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Welcome from the Chair of Governors

Welcome to The Minster School. The governors are immensely proud of the staff (teaching and support) and students, who continue to produce work and results of the highest calibre. We are immensely proud of the strong Ofsted report that we received in November 2023. The school was graded 'good' overall with outstanding personal development and sixth form provision . Please support the school in any way you can to ensure we maintain our high standards in the future.

On 1 December 2018, The Minster School became an academy within the Minster Trust for Education (MITRE), a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) which includes another secondary school and several primary/infant schools within our geographical area. The transition to an academy has changed the way we are funded and we receive our budget through MITRE and are supported by them in all our work. The Minster School was founded in 956AD making it one of the oldest schools in England!  We are proud of this heritage and our Christian foundation. We welcome pupils from a wide range of backgrounds to a school dedicated to our core values of wisdom, optimism, resilience, kindness and service. Our school motto is, “Succeeding together”. Our local Governing Body comprises representatives of the Diocese, the Bishop, Cathedral Chapter, Nottinghamshire County plus the parents and staff of the school.

We were a National Teaching School under a former government initiative, with over 70 Schools joining our Teaching School Alliance. This transformed into the Minster Learning Alliance, in September 2021. We are also the East Midlands East Maths Hub and lead CPD for Nottinghamshire Music Hub. These networks enable our staff to assist other schools to improve their performance. It also helps us to learn from their ideas how further to improve our school.

Governors act as ‘critical friends’ to the school and we seek to ensure that the high targets set are achieved. Governors offer their time voluntarily to work with the headteacher, staff and pupils of the school. We do this by regular meetings with key staff and department heads, each governor having responsibility for an area of development within the school improvement plan. As Governors we are responsible for ensuring financial probity and we regularly monitor spending, ensuring that value for money is obtained.

All Governors give their time freely and details of who we are can be seen on the website. If there are issues that need to be addressed, I would ask that you contact key staff at the school in the first instance.  Our complaints policy is detailed on our website and explains how I can be contacted through school if you are unable to resolve any issues. I am very grateful for the time given by all Governors, because without such support the school would not be able to maintain the high standards for which it is renowned.

If you need to contact me directly then please write to me at school in an envelope marked for the Chair of Governors, 'private and confidential'.

David Shannon

2022-

Our Governors
 

Current Governors

  • Mrs Jemma Baldry - Staff Governor - Term of Office 21/03/2025–20/03/2029

  • Mr Robert Beckett - Foundation - Term of Office 01/09/22–31/08/26

  • Mr Ben Chaloner - Staff - Headteacher (Ex-Officio) - Term of Office - 01/11/20

  • Reverend Canon Dr. Richard Frith - Foundation (Ex-Officio) - Term of Office Commenced - 14/10/19

  • Mr Peter Gibbins - Foundation - Term of Office - 01/09/2022 - 31/08/2026

  • Miss Laura Goodhead - Co-opted - Term of Office - 20/03/2024 - 19/03/2028

  • Reverend James Halstead - Foundation - Term of Office - 18/01/25 - 17/01/29

  • Mrs Tracey Jevons-Hazzard - Foundation - Term of Office - 17/12/24 - 16/12/28

  • Mr Mike Johnson - Parent - Term of Office - 08/07/24 - 07/07/28

  • Mrs Ellis May - Parent - Term of Office 10/11/2022 - 09/11/2026

  • Reverend Sarah Patten - Foundation - Term of Office - 16/12/25 - 15/12/29

  • Mr Matthew Phillips - Parent - Term of Office - 01/04/2025 - 31/03/2029

  • Mr David Shannon - Chair, Foundation (Chapter) - Term of Office 05/11/25 - 04/11/29
  • Mrs Fi Thompson - Parent - Term of Office - 28/11/22 - 27/11/26

  • Mr Andy Wall - Staff Co-opted - Term of Office 17/11/24 - 16/11/28

Governors' Meetings
 

Meetings 2025 – 2026

Full Governing Body

Autumn Term:

Tuesday 14th October 2025 at 6.30pm 

Tuesday 2nd December 2025 at 6.30pm

Spring Term

Tuesday 27th January 2026 at 6.30pm

Tuesday 17th March 2026 at 6.30pm

Summer Term 

Tuesday 12th May 2026 at 6.30pm

Tuesday 14th July 2026 at 6.30pm

Committees

The Minster School Governing Body has determined that it will operate through the following committees:

  • Local Governing Body (LGB)
  • Discipline Committee (DC) - when required

LGB Members

Mr D Shannon (Chair of Governors); Mr B Chaloner (Ex-officio); Reverend Canon Dr R Frith (Ex-officio), Mrs J Baldry;    Mr R Beckett; Mr P Gibbins; Miss L Goodhead; Reverend J Halstead; Mr M Johnson; Mrs E May; Mrs T Jevons-Hazzard; Mrs E May; Mr M Phillips; Reverend S Patten; Mrs F Thompson; Mr A Wall

Discipline Committee: The Committee will be made up of three Governors from the Governing Body except The Minster School staff governors

Admissions Panel: Mr D Shannon, Reverend J Halstead; Mrs T Jevons-Hazzard

Appeals Committee: All Governors except Minster staff governors

Complaints: Mr D Shannon (Chair of Governors)

Declarations of Interest 

Register of declarations of pecuniary and personal interest

Last updated: November 2025

All parties have declared interests, including where they have none. All interests that exist have been recorded on the register.

