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Governors Details

Governing Body of Copthorne CE Junior School

Our Governing Body consists of 13 members and operates with a committee structure
Summary of Governors: 5 Co-Opted (3 vacancies)
  3 Foundation
  1 Headteacher
  1 Staff
  1 Local Authority
  2 Parent (1 vacancy)

Details of the Governing Body 2026-2027

Full name of Governor Governor Category Date of current appointment of election Source of appointment (where appropriate) Term of Office & Area of Responsibility Declaration on register of business & pecuniary interest, details of governorship at other schools Remarks
Mrs Anita Findon Foundation 27.09.2023 Diocese

4 Years

Chair of Governors

Yes  
Mrs Frances Strickley Associate Member 26.03.2026 Governing Body

4 years

Nil Formally Co-opted end 26.3.26
Rev Willem Mauritz Ex Officio Foundation 31.08.2018 Incumbent of the Parish of Copthorne ongoing Nil  
Jennifer Wharton Foundation 30.01.2023 Diocese 4 years Nil Formerly Associate Member
Mrs Helen Denison Headteacher 01.09.2021 n/a ongoing Nil  
Mrs Grace Garrard Staff 23.09.2024 Staff 4 Years Nil  
Mrs Cheryl Shirley Co-opted 23.09.2024 Governing Body 4 Years Yes  
Mr Stuart Ansell LA Governor 10.03.2025 Local Authority 4 Years Nil Formerly Associate Member
Mrs Kirsty Gifford Parent 10.3.2025 Governing Body 4 years Nil  
Mr Allen Westgate Co-opted 25.09.2025 Governing Body 4 years Yes  
Miss Georgina Walker Associate Member 26.03.2026 Governing Body 4 years Nil voting rights at committee level

Details of the Finance Committee 2026-2027

Stuart Ansell - Chair
Helen Denison
Anita Findon
Allen Westgate
Frances Strickley (Associate Member)

Details of the Quality & Standards Committee 2026-2027

Helen Denison
Jennifer Wharton
Kirsty Gifford
Grace Garrard
Anita Findon
Cheryl Shirley - Chair
Rev Willem Mauritz
Georgina Walker (Associate Member)

Details of the Governing Body 2025-2026

Full name of Governor Governor Category Date of current Appointment or Election Source of Appointment (where appropriate) Term of Office/Roles within GB Attendance at full GB Meetings* Declarations on register of business & pecuniary Interest, details of governorship at other schools Remarks
Mrs Frances Strickley Associate 26.3.2026 Governing Body

4 years

3 of 5 Nil Previously co-opted
Rev Willem Mauritz Ex Officio Foundation 31.08.2018 Incumbent of the Parish of Copthorne ongoing 2 of 5 Nil  
Mrs Aelwen Lavictoire Parent 20/10/2021 Parent body
4 years
 
2 of 2 Nil End of term
Mrs Helen Denison Headteacher 01.09.2021 n/a ongoing 5 of 5 Nil  
Miss Melissa Ash Associate Member 13.10.2021 Governing Body 4 years 2 of 2 Nil Left school
Jennifer Wharton Foundation 30.01.2023 Diocese 4 years 3 of 5 Nil  
Anita Findon Foundation 29.09.2023 Diocese

4 years

Chair of Governors

4 of 5 Yes  
Cheryl Shirley Co-opted 23.10.2024 Governing Body 4 years 3 of 5 Yes  
Stuart Ansell LA Governor 10.03.2025 LA 4 years 5 of 5 Nil  
Kirsty Gifford Parent 10.03.2025 Parent body 4 years 4 of 5 Nil  
Grace Garrard Staff 23.09.2024 Staff 4 years 4 of 5 Nil  
Allen Westgate Co-opted 25.9.2025 Governing Body 4 years 4 of 5 Yes  
Georgina Walker Associate Member 26.03.2026 Governing Body 4 years 1 of 2 Nil  

Details of the Finance Committee 2025-2026

Full Name of Governor Attendance at Committee Meetings*
Helen Denison 6 of 6
Stuart Ansell - Chair 6 of 6
Frances Strickley 5 of 6
Anita Findon  6 of 6
Allen Westgate 4 of 6
Melissa Ash (Associate) 2 of 2

Details of the Quality & Standards Committee 2025-2026

Full Name of Governor Attendance at Committee Meetings*
Helen Denison 2 of 2
Anita Findon 2 of 2
Grace Garrard 1 of 2
Melissa Ash (Associate Member) 1 of 1
Jennifer Wharton 0 of 2
Cheryl Shirley - Chair 2 of 2
Rev Wim Mauritz 1 of 2
Kirsty Gifford 0 of 2

* Attendance during last academic year ending 31 August 2026