What is the vision of our governing body?

As a Church of England primary school, it is our overarching vision to ensure that all pupils and staff, regardless of their race, faith, gender or disability, should find that Rushall CE Primary School is a place where they both achieve and flourish.  

Our Governing Body is made up of volunteers who guide and support the strategic direction of the school, providing challenge and support to our headteacher and her team.  We are from a range of backgrounds, bringing a variety of experience and knowledge to support the strategic direction of the school.

What does our governing body do?

The Governing Body works within the statutory framework and is required to focus on three core functions:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
• Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff;
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

To ensure that our governors are able to contribute to effective governance they regularly attend training sessions that are specific to their roles.  Equa provides regular training opportunities and governors also access training through the Salisbury Diocese.

Our Strategic Plan 2023-2028 

Our Impact Report 2022-2023Our Impact Report 2023-2024

Throughout each academic year our governors,

• Attend Local Governing Board meetings at least once a term (6 times a year)
• Meet with the relevant staff members for their given responsibilities
• Write reports concerning academic standards, provision, teaching and learning and initiatives to improve standards
• Present to the governing body the findings of their reports
• Are regularly present at school events
• Are recognisable faces amongst the school community
• Interact with parents, pupils and the local community

Governors maintain a monitoring schedule which details areas and subjects to be addressed throughout the academic year.

Our Monitoring Schedule 2022-2023

Our Monitoring Schedule 2023-2024Our Monitoring Schedule 2024-2025

Our Local Governing Body working with Equa Multi Academy Trust

In April 2019 Rushall Primary joined Equa Multi Academy Trust.  Equa Multi Academy Trust is a group of good and outstanding schools, initially five primary and one secondary, providing excellence in education for children in rural Wiltshire, aged 2-19. Initially, like-minded schools came together in 2016, with a common goal of providing the best possible learning opportunities for children in Wiltshire market towns, and surrounding villages.  Equa’s Scheme of Delegation and their Local Governing Body Terms of Reference sets out detailed and specific information concerning the specific role of our governing body.

Equa MAT Scheme of Delegation

Equa MAT LGB Terms of Reference

Who are our current governors?

• Mrs Naomi Abbott - Chair & Foundation governor

Naomi has been a parent at Rushall Primary since September 2015 and has been a foundation governor since November 2015.  Naomi has a primary teaching degree and before having children she taught in another rural Wiltshire primary school.  Naomi and her husband, Nathan, have one child currently at Rushall and two at Lavington School.

• Mr Nigel Spink - Parent governor

Nigel has been a parent at Rushall Primary since September 2014 and became a governor in October 2019.  Nigel qualified as an Air Traffic Controller in 2006 at the London Air Traffic Control Centre near Southampton and is currently working as a Watch Supervisor and Watch Training Manager.  Nigel and his wife, Lizzie, have one child currently at Rushall and two at Lavington School.

• Ms Sarah Harman - Parent governor

 Sarah has lived in North Newnton for the past three years with her partner, Scott.  They have two boys and the eldest is currently in his first year at Rushall.  Sarah works for the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Scott is a self-employed builder.  Sarah enjoys sports and plays 5-aside football as well as softball cricket.  Sarah regularly volunteers and worked for the charity Friendship Works, which matches children and young adults who have experienced childhood trauma or disrupted attachments.  At the moment Sarah volunteers for Pancreatic Cancer Research UK.  Sarah is looking forward to her new role as a governor and becoming part of the Rushall School community.

• Mrs Joanna Clark - Foundation governor

Jo has been married for 32 years to Adrian and they have two sons.  Having moved to Rushall village a couple of years ago, Jo's husband has now been posted to Kenya for two years!  However, Jo is hoping to remain involved as a governor by joining our meetings via Microsoft Teams and establishing links between Rushall Primary School and the elementary school in her Kenyan township.  When in Rushall, Jo enjoys attending St Matthew's church, being out in the Wiltshire countryside and is a Military Wives' enthusiast.  To relax, Jo enjoys watching rugby and cricket.  Jo's current role is the National Children's Speaking Event organiser for The Prayer Book Society.  Jo loves being part of the Rushall Primary School community.

• Mr Rob Marsh - Foundation Governor

Rob spent 28 years in the army (Royal Engineers) including post-hurricane disaster relief, bomb disposal, counter-terrorism, peace enforcement and specialist research and development. Throughout his time in the army, Rob was involved in voluntary youth and children's work for army families and local churches.  Rob also set up a small charity to meet and support young people on the street.  On leaving the army, Rob ran a larger charity in West Kent, developing and providing supported housing, alternative curriculum and SEN curriculum, youth clubs and employment support.  Rob and his wife Anne, who has previously worked in a CoE primary school, have recently retired and moved to Rushall, where they attend St James' church.  Rob is looking forward to working alongside the children at Rushall and helping in any way he can.

• Mr John Winskill - Parent governor

 John and his wife, Lisa, live in Rushall village and have two children.  Their daughter is in year 5 at Rushall and their son is currently in year 8 at Lavington school.  John trained as a primary school teacher in the early 1990s at the University of Surrey, but is now a retired army major. John is passionate about Rushall school and is looking forward to helping to make a positive difference.

• Mr Craig Gill - Associate Member

Craig has recently joined the Rushall community, having lived on the island of Borneo for 17 years and is still getting used to the cold weather of Europe! He works for Defence Children Services at Upavon Station, as the Strategy, Alignment and Futures Officer/Executive Lead for 22 MOD Schools and Settings across the world. He has been in education for over 20 years and has worked with children for almost 30 years. Whilst in Borneo, Craig was Headteacher of a UK MOD Primary School and worked closely with the Garrison community to provide education for service personnel. Now that he is back in Upavon, he continues to support the varying needs of service children and is looking forward to continuing this support at Rushall. 

• Mrs Lucy Turner - Headteacher

Lucy joined Rushall Primary as Headteacher in April 2023.  She qualified as a teacher in 1999 and has since taught in many local primary schools including Easton Royal Academy and Woodborough. Her subject strengths are in Maths, PE, Science and Music. 

• Mr Gordon Egginton - Staff governor

Gordon joined the staff at Rushall Primary in September 2013.  During his time at Rushall, Gordon has taught all year groups within Key Stage 2 and is currently teaching years 5 and 6 in Blake Class.  Gordon was a staff governor between October 2018 and December 2021 and has since re-joined the governing body in January 2023.

Categories of Governors

• Foundation Governors are appointed by the Parochial Church Council. 
• Parent Governors are elected by the parents of the school.
• Local Authority Governors are appointed by the County Council.
• Staff Governors are elected by the staff at the school.

As a school we are currently recruiting more governors on to our team.  If you are interested or would like more information, please contact our Clerk to the governors, Wendy Hellin, w.hellin@equa.org.uk 

Our Governor Recruitment Advert

Tel: 01980 630360 

Rushall LGB Constitution, Declarations & Attendance 2023_2024