governance

Bridge Farm Primary School is part of the Futura Learning Partnership.

Governance

Chandag Primary School is part of the Futura Learning Partnership. You can find details about our governance structure.

Local Governance Committee (LGC)

Governors are volunteers and they support and challenge the school’s leadership to ensure that every child gets the best education possible and that all children make progress to be the best that they can be.

Here at Chandag Primary School, we are striving to become an outstanding school and the governors meet regularly throughout the year to review what is happening within the school.

The governors attend the LGC to consider what has been discussed at committee level and to review and agree any decisions that may be required.

The LGC meetings allow all governors to have a fair view of the school and its standards and what is working well, and what areas need to be a focus to ensure that we are even better.

What the Local Governance Committee does:

The role of the Local Governance Committee is to work with the Head Teacher and Staff to offer all children at Chandag Primary School the best educational opportunities possible.

Governors look closely at all areas of the school. These are financial, personnel, building maintenance, health, safety and wellbeing of all, as well as looking at the standards of progress and attainment for the children, and the curriculum. Each area is reviewed regularly and reported back at the LGCs, where as a collective we make decisions to shape the school.

The Clerk is the official notetaker and doesn’t take part in any of the discussions or decisions made by the governing body.

Running the school on a daily basis is the responsibility of the Head and Staff – the Local Governance Committee is responsible for:

Ensuring that the curriculum is balanced and broadly based;
Reporting on the standards being achieved;
The appointment of senior staff and;
Developing and maintaining a strategic vision for the school that reflects our distinctive vision and values.

How the Local Governance Committee works

Governors meet as a Full Governing Body six times in an academic year. Business is conducted through meetings where we make decisions collectively as a team. Our role is strategic, while the Head, with whom we work closely, has responsibility for the day-to-day management of the school. Meetings take place early in the evening and can involve a lot of paperwork so it helps to have read what we can in advance.

As well as meeting together regularly as a Governing Body, Governors like to come and visit the school and be involved in school life. We particularly enjoy celebrating the achievements of the children as well as sharing in significant moments in the life of the school. Above all, we hope to support the staff of the school in creating a safe, happy and pleasant environment in which to learn and play together.

Becoming a Governor:

Parent Governors are elected by parents for a fixed term of four years. Parents are advised in writing when a vacancy for a Parent Governor arises. This could be because a Governor completes their term of office or because they stand down. Full details of the eligibility criteria and the process for nominations and any election are provided at the time.
Staff Governors are members of the School staff who are elected by the staffing body (both teaching and non-teaching).
Co-opted Governors are appointed by the LGC to represent community interests or to bring specific skills to the Governing Body

Useful documents:

Futura Learning Partnership

To contact the LGC, please email, Clerk to the LGC, using the following address: clerktogovernors@bridgefarmschool.org.uk.

Diana Allez

Community Governor and Vice Chair

Term of office: 18 September 2023 – 17 September 2027

James Anderson

Community Governor

Term of office: 20 June 2023 – 19 June 2027

As a parent of two daughters, I am passionate about ensuring all our children receive a high-quality education that enables them to flourish and reach their full potential.

My professional experience in project management and data analytics has equipped me with strong problem-solving and strategic thinking skills. I’m eager to leverage that experience in my Governor role, to contribute to Bridge Farm Primary’s continued success as a fun, stimulating, and inspiring place for young minds to learn and grow.

Emma Brooks

Community Governor

Term of office: 20 June 2023 – 19 June 2027

I live in the local community and have a daughter who attends Bridge Farm School.

As a community and safeguarding governor, I am committed to ensuring that the school provides the pupils and staff with a safe and quality place to learn, grown, and work. I believe my skills and knowledge from many years as a safety manager and then auditor with an engineering background will benefit and augment the governor team going forward by holding those in positions to deliver to account and challenging how services and improvements are delivered.

I have worked as a civil servant for over 20 years and hope that by sharing the knowledge and skills I have gained I can support the school’s senior leadership team, staff, and wider school in achieving their full potential and continually improve pupil performance and enjoyment.

Duncan Cook

Headteacher

Term of office: 1 September 2026 – Ex officio

Leanne Jones

Staff Governor

Term of office: 18 September 2022 – 17 October 2027

I have been a member of staff since 2011, working as a Learning Support Assistant, supporting various year groups.

I have a well-established relationship with the school, from being an ex-pupil myself to my children attending Bridge Farm Primary.

Shaun Mullen

Parent Governor

Term of office: 23 January 2026 – 22 January 2030

I have over eleven years’ experience in education, beginning as a sport lecturer before moving into leadership within further education. I am currently Head of School at Bath College, overseeing curriculum, quality, and the student experience. My work across FE has strengthened my belief in the importance of strong foundations in Key Stages 1 and 2.

Alongside this, I am Director of LazySports, a South Bristol community organisation promoting participation, wellbeing, and inclusive access to sport. This keeps me closely connected to the local community and reinforces my commitment to the power of education and physical activity.

As a parent with a daughter at Bridge Farm and another I hope will join soon, I am proud to support the school as a governor and contribute to its nurturing, ambitious, community‑centred ethos.

Lee Payne

Chair of Governors and Community Governor

Term of office: 20 June 2023 – 19 June 2027

I live locally and have one child who attends Bridge Farm School.

I am a community governor and firmly committed to academic excellence within the school and supporting the school’s vision and values and ensuring they are embedded in everything we do.

I am an experienced consultant and technologist and have worked across the entire spectrum of the industry. I currently work for one of the UK’s top technology companies.

I bring years of experience in analysing and solving problems to the role and work with the school leadership team in order to ensure all pupils achieve their full potential.

Katy Ruck

Staff Governor

Term of office: 13 September 2024 – 12 September 2028

I am a year six teacher and the phase leader for upper key stage two (years five and six). I am passionate about providing a high-quality education and exciting extra-curricular opportunities for all pupils at Bridge Farm.

As a staff governor, I provide a voice for the teaching staff within our school and support the communication between teachers and teaching assistants and our governing body.

John Spring

Parent Governor

Term of office: 11 October 2024 – 10 October 2028

My background is in education where I was a PE teacher and senior leader within secondary schools in the South West before joining a national Multi-Academy Trust where I was a National Director across 30 academies with responsibility for safeguarding, attendance, behaviour and personal development. I currently work for a local authority in the South West that includes over 200 schools where I have been the Virtual School Headteacher and Head of Targeted Education since April 2023.

I have two sons who both attend Bridge Farm and, having grown up in the area and attended the school myself as a child, I have a strong sense of purpose to support the school in achieving continued success.