Local Governing Body
The Local Governing Body (LGB) at John Clifford is a group of dedicated volunteers who are either parents, members of staff, or members of our local community. Some have backgrounds in education, some in business, others work in the public or voluntary sector. We are organised into two sub committees:
- Finance, General Purposes and Personnel.
- Strategic Development.
There are three core responsibilities of a governor. They are:
Setting the strategic direction.
- Set school aims and objectives.
- Support school improvement.
- Set policies.
- Formulate targets and plans.
- Review the strategic framework.
Creating robust accountability.
- Support and challenge SLT.
- Hold the HT to and children enjoy coming to school account to secure best outcomes for children.
- Challenge and question performance data.
Ensuring financial probity.
- Set financial priorities.
- Financially support the SIP.
- Financially drive curriculum development and choices for all children.
The Governors are committed to making John Clifford a school that children, staff and parents can all be proud of. We are keen to hear any suggestions you have, or any issues you would like to raise. You can do this by either leaving a message with the School Office, office@johnclifford.school or by contacting the Chair of Governors directly, katherine.calder@johnclifford.school.
We hope you will find the information about us useful and if you are keen to join us or find out more about what we do then please get in touch.
Best Wishes,
Katherine Calder.
Chair of Governors.
Become a School Governor
If you are interested in becoming a school governor please see below documents for more information and application form.
Our Local Governing Body
Helen Watkin
Type of Governor: Co-opted
Appointed by: The Full Governing Body
Term of Office: 6 November 2023 - 5 November 2027
Committee Membership: SDC
Responsibilities: Standards and Achievement, Performance Data, and HT Appraiser
Register of Governor (Business and Pecuniary) Interests: None
Relationships with school staff: None
Contact Email: helen.watkin@johnclifford.school
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Katherine Calder
Type of Governor: Co-opted
Appointed by: The Full Governing Body
Term of Office: 30th November 2022 - 29th November 2026
Committee Membership: FGPP
Responsibilities: Chair of LGB, Finance, Wellbeing, GDPR, Complaints, Health and Safety, and HT Appraiser
Register of Governor (Business and Pecuniary) Interests: Child attends John Clifford School
Relationships with school staff: None
Contact Email: katherine.calder@johnclifford.school
I joined the John Clifford Board of Governors as a Co-opted Governor at the end of 2022 and bring with me my background in finance. I was appointed as the Chair of the LGB from January 2024 and am also part of the Head Teacher Appraisal committee. I have a child in Year 6 and became a governor because I wanted to be able to give something back to the school which has had such a positive impact on both of my children. I’m excited to be one of JC’s governors and play a small part in helping them to be the best school they can be.
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Hannah Roberts
Type of Governor: Headteacher
Appointed by: The Full Governing Body
Term of Office: TBC
Committee Memberships: TBC
Responsibilities: TBC
Register of Governor (Business and Pecuniary) Interests: TBC
Relationships with school staff: TBC
Contact Email: hannah.roberts@johnclifford.school
Carol Bamford
Type of Governor: Staff Governor
Appointed by: The Full Governing Body
Term of Office: 29 September 2019 – 28 September 2023
Committee Membership: FGB / SDC
Responsibilities: Staff Governor
Register of Governor (Business and Pecuniary) Interests: None
Relationships with school staff: None
Contact Email: carol.bamford@johnclifford.school
I have worked at John Clifford for 14 years and I am one of the KS1 team. I have been teaching for 40 years working in many different schools in Nottingham (and New Zealand) I became a governor as I think it is important that the staff have a voice on the Governors and I am interested in helping to shape the future of the school. I feel the school has very good links with the community and I am happy to continue to work to further develop these.
Anna Worsching
Type of Governor: Parent Governor
Appointed by: The Full Governing Body
Term of Office: 1 October 2019 – 15 October 2023
Committee Membership: SDC
Responsibilities: Chair of SDC, SEND, Behaviour and Bullying, and Attendance
Register of Governor (Business and Pecuniary) Interests: Child attends John Clifford School
Relationships with school staff: None
Contact Email: anna.worsching@johnclifford.school
I joined the John Clifford board of governors as a parent governor in November 2019. I sit with the SDC committee and am link governor for SEND. I have lived in Beeston for 15 years and my son is in Year 4. We feel very lucky that our son attends such an engaging and exciting school. I hope that I will be able to support the school and ensure that it continues to be an inclusive and inspiring place to learn.
