The Woodroffe School

Governing Body

Together We Succeed

Governing Body

Governing Body

The Governing Body provides strategic leadership, focusing on the school’s vision, financial management and accountability for school performance. Their responsibilities include setting school targets, developing strategic plans, approving policies and the budget and ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff.

They also hold the headteacher accountable for the school’s performance and act as a critical friend by providing support and constructive challenge.  

The Woodroffe School governing body consists of 14 governors:

  • 4 parent governors
  • 1 local authority governor
  • The head teacher
  • 1 staff governor
  • 5 co-opted governors
  • 2 partnership governors

We currently have one vacancy on the governing board.

Parent governors are elected by parents/carers or, if there are insufficient candidates, appointed by the governing body. Local authority governors are – as the name suggests – appointed by the local authority. Staff governors are elected by the school staff. The governing body seeks nominations for partnership governors from parents and carers and others in the community with an interest in the school. The governing body appoints, as co-opted governors, people who have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.

If you are interested in becoming a governor for The Woodroffe School and would like further information please do contact the Clerk to Governors by email – moldfield@woodroffe.dorset.sch.uk.

The governing body has the following committees:
  • Premises Committee
  • The Headteachers Performance Review Committee
  • Pay & Pay Review Committee
  • Policies Working Group

The full governing body meet nine times over the academic year, the focus of these meetings is either standards or curriculum, staffing and finance.  The governing body is responsible for monitoring the school’s income and expenditure against the approved budget and monitoring the quality of teaching, standards and progress achieved by pupils. Governors have oversight of the school curriculum and timetable, including how the curriculum is taught, evaluated and resourced including the staffing structure.

Governors are expected to undertake all necessary training as advised by the National Association of Governors, as well as attending four training and development sessions a year.

Chair of the Governors  
Vicki Dixon  
   
Vice-Chair of the Governors  
Meeri Wallace  
   
Parent GovernorsAppointedExpiry of Office
Ian Jennings02.03.202301.03.2027
Alex O’Dwyer08.09.202507.09.2029
Emma Styles30.03.202329.03.2027
Phil Whitehead08.03.202307.03.2027

0 Vacancies

  
Local Authority Governor  
Vicki Dixon15.12.202114.12.2025

0 Vacancies

  
Staff Governor  
Charlotte Lemon16.10.202315.10.2027

0 Vacancies

  
The Headteacher  
Dan WattsSeptember 2019 
   
Partnership Governors  
Edward Berry28.04.202527.04.2029
Chris Newall08.09.202507.09.2029

0 Vacancies

Co-opted Governors

  
Mat Daly01.04.200626.01.2027
Dr Bijan Omrani15.12.202114.12.2025
Rachel Stretch08.09.202507.09.2029
Meeri Wallace23.11.201820.09.2026
1 Vacancy  
   
Clerk to the Governors  
Mrs M Oldfield  

For further information, or to contact the governing body please email: moldfield@woodroffe.dorset.sch.uk.

Full Governors
  • Dan Watts
  • Meeri Wallace
  • Mat Daly
  • John Deary
  • Dave Barker
  • Chris Newall
  • Bijan Omrani
  • Vicki Dixon
  • Phil Whitehead
  • Ian Jennings
  • Emma Styles
  • Charlotte Lemon
Finance & Premises Committee
  • John Deary (Chair)
  • Chris Newall (Vice Chair)
  • Dave Barker
  • Mat Daly
  • Ian Jennings
  • Meeri Wallace
  • Dan Watts
Standards, Staffing & Curriculum Committee
  • Bijan Omrani (Chair)
  • Vicki Dixon (Vice Chair)
  • Paul Whitehead
  • Emma Styles
  • Meeri Wallace
  • Dan Watts
  • Charlotte Lemon
Headteacher’s Performance Review Committee
  • Dave Barker
  • Vicki Dixon
Pay & Pay Review Committee
  • Meeri Wallace
  • John Deary
  • Chris Newall
  • Dan Watts
Attendance at Meetings

Governors with relevant business and pecuniary interests which may arise from relationships between governors and school staff:

  • Meeri Wallace – Panellist for Admission Appeals and IRP, Devon County Council. Treasurer for Hawkchurch Community Shop – 2014
  • Christopher Newall – Directorship, Specsavers – 2004
  • Phil Whitehead – Educational Consultant, Creative Practice Consultants from 2012
  • Bijan Omrani – Shute Festival, Co-Director – 2016; St Michaels Church, Shute, Churchwarden & Trustee – 2018; University of Exeter, Hon Assistant Research Fellow – 2020
  • Vicki Dixon – Lyme Regis Society, Trustee – 2013
  • Alexandra O’Dwyer –  Foundation Governor and Chair of Governors (ends 02.10.2025), Symondburys CofE VA Primary School

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