Welcome from The Chair

Welcome to the Governors’ Pages for the South Hams Federation

Hello, my name is Jane Greaves, and I’m proud to be the current Chair of Governors for the South Hams Federation.

Our Board of Governors supports four wonderful primary schools—Loddiswell, Malborough C of E with South Huish, Modbury, and Stokenham—as well as Loddiswell Preschool and Merry Go Round Preschool. Together, we work to make sure every child gets the best possible education and experiences during their time with us.

What Do Governors Do?

Being a Governor is all about supporting our schools while making sure we ask the right questions to help them be the best they can be. Our role focuses on three main areas:

1. Setting the direction

• Agreeing the Federation’s vision and values
• Helping to set priorities and targets for improvement
• Making sure we meet all our legal responsibilities

2. Making sure we’re accountable

• Appointing and supporting the Executive Headteacher
• Keeping track of progress against targets
• Looking after staff wellbeing
• Listening to parents, carers, and the wider community
• Reflecting honestly on how we can keep improving

3. Overseeing finances

• Setting and checking the budget
• Monitoring spending
• Making sure money is used wisely and makes a real difference for children

Who Are We?

Our Board is made up of 12 Governors, bringing a mix of experience and perspectives:

• Executive Headteacher
• Two Parent Governors
• One Staff Governor
• One Local Authority Governor
• Five Co-opted Governors
• Two Foundation Governors (one is Ex-Officio, appointed by the Exeter Diocesan Board of Education)

How We Work

• The full Board of Governors meets six times a year.
• Smaller groups meet more often to focus on specific areas, like resources, ethos, or school improvement.
• Meetings are held during the school day so we can visit classrooms, chat with staff and children, and see the schools in action.

Every year, Governors take part in training and complete a skills audit to make sure we have the right knowledge to support our schools effectively. We also write our own Improvement Plan and review our progress regularly.

Staying Connected

We’re very proud to know our schools and communities well, and we always welcome ideas, feedback, or suggestions from parents and carers.

If you’d like to get in touch, please contact me directly:

Mrs. Jane Greaves
Chair of Governors
Email: JGreaves@southhamsfederation.org.uk