondary school, I have a keen interest in sport especially rugby and American football and I enjoy pottering around in my garden tending my Dahlia collection.

Joanne Tames

I originated from Kent and have lived in the Herne Bay area for the last 18 years. All three of my children have benefitted from a great education at Reculver Primary School, two have now left to attend local secondary schools and the youngest is in year 5.

I began my working career as a secondary maths teacher, before taking a break to have my family. When returning to work, I was keen to be involved in the education of local young people and have been working at Reculver School ever since. Currently I am working in year 6 as a class teaching assistant in the mornings and running maths intervention sessions in the afternoons.

As a member of staff and a parent I was already heavily involved with the school so choosing to become a governor here seemed like a natural choice. Through my role as a governor, I am looking forward to contributing to the continued development of the school and helping to ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Mick Ware

Stella Collins

As the Headteacher of Reculver Church of England Primary school, I also sit on the governing body. Part of my role as Headteacher is to work closely with the governors. I report important updates about attainment and progress of the pupils at Reculver and make sure that I inform them of the wonderful things we do in school, as well as let them know about things we need to do to improve further. I plan for the governors to come into school to visit the children and carry out their monitoring work. I am proud to work with the governing body to make our school as special as it is.

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