Governance

The Governing Body of the Riverside Federation is made up of volunteers from the local community, parents, teaching and support staff, the Children’s Services Agency (LEA) and the Diocese of Chichester. We meet regularly, both as a full body and in committees, to assist the smooth running of the school and to promote the highest possible standards to ensure that every child in our care reaches their full potential. We work in close partnership with the Executive Headteacher, setting aims and objectives for the school, adopting and reviewing policies to achieve those aims and outlining clear targets. Our role is seen as a ‘critical friend’, offering constructive advice and support. 

Should you require any further information about the work of the Governing Body or are interested in becoming a Governor should a vacancy occur, please contact the Chair of Governors via the school office.  

We have one sub-committee that operates under our Full Governing Board as follows:

Finance and Operations

• Beverley Waldis (Co-Chair of Governors and Chair of Committee)
• Cherane Marshall
• Gregory Coleman
• Louise Reader

Our Current Governors 

Name	Governor Role/Appointed by	Term of office
Beverley Waldis	Co-Chair (Local Authority Gov.)	12.07.2024 to 12.07.2028
Louise Reader	Co-Chair (Co-opted Gov.)	22.09.2022 to 21.09.2026
Cherane Marshall	Ex-Officio	Term of office linked to role (from 01.01.2023)
Claire Day	Co-opted(apptd. by the Gov. Board)	31.08.2024 to 31.08.2028
Heloise Prus	Staff (apptd. by the Gov. Board)	30.06.2024 to 30.06.2028
Jason Waring	Co-opted (apptd. by the Gov. Board)	01.07.2022 to 01.07.2026
Richard Fretwell	Parent (elected by parents)	01.07.2021 to 30.06.2025
Gregory Coleman	Co-opted (apptd. by the Gov. Board)	30.06.2024 to 30.06.2028
Cathy Slow	Co-opted (apptd. by the Gov. Board)	01.07.2022 to 30.06.2026
Rev. Thomas Pelham	Foundation (Ex-Officio)	Term of office linked to role (from 01.11.2023)
Katie Donovan	Associate Governor	no voting rights

Governors who have stepped down in the last 12 months

Name	Governor Role/Appointed by	Term of office
Rev Christopher Irving	Foundation (Ex-Officio)	01.03.2018 to 331.10.2023
Patrick Stevens	Foundation (apptd. by the Diocese)	01.07.2020 to 30.06.2024
Annette Childs	Foundation (apptd. by the Diocese)	01.07.2020 to 23.05.2024

Governor Attendance, 2022-23

To view governor attendance, please see the link below:

Governor Attendance, 2023-23

Register of Business Interests

Name	Name of Business Including: Governor elsewhere, related/married to member of staff, employed at the school	Nature of Business	Nature of Interest	Date of Appointment or Acquisition	Date of Entry
Annette Childs	Member of Etchingham Parochial Church Council	Parish Church	Member of Parochial Church Council	01/07/2020	22/09/2022
Gregory Coleman	Employed at Etchingham CEPS, Employed by KCC	School	Business Manager of Etchingham CEPS, Business Manager at Goudhurst & Kilndown CE School and at Benenden CE School	01/07/2020	22/09/2022
Claire Day	Employed at the School	School	Head of School at Etchingham	01/07/2020	22/09/2022
Richard Fretwell	Parent of 3 children at Etchingham CE (Year R, Year 2 and Year 5)	Parent	Parent of 3 children at Etchingham CE (Year R, Year 2 and Year 5)	01/07/2020	22/09/2022
Rev Christopher Irvine	Nil return			01/07/2020	23/09/2021
Cherane Marshall	Employed as Executive Headteacher at the Riverside Federation	School	Executive Headteacher	01/01/2023	01/01/2023
Rev. Thomas Pelham	Employed by the Diocese of Chichester. Foundation Governor at Burwash CE Primary School.	Diocese	Rector of Burwash, Burwash Weald and Etchingham.	01/11/2023	01/11/2023
Heloise Prus	Employed at Bodiam CE School	School	Head of School at Bodiam CE School	01/07/2020	14/09/2022
Louise Reader	Nil Return			01/09/2022	22/09/2022
Catherine Slow MBE	School Advisor Diocese of Chichester; IEB member Groombridge School; Chair of LGB Northiam DCAT Academy	Diocese / Local Schools	School Advisor Diocese of Chichester; IEB member Groombridge School; Chair of LGB Northiam DCAT Academy	01/07/2022	14/09/2022
Beverley Waldis	Nil Return	N/A	N/A	01/07/2020	08/12/2022
Jason Waring	Employee ESCC	Local Authority	Employed in Management Position in Orbis ICT Services (ESCC) From 01/11/22 employed by the DfE	01/07/2020	22/09/2022

 Diversity data

The governors of the Riverside Federation believe it is important that boards reflect the diversity of the school communities they serve. Diverse boards promote inclusive school environments and provide diverse role models for staff and young people.

The governors are currently collecting data on the diversity of the board, including data on age, gender and ethnicity. They will use that data to inform their recruitment and training needs and ensure there is always a diverse range of perspectives around the table to support robust decision making.

Due to our relatively small governing body, we do not publish this diversity data online as individual governors could be identified and we have a legal obligation to protect their personal data.

Governor vacancies

We currently have vacancies on our Governing Board as follows:

• One parent governor
• Two Foundation governors

If you are interested in becoming a governor at the Riverside Federation, please contact the school office: 015809 819218.