OUR GOVERNORS

Governors at Holy Cross have the following Statutory Responsibilities

Working with the Headteacher, to offer a strategic view of the work of our School

To support and challenge the Headteacher

To hold our School to account for the standards and quality of education it provides and achieves.

To monitor, evaluate and review the school’s activities and outcomes

Why do we support and challenge?

We have collective / corporate responsibility to do so

To uphold the strategic and operational aims of the school

To provide moral support

To ask appropriate and probing questions

Is this the best thing to do?

What do we want to do?

What are the alternatives?

To provide another, maybe alternative, perspective

Why do we monitor?

To ensure that plans are being implemented – particularly our School Improvement Plan

To provide evidence of success that can be celebrated and built upon

To identify quickly where the school is not performing as well as expected

To identify priorities for future action

To ensure accountability for standards, improvement and maximising pupil progress

Why do we evaluate and review?

To enable us to make judgements about results and outcomes, and to take timely, appropriate action.

Our Meetings

The Full Governing body meets each term to carry out formally its statutory duties and to monitor progress towards achievement of the targets contained in our School Improvement Plan (SIP).

MEET OUR GOVERNORS

CHAIR OF THE GOVERNING BODY

Elected Governor: Jenny Barnard-Langston

Foundation Governor: Angela Hook

Angela grew up in Lincolnshire and went to University of London Goldsmiths College. She has taught in primary schools in Surrey and Sussex and at the International School of Stockholm. Angela is married with three grown-up children and three grandchildren and has lived in Uckfield and worshipped at Holy Cross Church, since 1979. She loves being retired, after 18 years teaching at Little Horsted Church of England School and is enjoying the beauty of our countryside. She is delighted to be part of the community at Holy Cross School.

Foundation Governor: Jan Cobley

Foundation Governor: Rhian Cottrell

Deputy Chair: Katharine Rabson Stark

I have been a Governor for almost twelve years in East Sussex. During this time I have been Chair of the St Thomas à Becket CE Federation (Framfield and Blackboys Primary Schools) and I helped bring those schools together as a successful Federation. I am still a Governor on this board, and I am also a Governor on the board of another local Federation: South Ashdown Schools Federation (Buxted and Bonners Primary schools).

I am also a Consultant Governor for ESCC helping and supporting Governing Boards in primary schools across the county along with being a member of the Interim Executive Board of Groombridge St Thomas and a member of the Schools Forum for East Sussex.

I am a practicing ceramic artist having recently re-trained at West Dean College following a 20 year career in partnership and strategy development in the Higher Education sector. I have three children, all at Uckfield College. I love where we live and am passionate about walking and the countryside.

Foundation Governor: Sophie Hazlewood

Sophie moved to East Sussex from Devon in August 2020, however, grew up in nearby Heathfield. She is a Project Manager who has worked in educational and academic publishing for many years and for the NHS over the last eighteen months. Sophie is married with two children (primary and secondary aged) and lives in Halland along with the family dog Spud. Sophie is keen to get to know her local community and to become involved with Holy Cross Primary School.

Elected Parent Governor: Darren Butcher

Darren was born and raised in East Sussex and spent most of his childhood in Blackboys. He is now raising his family in Uckfield with his eldest pupil attending Holy Cross. After gaining qualifications at Catering College in Eastbourne, Darren spent time in Australia working at many varied venues including Sydney Conference and Exhibition Centre, The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and Fox Studios. Darren has over 25 years experience in Hospitality with 20 of those years being at a senior management level. Darren enjoys most sports, reading, music and quality family time. He is looking forward to supporting the success of Holy Cross.

Elected Parent Governor: Samuel Richardson

Sam is originally from Surrey and grew up right on the Sussex border. He has over 15 years’ experience in the property and construction consultancy sector, holding senior management roles in commercial, project and Bid Management. After a period living in London, Sam moved out of the city with partner Kim and their daughter to find a better quality of life and be nearer the extended family, settling in Uckfield in 2018. Sam now has two daughters currently at Holy Cross and is looking forward to further helping the school community. In his spare time, Sam enjoys painting, cycling, skateboarding, and going for long family walks on the Ashdown Forest with Maggie, the family labradoodle.

Priest (ex-officio): Rev John Wall

The Rev John Wall has been ordained for 27 years and he has served in five parishes, starting with a Curacy in Crawley, West Sussex. He began as Rector of Uckfield in September 2016. He has previously been a governor at four schools, but Holy Cross is his first Church School and he is very pleased to be involved with such a lovely community. He enjoys doing silly assemblies!

