Welcome to the Governors' section.

The Governing Body is responsible for making sure the school improves each year. It sets the direction and ensures that the school is meeting its targets, while allowing the headteacher and teaching professionals to manage the school on a day-to-day basis.  Governors attend meetings where reports on the school’s progress are discussed. They test information received by asking the right questions to ensure that the school spends its budget wisely against the priorities shown in the school plan.

The Full Governing Body meets three times per year, and receives reports from two sub-committees, a Resources Committee and a Curriculum and Standards Committee, which each meet three times per year.  Additionally, the FGB meets annually in May to discuss and approve the school budget, and again in September for the AGM.

Governors have an important role in developing and monitoring the School Improvement Plan.  They receive reports from the Headteacher and other staff at governor meetings, but additionally pairs of governors have specific responsibility for monitoring different aspects of the plan.  To do this, they visit the school and classes, meet with key staff, analyse data, and ask questions to ensure they are confident that the actions identified in the plan are being carried out and are having a positive impact.  All governors attend 'Governors' Day' when they spend the whole day in school, visiting classes, talking to staff and pupils, joining in at breaktimes, having lunch with pupils, and finding out more about areas of interest to them.

Governors regularly communicate with parents through Governor newsletters and have a dedicated News Board at the front of the school.  They attend Parent Consultations, and send out regular questionnaires to parents to find out their views on a number of issues.  They take an active part in the life of the school, attending events, school council meetings and PTA activities

Brian Maynard - Chair of Governors

I have lived in Higham since 1997. When my daughter attended Higham Primary School I became a Parent Governor in June 2006. I switched to become a Local Authority Governor after my daughter moved on to her secondary school in 2012. I have been the Chair of Governors at Higham Primary School since September 2011, having previously been the Chair of the Curriculum & Standards Committee and the Vice Chair of the Full Governing Body. In my time as Chair of Governors there have been three Ofsted visits. The first was judged as “Satisfactory” and the other two judged as “Good”, with the last Ofsted visit taking place in June 2018.

My primary objectives as the Chair of Governors are the safety and well-being of all staff and children at Higham Primary School and the continuing drive to ensure that the children who attend the school receive the best possible learning experience through consistently excellent teaching. I want every child to leave Higham Primary School having fulfilled their full potential and are ready for the challenges of secondary education.

I am a strong believer in the Governing Body being part of a team in association with the teaching staff, parents, office staff, premises staff and kitchen staff working together with a common goal - to deliver the optimum experience for EVERY child that walks through our doors.

In my day job I work in Finance in the City of London. I try to use my leadership skills, finance skills , analytical skills and people skills obtained through 35 years in the City in my role as Chair of Governors, Chair of Curriculum & Standards Committee and Pupil Premium Governor.

I look forward to meeting with parents at parent consultation evenings , school fayres and events and I can be contacted via the School Office, as communication is key to a successful school.

The highlight for me every year is spending a whole day in school in March , where I can see learning in progress in the classroom, have lunch with the children and hear them talk so passionately and positively about life at Higham Primary School.

I am immensely proud to have been the Chair of Governors for over 11 years and to have helped shape the future of Higham Primary School along with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team,  in particular through the challenging times of the Global Pandemic and the return to "normal" life post Pandemic.

Mrs Vanessa Levy - Deputy Head

I have worked at Higham Primary School since September 2007, working across the school to support pupils and staff. In my current role as deputy headteacher, I am responsible for assessment, curriculum, English, mathematics and Early Years. I work alongside the headteacher and governors to help deliver the shared vision for the school. At Higham, we work hard to ensure the best possible outcomes for all our pupils; academically, socially and emotionally.

Shaun Walton    Site Manager

I started work as Site Manager at Higham School in May 2006 and became a Staff Governor in 2007 and a Co-Opted Governor in 2018. I have three sons all of which attended the school. I attend the Resource Committee and Full Governing Body meetings in my role as Site Manager and I believe my experience of the practical aspects of the day to day running of the school buildings, grounds, and my Health and Safety experience helps contribute to the Governing Body to which can help make Higham Primary School a good and safe place to work and learn, also of which I am very proud to work at.

Mrs Justine Brown - Parent Governor

I have three boys, all currently at Higham School – Joshua in Year 6, Ben in Year 4 and Aiden in Year 1.  I attended Higham School, as did my parents so I have a real passion for the school.  I enjoy volunteering to listen to reading as well as for school trips and events.  I have recently become Chair of the PTA but have been involved since Joshua started in Year R.  I love seeing the school thrive and grow and look forward to representing the Parents and working with the Staff and Governors over the coming year.  
 

Mr Keith Fairbank-Parent Governor

My wife and I moved to Higham in early 2012 to start a family. When our daughter Abigail joined Higham Primary in Reception in September 2019, I was keen to become more involved in school life and the wider community.
Having been appointed as a Parent Governor, I see my main role being ensuring your views are heard by the Governing Body. However, I also aim to draw upon my skills as a journalist and media relations manager to help the Governing Body improve how it communicates the work it does, and the decisions it makes, back to you.

Mr Dave Hickson

Having lived in Higham for 11 years, in 2021 I answered the expression of interest for co-opted governors at Higham Primary. I saw this as a way of contributing something to the village that my wife Sarah and I have loved to call home since 2010.

Taking on the role interested me although I have no affiliation with the school. I believe I can give something back to the community and the future of those that will grow, learn and flourish in it. School is a fundamental base for this to happen, I would like to believe my experience can contribute something to this and support those accountable and responsible for it. 

I genuinely believe in the power of education; we all learn every day. During my career I have been a technical trainer, mentor and have lectured at Birmingham University. 

I am an apprentice trained Engineer and have an MSc in Systems Engineering from Birmingham University, I am currently working towards Chartered Engineer status. 

Mrs Fiona Shutt

I answered an expression of interest to be a co-opted Governor at the school in 2021 as I felt that my background in Secondary School Education could bring another dimension of experience to Higham Primary School. I have taught at Gravesend Grammar School for over 10 years now and in my role as the Assistant Head of KS3 I work closely with students that have just made the transition from Primary to Secondary School. I believe that my interest in curriculum and assessment can be of use when working with Higham to ensure that the students are adequately supported and challenged in their learning. 

The current Governing Body Members and their Roles