Hello, my name is Carole Tompkins. I live in Luton and have done so all my life. I have a grown up son and a grandson. I have been a governor for Ferrars Infant School for nearly two years and have just been elected as Chair. As you can imagine, I am finding that a bit of a daunting prospect, but I am also very sure that between staff and governors, we have a good and supportive team, who are committed to doing the best we can for all the children.

 

Before I retired, I was a manager in a Further Education College and also an inspector of colleges for Ofsted. I am hoping that both these experiences will help me to be an effective chair of governors. Although the environment that I worked in was different from schools, I am sure that there is enough common ground for understanding on both sides.

 

The job of a school governor is to be a critical friend to the Head and staff, to support them and ensure that statutory responsibilities are met and that the children have the best possible learning experience and environment that it is possible to provide. This will prove more difficult in the current economic environment but you can rest assured that the governors and school team will do the best we can.

 

The Ferrars Infant school team is excellent and the leadership provided by the Head is of an extremely high standard, and I am sure that as parents you are all aware of that. However, if you need advice or have a query, either in general or about your child’s education, then your first port of call is the Head, but I can also be available, although not always at short notice, should you wish to speak to me. I am not employed by the school or the local education authority.

 

Finally, being a school governor is an interesting and rewarding experience. Training is provided to help governors brush up on old skills or develop new ones and schools are always looking for governors. If you are thinking that this is something that you would like to do, please contact the school in the first instance and you will receive good advice about what you should do next.

I am sure you will join me in wishing that all the children at Ferrars will achieve the best that they can in their time at the school.