Archdeacon Edward

The Ven Dr Edward Dowler is Archdeacon of Hastings (the Hastings archdeaconry includes most of East Sussex, including Uckfield) and also priest in charge of St John the Evangelist, Crowborough. He started in his present post in 2016, and was formerly a parish priest in the diocese of London and, before that, a theological college tutor and Vice-Principal in Oxford. He and his family live in Crowborough. Archdeacon Edward has been a governor at a number of primary schools and was also Chair of Governors at a secondary school in Enfield, north London.

Interim Headteacher: Paul Prest

I have the proven experience, knowledge, enthusiasm and determination to make a difference for the young people and the community I serve. I have worked in a range of leadership positions within the primary, secondary and local authority, always seeking excellence. My passion is teaching and learning and I am well versed in research informed strategies, that make a demonstrable impact on the outcomes for our young people. I am delighted to have the opportunity of leading Holy Cross forward and am looking forward to the challenge.

GOVERNOR DETAILS

Membership of the Governing Body 2021-22

* meeting attendance figures based on total number of Full Governing Body Meetings and

Committee Meetings that the named Governor was eligible to attend during the academic year 2020-21

^#denotes member who served during last 12 months but is not a current member of Governing Body

⁺denotes person also in attendance at meetings, who is not a member of the Governing Body

Governor	Position	Term of Office	Appointed by	Declaration of Business/Pecuniary Interests	* Full Governing Body Meeting Attendance 2020-21
Jan Meyer	Chair Foundation Governor	from 06.12.21	Diocese of Chichester	Chair of Governors at Polegate Community Primary School Governor of the Pioneer Federation Governor at St. Columba Church of England Primary School (Fareham)	Not in Office
Paul Prest	Interium Head Teacher	from 01.01.2022	ESCC	ESCC Employee	Not in Office
Darren Butcher	Parent Governor	from 13.10.20	Parents	Nothing to Declare	Attended 6 out of 7 Meetings
Dr Robert Edward Mackenzie Dowler	Foundation Governor	from 15.10.21	Diocese of Chichester	Member of Tenax School’s Trust Member of Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust Ex Officio school governor at St John’s Crowborough	Not in Office
Rhian Cottrell	Foundation Governor	from 03.12.21	Foundation Governor	Safeguarding Officer at Holy Cross Church	Not in Office
Victoria Barden	Foundation Governor	from 16.12.21	Diocese of Chichester	ESCC Employee	Not in Office
Sophie Hazelwood	Foundation Governor	from 11.10.21	Diocese of Chichester	Married to the Bishop of Lewes	Not in Office
Angela Mary Hook	Foundation Governor Training Link Governor	from 20.11.17	Holy Cross PCC	Nothing to Declare	Attended 8 out of 8 meetings
Alfie Mason	Staff Governor	from 05.10.21	Dec 2022	Water Bailiff – Sussex & London	Not in Office
Father John Wall	Priest (ex-officio)	from 26.09.16	n/a	Priest at Holy Cross Church	Attended 8 out of 8 meetings
# Charlotte Travers	Head Teacher (Ex Officio)	from 05.10.21 to 01.04.2022	ESCC	ESCC Employee	Attended 8 out of 8 Meetings
# Liam McDonald	Foundation Governor	from 13.10.21 to 26.04.2022	Diocese of Chichester	Nothing to Declare
#Jenny Barnard- Langston	Chair Foundation Governor	08.10.21 to 31.12.21	Diocese of Chichester	To be confirmed	Not in Office
#Sandra Marjorie Boniface	Chair Foundation Governor	17.02.15 to 31.08.21 (Resigned)	Holy Cross PCC	Nothing to Declare	Attended 8 out 0f 8 meetings
#Catherine Jane Dart	Headteacher (ex-officio)	26.09.16 to 31.12.2021	ESCC Employee	ESCC Employee	Attended 8 out of 8 meetings
#Graham Harrison	Associate Member	26.10.19 to 23.07.21	Governing Board	Nothing to Declare	Attended 1 out of 8 Meetings
#Margaret Louise Kane	Co Vice Chair Parent Governor	10.10.15 to 04.10.21	Parents	Parent of children attending Holy Cross Primary School	Attended 7 out of 8 meetings
#Nick King	Foundation Governor	27.04.20 to 11.11.20	Diocese of Chichester	Nothing to Declare	Attended 0 out of 3 meetings
#Paul Sparks	Co Vice Chair Authority Governor	28.03.17 to 31.08.21	ESCC	Local Councillor	Attended 7 out of 8 meetings
#Jillian Thornton	Foundation Governor	27.04.20 to 06.10.21	Diocese of Chichester	Nothing to Declare	Attended 4 out of 8 Meetings

