Local Committee

The Good Shepherd Trust

Potters Gate CE Primary School and St Andrew’s CE Infant School are academies in The Good Shepherd Trust (GST). The GST is a multi-academy trust (MAT) within the Diocese of Guildford. More information about the GST can be found here.

The functions of the Trust Board of the Good Shepherd Trust are to lead strategy development, hold the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and his team to account, operate within financial constraints, define an overall vision for GST schools, meet the governance compliance required by law and create a strong, effective governance structure on the board and in schools. Information about the Trust Board membership and the Register of Interests is here.

Information about the finances and governance arrangements (including annual reports and accounts) can be found here.

The Local Committee (LC)

The Trust Board delegate some functions of the “day to day” running of the school to the Local Committee through a Scheme of Delegation.

Each Local Committee is responsible for:

• Establishing the strategic direction
• Ensuring accountability
• Overseeing compliance, including monitoring the impact of some grants (such as the pupil premium)
• Ensuring risks to the organisation are managed.

The members of the LC, the Headteacher and staff work together constantly to improve the quality of the education we provide to our children and to promote Christian values in all aspects of school life.

All LC members are formally appointed by the Trust, including where they are proposed through election, and are expected to perform their duties in accordance with a Code of Conduct.

The Local Committee meets six times per year (more if required and at least once per half term) and all Local Committee members are expected to attend.

 

The categories of membership are:

 

• The Head teacher, whose term of office continues whilst they are in post;
• Parent/carer member of children on roll at the time of appointment at the school, elected by the parent body and formally appointed by the GST. Parent/carer members may be appointed by the GST if there are fewer nominations than vacancies;
• Staff member, one member of the school staff from each school as a representative of the staff, elected by the staff body;
• General member.

A term of office for a local committee member is four years and a local committee member may serve two terms (8 years) if eligible – parents/staff would have to be re-elected to be eligible. In exceptional circumstances, and where it is in the best interests

of the trust, a local committee member may serve a further period up to four years

whilst a successor is found.

 

I am interested in joining the LC, what should I do?

Firstly, thank you! If you would like to be considered to be appointed to the LC please contact the Chair, Larry Peppin (chair@potters-gate.surrey.sch.uk), to arrange an informal chat about where your strengths and experience might best be used.

 

LC membership information

 

NAME	TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP	Appointed by	TERM OF OFFICE	END OF OFFICE DATE
Larry Peppin	General (Chair)	The Good Shepherd Trust	4 years	October 2025 (re-appointed October 2021)
Jayne Venables	Principal	The Good Shepherd Trust	ex officio	ex officio
Carol Trottier	Staff, Potters Gate	The Good Shepherd Trust	4 years	December 2024
David Edwards	General	The Good Shepherd Trust	4 years	July 2023
Dr Katherine Pond	General	The Good Shepherd Trust	4 years	July 2023
Jonathan Wheatcroft	General	The Good Shepherd Trust	4 years	July 2023
Dr Andria Degia-Davies	Parent	The Good Shepherd Trust	4 years	March 2025
Catherine Knight	General	The Good Shepherd Trust	4 years	July 2024
Sarah Gudgin	Parent	The Good Shepherd Trust	4 years	October 2023
Bonnie Swan-Lloyd	Staff, St Andrew’s	The Good Shepherd Trust	4 years	November 2023

 

 

POTTERS GATE & ST ANDREW’S Local Committee - REGISTER OF INTERESTS              

 

In accordance with the Academy Trust Handbook, local committee members and their relevant business and pecuniary interests, including governance roles in other educational institutions, are recorded as follows:

 

