Governing Body Meeting Attendance:

Full Governing Body

01.11.2022 Attended: E Armstrong, D Bathgate, S Gardner, S Griffith, E Smedley, N Wallis, J Mansell.

24.01.2023 Attended: E Armstrong, S Gardner, S Griffith, E Smedley, N Wallis, J Mansell

                  Apologies: D Bathgate

28.03.2023

23.05.2023

04.07.2023

Register of Business Interests:

Governors:

Staff:

Resignation:

Parent Governor: Lara de Celis  27 Nov 2019

Co-opted Governor: Michelle Shearer 12 Mar 2020

Chair of Governors: Colin Lumbis 5th May 2021 

Parent Governor: Suzanne Moore 9th February 2022

The school has no employees with a gross annual salary of £100,000 or more.

The webpage for the schools financial benchmarking service is:

https://schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk/school/detail?urn=137810

Financial Reporting

The year end financial report is available on written request from the school office.

Meet the Governors:

Pen Portraits:

Elaine Armstrong (Co-opted Governor) 

My name is Elaine Armstrong and I am delighted to have joined Brierley Forest Primary and Nursery School as a Co-opted Governor. My background includes 30 years within Education Finance with Nottinghamshire County Council and Derby City Council, and more recently being the Trust Business and Finance Manager for the Flying High Academy Trust until I retired in April 2021. These roles have allowed me to gain a broad knowledge of what is needed for a school to run smoothly and effectively. I am hoping that I can use my experience to build relationships with pupils, staff and parents, support the school to provide excellence in education and the pupils to be happy and achieve their full potential. 

Donna Bemment-Morris (School Business Manager and Associate Governor)

As the School Business Manager I oversee all things financial, have responsibility for line managing the Admin Team and liaise with the LA’s Premises and Catering teams. This does not mean that I am always secluded away in my office, I enjoy getting to know the children at BFPNS and hearing their viewpoints, so that I can ensure the money is being spent wisely.  

I have worked in schools for seven years always with a focus on finance. I have supported other schools in the LA with their school finance – it is a privileged position to be asked to support anther school and something that I really enjoyed doing. 

Before working in schools, I worked as a Buyer for a large banking institution and an Assistant Purchasing Manager at a national legal firm both being financial based roles. So it will come as no surprise that at home I hold the ‘purse strings’!! 

My family consists of two- and four-legged members – children, dogs, rabbits and chickens (now do you see why I have to be good with the finances!!) – all of which keep me very busy and give me lots of experience in being part of a team. 

I bring my financial knowledge to the governing body as well as a passion to ensure that all children receive the education they need.  

Simon Gardner (Co-opted Governor)

I have been a Co-opted Governor at Brierley for just over 2 years. I have been a General Manager within hospitality for over 25 years, and am used to running businesses with large workforces and budgets.  Since joining Brierley, I have been the Finance Link Governor, and following our recent committee restructure, am now vice-chair of the finance and personnel committee.

My wife has worked in Education all her life, and I also had a child attend Brierley, so in addition to my business skills, I have a strong understanding of the impact school life has on Children and Staff.

I grew up in a very similar area to Brierley and the ethos of the school really resonated with me; I feel very privileged to be able to support the school on its journey.

I am also Chair of Trustees at a local Charity dedicated to supporting the people of Ashfield. In my free time, I’m normally found walking through muddy fields with my dog and tidying up after my two boys.

 Sarah Griffith (Head Teacher)

I have been a teacher for over 20 years, working in a number of primary schools and a special school across the county. I have held a number of roles starting as the PE Leader and including SENDCo and Deputy Head Teacher, leading to my current role as the Head Teacher at BPNS, which I have done for 2.5 years – most of which has been during the pandemic!!  

My teaching career started as a horse riding instructor. Which stood me in good stead for some of the unpredictable challenges that teaching throws at us – there is nothing more unpredictable than a half ton horse!!! Boy do you earn to think on your feet!! 

Outside of school, I spend my time with my family – usually this is outdoors walking the dogs and looking after/riding/training my horses, regardless of the wind rain or shine. I am very lucky to have a ‘house husband’ which means that time away from work can be spent doing the things we enjoy.  

My vision for the school is that each child will be enabled to engage in an education that is accessed through a provision that is appropriate to them and give them the opportunity to not only be successful but to feel and enjoy that success. 

Jane Mansell (Chair of Governors)

I have been involved with governance since becoming a parent governor at Carsic primary school, now known as Brierley Forest Primary and Nursery School, over 30 years ago.  Due to my experience as a parent governor, I was successfully appointed as NCC Governance Officer and began my professional career in governance within Nottinghamshire County Council in 1995 retiring in 2019.

During those 24 years, I attended more GB meetings than I could ever remember, saw the start of the academy system, supported many schools facing challenging situations, including amalgamation and was also involved in governor training, including annual conference planning and delivery.

Having I retained my relationship with Carsic Primary which then became Brierley Forest Primary and Nursery School as an NCC officer, I was thrilled to be asked to join the governing body in 2019, going back to the school where my governance career had first started.  I was appointed then as chair of governors in May, 2021.    I am very excited to be involved with my local community school during the next chapter of its development.

Nicola Wallis (Deputy Head Teacher and Associate Governor)

My name is Nicola Wallis and I am a co-opted Governor at Brierley Forest Primary and Nursery School. I am the school’s Deputy Head Teacher, leading on English, assessment and coaching and mentoring. I am one of six designated safeguarding leads and the designated teacher for looked after children/children in care.

I have experience of teaching from nursery age children through to year 6, and prior to becoming a primary school teacher, I was a programme manager and lecturer for post 16 students.

I believe that every child/student has the right to a quality education; to build skills for everyday life, giving them confidence to succeed and I enjoy being an integral part of a child’s development.

Away from school, I enjoy reading, writing and travel. I have completed fictional writing courses, which have inspired me to write my own children’s fiction book (a working progress!) and travelled to different European and African countries.