Governing Body
Welcome to The Mary Bassett Lower
School Governors’ page
Here you will find information about the role of the governing body, governance at The Mary Bassett Lower School, how to become a school governor and a list of our current governors.
The Role and Responsibilities of the Governing Body
Governing bodies are the key strategic decision makers and vision setters in every school, helping to set the school’s aims and values. In all types of schools, governing bodies should have a strong focus on three core strategic functions:
1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
2. Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
These functions are reflected in regulations for maintained schools that came into force in September 2013 and in the criteria Ofsted inspectors use to judge the effectiveness of governance in both maintained schools and academies.
More detail about the role of governance can be found in the Governors’ Handbook:
Governing bodies have a vital role to play in improving school and pupil performance and ensuring that resources are used well to give every child the best possible education. They also make decisions on matters such as performance targets, school policies and the school’s development plan. They oversee the use of the school’s budget, have responsibility to obtain value for money for that budget and are responsible for the appointment of the Headteacher. In addition, governors monitor, support and challenge the headteacher and staff on how well these policies and targets are followed through. They do this by visiting the school, getting to know its strengths and weaknesses, monitoring progress and asking useful questions that foster an ethos of continuous improvement.
The Governing Body is required to meet once per term, but at The Mary Bassett Lower School we meet more frequently to ensure the work of the Governing Body is effective.
Governance at The Mary Bassett Lower School
The Mary Bassett Lower School’s Full Governing Body (FGB) is currently constituted of 12 members. The FGB operates under the leadership of a chair and vice-chair with the help of a professional clerk.
Governors at The Mary Bassett Lower School come from a range of backgrounds: parents, staff, the local authority and the wider community. We aim to recruit people who have a range of relevant skills and most importantly are committed to acting in the best interests of the children and their learning.
The Governing Body of The Mary Bassett Lower School works as a 'whole team' with support from the Finance & Premises Committee.
How to Become a Governor at The Mary Bassett Lower School
A good school governor is passionate about children’s education, is open to ideas, likes working as a team, is willing to ask questions and can commit to spending the requisite time. If you are interested in becoming a governor at The Mary Bassett Lower School, please contact our Clerk, Karen Hazell, in the first instance - schoolmanager@marybassett.co.uk
How to contact The Mary Bassett Lower School Governors
If you have a concern that touches on the day-to-day life of the school, or an issue that is affecting your child, please talk with their class teacher in the first instance.
Should you wish to contact the Governors you may write to them via the school office or email schoolmanager@marybassett.co.uk
Meet the Governors
Rob Merry
Chair of the Governing Body
Chair of Finance & Premises Committee
Finance Link Governor (Joint)
Writing & Science Link Governor
Co-opted Governor 03/03/21 - 02/03/25
I have lived in Leighton Buzzard for 20 years. I am an actuary by trade and have held a number of senior positions (including With-Profits Actuary and Deputy Chief Actuary). I spent 23 years of my career at Equitable Life in Aylesbury. In 2014, I joined HSBC to create a new global function to assess actuarial model risk in the HSBC companies around the world. My career has involved managing actuarial departments, financial reporting, advising the Board and playing a key role in corporate governance and strategic risk mitigation activity. I am the Deputy Chair of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Life Education and Continuous Professional Development Committee that is responsible for shaping and delivering actuarial technical knowledge for actuaries today and in the future. I have a passion for education and unlocking individual potential.
S
arah Needham
Co-opted Governor 06/03/19 – 05/03/23
Vice-Chair of the Governing Body
SEND Link Governor (Joint)
Finance Link Governor (Joint)
Health & Safety Link Governor
Specialist Funding Link Governor (Joint)
GDPR Link Governor
RE, PHSE & Foreign Languages Link Governor
I have always had a keen interest in education so decided to become a school Governor. This has been an opportunity to give back to my local community but also expand my own knowledge and experience. I come from an adult training background and my experience in this area has been useful in fulfilling my role on the Governing Body.
Janet Woolsey
Co-opted Governor 12/12/18 – 11/12/22
Chair of Pay Committee
Safeguarding Link Governor (Joint)
Wellbeing and Sex & Relationships Link Governor
Specialist Funding Link Governor (Joint)
PE & Reading Link Governor
I have been involved with The Mary Basset Lower School continuously since my children were at the school. This was initially on the PTA and later as a governor. (They are now 27 and 24 years old!) Professionally, I have also been a Health Visitor in London and Bedfordshire, mostly in Leighton Buzzard for a similar number of years.
I enjoy being a Governor and I hope my historical experience of the school and my professional knowledge in health, child development and the local community continues to make me a useful member of the Governing Body.
Terry Pettitt
Co-opted Governor 03/03/21 - 02/03/25
Data Analysis Link Governor (Joint)
Technology and Social Media Link Governor
Communications and Website Link Governor (Joint)
Training Link Governor
Maths, Music & Computing Link Governor
Having recently moved to the area I've been really keen to get involved with a local school. As a previous governor of 6 years, I enjoyed working to improve the outcome of young people, and am passionate about giving the next generations the best possible start in life. As a director of a small IT consultancy in London, a programmer/designer, former community choir chair and a keen amateur musician, I have a wide range of skills that I think can be assets to The Mary Bassett Lower School.
Lily Crank
Co-opted Governor 20/01/22 – 19/01/26
Safeguarding Link Governor (Joint)
Communications & Website Link Governor (Joint)
Early Years Link Governor
Whistleblowing Governor
History & Geography Link Governor
I have lived in Leighton Buzzard for 10 years and have one children attending The Mary Bassett School and one child, who loved her years here, now at middle school. I have been a police officer in the Metropolitan Police in London for 17 years and have specialised over the last 12 years in high risk domestic violence and partnership working. I currently work part-time in a multi-agency setting, safeguarding vulnerable adults and children and am a trained mediator. I am pleased to be involved in the school both as a parent and as a governor.
Jo Radford Cutler
Parent Governor 20/04/22 – 19/04/26
Sophie Benjamin
Parent Governor 20/04/22 – 19/04/26
David Baillie
Staff Governor 20/04/22 – 19/04/26
Hilary Wheeldon
Headteacher Governor
Governor Visits to School Link Governor
Karen Hazell
Clerk to the Governing Body
Former Governors over the past 12 months
Kristian Hewitt (former Headteacher) - resigned 31/08/2021
Anne Mason (Staff Governor) - resigned 18/04/2022
Rebecca Taylor (Parent Governor) - resigned 24/04/2022
