Governance – Ditton Church of England Junior School

Welcome to our Governance section

Welcome to the Governance area of our website. The Governance responsibilities include the main functions as identified by the Department for Education (October, 2020):

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

As a Voluntary Aided school with a church foundation, there are additional responsibilities – such as being the employers of all staff, being the admission authority and maintaining our Christian distinctiveness.

In January 2021, the Governing Body was replaced by an Interim Executive Board (IEB) at the direction of the Regional Schools Commissioner. This is a smaller and more experienced group of individuals who are required to work on the rapid improvement of the school. As the name suggests, it is a temporary measure and the longer term goal is to return governance functions to the new Governing Body.

The IEB will operate differently to a Governing Body: each member will carry specific responsibilities and will report on the area at very regular meetings of the Board. We do not have a committee structure.

Dr Peter Gregory – Chair

Having been appointed by KCC as a LA governor, I am very pleased to now serve the community of Ditton CE (VA) Junior School as Chair of the IEB.

I have been involved in school governance for over 30 years and over that time occupied almost every position on a governing body – in ex officio, staff, parent, LA and foundation governor roles. More recently I have been designated by the Department for Education as a National Leader of Governance and support a number of Chairs across the South East in sometimes extremely challenging circumstances. I’m also a Trustee/Director for several national educational organisations.

In my day job, I still lecture part-time at Canterbury Christ Church University on a number of teacher training programmes and supervise research students. I also live and worship in Canterbury.
In my spare time, I enjoy walking, bird watching, folk music and visiting art galleries.

Mr Keith May

I have been a school governor since 1988 and have served as chair on several occasions as well as chairing sub-committees. I am currently a governor at both a primary and secondary school, in addition I am a National Leader of Governance which involves mentoring and supporting both chairs and governing bodies.

I carry out part time work for a national education trust as an education governance consultant.

Mrs Jude Johnson

I am delighted to be able to serve on the Interim Executive Board for Ditton (VA) Junior School. I have been involved in school governance since 2001, starting as a parent governor at an Infant school, then becoming an LA governor and Co-opted governor. I have experience leading a board as a Vice Chair and Chair and in that time celebrated an Outstanding judgement at our last Ofsted inspection, as well as leading the board through a federation process with the local junior school. I have further experience of strategic leadership as Trustee of a Christian Schools work charity and in my working life have been involved in supporting families to improve life chances for children and young people. I now enjoy advising and training school governors in my role as an Area Governance Officer.

In my spare time, I am a volunteer for a local foodbank and member of Larkfield Community Church. I also love baking and like nothing more than a chat with friends over a cup of tea with a piece of cake!

Dr Ros Fisher

I have been a primary school governor for nearly 10 years, both as a parent governor and co-opted. For many of those years I have chaired a governing board, and I have recently overseen the federation of two primary schools, now chairing the federated board.

Professionally I divide my time between crop research at the Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, and lecturing in horticulture to FE and HE students at Hadlow College.

Michael Blanning

In the past 10 years I have been a governor at several local schools, including two primary schools, holding various roles. I am also currently involved at a further education college.

My work was in finance in London, though I am now retired from the commute.

I enjoy sport, these days particularly golf, and I am also interested in reading history books. My wife and I enjoy going to concerts and we manage to travel a bit in the UK and abroad now that our own childen are grown up.

Declarations of Interest March 2020

Attendance 2018 2019 (1)

Code of Conduct for Academic Year 2019- 2020 (2)