The Governors of the school are a representative group of people who are appointed to be responsible for various aspects of the school; these have included overseeing the financial administration of the school, curriculum issues, personnel and sites and buildings.  Their work is conducted through half termly meetings, with  sub committees and occasional working parties.  The Head Teacher of the school presents frequent written reports and strives to ensure that Governors are kept fully informed of the school work, changes in educational practice and the law, in order that they can effectively carry out their responsibilities.

The Governing Body is made up of representatives from the Church (Foundation governors),  parents (Parent Governors), staff (Staff Governors) and the community (Co-opted Governors).  Foundation governors are elected by the Parochial Church Council from its electoral roll; Parent governors  are elected by ballots of parents of children at the school; Staff Governors volunteer and are elected by their colleagues and Co-opted governors are appointed by the Governing Bodies. Governing boards may chose to have associate governors, who attend meetings and offer advice and suggestions or expertise in a particular fied but do not have voting rights.

Sub Committees

There are two permanent sub-committees, one for financial and premises matters known as the Operations committee .  The other one is the Curriculum Committee that examines in detail the teaching and learning and pastoral support for children in our school. Other sub-committees re called as required to look at particular aspects of school life in detail.  Each committee has Terms of Reference, which set out the responsibilities and the amount of decision-making authority they hold.  In addition individual Governors have responsibility for developing their expertise and understanding of the role of particular issues in school.  There are named Link Governors with responsibility for:

• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
• Child Protection/Safeguarding
• Training

Dates of Meetings for 2025-26

The following dates and times for governing body meetings for the academic year 2025 -26, noting that these meetings would commence at 5:30pm in the Junior School Conference Room.

Full Governing Body

2 October 2025

12 March 2026

14 May 2026

9 July 2026

Curriculum Committee

6 November 2025

12 February 2026 (to include a presentation on autumn data)

30 April 2026 (to include a presentation on spring data)

Operations Committee

11 September 2025

22 January 2026

7 May 2026

Safeguarding team meetings to commence at 2pm at the Junior School site, Headteacher’s office. Agenda items to include:

19 September 2025

14 November 2025

16 January 2026

27 February 2026

8 May 2026

3 July 2026

Governor Visits

School governors provide support and direction to our school and bring together views from the Parish Church, school staff, parents, the Local Authority and the local community. In full governing body meetings each half-term and sub- committees each half term covering personnel, curriculum, premises or finance, the twelve governors consider all matters affecting our school. These range from government legislation or local authority initiatives, development and review of school policies, maintenance or improvement of our buildings, to budget monitoring and staffing.

Who's Who

The current Governing Body is a board of 12 members who represent different parts of the school community and who all bring different skills to the task of leading this very good school forward.  The Governing Body consists of:

• 3 Parent Governors who are voted onto the Governing Body by the parents/carers of children who attend the school.  Parent Governors play an important role in shaping the education and experience of their children at the school.
• 2 Staff Governors one of whom is the headteacher.  The other Staff Governor is elected by the staff team.  Staff Governors represent the views of the staff at the school at Governing Body meetings.
• 3 Foundation Governors who are appointed as follows: 1 by the Diocesan Board of Education, 1 by the Parochial Church Council of St Peter and Paul, Chingford and 1 Ex-Officio, who is the Rector of St Peter and Paul, Chingford. Recognising its historic foundation, the Foundation Governors help the school to preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England.
• 3 Co-opted Governors these are appointed as a governor by the Governing Body as they have, in the opinion of the governing body, the skills required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school.
• 1 Local Authority Governor these are nominated  by the Local Authority (LA). They serve as a link between the LA and the school but aren't political appointees.

Each term of office lasts 4 years with the exception of the Headteacher and the Ex-officio foundation governors.

Below is a brief introduction from each governor:

Graham House - Chair of Governors - Co-opted Governor

I currently have 2 children in a local secondary school. They both attended CCofE for primary school. I am a volunteer STEM ambassador with 20 years industry experience in software development and have a keen interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics as well as a BSc in Physics and an MSc in science and technology studies.  As such I am keen to ensure that that in my role as governor I advocate that the school:

• engage and enthuse young people about STEM;

• Give teachers a unique perspective on how the STEM curriculum can be demonstrated in the world of work;

• Encourage young people to consider STEM careers and qualifications;

• Contribute to improved academic achievement in STEM subjects;

• Develop other employability skills in young people, including confidence, team-work, presentation and creativity;

Victoria Harris - Vice Chair of Governors - Co-opted Governor 

I have 2 children attend the school, my youngest is in Y4 and my eldest is just starting secondary school. I am passionate about education and am keen to support the school to continue to be successful and strive to continually improve.

In my professional life, I am a solicitor who specialises in employment law for charities and schools. My experience of management issues and financial oversight, helps the school determine both its strategic direction and ensure clarity of its vision and ethos. I want to support the school in its drive to enrich the lives of all the children who attend there.

Ella Williams - Parent Governor

I am the proud mother of three boys, two of which attend C of E in year 4 and year 2, my last boy will be joining Reception in September 2025.

I have over 20 years working experience with children and young people. I have worked in many primary schools as a specialist teaching assistant and managed Youth provisions for disaffected young people. My personal passion has always been to promote inclusion and supporting children and young people to have high aspirations and reach their personal best.

In my professional life, I currently manage a local Out of School Club.  Here I am privileged to be chosen to care for many local children which also means I get to know many of the local families. 

I was delighted to have been voted in as parent governors and I hope to bring my knowledge and understanding both personally and professionally to Chingford Church of England Primary School. I also look forward to my learning journey as I take on the role as one of the Governors. 

