Meet the Governors
Welcome to our Governors' section.
The Governors of St. Leonard’s Lower School play an important role and are fully involved in the life of the school, helping to set the school's vision and aims and ensuring accountability. Our Governors are a committed group of elected and co-opted volunteers who help the school provide the best possible education for its pupils.
The Governing Body meets at least once each term. Minutes of recent meetings of the Governors are available from the school office.
There are currently 12 members on the Governing Body. We currently have a vacancy for a foundation governor and a local authority governor.
Should you wish to contact the Chair of Governors, Alan Gomersall, please do so in writing via the school office.
Alan joined the governing body as a Foundation Governor in 2004 and shortly after took over as Chair. He is a Mechanical Engineer and Visiting Research Fellow at King’s College London. Alan has a keen interest in the environmental subjects in the curriculum.
| Category | Responsibility | Committee Membership | Term of Office | Governance roles in other institutions | Relationship School/Staff | Business/Pecuniary interests |
Foundation appointed by St Leonard's Church PCC | Vulnerable Children Curriculum | Curriculum and Standards Finance, Premises and Personnel | 09.03.21 until 09.03.25 | None | None | None |
Rev’d Noel McGeeney (ex-officio)
Revd. Noel McGeeney is an ex officio member of the Governing Body as vicar of St Leonard’s Parish Church.
Noel delivers Collective Worship weekly at school; he has also participated in RE lessons and accompanied children on faith tours. As a vicar and pastor he enjoys being a resource and support to the teachers, staff and the Governing Body.
| Category | Responsibility | Committee Membership | Term of Office | Governance roles in other institutions | Relationship School/Staff | Business/Pecuniary interests |
Ex Officio St Leonard's Church | Distinctiveness and Effectiveness as a Church School | Curriculum and Standards | N/A | None | None | None |
Mrs Margaret Smithers
Margaret Smithers has been a governor for many years. She was re-appointed in 2021 by the PCC. Margaret’s three children previously attended St. Leonard’s Lower. She originally worked in a large financial company as a personnel manager. She re-trained when her children were young and is now the Pre-School Manager at Heath Barn Pre School.
| Category | Responsibility | Committee Membership | Term of Office | Governance roles in other institutions | Relationship School/Staff | Business/Pecuniary interests |
Foundation Appointed by St Leonard's Church PCC | Early years Safeguarding | Finance, Premises and Personnel | reappointed 19.3.21 until 19.3.25 | None | None | Manager Barn Preschool |
Mr Steve Barrett
Steve Barrett became a governor in 2016. He has two daughters who have attended the school. Steve is a qualified accountant and he set up his own accountancy business three years ago, which is based in Leighton Buzzard. | Category | Responsibility | Committee Membership | Term of Office | Governance roles in other institutions | Relationship School/Staff | Business/Pecuniary interests |
Foundation Appointed by St Leonards Church PCC |
Health and Safety | Finance, Premises and Personnel (chair) | 14.10.20 until 14.10.24 | None | None | None |
Dean joined as a Foundation Governor in February 2018 and has 2 children who have attended the school. He has served previously within church leadership and actively participated in running a church youth group. Dean manages a business unit within Microsoft that supports their enterprise customers within both the public and private sector.| Category | Responsibility | Committee Membership | Term of Office | Governance roles in other institutions | Relationship School/Staff | Business/Pecuniary interests |
Foundation Appointed by the Diocesan Board of Education | Governor Training | Finance, premises and Personnel | 24.2.18 until 24.2.22 | None |
| Works for Microsoft |
Kim was appointed to the governing body by St Leonard's Church PCC in January 2019. She has been an active member of St Leonard’s church since January 2018. Kim retired from her Nursing career of 35 years in 2014. Since then she has enjoyed focusing more time on her family, including her lovely Grandchildren. Kim is pleased to be supporting the local church school as a governor.
