Who's Who
Who's Who
These are the 12 people who make up our Governing Body at St Mary's Bentworth. They are Foundation Governors, a representative of the Local Authority, current parents and school staff. For more information or to contact a governor, please contact the School Office.
Chair of St Mary's Governing Body
Foundation Governor
Health & Safety Governor
Term ends: 31.08.2025
Foundation Governor
Chair of Education Committee
Safeguarding Governor
Term ends: 17.10.2026
Foundation Governor
Chair of Admissions Committee
Term ends: 05.02.2024
Foundation Governor
Lead SEN Governor
Term ends: 15.04.2026
Foundation Governor
Chair of Resources Committee
Term ends: 15.04.2023
Local Authority Governor
Term ends 13.07.2026
Head Teacher
Appointed 01.01.2013
Staff Governor
Classteacher
Term ends: 29.09.2023
Scott Fitness
Parent Governor
Term Ends: 24.09.2026
Lara Swan
Parent Governor
Term ends: 30.06.2026
Cathy Dumelow
Associate Governor (SIAMS)
Appointed: 05.10.2022
Ashley Feldon-Lawrence
Associate Governor (ICT)
Appointed 13.07.2022
Clerk to the Governors
Appointed 01.07.2011
How are Governors appointed?
A Governor is appointed for a 4 year term. They may, of course, stand down at any time within the 4 year term. At the end of the term they may seek re-appointment. We have 12 Governors. The Governing Body was required by law to review its constitution and completed this in July 2015.
Three changes were implemented as part of the reconstitution following the Diocese guidance for Voluntary Aided Schools:
- We reduced the number of staff governors (excluding the Headteacher) from 2 to 1
- We increased the number of parent governors from 1 to 2
- We removed the requirement that 3 Foundation Governors must be appointed when parents of children attending St Mary's.
Foundation Governors: appointed by Bentworth Parochial Church Council (PCC) as the representative Church organisation for the school locality. Applicants complete a form for the PCC setting out their involvement in the local community and their religious affiliation—it is not a requirement that you are a practising member of the Church of England. Foundation Governors should ensure that the school ethos reflects its Christian foundation. Foundation Governors can be parents with children attending St Mary's or members of the community.
Parent Governors: appointed by election by current parents. The parent governor brings a parent perspective to Governing Body discussions. They are not appointed as a delegate for parents.
Local Authority Governor: appointed by Hampshire County Council. In our case the County Councillor for the school area takes responsibility for the appointment, taking account of local views.
Staff Governors: the Headteacher and elected representative for teaching and support staff.
Ex-officio: the Rector is also a Governor.