Governors

Welcome to the Governors page

HEADTEACHER  Mr Matthew Ashdown
LA GOVERNOR Mrs Diana Hunt (Chair)
ELECTED STAFF GOVERNOR Ms Sam Kashmiri
ELECTED PARENT GOVERNOR Mrs Kimberly Nelson
ELECTED PARENT GOVERNOR Mr Jake Terrill
ELECTED PARENT GOVERNOR Ms Jennifer Barker
ELECTED PARENT GOVERNOR Mrs Viv Aloy
Co-opted Mr John Godley 
Co-opted Mrs Linda Anderson
Co-opted Mr Colin Brace 
Co-opted Mrs Sue Hatton
Co-opted Mr Andrew Hunter
Co-opted Mrs Alison Burholt
Co-opted Mrs Nicci Lorusso (Vice Chair)
Co-opted Mrs Eva Field (Vice Chair)
Co-opted Mr Paul Parker
Clerk to the Governors Mrs Charley Southon
Co-opted
  VACANT
ELECTED PARENT GOVERNOR  VACANT 

All governors are elected/co-opted or appointed for a 4-year term of office apart from the Headteacher who is in office whilst he is Headteacher at Downlands.

 The Governing Board has three primary functions:

  • Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
  • Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its students, and the performance management of staff
  • Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Each member brings to the board both personal and professional skills and knowledge.  These qualities enable board members to function as part of a team and contribute to effective governance.

Each governor should also fulfil their duties in line with the seven principles of public life (the Nolan principles).

The majority of governors’ work is done by various committees who have delegated powers and report back to all governors at the full business meetings.  These committees co-opt other members of staff who have the relevant responsibilities within school (e.g. Members of the Senior Leadership Team).

More information about the structure of the Governing Body Committees can be found here:

Membership & Structure of Downlands Governing Body

Minutes of the full Governing Board meetings are available on request from the Clerk to the Governors c/o the School.

I hope you find the above information useful and should you wish to contact the governors, please email the Clerk – ctog@downlands.org.

Di Hunt

Chair of Governors

Governor Vacancy

Governor Code of Conduct 2025 

Governors Access

Our Communities

All students at Downlands belong to one of 4 Communities, all named after areas of natural beauty in Sussex

  • Beacon
  • South Downs
  • Weald
  • Wolstonbury
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