Full name of LC member/Senior Trust employee	Name and Nature of Business	Nature of Interest	Date of Appointment or Acquisition of Business Interest	Cessation of Interest	Date of Declaration
Mrs Christine Lareine Susan Peppin	·          Farnborough Grange Nursery & Infant School ·          Hale Carnival Committee (charity)	LC Chair   Committee Member	November 2017	Ongoing   Ongoing	Sept 2020
Dr Andria Winifred Degia-Davies
Mrs Bonnie Paula Lloyd	The Good Shepherd Trust	Employee
Mrs Carol Ann Trottier	The Good Shepherd Trust	Employee	April 2015	n/a	Feb 2021
Mrs Catherine Knight	Waverley Borough Council	Employee			Sept 2020
Mr David Gerald Edwards	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	Sept 2020
Dr Katherine Pond	University of Surrey	Senior Lecturer			Sept 2020
Mrs Jayne Michele Venables	The Good Shepherd Trust	Executive Headteacher	April 2015		Sept 2020
Mr Jonathan Harold Joseph Wheatcroft	PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP	Chartered Accountant			Sept 2020
Mrs Sarah Gudgin	COOK Trading Ltd	Employee	Oct 2018		Sept 2020
Name	Name and Nature of Business	Nature of Interest	Date of Appointment	Cessation of Interest
Mrs Nicola Louise Budd			July 2019	October 2021
Mr Stefan Andreas Carrington	Poplar Tree Digital Ltd	Employee	January 2020	November 2021
Dr Trevor Charles Walker			November 2019	December 2021
Mrs Emma Kathryn King	Godalming College	HR Manager	1 Oct 2020	July 2022

 

The links to the academies’ governance pages on GIAS (Get Information About Schools) are:

St Andrew’s C of E Infants School

Potters Gate C of E Primary School

 

The academy’s owner is:

 

The Good Shepherd Trust

Academies Office

Larch Avenue

Guildford

Surrey GU1 1JY.

 

Telephone: 01483 910210

www.goodshepherdtrust.org.uk

September 2022

 

Meet the Local Committee members

Local Committee members can be contacted via the school office by phone on 01252 716 305 (option 3) or via email at clerk@potters-gate.surrey.sch.uk.

GST Board Membership

GIAS - Get Information About Schools

 

2021/2022 LC Meeting Attendance

 

 

 

 

Potters Gate CE Primary School and St Andrew’s CE Infant School

 

Local Committee meeting dates 2022 – 2023

 

Autumn term

27^th September 2022 at 5.00pm

29^th November 2022 at 5.00pm

 

Spring term

24^th January 2023 at 5.00pm

14^th March 2023 at 5.00pm

 

Summer term

9^th May 2023 at 5.00pm

4^th July 2023 at 5.00pm

 

 

Larry Peppin - Chair of Local Committee

I have been involved in primary education all my working life. I came to Farnham in 1989 when I was appointed as Headteacher of William Cobbett Junior School. In 2014 I was appointed as Executive Head of Weybourne Infant School and William Cobbett Junior School. In this role I was privileged to be involved in the amalgamation of the two schools to form William Cobbett Primary School.

In 2015 I retired. Mrs Venables contacted me and invited me to become a governor at Potters Gate Primary School. Now I feel very honoured to be the Chair of Local Committee of both St. Andrew's Infant School and Potters Gate Primary School. As a joint governing body we are committed to providing a creative, nurturing, Christian and high quality education for all our children.

In my spare time I enjoy trying to keep fit by attending classes at the Nuffield Gym. My other community role is being a member of the Hale village Carnival Committee. The Carnival is held on the first Saturday in July and organising the procession is my responsibility. A great day out for all the family!

Jayne Venables - Executive Headteacher LC Member

I have been associated with St. Andrew’s Infant school since 2008 when I first started working at the school as Kingfisher Class teacher, and then becoming the Headteacher at the school in 2011. I became the Headteacher at Potters Gate Primary School in April 2015 and it is so exciting to be working with both schools currently.

When I am not working at Potters Gate Primary or St. Andrew’s I like to spend time walking with my lovely Working Cocker Spaniel, Jasper and out in my garden. I have chickens which help with my other passion which is cooking. When I find quiet time I like to knit and read. I live in Farnham with my two teenage children.

Carol Trottier - Staff LC Member

Having lived in Farnham for 23 years I feel very fortunate to live in such a wonderful town. Since 2009 I have been teaching in Farnham schools and now have the privilege of working with wonderful colleagues and children at both Potters Gate and St Andrew's.

I have three teenage daughters and one very cute guinea pig called Lily. As a family we love travelling, walking, cooking and generally just being together!

