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Meet the Governors
Introduction from the Chair of Governors
The Governing Body of Friar’s Grove Primary School is made up of Governors, Parent Governors, a Local Authority Governor and Staff Governors, including the Head Teacher.
Governors are appointed on a four year basis.
The four core strategic functions of the Friar’s Grove Primary School Governing Body are:
1. Ensuring the clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school.
2. Supportively holding the Head Teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure that its money is well spent.
4. Overseeing the wellbeing of those in the Friar’s Grove Primary School Community
The school’s Governors are all volunteers, with varied educational and working backgrounds, whose common interest is in ensuring Friar’s Grove Primary School remains the inspiring learning environment that it is.
The Governing Body of Friar’s Grove Primary School is made up of 15 members:
. 3 parent governors
. 1 LA governor
. 2 staff governors (including the Head teacher)
. 9 co-opted governors.
Our governors are chosen for their skills and their commitment to the school which is required for the effective governance and continued success of the school.
The Full Governing Body meets once a term and has delegated to sub-committees various aspects of its operations to two main committees being the Premises, Finance and Personnel (PFP) and the Full Governing Body with Curriculum and Pupil Focus who also meet termly.
For more information on what the role involves please see the document below. Please also see the Governance Handbook which is available here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/governance-handbook
Rod Goody
Chair of Governors
Membership of the Friar's Grove Governing Body 2024-25
Governors serve a four year term of office. (Date when term of office expires is listed below).
Rod Goody - Chair of Governors (31/08/2025)
Laura Sargent – Vice Chair (31/08/25)
Jeremy Gush - Local Authority (31/08/2026)
Helen McCombe - Co-opted (30/09/2026)
Martyn Mellis - Co-opted (30/09/2026)
Ian Levinson – Co-opted (03/04/2028)
Christine McDonald - Co-opted (08/09/26)
Melissa Jethwa-Flack - Parent (21/11/27)
Vacancy - Staff Governor
Toni Copp – Deputy Headteacher
Susan Shipp - Headteacher
Clerk to Governors: Nicola Jeffs
We currently have vacancies on our governing body. If you are interested in becoming a governor, we invite you to please email the Chair of Governors on admin@friarsgrove.essex.sch.uk
Friar’s Grove Governing Body
Pen Portraits
Rod Goody Chair of Governors | My daughter started at Friars Grove infants in 1982, I joined the then PTA, now the Friends of Friars Grove, and supported the school until my son left the school in 1992. During that time I had great fun in organising the school fetes. At this time, I was asked by the school to continue my support and became a community Governor. I served as a governor during the years when the government separated the Infant and Junior schools and was Chair of the Junior school governors in the later years. I was instrumental in the amalgamation of the two schools into Friars Grove Primary of which I now have the honour of being the Chair of the Governors. I have run my own electronics design company for the past 20 years which has allowed me to offer business experience and more importantly time to support a great school. The school gave my children to an excellent education and start in life, I want to continue that ethos and give all our children the best start we can. Term End: 31 August 2025 | |
Laura Sargent Vice Chair | My daughter joined Friar’s in 2014 and since that time I’ve become more and more interested in supporting the school in anyway I can. I have joined the Friends of Friar’s grove and I am enjoying rolling up my sleeves and helping with events and fundraising. However, I want to take this further by developing a deeper understanding of how the education process works, and I want to play my part in shaping the school’s future. I have worked in financial services for 18 years holding a variety of leadership, development and compliance roles and I am currently a fully qualified financial advisor and work with other self-employed financial advisors consulting to help them grow their businesses in a safe and compliant manner. I feel that my professional background will enhance my contribution to the role of governor, allowing me to work within the governing body to support and challenge the school, for the benefit of all of our children. Term End: 31st August 2025 | |
Jeremy Gush Local Authority | I have been a governor at Friars Grove for about 20 years, initially as a parent governor at the former junior school, then staying on as a local authority governor and assisting the school through the amalgamation process to become a primary school. I have a long career background within local authority finance, the majority of which has been spent dealing with schools and other education settings in one capacity or another. I currently work full-time within Essex County Council for Essex Music Service, which serves to provide music lessons to students across the county through in-school tuition and out of school community provision. Both my children attended Friars Grove and The Gilberd and then went onto university. My daughter trained to become a class teacher and now teaches in a junior school. My son studied computer games design and now works in the computer games industry. I chose to represent Friars Grove as a member of the inaugural governing body that helped to establish Queen Boudica Primary School a number of years ago, and I remain committed to ensuring that governors continue supporting Friars Grove Primary to move the school forward for the benefit of its pupils and staff alike. Term End: 31st August 2026 | |
