Our Local Governing Body consists of:
Headteacher
Miss Laura Gray
LG: No Business or Pecuniary interest declared
1 x Staff Governor
Vacant
2 x Parent Governors
Mrs Clair Willett
Term of Office 1st October 2024-30th September 2028
Business Interest declared – none
1 x vacant
8 x Co-opted Governors
Richard Mayfield ( Chair of Governors)
Term of Office: 19th July – 18th July 2026
Elected as Chair: 10th September 2025
You can contact Richard via the Governance Professional: Mrs Judith Crook governor@ridgeway.staffs.sch.uk
Jack Andrea
Term of Office 21st November 2023 – 20th November 2027
Governor responsible for Safeguarding
Pecuniary Interests declared: None
Emma Staples
Term of Office 27th February 2024 – 26th February 2028
Pecuniary Interests declared: None
Mrs Karen Walden
Term of Office: 15th June 2022 – 14th June 2026
Governor responsible for SEND
Pecuniary interests declared: None
Mrs Elizabeth Chawner
Term of Office – 13th January 2026 – 12th January 2030
Pecuniary interests declared: None
Mr Grant Cooper
Term of Office – 13th January 2026 – 12th January 2030
Pecuniary interests declared: None
2 x vacant positions
Record of attendance at LGB Meetings
Record of Governor attendance at meetings 2024-2025
Record of Governor attendance at meetings 2023-2024
Record of Governor attendance at meetings 2022 -2023
Record of Governor attendance at meetings 2021 – 2022
List of Business Interests where related party arrangements apply September 2025
The governors’ role
As Governors we have three roles:
- to be strategic
- to act as a critical friend in the development of the school;
- to be accountable to the whole school community – particularly to pupils and to parents.
How we work
We follow the Primitas Governor cycle. This involves 7 meetings per year. Each meeting is for all Governors. The only exception is the Pay Committee. Meetings covers a range of topics such as attendance, behaviour, teaching and learning, SEND, Safeguarding, Health and Safety and many more.
Each governor has a linked curriculum area or a specific area of interest – for example: safeguarding, SEN or PP.
Keeping in touch
All the minutes of the Full Governing Body meetings are posted on the school website (see below) along with other relevant information. The website is a good way of keeping up to date with all aspects of school life. If you have a concern or a point of view to share, please come and speak to us.
There are lots of ways of sharing your views with us. As many of our governors are also parents of children at school, so we can often be found around at the beginning and end of the school day. We will also be arranging specific opportunities and times throughout the school year to hear from you and keep in touch. Alternatively, you can always leave us a note at the school office or drop us an e-mail on office@ridgeway.staffs.sch.uk and we will get in touch with you.
Becoming a governor
Being a school governor is an important role but you do not need to have any particular skills, knowledge or experience to become a governor. What you need to bring is: a commitment to school life; the ability to work with others; patience and enthusiasm; a willingness to learn; a commitment to working openly and democratically; and, most importantly a willingness to spend what time you can offer getting involved in school life. The most important thing to note is that governors are a team, not a collection of individuals or groups with separate agendas. However much we may differ in our opinions and experiences we are united by our commitment to the school and the responsibility we share for its long-term success. In short, we have a common purpose. If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a school governor please get in touch with any of our governors.