Governance
Information about the Governing Body
School governors are people who want to make a positive contribution to children’s education. They have a wide range of responsibilities, with their priority being the strategic direction of the school and, being accountable for the performance of the school.
Together with the Executive Headteacher, governors:
- Decide the aims and objectives for the school
- Review pupils’ achievement and set targets for improvement
- Approve the school budget
- Make decisions about staffing
- Ensure the national curriculum and religious education are taught
- Approve school policies
- Make sure children with special needs have access to the curriculum
- Act as a link between the school and the community it serves
- Keep parents/carers informed
- Consider complaints from parents/carers
- Ensure the school is well maintained
- Ensure health & safety requirements are met.
A link to the Governing Board’s standing orders and code of conduct can be found below.
Please find the link here for the governments financial benchmarking information.
Our Structure
On 1 September 2025 North Yorkshire Rural Schools Federation was formed when Foston CE, Langton, Stillington, and Terrington CE Primary schools federated. This means that one governing body is now responsible for the four schools of the North Yorkshire Rural Schools Federation.
Our Instrument of Government can be found here.
North Yorkshire Rural Schools Federation Governing Board is comprised of 14 governors as follows:
- Two parent governors
- Five Foundation governors
- One Local Authority governor
- One staff governor
- Executive Headteacher
- Four co-opted governors
Associate governors may be appointed to the board but have no voting rights.
Sub-committees:
North Yorkshire Rural Schools Federation Governing Board has two sub-committees:
The Pupil Progress and Attainment Committee. Terms of Reference
The Finance and Resources Committee. Terms of Reference
The core functions of the Governing Body include, but are not limited to, ensuring:
- 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
We recognise the following as the fourth core function of governance:
- Ensuring the voices of stakeholders are heard
North Yorkshire Rural Schools Federation Governing Board 2025/26:
|
Name |
Type of Governor (appointed by) |
Term of office |
Committees / Working Groups |
Link governor role/s |
|
Sarah Moore (Executive Headteacher) |
Headteacher (Ex-Officio) |
1.9.25 - |
Finance & Resources Christian Distinctiveness |
|
|
Corinne Cross (Chair) |
Co-opted (appointed by GB) |
1.9.25 - 31.8.29 |
Finance & Resources Pupil Progress & Attainment Christian Distinctiveness |
Safeguarding (& Attendance) Data Protection |
|
Christine Miles (Vice-chair) |
Co-opted (appointed by GB) |
1.9.25 - 31.8.29 |
Finance & Resources (Chair) |
Sustainability |
|
Claire Rushworth |
LA Governor (nominated by LA, appointed by GB) |
1.9.25 - 31.8.29 |
Pupil Progress & Attainment |
SEND (& Equalities) |
|
VACANT |
Foundation (Ex-Officio) |
|
|
|
|
Helen Ashdown |
Foundation (Temporary Ex-Officio) |
1.9.25 - 31.8.29 |
Pupil Progress & Attainment Christian Distinctiveness (Chair) |
|
|
Tricia Head |
Foundation (appointed by York Diocese) |
1.9.25 - 31.8.29 |
Pupil Progress & Attainment (Chair) Christian Distinctiveness |
|
|
Annabel Leakey |
Foundation (appointed by York Diocese) |
1.9.25 - 31.8.29 |
|
Health & Safety (T, S) |
|
Ruth Wanless |
Foundation (appointed by York Diocese) |
1.9.25 - 31.8.29 |
Finance & Resources |
|
|
Hailey Barr |
Parent (elected by parents) |
1.9.25 - 31.8.29 |
Pupil Progress & Attainment Finance & Resources |
Health & Safety (F, L) |
|
Vanessa Jones |
Parent (appointed by GB - no election candidates) |
1.9.25 - 31.8.29 |
Pupil Progress & Attainment Christian Distinctiveness |
|
|
Vicki Allon |
Staff (elected by staff) |
1.9.25 - 31.8.29 |
Christian Distinctiveness |
|
|
VACANT |
Co-opted (appointed by GB) |
|
|
|
|
VACANT |
Co-opted (appointed by GB) |
|
|
|
|
Katie Stringer (Head of School F&L) |
Associate Member (appointed by GB) |
1.9.25 - 31.8.26 |
Pupil Progress & Attainment
|
|
|
India Tordoff (Head of School S&T) |
Associate Member (appointed by GB) |
1.9.25 - 31.8.26 |
Pupil Progress & Attainment Christian Distinctiveness |
|
The Clerk to the Governing Board is Ms Lydia Waites (NYES Clerking) contact: lydia.waites@northyorks.gov.uk
The Chair of Governors, Mrs Corinne Cross, can be contacted: via the school office or: cofg@foston.n-yorks.sch.uk
Register of Business / Personal Interests 2025/26:
- Sarah Moore is married to the caretaker at Foston School and ICT technician for North Yorkshire Rural Schools Federation
- Corinne Cross is an employee of the National Trust a Heritage charity
- Vanessa Jones is a trustee and on the Foston & Thornton le Clay Village Hall Committee.
- Annabel Leakey is a Trustee of Chamber Orchestra of the West.
- Ruth Wanless is a board member of Project Marigold
Members of FST Primary Schools Federation Governing Board who have stepped down in the past 12 months:
|
Tim Munro |
Parent Governor |
23 October 2023 to 31 August 2025 |
|
Laura McInerney |
Parent Governor |
8 July 2024 to 31 August 2025 |
|
Alex Reppold |
Co-opted Governor |
16 September 2024 to 31 August 2025 |
|
James Fenwick |
Foundation Governor |
28 March 2023 to 2 February 2025 |
FST Governor Attendance 2024/25:
Governor attendance at FST Primary Schools Federation Governing Board meetings - 2024/25 Click here
Governing Board Policy and Procedure Documents:
For the Governor policy and procedure, please see the links below.