A warm welcome from the Chair of Governors
 
On behalf of the governors of Tymberwood Primary Academy it is my great pleasure to welcome you to our school’s website for the 2024/25 school year. Last year our children generally performed well in the end of year assessments, despite a dip in the outcomes at the end of Reception. However, we are very proud of all of them Our children also enjoyed the planned trips they went on and spoke excitedly to us about them.

Last Easter, we said a sad goodbye to our much-respected former Headteacher, Mrs Kelley-Day, who took up a position in a larger primary closer to her home. At the same time, we welcomed Mr Westmoreland, who joined us from a primary on the Kent coast, where he was Headteacher. Mr Westmoreland knows the area very well, having lived here previously.

As governors we are always keen to hear your views and feedback on the school so please do feel free to contact me at any time through the school office.  I will also be attending various school events throughout the year and be on hand occasionally at drop off or pick up times and will try to speak to as many of you as possible.
 
Thank you for your continued support for the school. The staff will always offer the best possible opportunities for learning at the school but we know that the children will only maximise their potential with the support and guidance of our parents and carers outside the school.
 
We are also very grateful for the support of our parent association. The members and supporters work extremely hard raising much needed funds for the benefit of our children. We always appreciate their efforts and the additional enrichment opportunities these funds provide for our children. Please do continue to support their events.

I wish everyone at Tymberwood PTA and all our associated families and supporters the very best for the new school year.
 
Best wishes
 
Brendan Hollyer
Chair of Governors, Tymberwood Primary Academy
 

Meet the Governors

Brendan Hollyer - Chair
Business Declarations: Chair of Trustee at Social Arts for Education
Type of Governor: Trust Appointed
Term of Office: 8 July 2022 – 7 July 2026
Meeting Attendance 2022/23: 6 out of 6
Areas of Responsibility: Special Educational Needs, Statutory Grants

I have more than thirty years’ experience of working for financial institutions in the City of London and have been a school governor since 2002. During my time, I have been a governor at primary and secondary schools, both in Kent and at other schools across the South East of England, having worked for a Multi Academy Trust.
I first became a governor at the school my daughters attended, as I wanted to use my financial experience to help with budgeting for the school year.
I joined the Local Governing Body of Tymberwood in 2022, as Chair and have worked with the senior leaders to ensure that our children are provided with the very best experience to prepare them for their future lives. Since 2014, I have used my experience to work with other schools, providing support to new Chairs or to governing bodies that have undergone significant change.
 

Anita Wright – Vice Chair
Business Declarations: Family member works at the school
Type of Governor: Co-opted
Term of Office: 17 January 2022 – 16 January 2026
Meeting Attendance 2023/24: 6 out of 6
Areas of Responsibility: Safeguarding 

Kasia Kowalewska (Acting Headteacher)
Business Declarations: None
Type of Governor: Ex-Officio
Term of Office: Not Applicable
Meeting Attendance 2023/24: N/A

Vicky Climpson-Cash
Business Declarations: None
Type of Governor: Staff Appointed
Term of Office: 1 September 2018 – 28 January 2027
Meeting Attendance 2023/24: 6 out of 6

Siobhan Filed
Business Declarations: None
Type of Governor: Staff Appointed
Term of Office: 2 February 2024 – 1 February 2028
Meeting Attendance 2023/24: 3 out of 3

Alison Jeffrey
Business Declarations: Governor at Gravesend Grammar School
Type of Governor: Trust Appointed
Term of Office: 1 September 2020 – 31 December 2024
Meeting Attendance 2023/24: 5 out of 6
Areas of Responsibility: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
 

Tony Ansell
Business Declarations: None
Type of Governor: Trust Appointed
Term of Office: 6 September 2024 – 5 September 2028
Meeting Attendance 2024/24: N/A
Areas of Responsibility: Risk & Compliance

Mark Crothall
Business Declarations: Teacher at a local secondary school
Type of Governor: Parent
Term of Office: 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2026
Meeting Attendance 2024/24: 5 out of 6
Areas of Responsibility: Wellbeing

Michaela Crothall
Business Declarations: Teacher at a local secondary school
Type of Governor: Parent
Term of Office: 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2026
Meeting Attendance 2023/24: 4 out of 6
Areas of Responsibility: To be agreed

Clerk to Governors

Rose Davies
Date of Appointment: N/A
 

Governors who stepped down in previous academic year

Governors who stepped down in previous academic year:

Fr Michael Payne
Type of Governor: Trust Appointed
Date of Resignation: 20 May 2024
Meeting Attendance 2023/24: 3 out of 5

Kathleen Quinn
Type of Governor: Staff Appointed
Date of Resignation: 16 December 2023
Meeting Attendance 2023/24: 2 out of 2

Sarah Kelley-Day
Type of Governor: Ex-Officio
Date of Resignation: 31 March 2024
Meeting Attendance 2023/24: 4 out of 4
 

What is a school governor?
The role of a governor is to act as a critical friend to the school. We provide a robust and consistent challenge as we review the progress and achievement of our pupils. Governors visit the school regularly, observing lessons, speaking to children and hearing their thoughts on what they are doing and how they feel at school.  We also speak to the staff to understand how they feel things are going across the school.
 
We also watch how the senior leadership team of the school use the resources and funding at their disposal to ensure the children have the best possible opportunity to maximise their potential during their time at Tymberwood Primary Academy.
 
Overall. we work with the senior leadership team at the school to ensure that children have a safe, nurturing and stimulating place to learn, not just the core subjects the school offers like reading, writing and maths, but also the values and behaviours that we believe will give them the best possible start in life.
 
If you want to contact either myself or any member of the governing body on any matter concerning the school, then please write to us at the school address. We are here to listen and to help where we can.

Membership

We currently have 9 members on our Local Governing Body:

1x Headteacher
2x Staff Governors
2x Parent Governors
4x Appointed Governors (appointed by the Trust)

We are clerked by a highly experienced Governance Professional, who ensures that we discharge our statutory obligations in accordance with the REAch2 Scheme of Delegation.

Structure

Governing Body meetings happen six times a year, with the key focus alternating between Quality of Education and Resources & Enrichment. We invite a range of other staff to attend, in order that we can hear from a wider group about what is happening in the school. For example, last year we heard regularly from the School Business Manager, Subject Leads and a new to teaching member of staff.

As well as attending meetings, governors are expected to arrange visits to schools, linked to the area of specific focus agreed at the start of the year. It is a requirement that each governing body has a named governor linked to:
•    Safeguarding; and
•    Special Educational Needs
In addition, we appoint governors to oversee the progress on the school priorities for the year.

Governors also regularly attend training, to ensure that they are kept up to date on the ever-changing educational landscape.

If you would like to contact the Governing Body please email office@tymberwoodacademy.org.uk marked for the attention of the Chair of the Governing Body or write c/o the school address, this will be forwarded to the Chair who will in turn make contact with you.

Financial Statements

Please see link below for REAch2 FInancial Statements, which covers Tymberwood Academy, for the Academic Years 

2021/22

2020/21

2019/20

2018/19

2017/18

2016/17

2015/16

https://www.reach2.org/financial-statements/

https://www.reach2.org/governance/

REAch2 Governance Structure

For further details of REAch2's governance structure please follow this link:

http://reach2.org/governance-policy/governance/

For the Scheme of Delegation please follow this link: 

Scheme of delegation