Catherine Knight - General LC Member

I am really pleased to be able to support St Andrew’s infant school as a co-opted Local Committee member. Our twins started at this idyllic school in 2014 and have enjoyed every day they have spent there. I had gained some insight into school life via volunteering with reading in reception and school trips (which I would recommend) but wanted to learn more about how the school works and develops children locally. We have three children who enjoyed a fantastic introduction to school life at St Andrew’s.

I have worked in destination marketing for the national and regional tourist boards much of my career and now also lecture adults in marketing.

I think it is important parents understand what LC members (and can’t do).

 

Dr Andria Degia-Davies - Parent LC Member

Having lived in Farnham town centre for over 20 years I feel very connected with the local community. I have been a Local Committee member since my daughter started reception at St Andrews in 2016, when I was immediately struck by what a nurturing and holistic environment the school offered. As both of my children now attend Potters Gate I have been able to witness first-hand the positive changes that have come about now that both schools are under one leadership team. The schools collectively strive to offer a curriculum that is stimulating and inclusive, whilst meeting the needs of children who may find their environment more challenging. It is a pleasure to be part of the governing body, and as nominated Child Protection governor I am committed to both support and challenge the Executive Leadership.

I work in Clinical Research as a director within General Medicine, currently focusing on pediatrics and rare disease.

David Edwards - General LC Member

I’ve lived in Farnham with my partner Elaine since 2004, and I became a parent Local Committee member at Potters Gate when our son went into Reception Class there three years ago. I work in the theatre as a stage director (and Elaine is an opera singer) so it’s been a huge and fascinating learning curve for me to witness the complexities of the education system at close quarters. We are very fortunate to have a dedicated and brilliant teaching staff at both our schools. I am committed to my governor role, which is both to support and also to challenge, and ensure a safe and happy environment in which all our children can thrive.

Kathy Pond  - General LC Member

I became a co-opted Local Committee member for Potters Gate School in 2015 and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I work in Education – I am a lecturer in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Surrey – and have a son at Potters Gate School. Since being a parent and LC member I have appreciated how important primary school education is in providing the grounding for secondary and tertiary education. I have been working with Potters Gate School on a number of science activities made possible with a Royal Society Partnership Grant between the school and the University. I am fully committed to ensuring both Potters Gate and St Andrews provide high quality education in a fun and nurturing environment.

Jonathan Wheatcroft - General LC Member

"I am one of the co-opted Local Committee member at St. Andrew's and Potters Gate. With a financial background as a forensic accountant, I provide help and guidance in respect of managing the schools' resources and its finances. As an outsider (I don't live in Farnham), I also provide an independent and objective perspective regarding the running of the schools.

On a personal note, I have three young children who have just started (or are about to start) their own journeys through the education system. It is fascinating to watch their development at this stage and I fully appreciate how important it is for them to learn in a nurturing and stable environment. As such, I feel privileged to participate as a governor at St. Andrew's and Potters Gate and I'm committed to ensuring that my input is constructive to the schools".

Bonnie Lloyd - Staff LC Member

I have been working as a Class Teacher at St Andrews since January 2017. Prior to this, I have taught in schools across London, mainly within Early Years. I have recently been appointed as the Early Years Leader across St Andrews and Potters Gate. I am looking forward to working with the team, utilising my knowledge and skills to enhance the teaching and learning of the children within this age range.

I am looking forward to my new role as Staff Local Committee member, hoping to gain a greater insight into how a school works ‘behind the scenes’ and to be a voice for staff members.

 

Sarah Gudgin - Parent LC Member

I have lived in Farnham with my husband since 2007. Farnham is such a great place to raise children and we are lucky to have such excellent, nurturing schools at its centre. Our eldest child, Arthur, started at Potters Gate in September 2016 (Jemima started in 2018) and, since that time, I have been consistently impressed by the dedicated team of staff and the tireless contribution of parents.
I am a lawyer by profession and am committed to bringing my skills and experience to my Local Committee member role,
supporting and challenging decisions, as and where necessary. Having recently been appointed, I am very much looking forward to this opportunity to be able to support our schools and to learn more about their inner workings.
As a Local Committee member, I want to help to ensure that all children at our schools have the best opportunities to learn and achieve by ensuring that they have a happy and stable environment in which to start their learning journey. On a more personal note, I am a keen runner, although admittedly, my enthusiasm far exceeds any skill! My other passion is food, hence the (need for) runningJ!