Governors

Darley & Summerbridge  Primary  School Federation Governing Body

Welcome to the Governors’ Homepage.

On this page you will find out a whole host of information about school governance and leadership.

Darley & Summerbridge Primary School Local Governing Board is made up of members of the local community from in and around the villages of Darley & Summerbridge. The Governing Bodies of both schools were dissolved in April 2017 and re-constituted at the same time to form one federated governing body.

The governing body was again re-constituted in September 2023 when the federation joined YCAT. The Governors now form a Local Governing Board that sits beneath the Trust Board of YCAT. Our Governing Body is made up of one headteacher, one 1 staff governor, 2 parent governor and 4 co-opted governors. The Governors meet every half term during which all aspects of school improvement are discussed and as such we no longer have separate committee meetings but governors do have specific roles within the federation:

Stuart Mallender – Chair

Carol White – Vice-chair

Kate Milne – Safeguarding and Child Protection

Lucy Martin – SEN

Eddie Moore – Health, safety and premises

Andy Howarth – Curriculum

Jim Dixon – Recruitment

Nick Coates – Headteacher

Governors are volunteers who are responsible for the strategic leadership of the school and together with the headteacher and members of staff ensure that schools are safe and effective in their duty to deliver education to the children who attend.  The work of the governing board is overseen by the YCAT Trustees.

 

Welcome from the Chair of Governors

I am very proud to welcome you to Darley and Summerbridge Primary School Federation.

Our schools have an outstanding capacity to offer children of all abilities and cultures a truly rounded and fulfilling education.

Our culture of excitement, friendship, happiness, co-operation and determination are embedded within the learning environment and culture of the school. We reward demonstration of these values and work effortlessly with parents and pupils to bring these values to the fore in all our learners.

Please do not hesitate to contact either myself or any member of the staff or governing body for further information regarding Darley and Summerbridge Primary School Federation.

Stuart Mallendar

Chair of Governors

Governor List

Mr Stuart Mallender – Chair of Governors and Co-opted Governor  

Period of Office – April 2017 – September 2023

My family and I live in Dacre, we moved there from Darley in June 2014, our two daughters attended Darley School and thoroughly enjoyed their experience in the school. I became a parent governor at Darley school in November 2015 and a Co-Chair of the federated governing body of Darley & Summerbridge Community Primary Schools in April 2017. I work for a manufacturing company supplying bespoke retail display equipment to many of the UK’s major retailers. I add to the governing body a level of commercial awareness and experience. I am often found running, cycling or swimming in the local area as I pursue my enjoyment of competing in triathlons, open water swimming and trail races. I aim to provide a positive benefit to the schools by supporting the staff to ensure that the education and shaping of the young childrens’ lives is continued to the highest of standards. 

Mrs Kate Milne – Co-opted Governor

Period of Office – February 2023 – January 2026

I have been on the Governing Body of the federation for nearly 3 years and in that time have seen both the schools grow and continue to thrive.  As the manager of the pre-school I oversee the Early Years provision for around sixty 2-4 year olds and as such I am very well placed to add my years of experience as an EYFS Practitioner to the Governing Body.   I sit on the Health, Safety and Premises Committee.

Mrs Carol White – Co-opted Governor

Period of Office – February 2023 – March 2026

I sit on the Finance and Personnel Committee.

Mr Eddie Moore – Co-opted Governor 

Period of Office – October 2020 – September 2024 

I live in Dacre Banks with my family, and our two children really enjoy attending Summerbridge School. I currently work for a large housing association as a Construction Delivery Manager, prior to this I worked for a charity and housing association whose services included educational provision. I bring experience and skills in the areas of estate and maintenance management, budget management, strategic planning, health and safety and project management.  I sit on the Health, Safety and Premises Committee.

Dr Lucy Martin – Parent Governor 

Period of Office – October 2020 – September 2024

I live in Darley with my husband and three children, all of whom attend Darley School. We’ve really enjoyed the time our children have spent at the school so far and so have they! I have a background in education having previously been a primary school teacher and literacy specialist. I also have a doctorate in education, autism and language development which gives me an additional view on education in general. Having seen the wonderful work the schools do and how they promote such a caring ethos, I am looking forward to working with staff and the governors as a parent governor.  I sit on the Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Committee.

Mr Jim Dixon – Parent Governor

Period of Office – October 2022 – September 2026

I have spent the last 12 years or so specialising in Veterinary Industry recruitment and retention with a focus on clinical positions including Veterinary Nurses, Veterinary Surgeons and Clinical Directors. I work for one of Europe’s largest Veterinary groups with a focus on UK based talent and have previously recruited in North America, Middle East and Australia.
I am also a Scout Leader for 3rd Harrogate Scouts in Bilton with responsibility for around 20 young people on a weekly basis.
I hope to be able to add to the team of highly experienced Governors especially in the areas of candidate attraction and staff retention, and I’m looking forward to the journey over the coming years.

I sit on the Finance and Personnel Committee.

Mr Andrew Howarth – Staff Governor

Period of Office – October 2020 – September 2024

I have been a member of staff at Darley since 2013.  After completing my teacher training at Darley, I was offered the role of HLTA.  Since then I have been lucky enough to work in every classroom, experiencing education at the different stages of the curriculum.  I am now the senior teacher at Darley and the class teacher of the upper KS2 class.  I have a firm understanding of the curriculum and a keen interest in developing it further.  I sit on the Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Committee. 

Mr Nick Coates – Headteacher Governor 

Period of Office – January 2009 – present day

As the headteacher of the federation I am naturally on the governing body.  I have been the headteacher of Darley Primary School for 16 years and the executive head of the federation for the last 7 years.  Prior to being the head of Darley I have been an acting headteacher, deputy headteacher, senior teacher and class teacher in a variety of schools throughout North Yorkshire ranging from large urban schools to small, remote rural schools.  

Our Purpose

As part of YCAT, our federation has a Local Governing Body who oversees the work of the schools within the federation. These volunteers are responsible for the strategic leadership of the school and together with the headteacher and members of staff ensure that schools are safe and effective in their duty to deliver education to the children who attend.  

The Governors Core Functions are:

a) Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.

b) Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.

c) Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent

Forthcoming Meetings 2023 - 2024

13th September 2023 6pm at Darley

18th October 2023 6pm at Darley

6th December 2023 6pm at Summerbridge

28th February 2024 6pm at Darley

10th April 2024 6pm at Summerbridge

22nd May 2024 6pm at Summerbridge

10th July 2024 6pm at Summerbridge

Annual Report

Download our annual statement Governance-Annual-Statement 2022