Governing Body

The Governing Body is responsible for making sure the school improves each year. It sets the vision and strategic direction of the school whilst holding school leaders to account for the educational performance of the pupils and performance management of the staff. It oversees the financial performance of the school and makes sure money is well spent and to the benefit the children currently at Long Mead. The Governing Body also ensures that voices of stakeholder, including pupils, parents, staff and the wider community are heard.

Governors meet every term (six times per year) to discuss reports on the school’s progress. They test information received by asking the right questions to ensure that the school spends its budget wisely against the priorities shown in the school plan. In between these meetings, the Governors carry out monitoring visits across a broad range of areas, including Behaviour, Attitudes and Wellbeing, Quality of Education, Health and Safety, SEND, Pupil Premium and Finance.

Governance is strategic. Governors, other than the Headteacher and our Staff Governor, do not involve themselves in the day-to-day management/operation of the school.

Our Governors are:

Chair (Co-opted Governor) - Jane Prideaux (Safeguarding, Pupil Premium)

Jane is a retired secondary Headteacher having spent her professional career in secondary schools in Kent and West Sussex. She has 20+ years of experience as a governor and is delighted to have joined the governing body at Long Mead. Now retired, she enjoys walking her dogs and socialising with family and friends.

Local Authority Governor - Simon Pleace (Finance)

Simon is a qualified accountant who has worked in local government finance for over 30 years and has extensive knowledge of school funding within Kent and nationally. He is a school governor at two other Kent schools, and a non-executive director of Commercial Services Group. In his spare time, he is a keen runner and regularly shares his home with guide dog puppies.

Co-opted Governor - Vacancy

Parent Governor - Cilem Dogan

Cilem took on the role as parent Governor in 2023 and has a daughter in the school.

Parent Governor - Emma Halliwell
Emma Halliwell works as a Lead Occupational Therapist in a secure mental health service, which she has done for 17 years. Emma took on the Parent Governor role early 2024, with her daughter starting at Long Mead. It is still fairly new and lots to learn, however Emma is committed to ensuring that all children and teachers get the right support and provision through the primary school journey.

Staff Governor - Lisa Styles
Lisa has been working at Long Mead for a number of years as a Teaching Assistant, working mainly with the older children to help them achieve their best. Outside the classroom, she enjoys reading, music, spending time with the family, and is a keen gardener.

Headteacher Governor - Karen Follows (Headteacher)

Karen has been a teacher for the last 13 years, joining the profession once her 4 children were at primary school. She has worked in a range of small schools in both Kent and East Sussex and joined Long Mead in 2019 as Deputy Head of School and Year 6 teacher. She is passionate about children's education and ensuring that every child has an equal chance to reach their full potential. She shares her home with her husband, 4 grown-up children and 3 cats!

Partnership Governors - Vacancy

Clerk of the Governors - Patricia Ferrus

The governors may be contacted via the school office by email to: office@long-mead.kent.sch.uk, who will then advise you on the best person to speak with.

Statutory policies and other important information can be found in the policies section of the website.

Governors are responsible for oversight of the school finances. For information about financial benchmarking, please click here.

Interested in being a Governor? Please contact the Clerk, Patricia Ferrus, at the school or visit the KCC website accessible here.

Please click here for the Instrument of Governance for Long Mead Community Primary School.

Please click here for Governor Attendance for 2024/25.

Please click here for Governor Register of Interests.

Please click here for the full Governing Body Membership for 2025/26