An introduction to the Board of School Governors at Felsted Primary School
Governors perform important voluntary roles in schools and are people from a cross section of the community, such as parents, staff, the Local Authority, the community and other groups. They are people who want to make a difference to children's education. You can see who Felsted Primary School’s Governors are here on the website.
Having representatives on the Board of Governors from a range of backgrounds helps ensure that the governing body has sufficient diversity of views and experience but does not mean that governors of a particular category "represent" that group on the governing body. For example, parent governors do not act as a representative of the parents at the school and do not report back to them.
A core feature of an effective governing board is the importance of having the right people with the necessary skills, time and commitment, and sufficient diversity of perspectives to ensure internal challenge.
What are school governors responsible for?
Headteachers are responsible for day-to-day management of the school, whereas the role of the governing body is strategic, not operational.
Governors’ responsibility is monitoring and overseeing the management of a school. During governing board meetings, the Board considers issues such as setting the school vision; mitigating financial risk; ensuring robust safeguarding measures are in place; and, scrutinising educational outcomes.
The National Governance Association, an organisation designed to support the work of Governors, helpfully sets out their core functions as follows:
Governors work together to carry out their core functions:
ensuring there is clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils and the performance management of staff
overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent
NGA recognises the following as the fourth core function of governance:
ensuring the voices of stakeholders are heard
Governors must also ensure that the governing body complies with all legal and statutory requirements. "Governors should seek the advice of the clerk to the governing board and other professional advice as appropriate.”
At Felsted Primary School we also ensure that Governors are linked to each area of the School Improvement Plan ensuring overarching governance and monitoring of key improvement areas. Link governors enrich the whole governing body's understanding of their particular area and contribute to informed decision making. We also consider that link governors help the governing body to develop positive links with staff and create a visible and professional profile within the school.
We hope this provides a little overview of what the Board of Governors at Felsted Primary School does – please let us know if you would like any further information.
Chair of School Governors:
Yvonne Crome: YCrome@felsted-pri.essex.sch.uk
Linked to Cherry Tree and Birch Tree
My background is in nursing, health visiting and health visitor education. My specialist areas of teaching and practice included child protection, domestic abuse and infant mental health.
My role as an educator of adults also included both academic and pastoral care, leadership of a team, curriculum development and taking courses through validation processes.
As a health visitor, I have always had an interest in helping children reach their full potential. I have worked with children from a variety of backgrounds and with a range of disabilities and illnesses. I have supported families with children through the early years, monitoring child development and empowering families to seek solutions in relation to caring for their children.
I studied at the Tavistock Centre where my focus was around child protection, infant mental health and neurobiological development. This provided me with an in-depth knowledge of areas that I had previously studied during my first degree and masters degree.
I am now retired, and am eager to utilise my knowledge and skills in a different way to benefit children and families and was delighted to join the board of governors.
I am currently Chair and am eager to work with the governing team with their range of expertise to support and monitor the strategic delivery of education within the school.
I believe that every child should have the opportunity to reach their full potential in a safe and conducive learning environment, where they feel able to express their individuality. Early years and primary education provide the foundation for adult life, and I am eager that children are provided with a range of learning opportunities and experiences that help them to be confident, caring and socially aware future adults.
As Chair, I work closely with the Senior Leadership team of the school to support them and their staff, as I believe that pupils and their families can only be supported by staff who feel equally supported. Governors need to be critical friends whereby they are prepared to challenge in a positive and constructive manner issues that impact on the education and welfare of children within the school. I look forward to continue to serve the school and encourage a positive, caring attitude where every pupil strives to do their best and is supported to do so.
My background is in the global pharmaceutical industry in which I have worked for the past 45 years since graduating as a Biochemist from London University. I have subsequently furthered my education with a master’s degree in strategic marketing; an MBA and a Doctorate in Business Administration, and I am also a registered European Qualified Person which authorizes me to release medicinal products to the market for patient use.
