Ribblesdale Federation of School: Governing Body
Mr Andrew Bradley
Co-opted Governor
Chair of the Federation Board
Date appointed 27/09/23
Term of office 14/12/25
Register of interests Owner Blue Pig Company
Mr Carl Shuttleworth
Parent Governor
Date appointed – 01/01/21
Term of office – 31/12/24
Register of interests – none
Mrs Emilia Hodgson
Foundation Governor (Diocese of Leeds)
Date appointed – 01/02/2022
Term of office 31/01/26
Register of interests None
Rev Dr Sue McWhinney
Co-opted Governor
Vice Chair
Governor for Safeguarding
Date appointed 27/09/23
Term of office 14/12/22
Register of interests None
About them
He is married to Gill and they have a teenage son who attended Long Preston and is now a student at Settle College.
In his spare time, Andrew coaches rugby at North Ribblesdale Rugby Club He enjoys food, both cooking and eating, washed down with a glass of good red wine!
About them
Carl is married to Gemma, and they have 2 children, one of which attends Giggleswick Primary School. Both he and his wife are Teachers of primary aged children.
Carl has been a Parent Governor since 2021 and is thoroughly enjoying being a part of the Governing Body.
Carl and his family moved to the Yorkshire Dales 3 years ago and enjoy all that it has to offer, including walking, camping, and being very much a part of the community.
About them
Emmy is married to Dan and they have 4 children – all have attended Long Preston school with 3 still currently there.
Prior to having children, Emmy worked as a reception teacher for 6 years. She has since retrained in finance and returned to work after 9 years as a full time Mum.
Emmy currently works as a finance officer for a multi academy trust with 2 secondary schools in Yorkshire.
Emmy first joined the governing board in January 2018 and has just been reappointed as foundation Governor by the Diocese of Leeds.
In her free time, Emmy enjoys walking the dog and spending time with family and friends.
About them
Sue is the Associate Priest for the churches of Gargrave, Kirkby Malham, and Coniston Cold, and has been co-opted since December 2022. She also brings pastoral skills and an interest in the wellbeing of staff and children to the Governing Board.
Sue lives in Kirkby Malham, she is married to Paul, and they have two grown-up children.
Sue has considerable experience of working with church schools and has a desire to see children and staff flourish and grow.
In a former life Sue was a rural dispensing GP near York for several years. In her free she enjoys walking in the Dales, singing, live music, and spending time with family and friends.
Catherine Maddocks
Executive Headteacher
Ex-officio
Date appointed 01/01/2023
Register of interests – Staff member
External Advisor
Committee – Executive Headteacher’s Performance Management Panel
Mrs Christine Padley
Foundation Governor
Date Appointed – 27.01.24
Term of Office – 26.01.28
Mrs Paula Clay
Staff Governor
Date appointed 13/05/24
Term of office 12/05/28
Register of interests – Staff member
About them
Hello! I’m Mrs Maddocks, Executive Headteacher across our three lovely primary schools. The children are amazing, so polite, happy and eager to learn, they truly make me smile! I joined the federation in January 2023, and I feel very lucky to be part of this incredible team. I enjoy reading whenever I can, running, walking in the beautiful countryside, and going to the gym. I love travelling and my favourite countries are Italy and Spain. I would love to be able to return to Canada, the USA and maybe one day Australia and New Zealand.
About them
To be written
About them
My interest in the Federation started many years ago when both of my children attended Long Preston School.
Since retiring from a career in IT I decided to commit to a volunteer role for a couple of mornings a week to listen to the children read. That was two years ago and something that I continue to enjoy immensely.
I joined the Governing Body in March 2024. I have a specific interest in the early years foundation skills like reading that will help children succeed at school and beyond.
