Welcome to the Governors’ section!
Our team of Governors are all volunteers, parents, school staff and people from our community with a range of experience and expertise who have an interest and desire to improve the education of our children. We attend training courses to ensure we have the necessary knowledge and skills to support the Head and senior leadership in the effective running of the school. The normal term of office for a school governor is four years.
The main roles of the Governing Body are threefold:
- To achieve a strategic view. We focus on helping the school’s strategy for improvement so that pupils learn most effectively and achieve the highest standards.
- To act as a critical friend. We provide the head teacher and staff with support, advice and information, drawing upon members’ knowledge and experience. This is critical in the sense of the governing body’s responsibility for monitoring and evaluating the school’s effectiveness and a friend because the governing body exists to promote the interests of the school and the wellbeing of the pupils.
- To ensure accountability. The governing body is responsible for ensuring good quality education in the school. The head teacher and staff report to the governing body on the school’s performance and the governing body has the right to discuss, question and refine proposals, whilst always respecting the professional roles of the head teacher and other staff and their responsibilities for the management of the school. In its turn the governing body answers for its actions, above all to the parents and the wider local community for the school’s overall performance.
We are proud of our school and we have the greatest confidence in recommending it to you for your child or children.
The Role of School Governors and Trustees
Find out what school governors and trustees do and the key role they play in helping schools to succeed. This short film gives you all the essential information about this rewarding voluntary role. Most people over 18 years old are eligible to govern so, if you’re interested in education and making a difference, watch this film to find out more.
Governing Body Members 2025 – 2026
Name |
Category |
Date of Appointment |
Term of office |
| Emma Tibbitts | Headteacher | 01.09.2025 | Ongoing |
| Lindsey Hughes | Co-opted Governor | 14.10.2021 |
14.10.21 14.10.25 |
| John Cole | Trust Board Representative | 19.10.2012 |
16.11.21 16.11.25 |
|
Jo Basford (Chair) |
Trust Board Representative | 16.11.2017 |
16.11.21 16.11.25 |
| Laurie Johnson | Parent Governor | 26.11.2020 |
26.11.24 26.11.28 |
|
Cassandra Chidlow (Vice Chair) |
Parent Governor | 12.01.2024 |
08.02.24 08.02.28 |
Meet the Governors
Relationship with School Staff
and Declaration of Interests
The governors have no relationships with school staff to declare.
| Governor Name | End of Term of Office | Declaration of Interests | ||
|
Business & Pecuniary, including directorships, partnerships and employments with businesses. For each interest: the name of the business; the nature of the business; the nature of the interest; and the date the interest began. (Current and within last 12 months). |
Trusteeships and governorships at other educational institutions and charities (Current and within last 12 months). | Any relevant material interests arising from close family relationships between the academy trust’s members, trustees or local governors. It must also identify relevant material interests arising from close family relationships between those individuals and employees.(Current and within last 12 months) | ||
| Mrs J Basford | 16/11/2025 | None | None | None |
| Mrs E Tibbitts | Ongoing | None | None | None |
| Mr J Cole | 16/11/2025 | None | Shropshire Historic Churches and Market Drayton Mencap | None |
| Mrs L Hughes | 14/10/2025 | None | None | Employed at Mereside Academy School |
| Mrs L Johnson | 26/11/2024 | None | None |
Employed at Empower Trust School Related to staff member at MDJS |
| Mrs C Chidlow | 08/02/2028 | Employed at the Forward Trust Charity (2009 – present) | None | None |
Attendance at Governors Meetings 2025 – 2026
October 9th 2025 |
January 15th 2026 |
April 30th 2026 |
July 2nd 2026 |
|
| Emma Tibbitts | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| John Cole | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Lindsey Hughes | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Jo Basford | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Laurie Johnson | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| Cassandra Chidlow | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
Governors' Annual Summary
Governors' Summary of Visits
Governors Meetings 2024-2025
Governing Body Members 2024 – 2025
Name |
Category |
Date of Appointment |
Term of office |
| Sally Brayne | Acting Headteacher | 03.09.2021 | Ongoing |
