Who are we?
All governors and any associate members have agreed to act according to the Patcham Infant School Governing Body Code of Conduct. With the exception of the headteacher, all governors are appointed for a four year term but may resign at any time. Patcham Infant School Governing body has 12 governors on its constitution:
- Headteacher governor - the headteacher may choose to be a governor
- 1 staff governor - who is nominated from and elected by the staff
- 2 parent governors - who are nominated from and elected by parents/carers of pupils
- 7 co-opted governors - appointed by the governing body on the basis of their skills and knowledge
- Local authority governor - selected and appointed by the governing body with the approval of the local authority
There is also a Clerk to the Governors who is appointed by the governors but has no vote. Associate members may also be appointed from time to time to assist the governing body on the basis of their skills and knowledge. They never have a vote at full governing body meetings but voting rights may be conferred by the full governing body in the case of committee meetings.
The Governing Body 2026-2027
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David Skeet Co-opted governor Current term 9.2.26 to 8.2.30 (Originally co-opted 9.2.20) Chair of Governors
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Marie Buss Co-opted governor Term 16.7.25 - 15.7.29 Previously parent governor from 18.11.21 Vice Chair from 1.9.2023 |
Tracey Grennan Local authority governor Originally appointed 14.10.20 Current term 25.11.24 - 24.11.28 |
Kamilya Stedman Headteacher staff governor from 1.9.2026 |
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Elizabeth Reading The governing body is pleased to welcome Elizabeth as Co-opted Governor Term 15.7.26 - 14.7.30
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Hattie Robinson The governing body is pleased to welcome Hattie as Staff Governor Term 7.11.25 to 6.11.29 |
Laura Cooper Co-opted governor Term 16.7.25 - 15.7.29 Previously parent governor from 18.11.21 |
Richard Baker The governing body is pleased to welcome Richard as Co-opted Governor Term 21.2.24 - 20.2.28 (formerly associate member from 6.12.23)
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Rachel Aumann The governing body is pleased to welcome Rachel as Parent Governor Term 15.7.26 - 14.7.30 |
Sarah Blackwell The governing body is pleased to welcome Sarah as parent governor Term 16.7.25 - 15.7.29
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Associate Members
Anthony Kelly
No voting powers conferred.
Appointed 6.5.26 to 5.5.28 to advise on premises management and health and safety.
Patcham Infant School Governing Body
Declarations of Interest
Governors declare their interests at least annually and at each meeting it is checked whether they have an interest in any agenda item. If there is a conflict then they do not vote on that item and the other governors decide whether it is appropriate for them to contribute to the discussion or need to withdraw.
| Name of Governor | Name of business/Organisation | Nature of Business | Nature of Interest as at 8.10.25 (and date of initial declaration if if interest did not predate appointment) |
Attendance 2025/26 |
| Rachel Aumann |
East Sussex County Council |
County Council |
Children's Services Social Worker |
n/a |
| Richard Baker |
1 Dorothy Stringer
2 L Baker |
1 School
2 Member of school staff |
1 Senior Deputy Headteacher Employee 2 Sibling - in law |
FGB 8/9 |
| Sarah Blackwell | Self-employment |
1 International Host carer 2 Child minder |
Self-employment |
FGB 9/9 |
| Marie Buss |
1 Triangle Consulting Social Enterprise trading as Outcomes Star 2 Brighton Dome |
1Consultants
2 Entertainment venue |
1 Co Managing Director Employee 2 Front of House Steward |
FGB 7/9 |
| Laura Cooper |
1Brighton & Hove City Council - - |
1Local Authority 2 B&H Hackney Carriage Taxi |
1 Employee, Senior Programme Manager - Housing 2 Licence holder |
FGB9/9 |
| Tracey Grennan | Retired Teacher | None | None | FGB 8/9 |
| Elizabeth Reading |
Environment Agency |
Executive non-departmental governing body sponsored by DEFRA |
Employed as Area Incident Officer
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n/a |
| Hattie Robinson |
Patcham Infant School |
School |
Staff member |
FGB 5/7 |
| David Skeet |
Lewes Fleamarket |
- |
Employed - General Manager | FGB 9/9 |
| Kamilya Stedman |
Patcham Infant School |
School |
Employed - headteacher | n/a |
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Associate Members: |
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Anthony Kelly
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TBA |
Associate Director of Building Surveying in construction consultancy firm |
Friend of teacher at school TBA |
n/a |
| Other members of the governing body in the past year | ||||
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Tom Hook 16.11.23 - 20.10.25 Parent governor |
1 Oxford City Council 2 ODS |
1 Executive Director of Corporate Resources 2 Oxford City Council environmental services Co |
1 Employed - Deputy Chief Executive 2 Non executive director |
FGB 0/1 |
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Steve Usher co-opted 5.7.23 then associate member 4.12.24 -4.12.25 |
Arun, Biffa |
Provider of Waste Services |
Employed -Senior Business Manager |
n/a |
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Katy Meegan co-opted -1.11.23 31.12.25 (previously staff governor 21.9.22-31.10.23 |
Patcham Infant School |
School |
Employed |
FGB 2/3 |
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Emma Pettit Associate member 6.7.25 - 21.1.26 (previously co-opted 7.7.21 to 6.7.25) |
1 Sussex partnership NHS Trust 2 Criminal Courts |
1 NHS 2 Forensic Psychiatrist |
1 Employee Forensic Psychiatrist 2 16.9.24 Independent provision of medicolegal work for courts/solicitors assessments under the Mental Health Act |
n/a |
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Kate Dorrian Co-opted 15.9.21 - 15.7.26 |
Patcham High School Governing Board |
Governing Board |
Co-opted Governor from 9.10.25 |
FGB 7/9 |
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Helen Hawkinsco-opted 16.3.15 then headteacher staff 1.9.2023- 31.8.2026 |
Patcham Infant School |
School |
Employed as headteacher |
FGB 8/8 |
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Michelle Race co-opted 25.2.26 - 17.9.26 |
Brighton and Hove City Council |
Local Authority |
Independent Reviewing Officer and Child Protection Conference Chair |
FGB 3/4 |
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Ben Dix Associate member 6.5.26 - 30.9.26 Previously parent governor 16.7.25 to 6.5.26 |
1 PositiveNegatives private limited company 2 D Kulasinghe |
1 Non - profit organisation based at SOAS developing learning resources for educators of age 16+.
2 Teacher at school |
1 Executive Director 2 Family friend |
FGB FGB 3/7 |
