Our Governing Body

The role of the governing body is a strategic one with three core functions:

setting strategic direction
creating robust accountability
ensuring best use of financial resources

The work of the governing body is driven by the school improvement plan. Discussions, decisions and actions for governors focus on school finance, staffing matters, use and condition of premises, pupils' wellbeing, curriculum, data and assessment, working with stakeholders, admissions and organisational changes.

The full governing body must meet at least three times per academic year but most meet more frequently through committee meetings. There is an expectation that governors will also undertake monitoring visits into school to find out more about the school throughout the year. Governors work closely with the headteacher and make decisions collectively as a team.

How To Become A School Governor

If you require further information on the roles and responsibilities of School Governors or you are interested in becoming one, please contact NCDAT's Head of Governance, Steven Dawson - S.Dawson@ncdat.org.uk

Our Governors

Name	Position	Term of Office	Special responsibility role	Register of Interests
William Cowie	Governor (Chair)	01/02/2024- 06/07/2027	Chair; Link Governor for Safeguarding, Maths & PE	Business interest - J Dinning (Investments) Ltd (from 07/07/2023 to current).
Karen Telfer	Executive Headteacher	01/02/2024 -		Executive Headteacher, Pelton Community Primary (from 28/09/2021 to current).
Judith Russell	Staff Governor	18/05/2025 - 17/05/2029		Deputy Headteacher, Pelton Community Primary (from 18/05/2021 to current).
Jean Carleton	Governor	01/02/2024- 08/09/2027	Vice Chair; Link Governor for Art & Literacy	Retired None Declared
Wendy Guile	Governor	18/03/2025- 17/03/2029	Link Governor for SEND, YFS (Yearly Foundation Stage) & Geography	None Declared
Dr Damian Parry	Governor	01/02/2024- 02/07/2027	Link Governor for Science	None Declared
Rachel Henry	Staff Governor	17/05/2025- 16/05/2029		None Declared
Helen Faulds	Parent Governor	01/02/2024- 25/11/2025	Link Governor for ICT and Music	None Declared
Reverend Simon Spencer	Governor	01/02/2024- 21/03/2027	Link Governor for RE, PSHE and History	None Declared

Leavers in the last 12 months:

Cllr Danny Wood	Local Authority	27/11/2020- 26/11/2024	Governing Body Appointed	Appeals Pupils & Curriculum	Durham County Councillor Pelton Parish Councillor Labour Party Member Governor at another Primary School in Durham	None
David Ward	Parent Governor	01/11/2020 - 31/10/2024	Parent Appointed by Governing Body			None Declared

Record of Attendance

2024-2025

Name	12 November 2024	18 March 2025	17 June 2025
Mr William Cowie - Chair of Governors	Apologies Accepted	Attended	Attended
Mrs Karen Telfer - Head Teacher	Attended	Attended	Attended
Mrs Judith Russell	Apologies Accepted	Attended	Attended
Mrs Jean Carleton	Attended	Attended	Apologies Accepted
Wendy Guile	Attended	Attended	Attended
Dr Damian Parry	Attended	Attended	Attended
Cllr Danny Wood	Apologies Accepted	N/A	N/A
Mrs Rachel Henry	Attended	Attended	Attended
Mrs Helen Faulds	Attended	Apologies Accepted	Attended
Reverend Simon Spencer	Attended	Attended	Attended

2023-2024

Name	Full Governors Gathering 26/09/2023	Headteacher Performance Review 24/10/2023	Finance, Premises & Personnel Meeting 24/10/2023	Pupils & Curriculum Meeting 24/10/2023	First/Pay Review Meeting 07/11/2023	Full Governors Meeting 14/11/2023	Full Governors Meeting 12/03/2024	Full Governors Meeting 02/07/2024
Mr William Cowie - Chair of Governors	Present	Present	Present	X	X	A/A	A/A	Present
Mrs Karen Telfer - Head Teacher	Present	X	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
Mrs Judith Russell - Deputy Headteacher	A/A	X	Present	Present	X	Present	Present	Present
Mrs Jean Carleton	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
Mr David Ward	Present	X	Present	X	X	A/A	X	X
Wendy Guile	Present	Present	Present	X	A/A	Present	Present	Present
Dr Damian Parry	Present	X	X	Present	Present	Present	Present	A/A
Cllr Danny Wood	Present	X	X	A/A	X	Present	X	A/A
Mrs Rachel Henry	Present	X	X	Present	X	Present	Present	Present
Mrs Helen Faulds	Present	X	Present	X	Present	Present	X	Present
Reverend Simon Spencer	Present	X	X	Present	A/A	Present	Present	Present