Helen McCombe Co-opted | I became a parent governor at Friars Grove when my daughter entered the Junior School in 1997. After she left the school I became a local authority governor. I have served as Chair of Governors at the Junior school and worked with other governors to bring about the amalgamation of the Infant and Junior schools into Friars Grove Primary. I have a long career with the Civil Service and am able to bring my professional experience and knowledge to my role as governor. I am proud to be associated with this highly successful school and enjoy my role in supporting and helping to drive forward a culture of continuous improvement whilst ensuring a supportive and friendly environment for pupils and staff. Term End: 30th September 2026
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Martyn Mellis Co-opted | I joined the governing body when my daughter was in year 1, she is now at university. I also support Friends of Friars Grove at activities they run. I honestly feel Friars Grove is a great school - I am particularly impressed that although some children come from out of catchment that it has retained a strong community feel. I have been a civil servant for 34 years and currently work within HR. In my spare time I can be found on my allotment. Term End: 30th September 2026 | |
Ian Levinson Co-opted | I have been a co-opted governor at Friars Grove Primary School for a number of years. My son, now at secondary school, spent seven happy and rewarding years at Friar's Grove. I have over 20 years of teaching experience in the secondary and post-16 sector and I teach Politics at the local Sixth Form College. I have also planned and run numerous educational trips, visits and exchanges including trips within the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and an annual trip to Krakow, Poland and the Auschwitz concentration camp museum. I hope to use my educational experience for the benefit of all the staff, pupils and governing body at Friar's Grove. Term End: 3rd April 2028 | |
Christine McDonald Co-opted | I first became associated with Friars Grove in the 80s through my Godchildren and then my children in the 90s where I assisted with maths groups, reading, swimming, costumes for plays, was secretary for the PTA and also ran the Brownie Pack for 25+ years. My husband was also a Governor. Throughout my varied working career I have been employed as an LSA, also teaching English, EASL and Alternative Curriculum under the SEN umbrella at a local Academy. Though I enjoy my long awaited retirement, I feel I still have a lot to contribute towards improving the education and welfare of our youngsters. Term Ends: 08th September 2026
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| Melissa Jethwa-Flack | My son has attended Friar's Grove since 2021. I'm eager to support the school in any way I can, and I see the role of governor as a meaningful way to contribute. With 17 years of experience in delivering global brand solutions, I currently oversee creative operations for a global law firm. Throughout my career, I've cultivated a diverse skill set, encompassing leadership, resource and budget management, project oversight, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. I hope to to leverage my parental and professional experience to be an effective governor, bringing valuable insights and support to the Friar's Grove community. I'm committed to fostering a nurturing educational environment and enhancing the school's mission. Term Ends:21st November 2027 | |
SCHOOL STAFF Susan Shipp – Headteacher
Vacancy – Staff Governor
FRIAR’S GROVE PRIMARY SCHOOL GOVERNORS ATTENDANCE RECORD 01.09.23 – 21.07.24
FGB = Full Governing Body Committee P = In Attendance
CPR = Curriculum and Pupil Related Committee x = Not in Attendance
PFP = Personnel, Finance & Premises Committee NA = Not required at meeting
PAY = Pay Committee Committee
Name | FGB 26.09.23 | FGB/CPR 21.11.23 | PFP 17.10.23 | PAY 17.10.23 | FGB/CPR 05.02.24 | PFP 19.03.24 | PAY 19.03.24 | FGB 25.03.24 | CPR 13.05.24 | PFP 04.06.24 | FGB 15.07.24 |
Rod Goody | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü |
Laura Sargent | ü | X | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | x | ü | ü |
Jeremy Gush | X | X | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü |
Mark Pettit | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | x | NA |
Helen McCombe | ü | ü | X | X | X | ü | ü | ü | x | ü | ü |
Martyn Mellis | ü | ü | NA | NA | ü | NA | NA | ü | ü | NA | ü |
Christine McDonald | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | X | ü | ü | NA | ü |
Ian Levinson | ü | ü | NA | NA | ü | NA | NA | ü | ü | NA | ü |
Mel Jethwa-Flack | NA | ü | ü | NA | ü | X | NA | ü | ü | ü | ü |
Amy Sparks | NA | ü | NA | NA | ü | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Susan Shipp | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü | ü |
Toni Copp | ü | ü | NA | ü | ü | NA | ü | ü | ü | NA | ü |
FRIAR’S GROVE PRIMARY SCHOOL
COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP 2024-25
Personnel, Finance & Premises
Laura Sargent (Chair of Committee & Vice Chair of Governors)
Jeremy Gush (Vice Chair)
Susan Shipp (Headteacher)
Rod Goody (Chair of Governors)
Helen McCombe
Melissa Jethwa-Flack
Christine McDonald
2 x Vacancies
Full Governing and Curriculum and Pupil Focussed
Rod Goody (Chair)
Laura Sargent (Vice Chair)
Susan Shipp (Headteacher)
Vacancy (Staff Governor)
Jeremy Gush
Martyn Mellis
Ian Levinson
Helen McCombe
Christine McDonald
Melissa Jethwa-Flack
2 x Vacancies
Pay (including Headteacher‘s Pay)
Laura Sargent (Chair of Committee & Vice Char of Governors)
Rod Goody (Chair of Governors)
Jeremy Gush
Helen McCombe
Staff/Pupil Discipline
Helen McCombe
Martyn Mellis
Ian Levinson
Laura Sargent
Jeremy Gush
Performance Management Headteacher
Laura Sargent (Vice Chair of Governors)
Rod Goody (Chair of Governors)
Jeremy Gush
Strategic Management
Chair of Governors
Vice Chair of Governors
Committee Chairs
Headteacher
The quorum of all the above committees to be 3 governors – 2 governors for HT Performance Management
Complaints Review Panel: - Vice Chair of Governors to co-opt 2 other governors depending upon circumstances of the case to be considered.