Governors

The Governing Body of the school is responsible for ensuring that it is run to promote pupil achievement. Its duties include:

• Setting strategic direction, policies and objectives
• Approving the school budget
• Reviewing progress against the school’s budget and objectives
• Appointing, challenging and supporting the headteacher

If you would like to find out more about the role of the Governing Body then please feel free to talk with any Governor or you can see the County Council’s website which contains lots of useful information including factsheets and frequently asked questions.

The constitution the school’s Governing Body, known as the Instrument of Government, is given below. In addition, the structure and remit of the Governing Body and its committees can be found in the Terms of Reference.

Our Chair of Governors is Mr Tim Fairbairn – he can be contacted via the School Office. Tel: 01787 227446 / Email: primary@bures.suffolk.sch.uk

Please click here to read the Governors’ Annual Statement and Impact Review

Please click here to Read the Parent Governor Election Guidance 

Current Governors

After over 30 years working in the City, I then turned my hand to running a goat dairy and the activities associated with that. As Chair it is my responsibility to lead the Governing Body and to provide support and challenge, appropriately, to the Headteacher. My ambition for the school is to deliver excellence at all levels, with all of the resources available to us. To ensure we continue to provide for the individual needs of all associated with the school and to listen carefully to what people have to say about what we do and they way we do it. My son is now in Year 10 at TGS and my wider interests include family history and metal detecting.

I have been the Local Authority Appointed Governor at the school since 2015. As a qualified accountant, I have been working with public sector organisations for over 20 years on the delivery of major transformation programmes, utilising technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes and decision making. As a governor, I take a lead on overseeing the schools finances, ensuring that we remain on a sound financial footing and that the resources we do have available are used effectively. I currently have one child at the school who is in Year 2. 

I live in Bures with my wife Tricia who is Associate Priest at St Mary’s. We have two gorgeous daughters living in Manchester and London. I have spent my working life in oil tanker shipping, latterly working for the tanker owners’ organisation INTERTANKO in the City of London involved in communications, commercial issues and looking after the Greek members. I am involved in the village Youth Club and the St Mary’s Youth Group, and as a volunteer from time to time with CYO (Christian Youth Outreach) helping young people to get to know and value themselves. Since I retired I have started working as a volunteer with 72 North Street (Sudbury) talking with and supporting some young people at TGS. It’s a pleasure and a privilege to be a Governor and to be involved with our vibrant school.

Since my eldest daughter joined Bures in 2019 I’ve been really impressed with the school and wanted to get more involved so felt becoming a parent governor was a great option. We have a second child starting in September 2022 and therefore it feels like a really good time to try and support our school further.

In terms of my background – I work in London as a partner in an executive search firm; so have experience managing companies resources, developing / coaching employees, and identifying new innovative approaches where possible.

As all parents my children come first so it’s brilliant to be a part of such a great school in our community.

As a mother of three girls, two of whom attend Bures and one to follow in the coming years, I feel passionate about getting involved and making sure school life at Bures gives all children great memories, long lasting friendships and the best chances of success as an adult, including a healthy mind-set. I have worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years and have regular training on safeguarding of children as well as being a qualified mental health first aider. I am the current PSA Chairperson for the school raising funds to improve the educational opportunities available to the children at Bures and to help foster a strong sense of community among the children, parents and staff. I also volunteer as an Assistant Beaver Leader for 1st Bures Group.
As a parent governor, I am committed to supporting the values and ethos of Bures Primary School.

As a Governor, I will contribute to driving the strategic direction of the School and assist with the management of Pupil Premium and Looked After Children.  I will also be the Reception Class Governor, and I’m very much looking forward to meeting the children and Miss Moore. 

Longer Serving

Name                                    Term                                                    Position

Stephen Morley                   August 2014 – August 2021                   Foundation Governor

Nicola Wilby                        May 2021 – January 2022                     Co-opted Governor

Instrument of Government

1. The name of the school is Bures Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School.
2. The school is a voluntary Controlled school.
3. The name of the governing body is the Governing Body of Bures Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School.
4. The governing body shall consist of:a. Three parent governorsb. One LEA governorc. The Headteacherd. One staff governore. Four co-opted governorsf. Two foundation governors
5. Total number of governors 12 (except at any time when the headteacher has given notice as above that he chooses not to be a governor, when the total number of governors will be 11.)
6. The length of term of office for all governors will be four years. The ex-officio governor will continue to serve as a governor until such time as they relinquish the office that entitled them to their appointment.
7. The foundation body entitled to appoint foundation governors is the Diocesan Board of Education after consultation with the Parochial Church Council of St Mary’s, Bures.
8. (a) The holder of the following office shall be a foundation governor ex-officio: The Principal officiating Minister of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary’s, Bures.(b) The Archdeacon of Sudbury shall appoint a foundation governor to act in the place of the ex-officio foundation governor whose governorship derives from the office named in (a) above, in the event that the ex-officio foundation governor is unable or unwilling to act as a foundation governor, or there is a vacancy in the office by virtue of which his governorship exists.
9. The ethos of the school is as follows: Recognising its historic foundation, the school will preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the Church at parish and diocesan level.The school aims to serve its community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice. It encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith, and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all it pupils.
10. This instrument of government comes into effect on 14th April 2015
11. This instrument was made by order of the Suffolk Local Education Authority on 13th April 2015.
12. A copy of the instrument must be supplied to every member of the governing body (and the headteacher if not a governor), any trustees and to the appropriate religious body.D HoltOn behalf of Suffolk Local Authority