I have worked throughout the pharmaceutical product life cycle, having started working in R&D developing several medicines, before moving into drug registration, followed by quality assurance and site management, prior to overseeing a site transfer and closure project from the UK to France and Germany.
I then entered the second phase of my career in the fast-moving pharmaceutical generics industry working for and with some of the major global players based in India, Bangladesh, and the USA, helping them set up their European operations which entailed plenty of overseas travel.
Ten years ago, I started the third phase of my career setting up a pharmaceutical consultancy, which I sold three years ago to a large global pharmaceutical consultancy, and I remain as the managing director of their UK and Indian operations.
I am eager to utilize my knowledge and skills in a different way to benefit children and families and was delighted to be invited to join the board of governors with a remit to support them with their strategy development and financial oversight within the school.
As the healthcare industry rises to the next great challenges such as preparing for the next global pandemic and developing personalized medicines, we need to ensure that we encourage today's pupils to study the neglected area of science so that they can potentially look forward to being the scientific leaders, practitioners and researchers of the future. We need to develop and grow the scientific minds ready for this challenge, and this starts by having a strong strategy for the teaching of science that not only delivers on the curriculum but exceeds expectations and strives for excellence. I have a strong work ethic and want to see pupils develop skills of analysis, research and inquiry and be the best they can by demonstrating hard work and an enthusiasm for learning. Education brings with it opportunity and I am highly ambitious for the pupils in our school, and will actively work with the school to develop a strategy focussed around ambition and achieving excellence.
Growing up in Essex, I studied Civil Engineering at University which took me to work all over the world before coming back to settle down locally in 2017. With my Son joining the school in 2024.
Professionally, I am an experienced Civil Engineer and Engineering Manager I am responsible the design and delivery of Major Station and Infrastructure schemes. In my role I am accountable for overall quality delivery of projects ensuring these are safe for passenger use. I am also a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Mentor, and Professional Reviewer, where I am actively engaged in the development of future engineers. Encouraging students into STEM career is something I am very passionate about
I believe that many of the skills from my professional career are transferable to the role of a Parent Governor; Assurance and Governance, Management of Health and Safety, financial performance, Strategic Direction of the team and adherence to legal and ethical obligations.
As a parent governor I’m looking forward to applying the skills I’ve collected professionally to the school to support the future generations and am particularly passionate about supporting children with SEND.
As an experienced Executive Headteacher, I bring strategic leadership experience and a deep understanding of school improvement to my role as a Governor. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about creating inclusive environments where every child feels valued, supported and able to thrive. I strongly believe that high expectations and the right support enable all learners to succeed.
I have a particular interest in the effective use of ICT and technology to enhance teaching and learning. When used thoughtfully, digital tools can transform classroom practice, improve accessibility, and open up new opportunities for creativity and engagement.
Outside of education, I have a well-known love of cocker spaniels, who provide the perfect reminder of the importance of energy, loyalty and a good daily walk!
I have a background in Human Resources and am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). With over 35 years of experience, I have worked primarily in the FMCG, banking and financial services sectors, gaining experience across a variety of organisational cultures, including regulated businesses, partnerships and PLCs.
I hold a Master's degree in Management Learning from Lancaster University and have always been passionate about learning, personal development and helping others to reach their potential.
My community roles have included serving as a School Governor, Director of the Essex Returners' Unit, Founder of Great Dunmow Kids Club, Chairman of Ideas+, an employment agency supporting disabled people, and Trustee of several charities. I have also been Essex Area Chairman for Ladies Circle; an organisation associated with Round Table.
In my spare time, I enjoy needlework, interior design, gardening, cooking, travelling and, most importantly, spending time with my family and grandson.
I am delighted to support the school community as a governor and look forward to contributing to an environment where every child can thrive, grow in confidence and develop a lifelong love of learning.'
Governing Body Minutes are available from the office on request.
