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    • Our Governors

    Our Governors come from a range of backgrounds, and bring different areas of expertise to the school.  Governors contribute to ensuring high standards of achievement for all children in the school by: 

    • setting the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction;
    • holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;
    • overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

    A Governor’s role is to support and challenge the senior staff to continue to improve the school.  It is largely a thinking and questioning role and Governors are not there to manage the school or do the jobs of school staff.  Governors fulfil their role by regularly attending Governing Body meetings, providing strategic guidance and by asking probing and challenging questions of leaders within the school.  They also undertake visits, serve on relevant committees and oversee the Headteacher’s performance management.

    Please find below details of our Governing board including the names, categories, terms of appointment and business and pecuniary interests for each Governor.

    1. Governor Attendance 2024-2025

    Judith Harvey

    Co-opted Governor

    Governor Type: Co-opted

    Date of Appointment: October 2023

    Responsibilities: 

    I live in West Bergholt and have had a long involvement with education and schools. I am married with three grown up sons and two grandchildren.  My youngest son attended Heathlands when we first moved to West Bergholt in 1988. I became a governor of Heathlands in 2022. I have a strong belief in the importance of the school working with the community whilst providing a safe and fulfilling environment for the children in its care.

    I have had a long career in education that began in Brighton, Sussex and before retiring I was headteacher of a Junior School and then a Primary School in Essex.  I have a BEd from Sussex University and a MEd from Cambridge University.  My MEd was a research degree into Primary School Improvement.

    I have keen interest in special educational needs and safeguarding. Shortly after retiring as a headteacher I represented Essex Primary Headteachers on several Serious Case Reviews. I also worked for Essex County Council in a role that linked networks of headteachers in Mid Essex to health; social care and other agencies.  I have  been an Adoption Panel Independent Member for a neighbouring County Council for the past 15 years. These experiences have helped to ensure that the well-being of children and staff is always at the forefront of my mind when decisions are being made.

    Heathlands has a strong record of involvement in art and cultural opportunities and I currently work part-time as a Project Manager for Braintree District Cultural Education Partnership – an organisation that promotes cultural opportunities for children and young people in Braintree District schools and provides teacher development opportunities for staff.