| Lindsey Hughes | Co-opted Governor | 14.10.2021 |
14.10.21 14.10.25 |
| John Cole | Trust Board Representative | 19.10.2012 |
16.11.21 16.11.25 |
|
Jo Basford (Chair) |
Trust Board Representative | 16.11.2017 |
16.11.21 16.11.25 |
| Laurie Johnson | Parent Governor | 26.11.2020 |
26.11.24 26.11.28 |
|
Cassandra Chidlow (Vice Chair) |
Parent Governor | 12.01.2024 |
08.02.24 08.02.28 |
Attendance at Governors Meetings 2024 – 2025
October 17th 2024 |
March 17th 2025 |
May 15th 2025 |
|
| Sally Brayne | Y | Y | Y |
| John Cole | Y | Y | N |
| Lindsey Hughes | Y | Y | N |
| Jo Basford | Y | Y | Y |
| Laurie Johnson | N | N | Y |
| Cassandra Chidlow | Y | Y | Y |
Governor Meetings 2023-2024
Governing Body Members 2023 – 2024
Name |
Category |
Date of Appointment |
Term of office |
| Sam Scott | Executive Head | 03.09.2021 | Ongoing |
| Sally Brayne | Head of School | 03.09.2021 | Ongoing |
|
Lindsey Hughes (Vice Chair) |
Co-opted Governor | 14.10.2021 |
14.10.21 14.10.25 |
| John Cole | Trust Board Representative | 19.10.2012 |
16.11.21 16.11.25 |
| Sue Winfield | Trust Board Representative | 09.02.2023 |
09.02.23 09.10.23 Resigned 9.10.2023 |
| Paul Davies | Parent Governor | 16.02.2022 |
16.02.22 16.02.26 Resigned 18.10.2023 |
|
Jo Basford (Chair) |
Trust Board Representative | 16.11.2017 |
16.11.21 16.11.25 |
| Laurie Johnson | Parent Governor | 26.11.2020 |
26.11.20 26.11.24 |
| Wendy Clapton | Trust Governor | 17.11.2023 |
20.11.2023 20.11.2027 |
| Cassandra Chidlow | Parent Governor | 12.01.2024 |
08.02.24 08.02.28 |
| Emma Munn | Co-opted Governor | 16.01.2024 |
08.02.2024 Resigned 23.05.2024 |
Attendance at Governors Meetings 2023 – 2024
October 26th 2023 |
February 8th 2024 |
June 6th 2024 |
|
| Sam Scott | Y | Y | Y |
| Sally Brayne | Y | Y | Y |
| John Cole | Y | TBC | Y |
| Lindsey Hughes | N | Y | N |
| Jo Basford | Y | N | Y |
| Laurie Johnson | Y | Y | Y |
| Paul Davies | Resigned | N/A | N/A |
| Sue Winfield | Resigned | N/A | N/A |
| Wendy Clapton | N/A | Y | N |
| Cassandra Chidlow | N/A | Y | Y |
| Emma Munn | N/A | N | Resigned |
Governor Meetings 2022-2023
Governing Body Members 2022 – 2023
|
Name |
Category |
Date of Appointment |
Term of office |
|
Sam Scott |
Executive Head |
03.09.2021 |
Ongoing |
|
Sally Brayne |
Head of School |
03.09.2021 |
Ongoing |
|
Lindsey Hughes (Vice Chair) |
Co-opted Governor |
14.10.2021 |
16.11.17 31.08.21 14.10.21 14.10.25 |
|
John Cole |
Trust Board Representative |
19.10.2012 |
16.11.21 16.11.25 |
|
Peter Armitage |
Trust Board Representative |
09.11.2011 |
06.05.15 06.05.23 |
|
Debbie Potts |
Co-opted Governor |
17.09.2012 |
31.03.15 31.03.23 |
| Paul Davies | Parent Governor | 16.02.2022 |
16.02.22 16.02.26 |
|
Jo Basford (Chair) |
Co-opted Governor | 16.11.2017 |
16.11.21 16.11.25 |
|
Reverend Jane Morris |
Co-opted Governor |
15.11.2018 |
05.12.18 05.12.22 |
|
Laurie Johnson |
Parent Governor |
26.11.2020 |
26.11.20 26.11.24 |
| Sue Winfield | Trust Governor | 09.02.2023 |
09.02.2023 09.10.23 Resigned |
Attendance at Governors Meetings 2022 – 2023
|
|
October 13th 2022 |
February 9th 2023 |
May 25th 2023 |
|
Sam Scott |
Y | Y | Y |
|
Sally Brayne |
Y | Y | Y |
|
John Cole |
Y | Y | Y |
|
Lindsey Hughes |
N | Y | Y |
| Jo Basford | Y | Y | Y |
| Laurie Johnson | N | Y | Y |
| Paul Davies | N | N | N |
| Sue Winfield | N/A | Y | Y |
| Deb Potts | Y | Y | Term ended |
| Jane Morris | N | Term ended | N/A |
| Peter Armitage | Resigned | N/A | N/A |
Governors Meetings 2021-2022
Governing Body Members 2021 – 2022
| Name | Category | Date of Appointment | Term of office |
| Sam Scott | Executive Head | 03.09.2021 | Ongoing |
| Sally Brayne | Head of School | 03.09.2021 | Ongoing |
|
Lindsey Hughes (Vice Chair) |
Co-opted Governor | 14.10.2021 |
16.11.17 31.08.21 14.10.21 14.10.25 |
| John Cole | Trust Board Representative | 19.10.2012 |
16.11.21 16.11.25 |
| Peter Armitage | Trust Board Representative | 09.11.2011 |
06.05.15 06.05.23 |
|
Debbie Potts |
Co-opted Governor | 17.09.2012 |
31.03.15 31.03.23 |
| Paul Davies | Parent Governor | 16.02.2022 |
16.02.22 16.02.26 |
|
Jo Basford (Chair) |
Co-opted Governor | 16.11.2017 |
16.11.21 16.11.25 |
| Reverend Jane Morris | Co-opted Governor | 15.11.2018 |
05.12.18 05.12.22 |
| Laurie Johnson | Parent Governor | 26.11.2020 |
26.11.20 26.11.24 |
Attendance at Governors Meetings 2021 – 2022
| October 14th 2021 | February 10th 2022 | May 19th 2022 | |
| Sam Scott | Y | Y | Y |
| Sally Brayne | Y | Y | Y |
| John Cole | Y | Y | N |
| Peter Armitage | N | Y | N |
| Lindsey Hughes | Y | N | Y |
| Debbie Potts | Y | Y | Y |
| Ricky Craven | N | Stepped Down | Stepped Down |
| Jo Basford | Y | Y | Y |
| Reverend Jane Morris | N | N | N |
| Laurie Johnson | N | Y | Y |
| Delia Beckett | N | Stepped Down | Stepped Down |
| Paul Davies | Not in post | Not in post | N |