Governors

Welcome to our Governors’ section. 

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

Academy Governors

The Local Governing Body
The Academy is governed by the Trust Board and by a Local Governing Body, which is legally a Committee of the Trust Board, and only responsible for decisions delegated to it by the Board under their Scheme of Delegation. Appointments to the new Local Governing Body have been confirmed by the Trust Board as follows:

The Roles and Responsibilities of the Governing Body
The three main functions of the governing body include:
1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction of the academy;
2. Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the academy and its pupils, and the performance management of staff;
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the academy and making sure its money is well spent.
With all of the three items above, the role of the Governing Body is to constructively challenge the senior leadership of the academy (that is, to be a “critical friend”). The Governing Body is not meant to get involved in the day-to-day running of the academy.

What does the Governing Body actually do?
The Governing Body meets once every term for a full meeting. Standard items that are discussed at these meetings include: data, finance, policy updates, safeguarding and Christian distinctiveness. A termly headteacher’s report is also circulated, which updates governors on various matters to do with the academy.

As well as these termly meetings, governors regularly visit the academy to focus on a particular element of academy life. The focus of these visits usually has a focus from the school development plan. A write-up of these visits are then circulated to other governors, so that the Governing Body can build up a collective picture of the academy.
The lead governor for safeguarding meets termly with Headteacher to ensure that the academy is up keeping its safeguarding responsibilities. Likewise, the lead governor for Health and Safety meets with the business manager and site caretaker to conduct a termly health and safety walk.

Meet the Governors

Michael Plummer

Michael became a Parent Governor 4 years ago and in that time worked to build stronger relationships with the school community.  Reforming the PTA in November 2023, he was coopted to support the new committee and remained heavily involved in there fundraising. 

As the newly elected Chair of Governors Michael has increased has commitment to working with the school to ensure standards are maintained, inline with the vision and values they work to uphold.  Michael in his spare time can often be found jogging along Hasting seafront, or renovating his recently purchased Victorian house.  With two daughters, one now at secondary, Michael kept busy, but also keen to ensure St Lens is aspiring to all it can be.  

Victoria Clarke

Victoria joined the LGB as a parent governor in 2024. She has two children at the school. She has a background in communications and international development and runs her own business which specialises in corporate governance. In her spare time she can be found on the sea, rowing or walking her dog. 

Charles Shaw

I am the Part-time Governance Officer for three of the local DCAT Primary schools, including St Leonards. I also perform a similar role for several local non-DCAT schools.

Prior to moving into school governance, I was Human Resources Director and Company Secretary for a national charity for 13 years, and before this I gained extensive HR experience in engineering, manufacturing and the third and voluntary sectors at both here and overseas. The knowledge, skills and experience I acquired from these roles have given me a good understanding of the types of processes and procedures that help me advise and support all the schools’ Local Governing Bodies (LGB).  Several years ago I was also Chair of Governors of a local primary school.

My main governance role is to work with the Head Teacher, the LGB Chair and Governors to ensure that governor meetings are scheduled, that an agenda is drawn up that reflects the school and DCAT’s priorities and legal requirements, that it is minuted and actions are followed up. I also maintain a governance database to ensure that training, and legal responsibilities are recorded. 

Aside from my governance work I am a Ceremonies Registrar for East Sussex CC, meaning I conduct wedding ceremonies, civil partnerships and other major life events. I have lived in Hastings for nearly 40 years and am married with two grown up sons, a grand-daughter and a very pampered dog! 

Jo Wilson

Jo has been a parent governor since September 2024. She has one child at the school, with another now in secondary. Jo works on food and economic development programmes for a London council, and believes in the power of people to create happier, healthier places.

Sharon Moye

My name is Sharon Moye and I am a staff governor. I have worked at St Leonards for 26 years. I started as a Mid-day supervisor. I then became a TA and completed my degree; I am currently employed as a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant based in year 6. 

I have been a staff governor for many years. As a member of staff and a governor I have experienced various challenges and many changes both within the staff, the governing body and the school environment.

In my spare time I like to read, bake and spend time with family and friends. 

Chloe Laskey

As a qualified teacher I understand the unique challenges of a school and aim to provide strategic support to help the school achieve its mission.   The areas I oversee are SEND and Christian distinctiveness. I am dedicated to ensuring that all children are able to thrive in school both academically and spiritually.

You can contact our Chair of Governors at:

Mr Michael Plummer
c/o St Leonards Church of England Primary Academy
Collinswood Drive
St. Leonards-on-Sea
East Sussex
TN38 0NX
Email:chair@stlens.org

DCAT Website​​​

The Diocese of Chichester Academy Trust is a Multi Academy Trust. This means that it has under its stewardship more than one academy. Under a Scheme of delegation, the differing roles and responsibilities of governance are delegated between the MAT and the Local Governing Boards.

For more information about the trust please see the Academy Trust Information section on this website or alternatively visit the DCAT website.