Governing Body

Welcome to Highbury Primary School Governors’ page

We hope you find the information contained here useful

Our Chair of Governors is Pauline Jeffs who can be contacted via the school office at admin@highbury-prim.portsmouth.sch.uk

DUTIES OF THE GOVERNING BODY

Governors are elected to serve four years. Governors are like a Board of Directors who meet at least three times a term and make decisions about how the school is run.

The main duty of the governing body is to maintain and improve our school’s standards of education; our work can be divided into these key areas:

setting the school’s vision and strategic aims, agreeing plans and policies and making creative use of resources
monitoring and evaluating performance
acting as a critical friend to support and challenge in the management of the school
ensuring that the school is accountable to the children and parents it serves, to its local community, to those who fund and maintain it, as well as to the staff it employs

As a Governing Body we

Ensure a high standard of educational attainment
Ensure financial probity by overseeing the school budget, including staffing and pay levels
Give support, advice and help to the school
Take a real pride in the school and the achievements of its pupils and staff
Work on and agree general school policies and the school’s own Development Plan
Work in partnership with the staff and education advisers for the benefit of the school
Visit the school in order to gain a clear understanding of the working of the school
Accept and act on collective decisions of the governing body
Participate in school activities in particular those which promote the school
Participate in training sessions
Ensure the premises are well managed
Agreed minutes of all governing body meetings are held in the school office. You can contact the governors via the school office.

Meet our Governors

	Pauline Jeffs, Chair of Governors My name is Pauline Jeffs and I live locally to the school in Hilsea. I joined the Board of Governors in May 2014 as a Local Authority governor. I am qualified accountant with 30 years’ service in the Public Sector in the NHS and more recently at the University of Portsmouth. I have over the years worked with many youth organisations and am great believer in giving our children both the academic and social skills to enrich them for their future. The Education arena is constantly changing and I am looking forward to embracing the challenges ahead to ensure the School continues to provide an excellent teaching environment for the children and staff going forward.
	Jo Watson- Headteacher Hello, I have been teaching in Portsmouth for almost thirty years and joined the Highbury team in September 2022. I love being a teacher and those values remain within me in my role as Headteacher. I am passionate about ensuring all children experience a fulfilling education and enjoy the learning opportunities that come through a Primary School journey. I am proud to be part of the Highbury community, working alongside a dedicated team of staff, committed parents and governors. Living on the south coast, I enjoy spending time with my family at the beach as it always leaves me feeling happy.
	Bob Griffin – Co-Opted Governor I am Bob Griffin and was appointed as a Co-Opted Governor in December 2018.
	My name is Katie Williamson and I joined the Governor's Board at Highbury Primary School in December 2023. I have worked in youth empowerment, leadership and social action for over 10 years and have a passion for giving young people opportunities to develop their skills to become Changemakers in their world! I am proud to be a part of the Highbury Community and to sit on the board with such passionate colleagues, and I aim to ensure that the children's voices are heard and taken into consideration with our decision making."
	.Lyndsey Knight - Assistant Headteacher and Inclusion Lead Hello, I have been teaching for 23 years and have experience across a range of settings. I have been lucky enough to teach in Thailand, which was a wonderful experience, as well as London where I taught in a special school for children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. I have been settled in Portsmouth for a while now and have been a part of the Trust for 16 years, having taught previously at Arundel Court, Langstone Juniors and now Highbury Primary. I feel very fortunate to have my values and beliefs shared with the rest of the Senior Leadership team at Highbury and I feel that together, we put everything into ensuring the best outcomes for our children. Outside of work, I spend a lot of my time with my own children who also keep me very busy! --

HighburyPrimary School