Our team of Governors are all volunteers, parents, school staff and people from our community with a range of experience and expertise who have an interest and desire to improve the education of our children. We attend training courses to ensure we have the necessary knowledge and skills to support the Head and senior leadership in the effective running of the school. The normal term of office for a school governor is four years.
The main roles of the Governing Body are threefold:
To achieve a strategic view. We focus on helping the school’s strategy for improvement so that pupils learn most effectively and achieve the highest standards.
To act as a critical friend. We provide the head teacher and staff with support, advice and information, drawing upon members’ knowledge and experience. This is critical in the sense of the governing body’s responsibility for monitoring and evaluating the school’s effectiveness and a friend because the governing body exists to promote the interests of the school and the wellbeing of the pupils.
To ensure accountability. The governing body is responsible for ensuring good quality education in the school. The head teacher and staff report to the governing body on the school’s performance and the governing body has the right to discuss, question and refine proposals, whilst always respecting the professional roles of the head teacher and other staff and their responsibilities for the management of the school. In its turn the governing body answers for its actions, above all to the parents and the wider local community for the school’s overall performance.
We are proud of our school and we have the greatest confidence in recommending it to you for your child or children.
The Role of School Governors and Trustees
Find out what school governors and trustees do and the key role they play in helping schools to succeed. This short film gives you all the essential information about this rewarding voluntary role. Most people over 18 years old are eligible to govern so, if you’re interested in education and making a difference, watch this film to find out more.
Governing Body Members 2025 – 2026
Name
Category
Date of Appointment
Term of office
Emma Tibbitts
Headteacher
01.09.2025
Ongoing
Lindsey Hughes
Co-opted Governor
14.10.2021
14.10.21
14.10.25
John Cole
Trust Board Representative
19.10.2012
16.11.21
16.11.25
Jo Basford
(Chair)
Trust Board Representative
16.11.2017
16.11.21
16.11.25
Laurie Johnson
Parent Governor
26.11.2020
26.11.24
26.11.28
Cassandra Chidlow
(Vice Chair)
Parent Governor
12.01.2024
08.02.24
08.02.28
Relationship with School Staff
and Declaration of Interests
The governors have no relationships with school staff to declare.
Governor Name
End of Term of Office
Declaration of Interests
Business & Pecuniary, including directorships, partnerships and employments with businesses.
For each interest: the name of the business; the nature of the business; the nature of the interest; and the date the interest began. (Current and within last 12 months).
Trusteeships and governorships at other educational institutions and charities (Current and within last 12 months).
Any relevant material interests arising from close family relationships between the academy trust’s members, trustees or local governors. It must also identify relevant material interests arising from close family relationships between those individuals and employees.(Current and within last 12 months)
Mrs J Basford
16/11/2025
None
None
None
Mrs E Tibbitts
Ongoing
None
None
None
Mr J Cole
16/11/2025
None
Shropshire Historic Churches and Market Drayton Mencap
None
Mrs L Hughes
14/10/2025
None
None
Employed at Mereside Academy School
Mrs L Johnson
26/11/2024
None
None
Employed at Empower Trust School
Related to staff member at MDJS
Mrs C Chidlow
08/02/2028
Employed at the Forward Trust Charity (2009 – present)
