Our Governors
JOHN NICHOLSON
John has been a Co-opted (previously Community) Governor at Buckingham Primary School since 2010, having previously been a parent governor. He is Chair of the Governing Body and Chair of the School Development Committee. He also sits on the Resources committee and has governor responsibility for Curriculum, Science, and Design and Technology. He has lived local to the school for thirty years and all four of his (now adult) children attended Buckingham. He is married to a local councillor and is semi-retired, working part-time as senior research fellow at Queen Mary University of London. For relaxation, he follows cricket.
DIANNE CUMING
Dianne has been a Staff Governor since 2007 and sits on the School Development Committee. She has taken up governor responsibility for school policies and The Early Years Foundation Stage. She has worked at Buckingham for twenty two years, fifteen years as a Reception Class teacher and Early Years Phase Leader. At the school, Dianne is responsible for the delivery of Phonics and overseeing the Nursery and Reception classes. Family is an important part of her life; she is married with three grown up children and five grandchildren. When she is not at school she enjoys travelling the world with her husband and watching Liverpool Football Club. She has lived in Hampton with her family for thirty one years.
MARTIN COLE
Martin is the Local Authority Governor, having previously been a co-opted Governor and has served on the Governing Body since 2015. He has taken up governor responsibility for Key Stage two, Creative Arts and Music. Prior to becoming a governor, he has been associated with Buckingham as a volunteer working with Years Four and Five. Martin is currently the vice chairman of the School Development Committee and a member of the Resources Committee. Martin is currently employed as the Neighbourhoods Manager at Spelthorne Borough Council and investigates Environmental Crime such as fly-tipping. Prior to this he was employed as a Detective Sergeant in the Metropolitan Police until his retirement in 2011. When not working Martin enjoys his time with his seven grandchildren and singing and currently sings in two choirs. Martin currently holds an Associate of Trinity College London Diploma (ATCL) in Music Performance and is studying for a Licentiate of Trinity College London Diploma (LTCL) again in Music Performance.
SARAH DAY
Sarah is a Co-opted Governor, having previously been a Staff Governor and has served on the Governing Body since 2009. She sits on both the Resources and the School Development Committees. She is currently the Senior Assistant Headteacher responsible for Safeguarding and Pastoral Care. Within this role Sarah is the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for the school and is also the Health and Safety Lead. She is responsible for staff induction, training and professional development and she manages the school’s volunteers and helping parents/carers. She is also charged with developing public relations and maintaining links with the local community. Sarah has been at the school for twenty six years. In her spare time she loves to read and spend time on her computer. She enjoys learning Spanish, looking after her vegetable patch and her pets and is a keen photographer.
DUNCAN KNOX
Duncan graduated in Civil Engineering at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. His current job is working as Road Safety and Active Travel Team Manager for Surrey County Council. The aim of the team is to reduce death and injury on Surrey’s roads, and to encourage more walking and cycling. An important part of this is leading teams who provide of a range of road safety skills, training and educational interventions to several hundred schools throughout Surrey. The team also assist schools in creating School Travel Plans which are a list of actions that schools will undertake to promote sustainable travel. He has one child at Buckingham Primary School and his eldest recently moved on from Buckingham Primary to secondary school. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his family including supporting Chelsea Women’s football team, days out in the countryside and cycling. He is Chair of the Resources Committee and Vice Chair of the Governing Body.
AHMED AL-MUDARIS
Ahmed is one of our elected Parent Governor. He studied history at university. He has one child at Buckingham Primary School and his eldest recently moved on from Buckingham Primary to secondary school. He works for a housing association, responsible for gas safety and other areas of compliance. He is a member of both committees and takes a keen interest in all areas of school especially finance and premises. He loves football, travelling and learning new languages.
STUART RICHARDSON
Stuart joined the governors at Buckingham Primary School having had two children attend the school so being involved as a parent. They have now both moved onto secondary school but still look back with fond memories of their time in the school. He is looking forward to taking on this role and supporting the school as they carry on their journey. He is a Year Six teacher and Maths Leader, working in the local area, so understand the challenges schools face. Outside of teaching, he is involved in Scouting in Spelthorne and hold the role of Deputy District Commissioner with a lead on growth and development as well as the cub section. He enjoys spending as much time as possible out and about and exploring new places. He is very lucky that his family also share this interest!
DONNA WILLIAMS
Revd Donna Williams is the vicar of All Saints church. Before being ordained, she began her career as a primary school teacher. She then went on to work in the IT industry managing global accounts. She is keen that the church encourages and is part in the life of the local community, supporting local schools, charities, care homes and organisations where possible. Buckingham does their school visits to All Saints in the year, and Donna leads some assemblies for all year groups. She has been a governor since 2022.
GARY RICHARDSON
Gary is one of our Parent Governors. He is a former Chairman of the British Business Group in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Roundtable. He is an active charity fundraiser, raising a large amount of money so far, as well as donating all of the required appliances for the original opening of our local hospice, Shooting Star. He is a manager of a large furniture business in Farnborough. He has a son in Year Four, as well as a son that left Year Six at the end of the last school year. He enjoys participating in karate with his sons and volunteers as an explorer scout leader to help the development of local teenagers.
The Governing Body
At Buckingham Primary School, the Full Governing Body is comprised of thirteen governors, including parents, teachers, volunteers from the local authority and the community. We are an energetic and ambitious group that work together to provide independent oversight of the management and operation of the school, with the aim of improving the quality of education provided and raising standards.
The Governing Body:
- is accountable for the performance of the school to parents and the wider community overall and does so by holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils;
- plans the school's future by setting the school's vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- makes decisions on the school's budget and staffing including the performance management policy
- makes sure the agreed Curriculum is well taught
- decides how the school can encourage pupils' spiritual, moral and cultural development
- makes sure the school provides for all pupils including those with special needs.
Governors are at the heart of how a school operates. It is important we get things right. How we do our job effects the interests of pupils, staff and the reputation of the school in the community. Governors support and challenge the head teacher by gathering views, asking questions and discussing what is best for the school. We are not there to rubber stamp decisions. We have to be prepared to give and take advice and are often described as a “critical friend”.
At Buckingham Primary School, the Full Governing Body meets six times a year, but most of the work is carried out via two main committees, which again meet six times a year. Both committees may then further delegate to smaller groups as required.
Resources Committee
This brings Finance, Staffing and Premises together in one committee.
School Development Committee (SDC)
This deals with Teaching and Learning, Achievement and Progress of Pupils and Curriculum Development
Both Attendance and Pupil Premium are reviewed at both committees.
If you would like to contact the Governors please email: Chairofgovernors@buckingham.richmond.sch.uk
Declaration of Interest 2023_2024
Governor Attendance Record-2023_2024
Financial Benchmarking Data
Please click here for a link to our schools "Schools Financial Benchmarking" from the government. Here, you are able to see and compare our financial data in terms of income and expenditure.
Governor Secure Area