Governors

  • Tom Pinnock

    Chair of Governors

    tpinnock@pendragon.cambs.sch.uk

    Hello! Thank you for visiting the Governors page of our website.
    Below is a combination of information about us as a governing body, statutory information on our roles and responsibilities, and minutes of our meetings.

    If you have questions about governance or are interested in joining the governing body, please contact me.

The Pendragon Governing Body comprises 12 representatives from the school and the community it serves.

These representatives are:

  • The Head Teacher
  • One governor appointed by the Local Authority
  • Four parent governors elected by parents/carers
  • One staff governor elected by the Staff
  • Five co-opted governors, selected for their knowledge and skills

Together, we help establish the school’s aims and values and are responsible for some staff appointments, including, most recently, the Deputy Head Teacher. Many of our responsibilities are governed by statutory requirements, which means we are legally obligated to carry out tasks such as approving the annual budget. Our role is sometimes described as a “critical friend." This does not mean that we are there to criticise the Headteacher or the school, but rather that we ask questions, encourage further thought and explanation, develop a deeper understanding of the school, and support its improvement.

The role of the Governing Body is vital for effective leadership and management of the school. It complements the professional input of the Head Teacher and senior staff by offering a variety of perspectives on issues facing the school. We do not involve ourselves in the daily management of the school – that is the Head Teacher’s responsibility; however, we do hold the Head Teacher accountable for the school’s performance.

We have recently moved to a ‘circle model’ of governance, which means we no longer have specific committees with different responsibilities; instead, we hold full meetings of the Governing Body eight times a year. 

We’re a pretty friendly bunch - a number of us are parents and can regularly be seen on the school run. Please feel free to stop any one of us with any questions you might have about the school. If we don’t know the answer there and then, we’ll know someone who does.

You may also write to us - just hand your letter in to the office, and they will forward it or e-mail the chair directly.

Our Governors

Emily Samuels - Head of School - Head Teacher
Tom Pinnock - Local Authority - Chair of Governors
Judy Ross - Co-opted - Vice Chair of Governors
Rob Murray - Co-opted
Senthil Natesan - Co-opted
Nazeeya Ibrahim - Co-opted
Natalie Willmore - Staff
Farah Dahalan - Parent
Peter Diamant - Parent
Charlene Monk - Clerk to Governors

Governor Attendance at Meetings
Please see below the register of governor attendance at meetings throughout the year.
Full Governing Body meetings
Below are recent minutes from FGB meetings (academic year 2025-26).
Full Governing Body meetings
Below are recent minutes from FGB meetings (academic year 2024-25).

Interested in joining the Pendragon governing body?

There are over 3,500 school governors in Cambridgeshire helping headteachers and staff to ensure children and young people get the best from their time in school, making up the largest volunteer force in the county. If you are interested in becoming a school governor the Department for Education website has more information.

You do not have to have children at school to be a school governor, nor do you need specialist skills (although you should have appropriate skills and experience that would contribute to the effective governance and success of a school). You do need to be over 18, satisfy eligibility criteria set by the government and have the interest and ability to listen, think through new ideas and decide what is best for the school as part of a team.

If you are interested please contact the Chair of Governors.

Minutes Archive
Below are the minutes FGB meetings from previous academic years.
Finances
Governors are responsible for the finances at Pendragon Primary School. 
See how our school compares with other similar schools by clicking this link.