Governors
Welcome to the Governors’ section of the website! We are lucky to have a Governing body who are involved and regularly visit the school.
This is the page to come to for news about the governing body and it will be updated regularly.
Our school Governors are made up of a range of different people. Some people are members of the general community and some others are parent governors.
Governors come into school regularly or speak with the school when visits are not possible due to current restrictions. We also hold our committee and Full Governing Body meetings online via the virtual meeting technology to ensure we can still support Sarah and the team and keep up to date with school planning and strategy.
Trudi Archer regularly meets with our caretaker Mr Roy Witcomb and carry out Health and Safety inspections of our classrooms and site.
Our priorities have been to work with Mrs. Willes in her role as Head Teacher and her team to support decisions and actions taken to ensure your children get the best education during their time in Calmore Infant School.
I’d like to share with you a brief description of the role of the governing body and what we do:
- We help the school to set high standards by planning for the school’s future and setting targets for school improvement
- We keep the pressure up on school improvement
- We are a critical friend to the school, offering support and advice
- We help the school respond to the needs of parents and the community
- We make the school accountable to the public for what it does
- We work with the school on planning, developing policies and keeping the school under review
- We exercise our responsibilities and powers in partnership with the headteacher and staff
- We regularly visit the school when we are able and talk to pupils to find out about their learning and teachers to discuss subject areas and development plans.
But:
- We don’t intervene in the day-to-day management of the school (unless there are weaknesses in the school, when the GB has a duty to take action.)
We also form part of the school’s senior management team focusing on monitoring and raising standards of achievement, establishing high expectations and promoting effective teaching and learning, so that all pupils achieve their best.
Regards
Trudi Archer (Chair of Governors)
About Our Governors
Trudi Archer - Chair of Governors
I have been a governor for several years since retiring from a Senior Leadership position in the insurance industry and both my children and now my grandchildren have all attended Calmore Infant School.
I became Chair of Governors four years ago and continue in that role today, in addition to my Chair role I am the curriculum linked governor for PE and part of the pay committee.
I attend the Chair forums with other schools within Hampshire where we discuss various topics and share best practise.
We are so fortunate to be part of Calmore Infant School and have a united passion for its success for the children and I am so proud to work alongside a strong team of governors and staff.
Chris Prior - Safeguarding Governor
I have been a governor at Calmore for ten years. I am the school’s Safeguarding Governor. This means that I work with the Headteacher and her team on ensuring Calmore remains a safe and happy environment for everyone. This is obviously an important issue. I help ensure that the school is complying with its legal obligations surrounding keeping Calmore pupils safe and happy. There is a lot of legislation, and a lot of different things that need to be kept on top of, but I’m happy to say that, in all the time I’ve been in this role, I’ve always found Calmore to do safeguarding very well. It’s always there. I am also the school's governor for matters related to Special Educational Needs and Nurture, to help ensure the school enables every child to thrive to the best of their ability, regardless of their circumstances. Our staff always deserve a big pat on the back for all they are doing to make sure our school remains happy and safe for pupils of all backgrounds.
Mark Gurd - Wellbeing Governor
I have been a Governor at Calmore Infant School since 2019. I initially joined as a parent governor but have now become a co-opted governor, utilising my skills as a HR professional to support with the strategy of the school. My roles include chairing the Head Teacher Performance Management Committee, leading on Wellbeing and Pupil Voice, supporting the finance committee and being the lead governor for Science and D&T. During my time as a governor I have supported with the recruitment of our current head teacher, Mrs Willes and the 2023 Ofsted and I am proud to play a part in the leadership of our brilliant school.
Jon Barrett - Health and Safety Governor
I have been a Parent Governor at Calmore Infant school since October 2024. I work for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.
Governor Experience: I currently serve on boards at two schools. Health and Safety governor for Calmore Infant School.
Links to the school: My son currently attends Calmore Infant School and my daughter will in the future. Resident to the local area.
Why I became a governor: Public service is important to me and I wanted to give back to the education system that supports my children. I believe every child should be given the environment to thrive and the opportunity to work in a role that supports this appealed to me.
Victoria Nichols - Chair of Teacher Pay Committee
Both of my children have attended Calmore Infant School so I joined the governing body as a parent governor in November 2022. Since joining, I have moved to a co-opted governor, become chair of the teacher pay committee and work alongside teachers with a focus on History and English. I have a background in education as I have been a Primary Teacher in Southampton for over 10 years which I hope will allow me to make positive contributions to the school's leadership team through this role.
Our Governors
| Type | Name | Position and responsibility |
| Co-opted | Mrs Trudi Archer | Chair of Governors,DTG, SEND, P.E., Nurture, Health & Safety, Forum Rep |
| Co-opted | Mr Mark Gurd |
D&T, Science, Well-being, Pupil Voice |
| Co-opted | Mrs Alice Curtis | Health & Safety, P.E., Safeguarding |
| Co-opted | Mr Kevin Curtis | Maths, Geography |
| Co-opted | Mrs Melissa Filby | Safeguarding Deputy, Art, Music |
| Local Authority | Dr Chris Prior | SEND, PSHE, R.E., Nurture, Pupil Premium, LAC |
| Co-opted | Vacancy | R.E., PSHE, Health & Safety |
| Co-opted | Mrs Victoria Nichols | English, History |
| Co-opted | Mrs Carina Rehnberg | Vice Chair, EYFS, Wrap-around-care, OPAL |
| Parent | Mr Jon Barrett | Health & Safety governor |
| Parent | Vacancy | |
| Staff | Mrs Sarah Willes | Head teacher & Sports Funding |
| Staff | Mrs Adele Weaver | Deputy Head teacher & SENCO |
Meeting Attendance Full Governing Body
Y = Attended, N = Apologies Accepted
| Calmore Infants FGB Autumn 2 | Calmore Infants FGB Spring 1 | Calmore Infants FGB Spring 2 | Calmore Infants FGB Summer 1 | Calmore Infants FGB Summer 2 | ||
| Governor | Governor Type | 21 Nov 2023 | 30 Jan 2024 | 12 Mar 2024 | 13 May 2024 | 08 Jul 2024 |
| Mrs Trudi Archer | Co-opted governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Mr John Bucci | Co-opted governor | N | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Mrs Harriet Byrne | Parent governor | Y | Y | Y | ||
| Mrs Alice Curtis | Co-opted governor | Y | ||||
| Mr Kevin Curtis | Co-opted governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Mrs Melissa Filby | Co-opted governor | Y | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Mr Mark Gurd | Co-opted governor | Y | N | Y | Y | Y |
| Mrs Victoria Nichols | Co-opted governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Doctor Christopher Prior | Local Authority Governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Mrs Carina Rehnberg | Co-opted governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Mrs Adele Weaver | Staff governor | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Mrs Sarah Willes | Headteacher | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |