How the Governing Body is constituted

The Governing Body of Westgate CP currently has 8 members and can have 12 members as laid out in the Instrument of Governance last revised September 2025.

• 2 Parent Governors – representatives but not delegates of parents.
• 1 Local Authority Governor – appointed by the LA.
• 1 Staff Governor - who represents all school staff, but again, is not their delegate.
• The Headteacher
• 7 Co-opted Governors - who in the opinion of the Governing Body have the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.

 

Appointing bodies:

• Co-opted Governors are appointed by the Governing Body.
• Local Authority Governors are appointed by Suffolk County Council.
• Parent Governors are elected by parents of children at the school.
• Staff Governors are elected by staff employed by the school.
• Associate Members are appointed by the Governing Body for specific areas of expertise, but they have no voting rights.

 

Governing Body Structure

As well twice termly Full Governing Body Meetings, there are a number of committees and governors that have specific responsibilities that carry out the work of the Governing Body. They all report back to the Full Governing Body.

• The Learning and Achievement Committee deals with the curriculum and the achievement and attainment of pupils.
• The Finance Committee oversees budgets, buildings and staff.
• The Headteacher’s Performance and Review Committee sets and monitors targets for the Headteacher and makes decisions about her pay.

Named Governors

In addition to the work done by committees, several governors take on responsibilities for specific groups of pupils or areas within the school. At Westgate, we do not allocate particular curriculum areas for governors to monitor. Instead, all governors take responsibility for individual objectives within each year’s School Development Plan as these are our agreed priorities for the school.

 

• The Named Governor for Safeguarding leads on all safeguarding issues throughout the school.

• The Named Governor for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Equalities champions the rights of children who require more than the school’s universal offer.
• The Named Governor for Health, Safety and Wellbeing oversees issues relating to the school site and whether it is compliant with health and safety legislation, as well as overseeing the wellbeing of Staff and Governors.
• The Named Governor for Pupil Premium champions the rights of disadvantaged children within the school.

 

List of Current Governors, Terms of Office, Roles, Responsibilities and Interests

Name	Category of Governor	Term of Office	Responsibilities	Meetings Attended in 24/25	Business or Other Interest
Mr Adam Barton	Parent	20.11.23 - 19.11.27	Learning and Achievement Committee Named SEND and Equalities Governor	2/8	Child a pupil at Westgate
Mrs Katie Dalgoutte	Staff	16.09.24 – 15.09.28	Learning and Achievement Committee	7/8	Member of Staff Child a pupil at Westgate
Mr Alex Davies	Co–opted	29.06.22 – 28.06.26	Finance Committee Headteacher’s Performance and Review Committee Vice Chair of Governors Named Safeguarding Governor	5/8	Child a pupil at Westgate
Mr Mike Faulkner	Parent	25.03.24 – 24.03.28	Finance Committee Named Health and Safety Governor Named GDPR Governor	7/8	Child a pupil at Westgate
Mrs Rhonda Kidd	Headteacher	23.01.23 Ex officio	Learning and Achievement Committee Finance Committee	8/8	Husband is caretaker at Westgate
Mrs Sophie Knott	Co-opted	25.03.24 – 24.03.28	Learning and Achievement Committee Finance Committee Named Early Years Governor	8/8	Child a pupil at Westgate
Mr Paul McGoochan	Co-opted	08.07.24 – 07.07.28	Learning and Achievement Committee Named Pupil Premium Governor (includes LAC)	8/8	West Suffolk Council
Mr Gareth Russell	Co-opted	26.03.19 – 15.03.26	Learning and Achievement Committee Finance Committee Headteacher’s Performance and Review Committee Chair of Governors	8/8	Pastor at Westgate Chapel Children are pupils at Westgate

 

 

 

Name	Category of Governor	Stepped down	Responsibilities	Business or Other Interest
Helena Buono	Staff	July 2024	Learning and Achievement Committee	Member of Staff
Paula Davis	Co-opted	26.11.24	Learning and Achievement Committee Named SEND Governor