Our Governing Body

Governors work closely with headteachers, school staff and representatives from the local authority (LA). For further information on who our governors are and what they do, please click on each name below:

Name Position Term of Office start Term
of
Office end		 Designation Committee Responsibility
Alison Richardson Headteacher N/A N/A Headteacher Appeals
ECM
Finance & Premises
First/Pay Review		 N/A
Jean Doloughan Chair 07/02/2021 06/02/2025 Foundation Appeals
ECM
Finance & Premises
HT Performance
Staffing		 Numeracy
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Vacancy       Foundation    
Margaret Clough   15/01/24 15/01/28 Community ECM
First/Pay Review
Staffing
HT Performance		 Literacy
Early Years
Outdoor Play
Doreen Booth   17/11/2020 16/11/2024 Community ECM
First/Pay Review
HT Performance		 Child Protection/Safeguarding
Early Years
Online Safety
Mrs Rachel Musgrove Vice Chair 21/05/2022 21/05/2026 Parent Appeals
ECM		 Anti-bullying
Mrs Pamela Burnip   13/03/2021 12/03/2025 Parent ECM tba
Mrs Linda Edwards   27/02/2023 26/02/2027 Staff - Teaching ECM N/A
Mrs Natalie Wile       Parent    
Mrs Joy Burrell   06/07/2021 06/07/2025 LA Governor ECM
Finance & Premises		 Quality of Education
Mrs Sandra Williamson   17/05/2021 17/05/2025 Foundation Finance & Premises
ECM		 Music
LAC
Mrs Dimitra Skoumpopoulou   25/11/2021 25/11/2025 Parent ECM
First/Pay Review		 Training & Development
Mrs Kirsty Coulthard   26/01/2023 26/01/2027 Parent Governor ECM tba

Statutory Guidance for Governing Bodies

St Stephen’s CE Primary School adhere to the statutory guidance from the Department for 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 please view or download the full document below.

Updated: 15/02/2024 286 KB
Updated: 15/02/2024 253 KB
Updated: 15/02/2024 214 KB

How To Become A School Governor

Parent governors are a core part of a school’s Board of Governors. The role is voluntary and will appeal to parents who want to make a positive impact on their child’s education and school life. The outcome is indirect, since the governor role has little interaction with the pupils or with daily school life, but is much more “behind the scenes”. As well as parent governors, a school’s Board of Governors consists of:

  • Staff governors
  • Local authority governors
  • Foundation governors
  • Partnership governors
  • Co-opted governors
  • Associate members

Volunteers need to be dedicated people who care about improving education, but they do not need prior board experience. It makes the role perfect for professionals looking to improve their business and leadership skills, give back to society and enhance children’s futures.

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

Governors Register of Business Interests

Name Other Governor Roles Business Interests Employer
Mrs Alison Richardson None None Durham County Council
Mrs Margaret Clough None None Retired
Mrs Jean Doloughan None None Retired
Mrs Rachel Musgrove None None Accenture
Mrs Doreen Booth None None Retired
Mrs Pamela Burnip None None King James I Academy
Mrs Linda Edwards None None Durham County Council
Mrs Amy Robson None None self employed
Mrs Sandra Williamson None None Retired
Mrs Joy Burrell None None Retired
Mrs Dimitra Skoumpoulou None None Northumbria University
Mrs Kirsty Counthard None None

Record of Governor’s Attendance

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

KEY
Y – Attended meeting
A – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
N – Did not attend
X – Not a member of the committee
N/A – Not appointed or term of office has ended

Name Finance & Premises
18/10/22		 Pay Review
18/10/22
 		 ECM
01/11/22		 Full Governing
Body
15/11/22		 Finance & Premises
02/02/23		 ECM
31/01/23		 Full Governing Body
07/02/23		 Finance & Premises
 		 ECM
13/06/23		 Full Governing Body
20/06/23
Mrs Alison Richardson Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Mrs Margaret Clough X Y Y Y X Y Y X Y Y
Mrs Jean Doloughan Y X Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Mrs Doreen Booth X Y Y Y X Y Y X A Y
Mrs Pamela Burnip X X Y A X A Y X A Y
Mrs Judith Bulmer X X Y Y X A Y X N/A N/A
Mrs Rachel Musgrove X X A Y X A Y X Y A
Mrs Amy Robson X X Y Y X A Y X A Y
Mrs Sandra Williamson Y X Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Mrs Joy Burrell Y X A Y A A Y Y A A
Mrs Kirsty Coulthard N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N
Mrs Dimitra Skoumpopoulu X Y A Y X Y Y X Y Y

KEY
Y – Attended meeting
A – Apologies sent and accepted by meeting
N – Did not attend
X – Not a member of the committee
N/A – Not appointed or term of office has ended

Name Finance & Premises
26/10/23		 Pay Review
26/10/23		 Full Governing Body
14/11/23		 ECM
30/11/23		 Finance & Premises
25/01/24		 Full Governing Body
06/02/24		 ECM
07/03/24		 Finance & Premises

tba		 Full Governing Body
25/06/24		 ECM
04/07/24
Mrs Alison Richardson Y Y Y Y Y          
Mrs Margaret Clough X Y Y Y X          
Mrs Jean Doloughan Y X Y Y Y          
Mrs Doreen Booth X Y Y Y X          
Mrs Pamela Burnip X X Y A X          
Mrs Linda Edwards X X Y A X          
Mrs Rachel Musgrove X X Y A X          
Mrs Amy Robson X X Y A X          
Mrs Sandra Williamson Y X Y Y Y          
Mrs Joy Burrell Y X Y Y Y          
Mrs Kirsty Coulthard X X A A X          
Mrs Dimitra Skoumpopoulu X Y Y A X