Governance

The Governing Board is accountable to the SOLA Multi-Academy Trust which is in turn accountable to the Department of Education. SOLA is responsible for the money that has been delegated to the school.

The Local Governing Board oversees the running of the school and is also responsible for the standard of education the school provides. There are particular statutory responsibilities in relation to, for example, admissions, attendance and behaviour, curriculum, provision for children with special educational needs, premises, staffing, finance, complaints and inspections.

In essence, the conduct and overall management of the school is under the direction of the Governing Board. They work at the strategic level, the day-to-day management of the school is the responsibility of the Head of School, who reports to the Governing Board.

Governors Information 2022-2023

Register of Interest 2022-2023

Our Governing Board consists of:

The Head of School;
Up to 4 Governors who are parents and are directly elected by the parent body;
Up to 2 Governors who are employed by the academy and who are directly elected representatives of the staff;
Up to 7 Co-opted Governors;
Clerk to the Governing Body.

Governors are appointed for a term of 4 years. Parent Governors can complete their term even if their child leaves the School.

Governors also have particular responsibilities in the following areas:

Safeguarding
Disadvantaged and Recovery
Special Education Needs and Disabilities
Health and Safety
Risk

Stacey Taylor - Headteacher

I have been Headteacher at Orchard Way Primary School since September 2019 and have experience working and leading a range of settings; from a half-form entry village school to a three-form inner-city school. I am passionate about the importance of culture at Orchard Way; I see our role as developing future citizens and prioritise equally the social-emotional development of children with their academic achievement.

Thouraya Walker – Chair of Governors, Co-opted Governor

I am a Chartered Accountant with 15 years’ experience primarily in the Financial Services sector. Currently I am a Finance Director of a technology company as well as running my own independent finance consultancy.

Thomas Rice - Vice Chair of Governors, Co-opted Governor

I am a postdoctoral research scientist with experience working in industrial, clinical and academic laboratories. In my current role at Queen Mary University and St. Bartholomew's Hospital, I am investigating genes that are involved in the development of disorders of the endocrine system.

Mudassar Malik - Parent Governor

Barry Hengist - Co-opted Governor

Since 2013 I have been Anglican Priest-in-Charge at St. George the Martyr Church in Shirley. I completed my training in Weybridge from 2009-2013. Prior to training I was Standards Fund Coordinator for the London Borough of Hounslow’s Education Department responsible for the allocation of £30m of DfE funding to schools. I was also responsible for monitoring the Education Centre and Professional Development Training budgets. Prior to that I worked in the energy supply industry, most recently as an electricity pricing analyst for SSE and Aquila.

Cherry Bartholomew - Staff Governor

I have been a teacher for over thirty years and I have spent the majority of my career teaching in Croydon schools. I have taught mainly in Reception, although I have also taught in Nursery, Year 1 and Year 2 classes. I have been at Orchard Way Primary School for seven and a half years. I am currently teaching in the Reception class, with responsibility for both EYFS and Key Stage 1. I am the assistant head teacher and the subject coordinator for science, RE, PSHCE and British Values. Through my role as a class teacher, I am committed to the well-being and development of the whole child and I aim to make a positive contribution to the caring and community-spirited ethos of the school.

Heeral Davda - Co-opted Governor

I’m a mother to 3 young children, and passionate about children’s education and the foundation it sets for future life outcomes. Professionally, I’m a principal speech and language therapist with over 10 years’ experience working in the NHS with children who have Speech, Language and Communication Needs. I now have my own private clinic. I’m an advisor for Speech and Language UK – the UK’s communication charity and I’m also part of the Professional Practice & Policy committee for the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists. I live locally and I’m keen to support the local community.

Rosina St James - Co-opted Governor

Bethan Cleall - Co-opted Governor

Please click on the link below for the Governor Meeting Schedule:

We are required by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to publish attendance details of Governors Meetings:

Orchard Way Primary School Local Governing Body Committee Meetings, 6:30pm

Meeting 1 - Thursday 29 September 2022

Meeting 2 - Thursday 1 December 2022

Meeting 3 - Thursday 26 January 2023

Meeting 4 - Thursday 16 March 2023

Meeting 5 - Thursday 11 May 2023

Meeting 6 - Thursday 6 July 2023

OWPS Governors Attendance Record 2021-2022

Please email the school office on officeowps@solamat.co.uk if you require agenda or minutes of any school governor meeting.