Our Governing Body
The school has a governing body of twelve members, made up of three elected parent governors, one local authority governor, one member of staff, one headteacher governor and six co-opted governors. The chair of governors is Laura Holman.
The governors work with senior leaders in the strategic development of the school and in raising standards of achievement. Duties include setting the school’s vision, aims and objectives, approving the school budget and appointing the headteacher.
Governors must support and challenge the headteacher, so need to gain an understanding of the school’s overall performance in order to explain its decisions and actions. They do this by attending regular meetings, carrying out school visits and meeting with senior leaders. They also attend training in order to keep up to date with the requirements of their role. Governors work as a team and make collective decisions.
Members of the Governing Body
The current members of the governing body are listed below:
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Our Full Governing Board meet 4 times a year.
Some functions are delegated to committees. Currently the board have a Finance and Resources Committee and Quality of Education Committee. These committees meet once per term.
Governance Requests
Minutes of Full Governor meetings are available via Chelle McCann, Clerk to Governors.
Please contact the Clerk to Governors: chellemccann@elmgrove.brighton-hove.sch.uk
Declarations of Interest can be found below:
Register of interests 2025/26
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Ben Massey
Chair
Co-opted Governor
Laura Holman
I have lived in Brighton since I moved here to study Psychology at the University of Sussex. I am a qualified teacher, with an MA in Education, and enjoyed a career in teaching until 2022. I have a strong interest in educational policy and research, and am passionate about securing the best outcomes for children.
I am now a director of a forensic auditing company. I have overall responsibility for clients and finance, and am heavily involved in setting the strategic direction and goals of the business. This role requires a great deal of leadership, collaboration and communication – all skills which I have also developed through my involvement in church.
I have three of my own children, the youngest of whom still attends Elm Grove. We love this school!
Vice - Chair
Co-opted Governor
Sophie Freeman
I grew up in Brighton, attending local state primary and secondary schools, and then BHASVIC. My daughter joined the reception class at Elm Grove in September 2023, and I was delighted to be appointed as a governor in the summer of 2024.
I work as a children’s rights solicitor for a London-based charity, where I specialise in representing children, young people and families in their asylum and immigration cases. The primary focus of my work is to ensure decisions are made in the best interests of children and that their human rights are recognised and respected. I hope to bring my expertise in law, management and strategic planning to assist the governing board and school leadership team in ensuring the ongoing success of Elm Grove.
Co-opted Governor
Jumoke Oke
I have two children at Elm Grove who joined when we moved to Brighton in 2021. I am a qualified teacher and have worked in education for nearly 20 years, mainly in SEND. During this time I have led and supported teams, set agendas and presented information to a variety of agencies. Part of my everyday practice includes identifying, setting and working towards achieving goals.
As a governor I will relish the opportunity to make a truly significant contribution and be part of a team that has a positive and meaningful impact on Elm Grove School. I was thrilled to play a key role in the creation of the school library, sourcing titles that focus on diversity and which reflect different cultures, family structures and disabilities while including authors and characters of different backgrounds and strong female leads – to reflect our increasingly diverse school community.
As a relative newcomer to Brighton I want to do all I can to support my local community and be part of a school that promotes achievement and high standards of education.
Parent Governor
Becs Kent
My eldest son joined Elm Grove in 2019, with my daughter joining in 2021 and I’ve lived locally in Hanover for the past 10 years. I have been actively involved in the PTA since my son was in Reception and became the chair in 2021. I spend much of my free time managing The Pantry, a community food project that supports Elm Grove families in need, whilst also leading all of the fund raising events in the school. A career spent in documentary making has developed my skills in working with and understanding people from all walks of life. When faced with a challenge I pride myself in working together to find creative solutions. I hope that I can bring my professional and personal experience to support and grow our wonderful school community.
Associate Governor
Christine McNeill
Clerk
Chelle McCann
Staff Governor
Hannah Tucker
Co-opted Governor
Chris Adams
Both my children attended Elm Grove. I’ve worked and lived locally in the community for the previous 13 years. Having worked closely with the school in his role as one of the Directors of the Out of School club, and as a Senior Leader in a local digital company I want to bring my experience of Leadership and Management to support the school leadership team make the tough but strategic decisions to ensure the success and continue growth of our amazing school.
Co-opted Governor
Phil Kelly
I live in the community and catchment area of Elm Grove and have been a staff governor on three occasions as well as being a parent governor at my children’s school. A career working in a multidisciplinary team setting has developed my expertise and understanding of how schools can become successful communities, with relationships between adults and children being fundamental to effective learning. This guiding principal has been underpinned by a strong skill set in behaviour management techniques, restorative justice, mentoring as well as an understanding of SEN provision.
Co-opted Governor
Amrita Saha
Local Authority Governor
Fiona Callender
I have lived and worked in Brighton for the last 18 years. Both my children attending Elm Grove and I worked closely with the school and was the Director of the Out of School club.
I work as a children’s Social Worker for Brighton and Hove and will represent the Local Authority within the Governor’s. I have a strong interest in safeguarding and education and look forward to supporting the school leadership team to continue the success and growth of our wonderful school.
Parent Governor
Lucy Granger
Parent Governor
Alex Fogden
Associate Governor
Chris McNeill
I joined the Governing Body at Elm Grove as a Co-opted Governor in September 2015. I have also been a governor at Carlton Hill Primary School since I retired from a career in primary education in 2010. During this career I have taught in Australia, Brighton and East Sussex and have been a headteacher in West Sussex.
Associate Governor
Karen Waldon-Saunders
Full Governing Body Meetings
The full governing body meets once or twice a term. At these meetings, the governing body carries out its 3 core functions, as identified by the Department for Education’s Maintained schools governance guide.
- 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
The current Chair of governors is Chris Adams. The Vice Chair is Becs Kent.
Some functions are delegated to committees. Elm Grove Primary School has two committees.
Finance and Premises committee – Chair – Julian Ridge
Finance & Premises Work Plan 2024-25
Quality of Education – Chair – Becs Kent
Quality of Education committee Terms of reference 2024
Record of Attendance Elm Grove FGB 2023-2024
Minutes of meetings:
