Our Local Committee

Our Local Committee members play a hugely important part in the success of our school. Members consist of parents, staff and others from the community. Coming from a wide range of employment backgrounds, our Local Committee offer a valuable range of skills that help support the strategic direction of the school.

Our chair of Local Committee is Nigel Turner. If you would like to get in touch with him, please contact the school office. The full Local Committee meets at least twice termly to review the performance of the school.

The Department for Education describes the three core strategic functions of the Local Committee as:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• Holding the head teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

When focusing on the welfare and quality of educational provision at our school, our Local Committee members consider quantifiable data alongside anonymised reports on any social or emotional aspects of children's development. A key priority is to ensure that the school delivers the highest standards of teaching and learning for all of our children. They check that teaching quality is monitored regularly and effectively, that staff development is implemented and they evaluate strategies being used to improve attainment. LC Members are also responsible for making sure that the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) aspects of the curriculum and wider school life are being well delivered and that both attitudes and behaviour are good.

The Local Committee has three other important responsibilities: the financial management of the school, maintenance of the school premises and looking after issues concerning the school’s staff, both teaching and non-teaching.

The financial management role is an important part of the LC members’ overall brief to ensure that children in the school receive the best education possible. In seeking to improve the experience of children within the school, the LC members’ need to consider how to get the best value out of the resources they purchase. All at Sandcross Primary School work hard to ensure the school site promotes learning in a safe and effective learning environment and the Local Committee work with the Senior Leadership Team to carry out safety audits and learning environment inspections to ensure maintenance is carried out and that we are developing the use of our physical resources. On the staffing side, the Local Committee help to ensure that we have an excellent and well-motivated teaching and non-teaching staff looking after our children. To do that, LC members take an active role in the appointment of most staff and ensure that all staff develop their skills through training, with their performance being regularly reviewed. 

Nigel Turner: Chair of Local Committee

I joined the Local Committee in November 2017. I previously lived in South Park for many years and know Sandcross for the excellent school it is, so when I had the chance to join the governing body I readily took the opportunity. Recently retired from teaching, I now have more time to devote to Sandcross in my position as Chair, and look forward to working with our new Headteacher Mrs Nowell, in making our school even better. I attend St Luke’s Church and I am father to three ‘adult’ children. For my sins I support Leicester City FC.

John Elgee: Co-Opted Member

I joined the Local Committee in 2014 as a co-opted governor. I am a solicitor and have a practice with offices in Westerham and Reigate. I am based in Reigate. I am a member of and am currently the President of Reigate Rotary Club until July 2017. We have had an excellent relationship with the school going back many years. I have lived in Reigate for many years and have many family and friends who live in the borough.

Carol Everingham: Safeguarding Link

I was invited to join Sandcross School Local Committee in May 2018. I live in Reigate and knew Sandcross School many years ago when I was working in the local area, as a speech and language therapist.

My professional experience of Safeguarding was when I was a senior manager in a special boarding school, and helped children communicate their ideas and concerns.

I enjoy attending school events and always receive a warm welcome from everyone at Sandcross.

Charly Harris: Parent Governor

I have recently joined the Local Committee as a parent member.  As well as being a parent I work as a Speech and Language Therapist in NHS community services locally and manage a number of services for people with long term conditions.  I am enjoying learning more about the school in my new role and am keen to represent the parent voice you help the school strive towards continuous improvement.

Charlotte Holgate: Staff LC Member

This is my first term of office as a staff governor for Sandcross School.  I started working at this school in September 2017 and currently teach in Year 1.  

Sarah Arthur: Co-opted Member

I was invited to join Sandcross Local Committee in November 2018. I am a Deputy Head at Reigate Grammar School and we are looking forward to further developing our links with Sandcross; I feel very privileged to be part of this warm and caring community.  I am particularly interested in pastoral care and wellbeing, SEND provision, curriculum planning and staff development and I look forward to getting to know staff, parents and pupils at Sandcross as part of my role on the Local Committee.

We have also provided a Register of Local Committee Members and an Annual Statement of Issues for your information.

If you have any questions about the Local Committee or would like to get involved please contact the school office.