Rebecca Bitsios-Esposito
Type of Governor: Parent Governor
Appointed by: The Full Governing Body
Term of Office: 1 October 2019 – 15 October 2023
Committee Membership: SDC
Responsibilities: Safeguarding and HT Appraiser
Register of Governor (Business and Pecuniary) Interests: Children attend John Clifford School
Relationships with school staff: None
Contact Email: rebecca.bitsios-esposito@johnclifford.school
I joined the governing body in November 2019 as a parent governor, having been really impressed with the school's ethos and passion for providing a dynamic and holistic education that met the needs of all the children. I sit on the SDC committee and have particular responsibilities for safeguarding and Head Teacher Appraisal. I currently have three children at the school in Foundation, Year two and Year five.
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Matthew Roberts
Type of Governor: Parent Governor
Appointed by: The Full Governing Body
Term of Office: 17 September 2024 –16 September 2028
Committee Membership: SDC
Responsibilities: Pupil Premium and LAC
Register of Governor (Business and Pecuniary) Interests: None
Relationships with school staff: None
Contact Email: matthew.roberts@johnclifford.school
I have lived in Beeston for 14 years and having had three children at John Clifford I became a governor in September 2024. I attend the FGPP and have responsibility for Pupil Premium.
Liz Marder
Type of Governor: Co-opted
Appointed by: The Full Governing Body
Term of Office: 13 September 2022 – 12 September 2026
Committee Membership: SDC
Responsibilities: SEND, Behaviour and Bullying, and Attendance
Register of Governor (Business and Pecuniary) Interests: None
Relationships with school staff: None
Contact Email: liz.marder@johnclifford.school
I have always spent a lot of time in schools - in my professional life as a paediatrician, as a parent and previously as governor of a special school. I wanted to becomea school governor so I coulduse my experience to contribute locally in Beeston where I have lived for almost 30 years. JCS is such an inclusive and diverse school and so much part of the community ,that it feels likejust the right place for me to be involved.
Catherine McGrath
Type of Governor: Co-opted
Appointed by: The Full Governing Body
Term of Office: 15 November 2023 - 14 November 2027
Committee Membership: SDC
Responsibilities: SRE
Register of Governor (Business and Pecuniary) Interests: None
Relationships with school staff: None
Contact Email: catherine.mcgrath@johnclifford.school
Tim Hitchins
Type of Governor: Co-opted
Appointed by: The Full Governing Body
Term of Office: 3 April 2025 - 2 April 2029
Committee Membership: TBC
Responsibilities: TBC
Register of Governor (Business and Pecuniary) Interests: TBC
Relationships with school staff: TBC
Contact Email: Tim.Hitchins@johnclifford.school
Governor Related Documents
Minutes from governor meetings are available upon request from the school office.
Governor Weeks - Spring Term
This term, as a Local Governing Body, we have been challenging the following aspects of school:
- Curriculum
- Safeguarding
- PPG
- More able children
- SEND
We have met with school leaders and talked about each aspect in depth. We have observed teaching, scrutinized books, considered planning and analysed data. We have also looked at school based plans, health care plans and provision for SEN children and personal care. It has been a very busy time but a very rewarding one. We have managed to support school development by asking questions of what we have seen and feedback to staff. Reports have been written and these have contributed to our current understanding of school improvement.
Well done everyone and thank you for your time.
Contacting the Local Governing Body
The Local Governing Body can be contacted in writing or by email:
Katherine Calder
Chair of the Local Governing Body
c/o John Clifford School
Nether Street
Beeston
Nottinghamshire
NG9 2AT
Email: katherine.calder@johnclifford.school.
The White Hills Park Trust
John Clifford School is a member of The White Hills Park Trust. More information about Trust Governance can be found on its website.