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 |
| Marvin Ryder | 11/02/2026 | 10/02/2030 | Co-opted | ECM | ||
| Margaret Clough | 15/01/24 | 15/01/28 | Co-opted |
ECM Pupil Discipline |
Literacy Early Years Outdoor Play |
|
| Doreen Booth | 17/11/2025 | 16/11/2029 | Co-opted | ECM First/Pay Review HT Performance |
Child Protection/Safeguarding Early Years Online Safety |
|
| Mrs Linda Edwards | 27/02/2023 | 26/02/2027 | Staff - Teaching | ECM | N/A | |
| Mrs Natalie Wile | 05/06/2024 | 04/06/2028 | Parent |
ECM Pupil Discipline |
||
| Mrs Dimitra Skoumpopoulou | 09/01/2026 | 08/01/2030 | LA Governor |
ECM Finance Pupil Discipline |
Training & Development | |
| Mrs Sandra Williamson | 06/05/2025 | 06/05/2029 | Foundation |
Finance & Premises Appeals |
Music Pupil Premium |
|
| Jonathan Ranson | 20/01/2026 | 19/01/2030 | Parent | ECM | ||
| Ashleigh Thomas | 20/01/2026 | 19/01/2030 | Parent | ECM |
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.
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 Doreen Booth | None | None | Retired |
| Mrs Linda Edwards | None | None | Durham County Council |
| Mrs Natalie Wile | None | None | self employed |
| Mrs Sandra Williamson | None | None | Retired |
| Mrs Dimitra Skoumpoulou | None | None | Northumbria University |
| Mr Marvin Ryder | None | None | Retired |
| Mr Jonathan Ranson | None | None | |
| Mrs Ashleigh Thomas | None | None |
Record of Governor’s Attendance
Schools are now required to display a record of Governor’s attendance at meetings for the last 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 24/10/24 |
Pay Review 24/10/24 |
Full Governing Body 19/11/24 |
ECM 05/12/24 |
Finance & Premises 30/01/25 |
Full Governing Body 04/02/25 |
ECM 20/02/25 |
Finance & Premises 30/01/25 |
Full Governing Body 24/06/05 |
ECM & Finance & Premises POSTPONED |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Alison Richardson | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | |
| Mrs Margaret Clough | X | Y | Y | Y | X | Y | A | X | Y | ||
| Mrs Jean Doloughan | Y | X | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | A | ||
| Mrs Doreen Booth | X | Y | Y | Y | X | Y | Y | X | Y | ||
| Mrs Pamela Burnip | X | X | Y | Y | X | Y | A | X | N/A | ||
| Mrs Linda Edwards | X | X | Y | Y | X | Y | Y | X | Y | ||
| Mrs Rachel Musgrove | X | X | Y | Y | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Mrs Sandra Williamson | Y | X | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||
| Mrs Dimitra Skoumpopoulu | X | A | A | A | X | A | A | X | Y | ||
| Mrs Joy Burrell | Y | X | Y | A | Y | A | Y | Y | A | ||
| Mrs Natalie Wile | X | X | Y | X | X | A | A | X | Y | ||
| Mrs Kirsty Coulthard | X | X | Y | Y | X | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
