Local Governing Body
West Kidlington Primary & Nursery school is an academy managed by The White Horse Federation (TWHF). The Board of Trustees of TWHF have the legal responsibility for the running of the school. A representative of the Chairs of all the LGB Chairs is elected as a Trustee so that all LGBs can have a direct line of contact with the Trustees. This year the Chair of WKPS holds this position.
The Local Governing Body (LGB) has the responsibility for ensuring that the school provides an excellent education which enables all pupils to achieve high standards in every area of their school life.
The LGB is made up of community members, parents and persons appointed by the TWHF. At WKPS our governors do their best to get to know the school well and visit regularly. They each oversee particular areas of school life and their role is to support, but also challenge, the Principal and Senior leaders to achieving the school priorities.
The LGB meets 6 times per year and the TWHF receives the Minutes of the meetings.
The White Horse Federation has a very clear and shared understanding of what constitutes good and effective local governance. Schools within TWHF will be judged to have outstanding local governance when the LGB:
- Talks about teaching and learning.
- Knows a great deal about the school and its community.
- Is ambitious for the school and its community.
- Asks questions which make colleagues reflect, and that these discussions lead to delivering the very best outcomes for every child and adult within the school community.
- Maintains strong and effective relationships within TWHF.
At WKPS we think the this description matches our LGB very well and we are all committed to helping to make this school the best it can be.
If you have any questions for the local governing board, you are welcome to contact them via the clerk to governors. You can do this by leaving a note for the attention of the clerk at the school office or sending an email to [email protected].
Current Local Governors
Local Governors have been elected by parents or staff or co-opted by the LGB and will serve a four-year term of office. The Principal is also a local governor.
Simon IsherwoodPrincipal & Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Charlotte ChristieChair of Governors
Alison CookClerk
Mr Matt PayneParent Governor
Dr Mairi GibbsCo-opted Governor
Jonathan CassidyParent Governor
Members of the West Kidlington Primary & Nursery School local governing body are:
Charlotte Christie (Chair)
Charlotte worked for many years for Oxfordshire County Council and is now an independent education consultant. She has wide experience of working with headteachers and governors in all types of schools and has also frequently delivered training for governors. She has been a member of 4 IEBs, one as chair. In the past, she worked with the school as the local authority adviser.
Mairi Gibbs
Date of Appointment: 21st November 2021
Mairi is a Co-opted Governor and has two children at West Kidlington, currently in key stage 2 and key stage 1. Her family has also used nursery, Skips, and Magpies so has experienced all parts of the school. Mairi has a scientific background and works in Oxford as a senior manager, with a particular interest in developing a strong organisation backed by pragmatic and effective processes.
Matthew Payne
I moved to Kidlington in 2011 and my son joined West Kidlington in 2019. I was hugely impressed with how the school adapted to the COVID pandemic and how they ensured that the children's learning was always kept as a priority during what must have been a very challenging time. I trained as a Primary School teacher and am also an experienced football coach, currently the proud coach of Kidlington Rangers U7's. I look forward to working with Mr Isherwood and the rest of the Local Board of Governors.
Date of Appointment: 29th November 2021
Simon Isherwood (Principal)
Date of Appointment. 5th September 2016
I joined West Kidlington Primary School as the principal in September 2016. I am highly motivated to improve the education provision for all children in the school. I see a tremendous spirit throughout the school and would like to provide, through my role as principal and governor, a school that is current, inspiring, and pioneering. Prior to this appointment, I was headteacher at Bladon CE Primary School for five years. I have also worked as a school improvement advisor for the local authority. My wife is a teacher and my two children attend Oxfordshire primary and secondary schools. We talk school a lot in my house!
Alison Cook (Clerk to the LGB)
Alison works as a higher-level teaching assistant at West Kidlington Primary School. Initially appointed as clerk to the governing body in January 2016, she has more recently undertaken clerking duties for the IEB and the TMB. She now acts as clerk for the LGB.
Jonathan Cassidy
I am a secondary Mathematics teacher with 25 years' experience teaching in a variety of schools in England, Scotland and abroad. I am currently teaching in Thame. I have two children, one a boy in KS2 at the school. I also have a 20-year-old son who has an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. His journey through education has given me first-hand experience of SEN provision in Oxfordshire, both positively and negatively. Since my younger son started the school, I have been incredibly impressed with all aspects of the teaching and learning, particularly during COVID.
Date of appointment 30th March 2023
Register of Interests 2023-24 & Attendance 2022-23
| Name | Position/Name of Organisation | Role | Nature of Interest | Date Registered | Date Ceased | Attendance 2022 - 2023 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simon Isherwood | None | Literacy and Numeracy Champion | - | 04/10/18 | - | 4 of 5 | |
| Charlotte Christie | C Christie Education Ltd (Educational Consultancy) | Safeguarding Champion, Literacy and Numeracy Champion |
Director |
04/10/18 | - | 5 of 5 | |
| Dr Mairi Gibbs | Oxford University Innovation Ltd St Mary's Church, Kidlington |
Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Pupil Premium and Grants Champion, Literacy and Numeracy Champion |
Head of Operations Volunteer Children's Worker Close connection employed at WKPS |
29/11/21 | - | 4 of 5 | |
| Mr Matt Payne | Parent Governor | Parent Governor | None Declared | 29/11/21 | - | 5 of 5 | |
| Jonathan Cassidy | Parent Governor | Parent Governor |
None Declared |
30.03.2023-29.03.2027 | 3 of 3 |
Previous Governors (resigned in last 12 months)
Clare Harris - Left 20th September 2021 (attended 6 of 7 meetings)
Simon Cowley - Left 9th March 2021
Martin Davis - Left 13th October 2022
Elizabeth Peachey - Left 2nd February 2023
Emma Orton - Left 17th July 2023 (attended 4 of 6)
Gill Porter - Left 17th July 2023
The White Horse Federation Governance Information
Each school has its own local governing body (LGB). The chair of each LGB will also sit on a collective group of similar chairs, from which one representative will be elected and then co-opted onto the Board of Trustees. This process will be repeated every two years, thus affording new chairs the opportunity to be similarly elected.
TWHF Board of Trustees has clearly identified the areas of responsibility that they delegate to the LGBs. Although not in any way legally responsible, and not itself accountable for the statutory functions, the LGB has an important role to play in assisting the school to operate effectively in line with the wishes of TWHF Board of Trustees as communicated to the LGB.
To learn more, visit The White Horse Federation website.