Our Governors

The role of the school governor is demanding but very rewarding and is a good way to give back to the local community.

School governing bodies are responsible for working with the school to ensure that it delivers good quality education for all students. Together with the Headteacher, who is responsible for day-to-day management, they set the school’s aims and policies.

Key roles of governors:

• To ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• To hold the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff.
• To oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure its money is well spent.
• They also carry out a number of other important duties, which include:
  • Determining how the school’s budget is spent.
  • The appointing and dismissing of staff.
  • Hearing appeals and grievances.
  • Forming policy on the school’s curriculum.
  • Setting standards for students behaviour.
  • Making sure school buildings are welcoming and safe.
  • Setting and monitoring the school’s aims and policies.

Who can be a school governor?

You don’t have to have children at the school to be a governor. However, you do have to be over 18, and pass a formal check for your suitability to be within a school. No specific qualifications are required but there are certain expectations. What’s really important is that you have energy, enthusiasm, time and a real desire to help provide children with the best possible education.

Governors come from all sections of the community, and all walks of life. They can be parents, staff at the school, residents in the locality or representatives of local churches or businesses. It is important that you can work as part of a team, and can give commitment to the school.

There are 10 people at Marriotts who make up the governing body. Advice, support and training for the role is given by Hertfordshire County Council. Some governors are elected by parents, some are appointed by the governing body itself and some by the staff of the school. This ensures governing bodies reflect the communities they serve.

Term of office and meetings

The term of office for a school governor is normally four years. There is usually a full governing body meeting once a term (for approximately 2 hours).  Most governors find they usually attend meetings or visit a school three or four times each term. You may be invited to special occasions such as assemblies, sports days, plays and presentations.

Chair of Governors

Mrs Melany Knowles

Vice Chair

Mr Karl Newstead

Headteacher

Ms Bethany Honnor

Chair of Curriculum and Achievement Committee

Mrs Teresa Killworth

Chair of Resources Committee

Mrs Margaret Luchman

Nominated by Hertfordshire County Council (LA)

Mr Jim Brown

Co-Opted

Mrs Anne Evans (staff)

Mrs Margaret Luchman

Mrs Melany Knowles (Chair)

Mrs Teresa Killworth

Mr Karl Newstead (Vice Chair)

Elected Parent Governors

Mr Stuart Dunlop

Elected Staff/Non Teacher Governor

Mrs Tanya Haskins

New Governors

Shelley Hughes

Sarah Muncey

Clerk to Governors

Mrs Tracey Novis

Please note - From September 2022 , Standard committee is known as Curriculum and Achievement committee and Operations committee is known as Resources committee. 

Minutes of Full Governing Body meetings (once agreed) are available to view. If you would like a copy please email the Clerk to Governors, Mrs Tracey Norris, c/o Marriotts School via admin@marriotts.herts.sch.uk

The Chair of Governors and the Clerk to Governors may be written to c/o Marriotts School.

Terms of office:

Leavers:

Full Governing Body Committee

• Melany Knowles (Chair)
• Karl Newstead (Vice Chair)
• Beth Honnor (Headteacher)
• Ben Pearce (Associate Member)
• Caitlin Macrae (Associate Member)
• Mandy Bains (Associate Member)
• Kathryn White (Associate Member)
• Jim Brown
• Stuart Dunlop
• Anne Evans
• Tanya Haskins
• Teresa Killworth
• Margaret Luchman
• Sarah Muncey
• Shelley Hughes

Resources Committee

The Resources Committee holds responsibility for overseeing the strategic management of all school resources, including Budget, Staffing, and Premises. The Committee plays a key role in ensuring the effective and sustainable use of resources in support of the school’s overall vision and priorities.

The Committee has met once per term to review in depth the following critical areas of business and operational management:

• The school’s budget and strategic financial planning, including monitoring progress towards maintaining a balanced budget over a three-year period and identifying any potential risks to financial sustainability.
• All aspects of human resource management, including staff absence, wellbeing, recruitment, retention, and the regular review of HR-related policies.
• Premises and site management, including health and safety compliance across the whole school site and the implementation of building improvements aligned with strategic needs.
• Monitoring the use and impact of funding for SEND and disadvantaged pupils to ensure value for money and improved outcomes.
• Ensuring full compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements across all business functions, with policies reviewed and updated as necessary to reflect current guidance.

Detailed reports on each of these areas are presented at every Resources Committee meeting, providing Governors with comprehensive oversight of the school’s business functions and enabling informed, strategic decision-making. 

We are very pleased that the school has been able to deliver a 3-year balanced budget projection.  We are confident that the use of various available funding streams is appropriate.  We are delighted that the school is fully staffed for September, and we would like to thank all the staff for the work they have done to ensure compliance with policies and statutory duties.

We look forward to seeing further building improvements over the Summer. 

• Margaret Luchman (Chair)
• Jim Brown (Vice Chair)
• Beth Honnor
• Melany Knowles
• Karl Newstead
• Kathryn White
• Anne Evans
• Stuart Dunlop
• Mark Street

Curriculum and Achievement Committee

The  Curriculum and Achievement Committee has responsibility for overseeing all aspects of standards of provision across the school

 The Committee meet once per term to review in depth the following:

• Student outcomes and projected outcomes
• Intent, Implementation and Impact of the Curriculum
• Other key aspects such as attendance, behvaviour (including suspensions), etc.
• Key strategies such us Catch Up, Pupil Premium, etc.