OUR GOVERNORS

MEET OUR GOVERNORS

GOVERNOR DETAILS

About Us

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CHAIR OF THE GOVERNING BODY Elected Governor: Jenny Barnard-Langston
Foundation Governor: Angela Hook Angela grew up in Lincolnshire and went to University of London Goldsmiths College. She has taught in primary schools in Surrey and Sussex and at the International School of Stockholm. Angela is married with three grown-up children and three grandchildren and has lived in Uckfield and worshipped at Holy Cross Church, since 1979. She loves being retired, after 18 years teaching at Little Horsted Church of England School and is enjoying the beauty of our countryside. She is delighted to be part of the community at Holy Cross School.
Foundation Governor: Jan Cobley
Foundation Governor: Rhian Cottrell
Deputy Chair: Katharine Rabson Stark I have been a Governor for almost twelve years in East Sussex. During this time I have been Chair of the St Thomas à Becket CE Federation (Framfield and Blackboys Primary Schools) and I helped bring those schools together as a successful Federation. I am still a Governor on this board, and I am also a Governor on the board of another local Federation: South Ashdown Schools Federation (Buxted and Bonners Primary schools). I am also a Consultant Governor for ESCC helping and supporting Governing Boards in primary schools across the county along with being a member of the Interim Executive Board of Groombridge St Thomas and a member of the Schools Forum for East Sussex. I am a practicing ceramic artist having recently re-trained at West Dean College following a 20 year career in partnership and strategy development in the Higher Education sector. I have three children, all at Uckfield College. I love where we live and am passionate about walking and the countryside.
Foundation Governor: Sophie Hazlewood Sophie moved to East Sussex from Devon in August 2020, however, grew up in nearby Heathfield. She is a Project Manager who has worked in educational and academic publishing for many years and for the NHS over the last eighteen months. Sophie is married with two children (primary and secondary aged) and lives in Halland along with the family dog Spud. Sophie is keen to get to know her local community and to become involved with Holy Cross Primary School.
Elected Parent Governor: Darren Butcher Darren was born and raised in East Sussex and spent most of his childhood in Blackboys. He is now raising his family in Uckfield with his eldest pupil attending Holy Cross. After gaining qualifications at Catering College in Eastbourne, Darren spent time in Australia working at many varied venues including Sydney Conference and Exhibition Centre, The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and Fox Studios. Darren has over 25 years experience in Hospitality with 20 of those years being at a senior management level. Darren enjoys most sports, reading, music and quality family time. He is looking forward to supporting the success of Holy Cross.
Elected Parent Governor: Samuel Richardson Sam is originally from Surrey and grew up right on the Sussex border. He has over 15 years’ experience in the property and construction consultancy sector, holding senior management roles in commercial, project and Bid Management. After a period living in London, Sam moved out of the city with partner Kim and their daughter to find a better quality of life and be nearer the extended family, settling in Uckfield in 2018. Sam now has two daughters currently at Holy Cross and is looking forward to further helping the school community. In his spare time, Sam enjoys painting, cycling, skateboarding, and going for long family walks on the Ashdown Forest with Maggie, the family labradoodle.
Priest (ex-officio): Rev John Wall The Rev John Wall has been ordained for 27 years and he has served in five parishes, starting with a Curacy in Crawley, West Sussex. He began as Rector of Uckfield in September 2016. He has previously been a governor at four schools, but Holy Cross is his first Church School and he is very pleased to be involved with such a lovely community. He enjoys doing silly assemblies!
Archdeacon Edward The Ven Dr Edward Dowler is Archdeacon of Hastings (the Hastings archdeaconry includes most of East Sussex, including Uckfield) and also priest in charge of St John the Evangelist, Crowborough. He started in his present post in 2016, and was formerly a parish priest in the diocese of London and, before that, a theological college tutor and Vice-Principal in Oxford. He and his family live in Crowborough. Archdeacon Edward has been a governor at a number of primary schools and was also Chair of Governors at a secondary school in Enfield, north London.
Interim Headteacher: Paul Prest I have the proven experience, knowledge, enthusiasm and determination to make a difference for the young people and the community I serve. I have worked in a range of leadership positions within the primary, secondary and local authority, always seeking excellence. My passion is teaching and learning and I am well versed in research informed strategies, that make a demonstrable impact on the outcomes for our young people. I am delighted to have the opportunity of leading Holy Cross forward and am looking forward to the challenge.