Our Governing Body

Governors work closely with the headteacher, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA). They work to ensure that the pupils who attend Cockfield Primary School get the best offer possible every day.

Mr Craig Hopper (Chair) – Co-opted

I have been on the governing board for Cockfield Primary School for 8 years and was elected Chair of Governors almost 2 years ago. Having grown up in the village and attending this school myself as a child, I’m passionate about working with the school to help ensure it provides the highest standard of care and education for our students. I currently have 1 child attending the school and 2 children who attended the school from nursery to year 6 and are now in secondary school

Mrs Kerry Vart (Vice Chair) – Parent

Mrs Charlotte Kipling (Deputy Headteacher) – Co-opted

My name is Charlotte Kipling and I am proud to be the Deputy Headteacher at Cockfield Primary School. I have worked at the school for 7 years, more recently becoming Deputy Headteacher. I have been a staff governor for 5 years. I work closely with the Head Teacher to ensure our vision and ethos of the school is shared with the governing body, share our successes and what we are developing. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband, family and friends.

Mrs Lyndsey Hargraves – Staff

My name is Lyndsey Hargraves. I am the staff Governor and lead EYFS and teach in Reception Class at our school. I grew up in Bishop Auckland and my family come from Cockfield. I have been a teacher for 16 years but have worked in the education sector since graduating university in 2003. Prior to my teaching career I worked in secondary education and primary education in a variety of supporting roles ranging from SEND Teaching Assistant to Learning Mentor. Before joining Cockfield Primary School in 2017 I taught for 9 years in a large primary school in Shildon teaching mainly KS1. Since joining Cockfield Primary I have enjoyed working to develop and grow our popular EYFS provision and developing the subjects of Art and RE across the school. As a school Governor I hope to support our school to be the best it can be. I am on the Finance and Curriculum committees.

Mrs Nicky Wright (Headteacher)

I feel honoured to be he Headteacher of a school in such a tight-knit and positive community. I have been in this role since September 2023 and I love the fact that working in a small school means that we get to know our community so well. Prior to working in Cockfield I have held a variety of different teaching and leadership roles in schools in Stockton and Walsall. In these role I have also been a Governor in both Primary and Secondary school contexts. I have a real passion of SEND provision and making sure that we give the best offer of each of our individual children. When I am not working in Cockfield I enjoy spending time with my 2 daughters and husband and spending time in the great outdoors!

Mrs Sam Hoyle- Parent

Cllr James Cosslett – Local Authority

Mrs Kate Wade – Parent

Mrs Sharon Lowrie – Co-opted

Whist my children are adults, I do have three grandchildren in education in County Durham and two others elsewhere in the U.K. I see my new role as a privilege, a great responsibility and an opportunity to make a difference. Our school, like all schools, has high targets to improve educational standards, something that is vital for our children to achieve success throughout their time in our school and beyond. I believe I can make a valuable contribution thanks to the skills I have developed in my professional career.

I am a retired solicitor of forty years. My career began in the Magistrates’ Courts Service and finalised as a Senior Crown Prosecutor. I am very familiar with Family Law, Safeguarding of Children, scrutinising documents, interpreting legislation and being able to discern what is credible and relevant and what is not. I believe that education is the key to personal freedom and achievement and that every child should be given the best possible opportunities to realise their full potential.

Mrs Christine Watters – Co-opted

My name is Christine Watters and I have lived in Cockfield village since 1966. I have been married to my husband Neil for 54 years. Together we have 3 children and 6 grandchildren , all of whom attended this school (the youngest 2 still attending Cockfield Primary School). I have recently retired from Cockfield Community Christmas Lighting Fund after 20 years. For 4 years I was the Parish Clerk within the village before becoming a Parish Councillor. For the last 12 years (3×4 year periods) I have been involved with Teesdale Area Action Partnership as a Public Representative which I step down from in 2025. I am new to the role of school governor and am looking forward to becoming involved as a Governor as I am familiar with how the school deals with their academic education.

Governing Body Committee Structure

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If you would like to get in contact with any of our governors then please do so via the school office (cockfield@durhamlearning.net or 01388 18263).

If you feel that you have the skills and interest that would make you a successful part of our governing team then please speak to Mrs Wright about what the role entails.

Governor Roles and Responsibilities 2024-25

Cllr James Cosslett – Local Authority – Appeals, curriculum and staffing

Mrs Lyndsey Hargraves – Curriculum, finance and premises, staffing

Mr Craig Hopper (Chair) – Curriculum, finance and premises, First pay review, Headteachers performance, staffing, GDPR online safety, health and safety, leadership and management

Mrs Sam Hoyle- Curriculum, finance and premises, staffing, maths

Mrs Charlotte Kipling – Curriculum, staffing

Mrs Sharon Lowrie – Curriculum, first pay review, Headteachers performance, staffing, English, Quality of Education, Safeguarding

Mrs Nicky Wright – Curriculum, staffing, Headteacher

Mrs Christine Watters – Curriculum, first pay review, staffing, funding and premiums, well-being, training and development, personal development

Mrs Kate Wade – Appeals, Curriculum, finance and premises, staffing, attendance, behaviour, safeguarding.

Mrs Kerry Vart – Appeals, curriculum, finance and premises, Headteachers performance, staffing, English, Quality of Education, Safeguarding

The Role of the School Governor and Governing Bodies

The role of the school governor is demanding but very rewarding. School governing bodies are responsible for working with the school to ensure that it delivers a good quality education. Together with the Headteacher, who is responsible for day-to-day management, they set the school’s aims and policies.

Governors have three main roles:

To provide strategic direction for the school
To act as acritical friend to the Headteacher
To ensure accountability

They also carry out a number of other important duties, which include:

Determining how the school’s budget is spent
The appointing and dismissal of staff
Hearing appeals and grievances
Forming policy on the school’s curriculum and collective worship
Setting standards for pupils’ behaviour and discipline
Making sure school buildings are welcoming and safe
Setting and monitoring the school’s aims and policies

Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies

Cockfield Community Primary adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department of Education. This means that governing bodies must have regard to it when carrying out duties relating to the constitution of governing bodies in maintained schools. For further information about school governance can be found at:

What have the Governors at Cockfield Primary School achieved in 2023-24?

- Annual-Governance-Statement-for-the-Governing-Body2324

What have the Governors at Cockfield Primary School achieved in 2024-25?

How To Become A School Governor

If you require further information on the roles and responsibilities of School Governors or you are interested in becoming one, visit the Durham County Council website School Governor section

Governor Attendance

Schools are now required to display a record of Governor attendance at meetings for each school academic year.

KEY
✓ – Attended meeting
A/A – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
N – Did not attend
X – Not a member of the committee

Record of Attendance 2023-2024

Record of Attendance 2021-2022

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Record of Attendance 2020-2021

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Record of Attendance 2019-2020

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Archived Attendance
You can also view previous years’ attendance on our website.

Committee Terms of Reference

Committee Terms of Reference 14 June 23

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