Governance at The Bluebell Federation 

Horsted Infant School and Horsted Junior School are maintained schools who operate under Medway Local Authority.  

Horsted Infant School  and Horsted Junior School are part of The Bluebell Federation.

The Bluebell Federation was formed in April 2022 and includes Burnt Oak Primary School, Horsted Infant School, Horsted Junior School and Swingate Primary School.  

The Full Governing Body of The Bluebell Federation meets six times a year. These meetings are preceded by separate School Governing Committee meetings which feed into the Full Governing Body meetings. 

Governors are members of the general public who have an interest in the education of children and are prepared to volunteer to work alongside the Executive Headteacher, the Headteacher and school staff to improve teaching and learning and the general educational experience for all the children across the federation.

Day to day management of the school is delegated to the Executive Headteacher and the Headteachers.

The constitution of the full governing body provides for 12 Governors made up of 2 parent governors, 1 local authority governor, 1 Executive Headteacher, 1 staff governor and 7 co-opted governors. All governors are required to register any business interests they may have to avoid any conflict of interests that may arise in meetings.

All governors are volunteers and terms of appointment are for 4 years. Vacancies may arise at any time and efforts are made to fill posts with people who have appropriate skills or experience to offer the school.

Different types of Governors

The Horsted Governing Committee

There is a Horsted Governing Committee that meets four times a year at Horsted School and is chaired by David Coates.

This committee ensures the school offers a broad and balanced curriculum in accordance with the National Curriculum; receives performance data and timely reports of pupils' achievements and progress; provides strategic advice and guidance on personnel matters; ensures well-being of pupils and staff is being considered, reviews proposed building projects, looks at current and future staffing and receives reports on safeguarding and child protection.  Finance is also discussed during these meetings and monitors the budget; agrees priorities for revenue and capital funding; ensures the school maintains internal financial controls; has initial oversight of school premises and grounds; receives proposals for capital projects and ensures best practice in procurement and implementation of works and takes a lead responsibility for health and safety and mandatory requirements.  

Different types of Governors 

Parent governors are elected by parents of children in the school. 

Staff governors are elected by all teachers and support staff. The governing body may appoint someone should there be no nominations.  

Local authority governor  - appointed by Medway LA 

Co-opted governors - appointed by the governing body. Co-opted governors are usually made up of local people who have an interest in the local community. They can be chosen to reflect the diversity in the school and the local community.  

 

Please see below The Bluebell Federation Governors, their terms of office :- 

Our Governors

Role	Name	Term of Office
Terry Smith	Chair	13th March 2024 - 12th March 2028
Paul Harrison	Vice Chair	13th March 2024 - 12th March 2028
Steve Geary	Executive Headteacher	n/a
Tara Baker	Co-opted Governor	13th March 2024 - 12th March 2028
Darren Bird	Co-opted Governor	16th January 2025 - 15th January 2029
Stacey Brooker	Parent Governor	13th March 2024 - 12th March 2028
David Coates	Co-opted Governor	13th March 2024 - 12th March 2028
Barry Hammond	Co-opted Governor	13th March 2024 - 12th March 2028
Amanda Howes	Staff Governor	28th October 2024 - 27th October 2028
Simon Lucas	Co-opted Governor	13th March 2024 - 12th March 2028
Stephen Roe	Co-opted Governor	13th March 2024 - 12th March 2028

Horsted Governing Committee

 

There is a Horsted Governing Committee that meets four times a year at Horsted School and is chaired by David Coates.

This committee ensures the school offers a broad and balanced curriculum in accordance with the National Curriculum; receives performance data and timely reports of pupils' achievements and progress; provides strategic advice and guidance on personnel matters; ensures well-being of pupils and staff is being considered, reviews proposed building projects, looks at current and future staffing and receives reports on safeguarding and child protection.  Finance is also discussed during these meetings and monitors the budget; agrees priorities for revenue and capital funding; ensures the school maintains internal financial controls; has initial oversight of school premises and grounds; receives proposals for capital projects and ensures best practice in procurement and implementation of works and takes a lead responsibility for health and safety and mandatory requirements.  

 

Sarah Steer	Headteacher
David Coates	Chair
Paul Harrison	Vice chair
Barry Hammond	Parent Governor
Roxy Heywood	Associate Member
James Packman	Associate Member
Stephen Roe	Co-opted Governor