Governor Information
The Local Governing Body of Longwick CE Combined School
We are members of the Oxford Diocesan Bucks Schools Trust and the governance of the Trust belongs to the main ODBST Board of Trustees. Please find below our Scheme of Delegation. This also includes our Constitution and Terms of Reference. Paper copies can be obtained through the school office. You can also find details of the Trust Board and details of our Trust Governance by clicking here.
In order to discharge these responsibilities, the Trustees appoint people who are locally based to serve on a local governing body which has been established to ensure the good governance of the school.
The Longwick Governing Body is made up of 12 members: the Headteacher; 2 Foundation governors appointed by the Diocese; 4 trust governors drawn from the local area, selected because of their skills and interests, plus 1 additional co-opted trust governor; 1 staff governor elected by staff members and 3 elected parent governors. With the exception of the Head Teacher, governors all hold office for a period of four years. We discuss all matters as a whole Governing Body except for two confidential areas for which we have the Pay Committee and the Headteacher Performance Management Committee.
The Role of the Local Governing Body
The Governing Body works with the Headteacher and the staff to make sure the school provides good quality education for all of its children, and constantly strives to improve. Governors need to set high expectations and ask challenging questions.
The key roles of a Governing Body are to:
- Ensure children and staff are safe whilst in education
- Hold the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team to account for how the school is run and for children's outcomes
- Ensure budgets are spent wisely.
Governor Appointments and Terms of Office
| Mrs Claire Randall |
Trust Governor Trustee Appointed Appointed 10 Mar 2025 |
Expires 12 Mar 2029 |
| Mr Ashley Knibbs-Cruickshank |
Trust Governor Trustee Appointed Appointed 14 Jan 2025 |
Expires 13 Jan 2029 |
| Mrs Lauren Barton |
Staff Governor Staff Elected Appointed 26 Sep 2023 |
Expires 25 Sep 2027 |
| Miss Clare Smith |
Trust Governor Trustee Appointed Appointed 24 May 2024 |
Expires 23 May 2028 |
| Mr Jon Day |
Parent Governor Parent Elected Appointed 8 Dec 2025 |
Expires 7 Dec 2029 |
| Rev Steve Benoy |
Foundation Governor Diocese Appointed Appointed 1 May 2026 |
Expires 30 April 2030 |
| Mrs Laura Armstrong |
Trust Governor Trustee Appointed Appointed 12 May 2026 |
Expires 11 May 2030 |
| Mr Joe Copson |
Trust Governor (co-opted) Trustee Appointed Appointed 12 May 2026 |
Expires 11 May 2030 |
| Ms Laura Collinson |
Headteacher Trustee Appointed Appointed 1 Sept 2025 |
N/A |
| Mr James Spybey |
Parent Governor Parent Elected Appointed 1 Dec 2022 |
Resigned 9 Aug 2026 |
| Mr Luke Carter |
Parent Governor Parent Elected Appointed 1 Dec 2022 |
Resigned 3 Jul 2026 |
| Rev Andrew Walmsley |
Foundation Governor Diocese Appointed Appointed 19 Nov 2024 |
Resigned 8 Jun 2026 |
| Mrs Elaine Needham |
Foundation Governor Diocese Appointed Appointed 9 March 2022 |
Expired 8 Mar 2026 |
| Mrs Sophie Marshall |
Trust Governor Trustee Appointed Appointed 30 Nov 2021 |
Expired 14 Dec 2025 |
| Mrs Caroline Byrom |
Parent Governor Parent Elected Appointed 14 Dec 2021 |
Expired 13 Dec 2025 |
Governor Roles and Responsibilities
| Mrs Claire Randall |
Chair of Governors, SEND, HT Performance Management Committee, English, Music, D&T, Development, Educational Visits, SIAMS |
| Mr Ashley Knibbs-Cruickshank | Deputy Chair of Governors, Safeguarding, Attendance, SIAMS |
| Miss Clare Smith | Health & Safety, Chair of Pay Committee, GDPR |
| Rev Steve Benoy | Collective Worship, SIAMS |
| Mrs Laura Collinson | Headteacher |
| Helen Hignett | Clerk to Full Governing Body |
Contacting the Governors
Governors welcome suggestions, feedback and ideas from parents. Please contact the Chair of Governors, Claire Randall, via the school office or by email - governors@lgw.odbst.org
Further Information