Our Governors

Deanshanger Primary School is part of the Grand Union Partnership Multi Academy Trust. Each school within the Trust has its own Local Academy Committee with a constitution of 10 Governors which includes two parent governors, one staff governor, the Head of School and Executive Head

Effective Governance at any level in a Multi Academy Trust should have a focus on:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff.
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

The Local Academy Committee has a strategic role to provide support and challenge to the operational management of the school by the Head of school and Executive Head and represents the interests of the local community.  

Governors at Deanshanger Primary School meet twice a term and use these meetings to oversee and monitor school improvement and financial health and providing constructive challenge to school leaders. Governors visit the school regularly to monitor school improvement and the progress that the school is making and to gain assurance that the school is fulfilling its key statutory duties.

Since the school is part of the Grand Union Partnership Multi Academy Trust, governor responsibilities are delegated to them by the Trust Board. Please use the link below to see the Scheme of Delegation the trust adopts:

Grand Union Partnership Multi Academy Trust Governance

All Trustee and Governor roles are voluntary, and we are very grateful for the significant commitment that all of the people involved make at every level of governance across the trust.

If you would like to find out more about any of these roles, we would be delighted to talk with you, please contact Miss Morris in the first instance.

 

Statutory Information

• Deanshanger Primary School constitution
• Deanshanger Primary School Attendance Register 2023-2024

• Deanshanger Diversity Data Evaluation Local Academy Committee 2024
• Deanshanger Primary School Governors Attendance Register 2024-2025

 

Deanshanger governors, their roles and terms of office are shown below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Balderstone - Chair of Governors                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Term of Office: 25/03/2024 - 24/03/2028

 

I live locally and have been a solicitor for over 30 years, working in private practice, the leisure retail sector, for several housebuilders and for a multi-academy trust for 5 years. I work part-time now as a lawyer for a large charity supporting people recovering from brain injuries.

I served on a number of academy governing bodies from 2009-14 at both secondary and primary schools. I returned to employment in the housebuilding sector in 2014 then volunteered via the governor’s one stop shop in 2017 and joined Old Stratford. I became Chair there when the school became an academy.

After 5 years or so, I asked the Trust for the opportunity to move and joined Deanshanger’s governors in May 2024. A bigger school with different challenges, I’ve enjoyed learning about DPS and helping to bed in the changes over the past 18 months. 

It’s great to work with a team committed to improving the learning outcomes for all our pupils and making the school a happy, safe and vibrant community.

 

Laura Partridge – Trust Governor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Term of Office: 12/10/2022 – 11/10/2026         

I am a primary school teacher employed at New Bradwell School, part of the Grand Union Partnership. I have 19 years’ experience in primary education, and as well as teaching Year 6 full time, I am part of the Senior Management Team of New Bradwell School as team leader for Year 5 and 6, a role I have undertaken for thirteen years.

Subjects of particular interest to me include history and art, and I believe very passionately in a broad and balanced curriculum that seeks to develop the ‘whole child’. I also believe strongly in education that makes links to the local area and community, developing reciprocal relationships with local organisations and providing a sense of cohesion and belonging for all children.

I am a parent myself to two boys, aged 9 and 13. My weekends are often spent cheering enthusiastically from the side of a muddy football pitch, or in the kitchen cooking and baking with my family; homemade pizza is a favourite!

As SEND governor of Deanshanger Primary School, I hope to offer support to the headteacher and existing governing body through my experience working in primary education and more specifically within the Grand Union Partnership, and help to ensure successful outcomes for all pupils.

 

Ann-Marie Smith – Trust Governor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Term of Office: 05/03/2024 – 04/03/2028

 

I have 17 years’ experience teaching in secondary schools in Luton and Milton Keynes and am currently an Assistant Headteacher at The Radcliffe School in Wolverton, having been there for the past 10  years. I am passionate about developing equity and community relationships within education and firmly believe in schools working with their community to provide all children with the opportunities for success. 
I am a mother of two boys, with one of them still attending New Bradwell school. We are an active family who enjoy athletics and hiking and often spend time conquering the peaks in North Wales, Scotland, or The Lake District.  

 

Jess Annison - Parent Governor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Term of Office: 08/11/2024 – 07/11/2028

I’m mum to a DPS child and am keen to play my part as a parent governor, to help create the brilliant and happy school our children deserve. There’s clearly a great deal of resolve and energy (from teachers, the MAT and parents) to help the school improve and – ultimately – flourish. I will work to ensure that the school is helping every child achieve their potential (whatever their starting point), whilst getting the right balance between academic success and all-important social, life and wellbeing skills. I will encourage greater engagement from the governing body to parents on the stuff that really matters, including visibility of key statistics (whilst recognising they only paint part of the picture).

I’m a self-employed leadership coach, mainly supporting public sector leaders and teams. Previously I’ve had a 15-year career in organisational change and major projects, in the Civil Service and education sectors. I’ve also been a community governor (i.e. non-parent) at a local primary school and am honoured to now play a similar role for my own child’s school.

Alison Penwell – Staff Governor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Term of Office: 01/09/2024 – 31/08/2028I I have been working in education since 2023, initially in the local preshool and then joining Deanshanger Primary School in 2013. I have worked in Reception and trained as Forest School lead with more recently taking on the role of HLTA working across all year groups. I believe children should be offered a wealth of experiences to allow them to learn and grow. 

I am a mother of 3, who all attended Deanshanger, and all have fond memories of the school. In my spare time I enjoy walking the dog, swimming and going to the theatre and cinema. 

 

Toni Sohal - Parent Governor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Term of Office: 08/11/2024 - 07/11/2025

I am a mum to a DPS child and am very excited and passionate about my role as a Parent Governor. I believe that every child has the right to succeed and be offered an inclusive education which gives them every chance to succeed and be able to achieve to their fullest potential. I am a firm believer in children experiencing a broad and balanced curriculum to cater for all talents and areas of interest. Among our children at Deanshanger Primary we may have the next musical composer, ground-breaking scientist, astronaut or prime minister and ensuring the children have a range of experiences and opportunities to grow these dreams is important to me. 

I have been a primary school teacher in Milton Keynes for over 15 years and am currently an Assistant Headteacher at Giffard Park Primary School. I am a strong advocate for all stakeholders working collaboratively to make a school the best possible place it can be. Working closely with staff, parents and other governors with respect and trust is vital to allowing the school and our children to thrive. 

 

Lindsay Grainger - Trust Governor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Term of Office: 05/02/2025 - 04/02/2029

I am a qualified Primary school teacher with almost 13 years’ experience teaching in a variety of classrooms, from mainstream to a Pupil Referral Unit and Special Needs schools. During my time teaching I have worked with mainstream schools to give support for children with additional needs and worked with teachers on behaviour strategies. I have also worked with children with a range of additional needs moderate learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning disabilities as well as children with Autism and ADHD.

I am a mum of 2 who are both adopted. When we adopted our oldest I gave up teaching to be a stay at home parent and this gives me precious time to watch them grow and help in their development. As a parent of a child with additional needs I have been able to use my knowledge in order to get him the right support as early as possible. My son started at Deanshanger Primary and I feel this is my chance to give something back and support him in a different way. We are from a neighbouring village but I chose Deanshanger for him as I could see all the opportunities he would have here. It is an amazing school with so many facilities that will support children to thrive. As a parent governor, I feel privileged to have the chance to work alongside and support the wonderfully passionate staff and leaders at Deanshanger Primary School.

 

Governor Minutes