About them
My connection with Giggleswick started 30 years ago when the first of our 4 children, all of whom attended, started school. I began volunteering in Class 1 and in 2013 began working as MSA then added GTA hours in 2015. I now work full time between Class 2 and 3 as well as being MSA and helping to provide before and after school clubs. The opportunity to become staff governor arose in 2024 and after a short period of consideration I decided to join the governing body.
I’m very much looking forwards to seeing what the future holds for both Giggleswick and the wider Federation.
Ms Laura Boyd
Parent Governor
Date appointed 13/05/24
Term of office 12/05/28
Register of interests None
Mrs Ruth Taylor
About them
I have two sons currently at Giggleswick Primary and a daughter who will join in September 2025 and so am keen to support the Federation of schools go from strength to strength! Professionally, I have always worked in health and currently work in Digital Health across Yorkshire and Humber. I was previously a Trustee for a small knife crime charity called Through Unity.
About them
I’m married to Dan and we have 2 children who will both attend Long Preston Primary School. I’m a Primary School Teacher in Skipton and enjoy farming in my spare time. We have a small flock of texel sheep – keep an eye out for Rudan Texels at the local shows!
I am looking forward to being part of the team.
Attendance Table 2021 - 2022
| Full Governing Body | Education | Finance | ||||||||||
| Name | Category | Start date | End date | 22 Sept 2021 | 15 Dec 2021 | 21 Mar 2022 | 16 May 2022 |
11 Jul 2022 |
08 Nov 2021 | 07 Feb 2022 | 15 Nov 2021 | 07 Mar 2022 |
| Mr James Atkinson | Co-opted Governor | 07/10/2019 | 06/10/2023 | Apologies | Yes | Yes | Apologies | Yes | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes |
|
Mr Andrew Bradley Chair
|
Co-opted Governor | 15/12/2021 | 14/12/2025 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes |
| Mrs Rachel Brummitt | Parent Governor | 01/01/2021 | 31/12/2024 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A |
| Mr Paul Gibbons | Local Authority Governor | 15/12/2021 | 14/12/2025 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mrs Emilia Hodgson | Foundation Governor | 01/02/2022 | 31/01/2026 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes |
| Revd. Sue McWhinney | Co-opted Governor | 15/12/2021 | 14/12/2022 | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | Yes | N/A | N/A |
| Mr Carl Shuttleworth | Parent Governor | 01/01/2021 | 31/12/2024 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Apologies | N/A | N/A | Yes | Apologies |
| Mrs Helen Smith | Foundation Governor (HEF) | 16/01/2022 | 15/01/2026 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A |
| Ms Laura Sargison | Staff Governor | 17/0/2018 | 16/01/2022 | Yes | Apologies | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A |
| Ms Barbara Stirton | Staff Governor | 16/05/2022 | 15/05/2026 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mrs Trudi Ward | Executive Headteacher | 01/01/2021 | 31/12/2024 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Mr Dominic Hewitt Safeguarding governor
|
Associate Member | 02/02/2021 | 01/02/2023 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Attendance Table 2024 - 2025
The Functions of the Governing Body
The core functions of the governing body are as set out in The School Governance (Roles, Procedures and Allowances) (England) Regulations 2013, regulation 6(2) and include, but are not limited to ensuring:
- that the vision, ethos and strategic direction of the school are clearly defined
- that the headteacher performs their responsibilities for the educational performance of the school
- the sound, proper and effective use of the school’s financial resources
A governing body and its governors must, as required by Regulation 6(2):
- act with integrity, objectivity and honesty and in the best interests of the school
- be open about the decisions they make and the actions they take and shall be prepared to explain their decisions and actions to interested parties
The governing body also has legislative responsibility and strategic oversight for the school’s safeguarding arrangements.
The Governing Body’s Constitution
Governing bodies of federated schools must be constituted under the Federation Regulations 2012.
The Instrument of Government
The constitution of all governing bodies must be set out in its instrument of government (‘the instrument’).
The Instrument of Government for the Ribblesdale Federation of Schools is detailed in the following document.
