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Meet the Governors

Welcome to the Governors' section.

                                                             Governor Details 2026/2027                            

At Buxton Junior School, we have a team of Governors who work as volunteers to support the school. Their role is to develop a vision and strategy for the school; oversee financial performance and make sure that money is well spent; hold the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and to engage with young people, staff, parents and the wider school community to understand their views.

 

Governors are expected to attend 6 Local Governing Team (LGT) meetings each year for approximately 2 hours per meeting.  During these meetings Governors look at a wide range of information to monitor how well the school is performing. Detailed reports including safeguarding, data and finance are discussed at these meetings, as well as a more general headteachers report. 

 

Governor Support

To support the work that goes on, Governors are encouraged to participate in school visits twice a year for approximately an hour. Governors observe what is happening in school, look at the school environment and talk to the young people about their school.

 

New Governors

If an individual is interested in being a member of our LGT they should meet with the Chair and Headteacher and discuss what they could bring to the team. Following the recruitment process they would then be invited to attend the LGT meeting where they would be appointed. Governors are appointed for a 4-year term of office. Once appointed Governors receive an induction and training for the role.

Our Local Governing Team

We are proud to have a committed team that is made up of individuals with a range of backgrounds and experience.

For more information, please contact the Governance Professional, Mrs Beverley Smith, at info@buxton-jun.derbyshire.sch.uk

                                                             Governor Details 2026/2027                            

At Buxton Junior School, we have a team of Governors who work as volunteers to support the school. Their role is to develop a vision and strategy for the school; oversee financial performance and make sure that money is well spent; hold the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and to engage with young people, staff, parents and the wider school community to understand their views.

Governors are expected to attend 6 Local Governing Team (LGT) meetings each year for approximately 2 hours per meeting.  During these meetings Governors look at a wide range of information to monitor how well the school is performing. Detailed reports including safeguarding, data and finance are discussed at these meetings, as well as a more general headteachers report. 

Governor Support

To support the work that goes on, Governors are encouraged to participate in school visits twice a year for approximately an hour. Governors observe what is happening in school, look at the school environment and talk to the young people about their school.

New Governors

If an individual is interested in being a member of our LGT they should meet with the Chair and Headteacher and discuss what they could bring to the team. Following the recruitment process they would then be invited to attend the LGT meeting where they would be appointed. Governors are appointed for a 4-year term of office. Once appointed Governors receive an induction and training for the role.

Our Local Governing Team

We are proud to have a committed team that is made up of individuals with a range of backgrounds and experience.

For more information, please contact the Governance Professional, Mrs Beverley Smith, at info@buxton-jun.derbyshire.sch.uk

Role

Name

Appointed by/ Elected by

Term of office

Business interests

Relationships with other governors/ staff

Responsibility

 
 

Chair of Governors

(Parent)

Corryn Walker

Parents

20/1/23 -19/1/27

None

None

People, Leadership & Management / Financial Sustainability

 

Vice-chair of Governors (Co-opted)

 

Johanna Beswick

Local Governance Team

18/11/22 -17/11/26

None

None

Quality of Education / Compliance, Health & Safety

 

Headteacher

Ann Marie Dowling

NA

01/09/26 (NA)

None

None

 

 

Staff Governor (Teaching)

Rebecca Hewison

Staff

08/10/26 - 07/10/30

None

Ruth Brown (family member)

 

 

Staff Governor (Non-teaching)

VACANCY

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent Governor

Ruth Brown

Parents

20/11/23 - 19/11/27

None

Rebecca Hewison (family member)

Personal Development, Behaviour & Attitudes

 

Co-opted Governor

Andrew Williamson

Local Governance Team

08/10/26 – 07/10/30

None

None

 

 

Co-opted Governor

Kerry Chisnall

Local Governance Team

27/04/24 – 26/04/28

None

None

Safeguarding

 

Governor vacancies – non-teaching staff

Historic (Governors stepped down in the last 12 months)

Linda Grooby (LA Governor)

Donna Elwis (Parent Governor)

Frances Herridge (Co-opted Governor)

Academic Year 2026/2027

Attendance at Governor Meetings

28/09/2026

M Dowling

Y

A Williamson

Y

 R Hewison

Y

J Beswick

N

C Walker

Y

K Chisnall

Y

R Brown

Y

BS (LGP)

Y

Academic Year 2025/2026

Attendance at Governor Meetings:

Our Instrument of Government (which was reviewed on 29/09/2025) states our number of governors as 12 (currently 9 with 3 vacancies as at 18/3/26). 

Date of Meeting

Number 

Attended

Number

Absent

29/09/2025

9 (82%)             

2 (18%)

17/11/2025

8 (73%)

3 (27%)

19/01/2026

10 (91%)

1 (9%)

09/03/2026

9 (90%)

1 (10%)

05/05/2026

9 (100%)

0

07/07/2026

9 (100%)

0

Academic Year 2024/2025

Attendance at Governor Meetings:

Our Instrument of Government (which was reviewed on 30/09/2024) states our number of governors as 12. 

Date of Meeting

Number

Attended

Number

Absent

30/09/2024

11 (92%)

1 (8%)

18/11/2024

10 (83%)

2 (17%)

20/01/2025

11 (92%)

1 (8%)

10/03/2025

10 (83%)

2 (17%)

06/05/2025

9 (75%)

3 (25%)

07/07/2025

7 (58%)

5 (42%)

 

Private School Fund

Our private school fund is kept in school and is independently audited at the end of each academic year. The audit is inspected and presented to the Governing Body every Autumn.