Our Governing Body
Our governors work voluntarily with the headteacher and senior leadership team on the school's strategic development and raising achievement standards. They are essential to running the school and are legally responsible for it. The follow the Department for Education's guidance, so they do not handle day-to-day operations, which are managed by the senior leadership team. This allows governors to focus on their core functions of ensuring:
- that the vision, ethos, and strategic direction of the school are clearly defined;
- that the headteacher performs their responsibilities for the educational performance of the school;
- Oversight of the sound, proper, and effective use of the school's financial resources.
A governing body and its governors must also:
- act with integrity, objectivity and honesty and in the best interests of the school;
- be open about the decisions they make and the actions they take and shall be prepared to explain their decisions and actions to interested parties.
The governing body also has legislative responsibility and strategic oversight of ther the school's safeguarding arrangements.
Types of governors and how they are appointed
The governing board includes several categories of governors, all of whom have equal status, work collaboratively, and make collective decisions.
The categories defined in the Hertford Primary School Governing Board constitution are:
- co-opted governors (nine) - appointed by the board;
- parent governors (two) - elected by parents and carers;
- local authority governor (one) - appointed by the board and approved by the local authority;
- staff governor (one) - elected by school staff;
- headteacher staff governor (one) - the headteacher may choose to take up this position as part of their role.
The Chair of Governors is Jenny Pearson and her contact is Jennypearson@hertford.brighton-hove.sch.uk. The Vice Chair is Beatrice Orchard - Beatriceorchard@hertford.brighton-hove sch.uk
The structure of the board is under review (August 2026). No powers have been conferred to individual governors.
Associate members may also be appointed by the board. Associate members do not vote at full board meetings but may be granted voting rights at committee meetings. No current associate members have voting rights. All members follow the governing board code of conduct.
What have the governors been doing? This page lists the formal meetings held since the formation of Hertford Primary School and includes links to non-confidential minutes. Earlier minutes and papers considered may also be available upon request to admin@hertford.brighton-hove.sch.uk.
Governing Board
|
Name/Position |
Category/How Appointed |
Register of Interest* |
Term of Office |
Attendance 2025-2026 |
|
Abiola Adebayo |
Co-opted governor appointed by the governing board |
Employed by Sussex Community Trust |
13.5.25 - 12.5.29 |
FGB 1/4 SGI Cttee 0/2 |
|
Dan Dumoulin |
Co-opted. Appointed by the governing board. |
Employed by DePaul UK, Director of Development and External Affairs |
13.3.25 - 12.3.29 |
FGB 3/4 FPHSP Ctee 2/2 |
|
Sophie Flax |
Parent governor elected by the parent body |
Solicitor Employed by Southern Water |
20.6.25 - 19.6.29 |
FGB 3/4 FPHSP 1/2 |
| Marina Frangipani | Parent governor elected by the parent body | None | 13.3.26 - 12.3.30 |
FGB 2/2
|
|
Tom Freeman Chair of Quality of Education Committee |
Co-opted. Appointed by the governing board. Originally, parent governor elected by the parent body 24.11.2021 |
Teacher employed by Oriel school 2 2.9.23 Self-employed sports coach, with JASC |
13.3.25 - 12.3.29 |
FGB 0/4 QE Ctee 2/3 |
|
Kieran Hogg |
Co-opted Governor |
Employee - Multiverse Ltd |
13.3.25 - 12.3.29 |
FGB 3/4
|
|
Mary Murphy |
Staff Governor - elected by the staffing body |
Teacher at Hertford Federation/ Hertford Primary School |
12.9.22 - 11.9.26 |
FGB 3/4 QE 3/3 |
|
Beatrice Orchard Vice Chair of Governors |
Co-opted by the governing board originally 29.3.21. Latest term commenced 28.3.25 |
Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the Trussell Trust |
28.3.25 - 27.3.29 |
FGB 4/4 FPHSP 1/1 QE 3/3 |
|
Jenny Pearson Chair of Governors |
Co-opted by the governing board originally 16.1.23, reco-opted July 2026 |
Sept 23 None. Previously Chair of the Board of Trustees of the International School of Phnom Penh |
15.1.2031 |
FGB 4/4 SGI 3/3 |
|
Rachael Durneen |
Headteacher staff governor by virtue of office. Previously associate member appointed by the governing board 26.11.19 then interim executive headteacher of Hertford Schools 1.9.23 -31.8.24 |
Headteacher of Hertford Primary School from 1.9.24 |
1.9.24 - |
FGB 4/4 FPHSP 2/2 SGI 1/1 |
|
Abi Pearce |
Associate Member, appointed by the board Original appointment 11.9.23. |
Deputy Headteacher, Hertford Primary School |
7.10.24 - 6.10.26
|
FGB 2/2 QE 3/3 |
* Interests are declared annually and at every meeting. Should there be a conflict the governor withdraws from discussion and does not vote on that matter.
Other governors or associate members within the last year
|
Name |
Category |
Interest |
Date of appointment |
End of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joanne Barton |
Co-opted |
Internal auditor employed by University of Brighton/Academies Trust |
4.12.2023 |
3.2.2026 |
|
Justine Harvey |
Associate Member |
Employed at Hertford Primary School |
1.9.2024 |
23.3.26 |
|
Jenny Perrin Previously Chair of Governors |
Local Authority Governor Originally 3.7.2017 co-opted as part of Hertford Federation |
Employed by Brighton and Hove Council | 1.9.2024 | 31.8.26 |
Vacancies
Three co-opted governor vacancies