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 either email him on chair@sandcross.surrey.sch.uk or 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 Mr Richards, 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.

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.  

Simon Primmer: Co-opted Member

I’ve worked in and with the financial industry for 20 years (pensions). My experience ranges from managing pension schemes to working as a consultant to pension scheme trustees.
In more recent years, I have worked for an organisation that helps people understand their pension entitlements and I am now working for the DWP where I steward a national financial guidance body.
I think Sandcross is an amazing and look forward to working with everyone and hope that my experience can help show of this fantastic school.

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.