Madeleine Durrant - Parent Governor

I am a parent governor and have two daughters currently in the junior cohort. I am a qualified secondary English teacher having taught in London schools and been a Head of Year and safeguarding lead. As such, I am delighted to be using this experience to support the school and community with a passion for curriculum design and pastoral care. I now work as a diversity and inclusion consultant, with a specialist focus on helping schools develop equity plans that help to address the inequalities in education which are perpetuated by deprivation and factors such as race. It is a privilege to be able to work with the governing body and the CCofE staff to ensure the school strives for the best outcomes for our children. 

Mark Kempster

As a dad of 2 girls at the CofE school, in Yr5 & Y1, I have a keen interest in helping the school, its staff and most importantly its students create a safe and engaging environment for learning. I feel I have a broad set of skills to offer as a governor however in particular I feel I am very strong with numbers, finance and financial monitoring, reporting and governance. Having started my career at age 16, I worked my way up through the family business to the position of MD in 2012. During the following 11 years I took ultimately responsibility for the business, including all financial functions (alongside an external chartered accountant), multiple small - large-scale capital expenditure projects (the larges being approx. £1.5m) and created MI (including P&L & BS reports) for all board meetings. I also acted as chairman of the board (5 members) and lead the business which had approx. 60 full time employees and a sales turnover of £5 - £6m per year. Since closing the business in 2023 I have taken up 2 consultancy roles, both of which are in an area very close to me which is sustainability. Both roles allow me to engage with small, medium and large global businesses looking at their current products / manufacturing processes and advising them on how they can be more sustainable e.g. reducing, recycling or eliminating single use plastics. 

Saffron Hillier - Safeguarding Link Governor

I  am a Co-opted Governor. My reason for applying for the role of co-opted governor is that as a local resident (I live on Station Road) I was looking for ways I could be contribute to my local community. I have worked for Barclays Bank for 27 years and my current role is in Corporate Banking in the Chief Risk Office looking after Prudential Risk. I am an independent person with a community, financial and risk background who likes to challenge the status quo and look for efficiencies. I sit on the Operations committees. I have a passion for football and I am the Ryan FC child welfare officer. The school promises to the children are what attracted me to apply to serve on this Governing Body in particular.

Our Promises:

• You will know what it feels like to be good at something and have achieved your very best

• You will love learning new things and want to keep on learning more

• You will understand just how incredible you are, believe in yourself and have confidence in your abilities

• You will have grown healthy and strong and understand how to look after your body

• You will have known friendship and learned how to get along well with other people

• You will feel part of your local community and proud of your school

Yasmin Cartwright - Local Authority Governor 

I am passionate about delivering social change, particularly in London, where I grew up. I attended a struggling secondary school as a pupil on free school meals just over 10 years ago, and since then have worked hard to become the first person in my family to go to university and build a career in public affairs, lobbying and policy. Being interested in a new job role in the coming years, I want to take on a new challenge that will build my leadership skills and experience in making decisions at a higher level. I am particularly interested in one that will give back to a community and make a difference to pupils' lives, including those from lower income backgrounds.

Revd Darren Mc Callig- Foundation Governor

Father Darren will be joining the Parish and the Governing body on 2nd September 2025. We look forward to welcoming him.

Vacancy  - Foundation Governor 

Anne Clayden - Foundation Governor 

I was a teacher for more than thirty years and, having recently retired from teaching, I am keen to use my experience in education to work with the CC of E staff in providing the best possible education for all the children. I was a parent governor at my children’s school and enjoy the challenge and teamwork involved in being a governor. I am an active member of the church of SS Peter and Paul and All Saints’ and secretary of the PCC. I’m excited to be able play a part in maintaining and developing the church’s links with the school and help uphold the school’s Christian vision and ethos.

Lindsey Lampard - Headteacher

I have been a headteacher at CCofE Primary School since January 2013 and I love my job! I am proud of each and every one of the children who come to this school and will settle for nothing but the very best for them and their families. I enjoy working closely with the school's ambitious and forward thinking Governing Body to ensure that CCofE keeps on getting better.

Charlotte Shah - Staff Governor

My position on the Governing body will ensure that I will represent the CCofE staff and that they are informed about issues being discussed by Governors. I look forward to working closely with the Governing Body to ensure that CCofE keeps on improving.

What do we do?

As governors we make collective decisions as part of the Governing Body. Our main purpose is to help raise the educational standards and performance of CCofE by supporting the work of the Headteacher and school staff. Recognising its historic foundation we work to ensure that the school will preserve and develop its religious character ensuring that it promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all its pupils. We ensure that the school runs effectively, that quality teaching and learning is happening across the school, that the budget is spent wisely and that CCofE provides good value for money.

We make strategic decisions on how the school is run and are answerable to parents, the wider community and most importantly the children who attend CCofE. We govern rather than manage, giving direction and focus. The management of the school remains the responsibility of the Headteacher. We are responsible for:

• Appointing Headteachers and Deputy Headteachers and ensuring the implementation of a range of HR procedures
• Managing the school's budget
• Determining aims, policies and priorities for CCofE Primary
• Monitoring and evaluating the work of the school and setting targets
• Ensuring high levels of attendance and good standards of pupil behaviour
• Ensuring that all children in the schools have access to a broad and balanced curriculum, suitable to age, aptitude and ability, which prepares them for adult life
• Ensuring the health and safety of pupils and staff

We meet at least once every half term.  In addition to these full Governing Body meetings our sub-committees also meet half termly.

If you are interested in becoming a Governor, please contact the Chair of governors via the school office or school@ccofe.waltham.sch.uk

Hard copies of Governor Minutes are available on request from the school office.

Governor Meetings

The timetable of Full Governor meetings are advertised at the start of each academic year. If you wish have copies of the minutes of any governors' meetings, please request them via the school email address, or at either front office. Parents/carers may observe full governors' meetings with prior notification to the Headteacher that they wish to attend.