Name Name of Business Institution or Charity Nature of Business Institution or Charity Nature of Interest Relationship to Staff/Students Date Interest Began
Mr Andy Wall MITRE Trust Multi-Academy Trust Spouse Parent 17/11/2020
Reverend Richard Frith

Southwell Cathedral Chapter

Southwell Minster

Cathedral

Trustee

 

 

Canon Precentor

None

September 2019

 

September 2019

Reverend    James Halstead

Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham

Church of England Diocese

Director of Board of Finance

Parent 

01/01/2024

 

 

Mrs Sarah Patten

Diocese of London

Patten UK Ltd

 

 

 

Patten NZ Ltd

 

 

CMI

 

Southwell Minster

Diocese

 

Music recording & publishing; renting and leasing of media equipment 

Sports and recreation education; residents' property management

Chartered Management Institute

Volunteer

Employee

 

Director

 

 

 

Director

 

 

Member

 

 

Parent 

 

 

 

08/09/2019

 

2019

 

 

 

2011

 

 

2024

 

2020

Mr Peter Gibbins

The Simmons Charity Minster Repair Fund

The Chimes Trust

 

The Friends of Southwell Chapter

 

Charity Grant Making

 

 

Repair & Maintenance of Bells of Southwell Cathedral Church

Charity supports activities of the Cathedral through donations, fundraising and governance

Trustee

 

 

Trustee

 

 

NA

None

 

 

03/092024

 

 

09/02/2012

 

 

26/02/2025

Mr Robert Beckett

A J Beckett 

Saracens Securities Ltd

Southwell Charities For the Poor and Sick 

M.I.E.T

 

R.B.L

C.A.I

Radio & Television

Security

 

 

Prevention or relief of poverty

Institute of Engineering & Technology

Royal British Legion

Confederation of Aerial Industries

Proprietor

Director

 

 

Trustee & Clerk

Member

 

Member

Member

None

1960

1990

 

 

1964

 

1960

 

1960

1978

 

Mrs Fi Thompson Lowes Wong Junior School Primary Education Co-opted Governor (Vice Chair) Parent 

October 2017

 

Mr Mike Johnson

National Education Union

Nottingham County Council

Ravenshead CoE Primary School

Union

 

Local Authority

 

Primary Education

 

Member

 

Employee

 

Spouse

 

Parent

January 2002

May 2024

 

Mrs Tracey Jevons-Hazzard

Southwell Town Council

 

Council

Councillor

None

January 2025

Mr Matthew Phillips

 

One School Global UK

Life Skills Education Charity

ASCL

Southwell & Nottingham Diocese

Charity

 

Charity

 

Professional Body

 

Minister of Religion

Head of Education

Trustee

 

Member

 

Spouse 

Parent

01/09/2016

 

05/06/2023

 

01/09/2015

 

04/07/2025

Mrs Ellis May Holy Trinity Infants' School Education Parent Governor   13/11/2025

 Senior leaders who contribute

Name Name/nature of pecuniary/business interest declared Type of business
Mrs Jane Foulkes No external business/pecuniary interest declared NA

Members who resigned/end of term during previous 12 months

Name Date of Appointment Date of Resignation/End of Term
Mrs Vicky Wicks 23/03/2021 22/03/2025
Mrs Hayley Gault 21/03/2021

20/03/2025

Meeting Attendance 

 Attendance at Full Board meetings

Name

Academic Year 2025-2026

No. Attended/No. in Year

Academic Year 2024-2025

No. Attended/No. in Year

Mr Ben Chaloner 2/6 2/3
Revd. Richard Frith 1/6 1/3
Mr Andy Wall 2/6

3/3

Revd. James Halstead 1/6 2/3
Mr Mike Johnson 2/6 3/3 
Mr David Shannon 2/6 3/3
Mr Richard Beckett 2/6 3/3
Revd. Sarah Patten  2/6 3/3
Mr Peter Gibbins 2/6 3/3
Mrs Fi Thompson 2/6 3/3 
Mrs Ellis May 2/6 3/3 
Miss Laura Goodhead 2/6 3/3 
Mrs Tracey Jevons-Hazzard 0/6

2/2 (term commenced 17/12/24)

Mrs Jemma Baldry 2/6 1/2 (term commenced 21/03/25)
Mr Matthew Phillips 2/6 0/1 (term commenced 01/04/25)
Mrs Vicky Wicks NA 1/1 (term ended 22/03/25)
Mrs Hayley Gault NA 1/1 (term ended 20/03/25)

 

 Attendance at Strategic Development and Pupils Committee meetings

Name

Academic Year 2024-2025 (final year)

No. Attended/No. in Year

Mr Ben Chaloner 2/3
Rev. Richard Frith 2/3
Mr Andy Wall 3/3
Revd. James Halstead 2/3
Mr David Shannon 3/3
Mrs Fi Thompson 3/3 
Mrs Ellis May 3/3
Miss Laura Goodhead 3/3 
Mr Mike Johnson 3/3
Mrs Tracey Jevons-Hazzard 2/2 (term commenced 17/12/24)
Mrs Jemma Baldry 1/1 (term commenced 21/03/25)
Mr Matthew Phillips 1/1 (term commenced 01/04/25)
Mrs Vicky Wicks 2/2 (term ended 22/03/25)
Mrs Hayley Gault 2/2 (end of term 20/03/25)

Attendance at Finance, General Purposes and Personnel Committee meetings

Name

Academic Year 2024-2025 (final year)

No. Attended/No. in Year

Mr Ben Chaloner 3/3
Mr Richard Beckett 2/3
Revd. Richard Frith  2/3
Revd. Sarah Patten  2/3
Mr Peter Gibbins 2/3
Mrs Fi Thompson 3/3 

Mrs Ellis May

3/3
Mr Matthew Phillips 1/1 (term commenced 01/04/25)