| Category | Responsibility | Committee Membership | Term of Office | Governance roles in other institutions | Relationship School/Staff | Business/Pecuniary interests |
Foundation Appointed by St Leonard's Church PCC | RE and Collective Worship | Curriculum and Standards | 01.01.19 until 01.01.23 | None | None | None |
| Category | Responsibility | Committee membership | Term of office | Governance roles in other institutions | Relationship school/staff | Business/Pecuniary interests |
Co-opted Governor Appointed by the Governing Body | Buildings, School Sports | Finance, Premises and Personnel | 12th September 2019 until 12th September 2023 | None | wife employed at school | James works for large construction and property services company as a surveyor. He has been involved with a variety of school refurbishment projects. |
| Category | Responsibility | Committee Membership | Term of Office | Governance roles in other institutions | Relationships school/staff | Business/Pecuniary interests |
Parent governor Appointed by parent nomination/ballot | Curriculum, SEND | Curriculum and Standards | 01/02/20 until 01/02/2024 | Committee member at Heath Barn Pre School | None | Childminding business |
Mrs Stephanie King
Since graduating from Warwick University Steph pursued a career in PR in the fields of education and HR and she is currently a director of a niche PR consultancy. As the daughter of professional educators, and a parent at school, she is keen to bring her skills to support St Leonard's in providing a first rate academic, ethical and moral education for its pupils.
| Category | Responsibility | Committee membership | Term of Office | Governance roles in other institutions | Relationships school/staff | Business/Pecuniary interests |
parent governor Appointed by parent nomination/ballot | Curriculum | Curriculum and Standards | 17/11/21 until 17/11/25 | None | None | None |
Mrs Linda Page
Linda Page is a member of St Leonard's Church PCC. She is now retired, although very busy with grandchildren and helping family. Linda has an interest in St Leonards School as she used to attend the school when it was in Woburn Road by the allotments, as did her sister and Grandfather in the early 20th century. Linda's sisters children and grandchildren have also attended St Leonard's. Before Linda retired she worked at Barclays Bank and Leighton Buzzard Health Clinic, with Health Visitors and District Nurses. Linda is happy to be a Foundation Governor for what she describes as a 'lovely school'.
| Category | Responsibility | Committee membership | Term of office | Governance roles in other institutions | Relationships school/staff | Business/Pecuniary interests |
| Foundation Governor elected by St Leonard's Church PCC | Curriculum | Curriculum and Standards | 9/11/21 until 9/11/25 | None | None | None |
| Category | Responsibility | Committee Membership | Term of Office | Governance roles in other institutions | Relationship School/Staff | Business/Pecuniary interests |
| Staff- appointed by staff in school | Curriculum | Curriculum and Standards | 01.09.17 until 01.09.21 | None | Employee of the school | None |
Sarah Bowley has been Headteacher of the school since 2010. She is proud of the successes that the school has seen during her time as head. Sarah attends all governors meetings and is a member of all committees. Sarah is a Central Bedfordshire Leader in
Education and has supported other Central Bedfordshire Lower Schools.
| Category | Responsibility | Committee Membership | Term of Office |
Governance roles in other institutions |
Relationship School/Staff |
Business/Pecuniary interests |
| ex officio | All committees | N/A | None | Employee of the school | None |
Attendance at Governors Meetings 2020-21
| Name of Governor | Total number of committee meetings possible | Committee meetings attended | Total number of Full Governing Body meetings possible | Full Governing Body meetings attended |
| Alan Gomersall | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| Theresa Allen | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Sarah Bowley | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| Siobhan Ryan | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Margaret Smithers | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 |
Caroline Versallion (Local Authority Governor, Stepped down end of term of office 31.08.21) | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Dean Clarke | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Steve Barrett | 3 | 3 | 7 | 5 |
| James Newens | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Noel McGeeney | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
Corinna Washbrook (Foundation Governor, PCC, stepped down 21.07.21) | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Kim Anwyl | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 |
Curriculum Committee meetings were cancelled and replaced by virtual full governing body meetings from 20th March 2020 due to COVID 19
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