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The Governing Board
At Barnes, the governing board is made up from a diverse group of individuals whose role is to provide strategic leadership and accountability for the school.
We work closely with the Sue Jepson (Head Teacher) and the Senior Leadership Team to:
- Oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure money is well spent
- Make decisions that directly affect the education and well-being of the children
- Ensure the clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction for the school
The full governing board meets 5 times a year with an additional strategy meeting usually held in January. The governing board then has several committees who meet to look at individual aspects of the school’s operations:
- Finance – keep oversight of the school’s budget
- Premises, health and safety – are responsible for the school’s buildings, grounds and health & safety
- Teaching, learning, access & inclusion – look at the delivery of education and progress against the related performance indicators
- Pay & personnel – have oversight of the pay and conditions arrangements for all staff
- Safeguarding working party – ensures that the school has in place policies and procedures which keep children safe in education
If you’d like to request any of the following:
- Approved and signed minutes
- Agendas
- Papers considered at the meeting
Please contact clerk@barnes.richmond.sch.uk
Governors are frequent visitors to the school:
- We meet school leaders (often virtually) to discuss the business of the committees throughout the year
- The chair meets regularly with Sue Jepson (Headteacher) and the Senior Leadership Team to stay in touch with the most important items of business
- Governors take part in key stage reviews and attend the major school events throughout the year
- Members of each committee make regular visits during the year to do site walk-arounds, review the budget and ensure all staff and children have a safe place to be
If you’d like to contact a member of the governing board, the best place to start is probably with the chair and/or vice-chair:
Co-Chair of Governing Body: ARussell@barnes.richmond.sch.uk
Co-Chair of Governing Body: DSedman@barnes.richmond.sch.uk
Clerk to Governing Body: Clerk@barnes.richmond.sch.uk
Every year the governors complete a register of interests which is an up-to-date register of business and pecuniary interests of the governors and the headteacher. This is to make sure our board is transparent and open in all decision making.
Barnes Primary School Governors – Declarations of Interest 2025-2026
The governing board can’t function without good attendance, so we publish the members present at each meeting. This ensures we are transparent about the decisions made and that these have the correct level of scrutiny and oversight.
Alexander Russell
Co-Chair of Governing Body
Start of Term: 25/03/2024
End of Term: 25/03/2028
Dolly Sedman
Co-Chair of Governing Body
Start of Term: 06/12/2023
End of Term: 05/12/2027
Jonathan Chapman
Governor
Start of Term: 01/10/2024
End of Term: 01/10/2028
Kate Gowar
Governor
Start of Term: 04/12/2024
End of Term: 03/12/2028
Charlotte Hobbs
Governor
Start of Term: 03/12/2025
End of Term: 02/12/2029
Sue Jepson
Head Teacher
Start of Term: 24/07/2019
End of Term: 12/03/2039
James Lawless
Governor
Start of Term: 06/12/2023
End of Term: 05/12/2027
Scarlett Lionis
Parent Governor
Start of Term: 01/12/2024
End of Term: 30/11/2028
Antonia Lord
Governor
Start of Term: 10/12/2022
End of Term: 10/12/2026
Ching Yi Man
Governor
Start of Term: 04/12/2024
End of Term: 03/12/2028
Alexandra Redpath
Safeguarding Governor & Wellbeing Governor
Start of Term: 25/03/2025
End of Term: 24/03/2029
Jeremy Rees
Governor
Start of Term: 01/10/2024
End of Term: 01/10/2028
Alexandra Shephard
Vice-Chair of Governing Body
Start of Term: 27/03/2024
End of Term: 27/03/2028
Mary Smith
Governor
Start of Term: 26/06/2025
End of Term: 25/06/2029
Cllr. Gemma Stockley
LA-nominated Governor & Safeguarding Governor
Start of Term: 01/11/2022
End of Term: 01/11/2026
Fiona Walker
Governor
Start of Term: 13/03/2025
End of Term: 12/03/2029
Jade Huxley
Associate Member
Heather Smith
Associate Member