 Detailed reports on the above are provided at each of the Curriculum and Achievement Committee Meetings in order to inform Governors of all aspects of standards of provision across the school.

• Beth Honnor
• Caitlin Macrae
• Ben Pearce
• Teresa Killworth (Chair)
• Tanya Haskins
• Sarah Muncey
• Shelley Hughes
• SEND Governor

Meeting Attendance

Meeting Attendance 2023 2024

This document includes any other governor roles at other educational settings and any relationships between governors and members of the school staff (to include spouses, partners and relatives)

Declarations-Marriotts.pdf

Melany Knowles - Chair of Governors

I have been a governor for nearly 30 years in various schools in Stevenage. I have been involved with Marriotts for nearly 20 years and the Chair of Governors for over 10 years. I have had three children who have benefitted from the Marriotts experience and I’m so proud to be part of the Marriotts family.

Beth Honnor - Headteacher

I am delighted to be the Headteacher of Marriotts School and am honoured to be able to serve our students and our community. The last ten years of my headship here have been incredibly enjoyable and I am proud of the significant success we have achieved. I believe passionately in the transformative power of education to change students’ lives and our society and will continue to strive to ensure that Marriotts students have the best possible opportunities and leave us not only with the qualifications and knowledge,  but also with the qualities and skills they need to lead happy and successful lives. My own education in Yorkshire, then at Cambridge University and the Institute of Education in London, enabled me to achieve my goal of becoming a Headteacher. As a member of the governing body it is my role to ensure that we lead Marriotts School forward so that all of our students can achieve their own dreams and goals.

Stuart Dunlop

I have been involved as a governor at Marriotts since 2019 and enjoy the challenges that come from providing the best education that the school is able to so, and to be able to work with a passionate team of professionals that are committed to all of their pupils success and aspirations.  All three of my children have attended or are attending Marriotts, and I am very proud to be associated with the school. Professionally, I have worked in Further Education since 2002, and currently work at North Hertfordshire College as a Deputy Head of Department

Jim Brown

I have been a Marriotts Governor for several years, my first permanent job was as a science and games teacher in a comprehensive school. I moved to Stevenage in 1992 with more recent job experience in community development and as a policy manager. I was the Mayor of Stevenage during the difficult Covid period. Previously serving for nine years after a gap of one year in May 2022 I was re-elected to Stevenage Borough Council where I serve on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee; Economy and Environment Select Committee and Community Select Committee. I am an assistant coach with Fairlands Valley Spartans running club; a keen cyclist for fun and for transport; and concerned about climate change and the future for young people.  Every school should be a good community school.

Sarah Muncey

I have been involved with Marriotts since 2015, having two sons who have now completed their Marriotts journey and a daughter who is still enjoying her education here. I decided to become a governor because I believe that every child is entitled to an exemplary education and their voice should be heard. Upon being appointed in November 2021, I have learned an incredible amount about the running of the school, the commitment from the staff and the passion of our Headteacher. I am enjoying monitoring behaviour and attendance, among my other roles and hope that I can help contribute to keeping the high standards that everyone at Marriotts currently has.

Margaret Lunchman

I am very proud to be a governor at Marriotts school to support all facets of student learning.

I have been a teacher for many years in inner city, London secondary schools, and  currently, I am working in Initial Teacher Training with the Department of Education. I am passionate about and committed to enhancing expectations and raising levels of achievement for all learners. I have an inclusive approach to education that emphasises equality of access, achievement and attainment very highly, and celebrates the rich diversity of our society.
 I have developed sustainable International partnerships with schools in Hungary and Grenada with the British Council.  I am also a governor in a primary school.

Shelley Hughes

I have worked in Education for over 25 years in various roles in schools and for the Local Authority in Hertfordshire and Central Bedfordshire. I am currently Head of Centre at North Herts ESC. My experience in Education has been in behaviour and safeguarding and I have qualified in Trauma Informed Practice with young people. This enables me to work effectively in a Governors role at Marriotts to support the students and staff. I have worked previously with Marriotts in my role at Local Authority and admired the vision and ethos of the school alongside the many interventions used to support their students to be successful young people. 

I am proud to be a Governor at Marriotts School and look forward to working with Senior Leaders staff and students.

Teresa Killworth

I have been a governor for 7 Years and have had a Daughter who previously attended Marriotts.  I enjoy being part of the Marriotts family and working with the Leadership team to help students reach there full potential.

Mark Street

Pen Portrait – Mark Street I work within the charitable sector, championing education for disabled people and their families. When my son was in his final year of primary school, I decided that I wanted to be more supportive of his education and applied to be a Parent Governor at his Secondary school. I am dedicated to helping shape the enhanced educational journey the young people will receive here at Marriotts. In my first year, I have witnessed the passion and dedication of all the Governors and Staff to ensure the success of every young person here at Marriotts.