Click to view the Instrument of government
Types of Governors
Co-opted governors
Co-opted governors are people who, in the opinion of the governing body, have the skills and experience required to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school. They act in the best interests of the school and wider community.
Parent governors
A governing body must have at least 2 parent governors. Parent governors bring valuable knowledge and perspectives to the governing body.
Parent governor positions are filled by an election. The School Governance (Constitution and Federations) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 states that in a federation, there are only 2 parent positions open to all those with parental responsibility across all of the schools in the federation. Where there are not enough parents or carers to hold an election, individuals may be appointed directly to the governing body, see The School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012 schedule 1.
Parent governors act as any other governor does. They are there to operate and make decisions in the best interest of their school, not in the interests of their child or the interests of other parents’ children.
Staff governors
The governing body must include one staff governor in accordance with The School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012.
The position of staff governor is open to any member of staff working in the school, including teaching and non-teaching staff, but excludes the headteacher who can take up the ex-officio position on the governing body. See section 7 and section 13 of the The School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012.
In a federation, the staff governor position is open to all staff across all the schools in the federation.
Staff governors act as any other governor does. They are there to operate and make decisions in the best interest of their school, not their own or other staff interests.
Foundation governors
Foundation governors are either appointed or take the role by virtue of an office they hold (for example, ex officio). They are appointed to:
- secure the character of the school and where relevant, preserve and develop religious character
- uphold compliance with the foundation’s governing documents, for example, the trust deed as outlined in schedule 24, paragraph 13 Education Act 1996
The number of foundation governors and the identity of the body or bodies appointing them (such as a church authority, voluntary trust or organisation) will be set out in the instrument of government (see Annex A, section B2 of the constitution of governing bodies of maintained schools).
Partnership governors
Partnership governors are only needed in foundation and foundation special schools that do not have a foundation. They act in the best interests of the foundation school and the wider community.
Where foundation schools with a religious character do not have a foundation, they have a role to preserve and develop such religious character.
Local authority governors
A local authority governor is a governor that has been nominated by the local authority (though does not need to be connected to a local authority) and appointed by the governing body.
The governing body should make clear its eligibility criteria for local authority governors and a local authority needs to make every effort to understand the governing body’s requirements to identify and nominate suitable candidates.
The governing body decides whether the local authority nominee meets the eligibility criteria. If it chooses to reject the candidate, it will need to explain this decision to the local authority.
A local authority governor, like any other governor, must govern in the interests of the school and not advocate the interests of the local authority.
Associate members
The governing body can appoint associate members to serve on one or more of its committees.
The definition of associate member is wide. Registered pupils and staff at the school, and people who want to contribute specifically on issues related to their area of expertise (for instance, finance) can be appointed as associate members.
Associate members:
- are not governors and they are not recorded in the instrument of government
- can be under 18 years old
- are appointed for a period between one and 4 years
- can be reappointed at the end of their term
- can attend full governing body meetings but cannot vote
- can be assigned voting rights at committee level if they are 18 or over
- may be excluded from any part of a meeting where the business being considered concerns a member of school staff or an individual pupil
Surplus governors
A school may have more governors in a particular category than is provided for in its instrument of government. This could arise where the governing body has reconstituted and reduced in size but does not secure enough governor resignations.
Guidance on managing this process is available in the statutory guidance for the constitution governing bodies of maintained schools (section B3).
The Headteacher
The headteacher is a member of the governing body by virtue of their office. The headteacher may at any time resign as a governor, and withdraw their resignation, in both cases by notifying the clerk in writing.
Governing Board Contact Information
Mr Bradley, Chair of the Full Governing Board can be contacted via Mrs Sarah Williamson, Clerk to the Board via email on: Sarah.Williamson@northyorks.gov.uk
Minutes of Federation Governing Board meetings can be requested via the Clerk to the Full Governing Board, Mrs Sarah Williamson, as detailed above.