School governors are unpaid volunteers who hold headteachers to account and ensure that schools are meeting their strategic objectives. Governors do not manage the operational day-to-day functions of a school, but are required to oversee its long-term development.
The school has a Governing Body which consists of Governors, elected parents, and an elected member of staff. The Full Governing Body meets a minimum of six times per academic year (once per term). Our Governors hold the Head Teacher to account for standards in the school and offer guidance and support in all areas of school life. Additionally, Governors have specific areas of responsibility, and these include Health & Safety, SEN, Pupil Premium, Safeguarding, and Subject areas in order to monitor the progress the school is making. Governors work closely with the Headteacher, the Senior Leadership Team, and Subject Leaders.
| Governor Name | Date of appointment | Term of Office | Name of Body by which they are appointed | Governor Type | Post | Register of Interest |
| Honoria Thompson | 01/09/2010 | N/A | N/A | Headteacher | NIL | |
| Kate Lovell | 07/07/2014 | 11/07/2026 | Board | Co-opted Governor | Chair | Member/Trustee of Whitstone Secondary School Spouse is a Somerset and Town Councillor |
| Elaine Hewitt | 17/11/2025 | 16/11/2029 | Board | Associate Member | NIL | |
| Graham Cockill | 17/01/2015 | 29/01/2027 | Local Authority | LA Appointment | Vice- Chair | NIL |
| Kim Reeves | 18/09/2023 | 17/09/2027 | Board | Co-opted Governor | Member of the school Office Staff | |
| Claire Dargie | 17/11/2025 | 16/11/2029 | Elected by staff | Staff Governor | NIL | |
| Laura Wynn | 26/01/2024 | 25/01/2028 | Elected by parents | Parent Governor | NIL | |
| Eleanor King | 19/09/2025 | 18/09/2029 | Elected by parents | Parent Governor | NIL | |
| Resignations | ||||||
| Heloise Motte | 26/01/2024 | 25/01/2028 | Elected by parents | Parent Governor | NIL | |
| Frank Short | 10/01/2022 | 09/01/2026 | Board | Co-opted Governor | Inspir.Ed – Educational Consultancy run by spouse |
Shepton Mallet Community Infants School & Nursery – Governor Roles and Committee Membership 2025-26
| Post | Name |
| Chair of Governors | Kate Lovell |
| Vice Chair of Governors | Graham Cockill |
| Clerk to the Governors | Clare Bamford |
| Composition of the Governing Body – 10 in total (plus Associate Member) | |
| Headteacher | Honoria Thompson |
| LA Governor | Graham Cockill |
| Staff Governor | Claire Dargie |
| Parent Governor | Eleanor King |
| Parent Governor | Laura Wynn |
| Co-opted Governor | Kate Lovell |
| Co-opted Governor | Kim Reeves |
| Co-opted Governor | Vacancy |
| Co-opted Governor | Vacancy |
| Co-opted Governor | Vacancy |
| Associate Member | Elaine Hewitt |
| Post | Name | ||
| SEND Governor | Graham Cockill | ||
| Child Protection | Kim Reeves | ||
| Health and Safety | Kate Lovell | ||
| Training | Clerk | ||
| Disadvantaged Children | Kate Lovell | ||
| EAL Governor | Kate Lovell | ||
| Attendance Governor | Graham Cockill | ||
| GDPR Governor | Kate Lovell | ||
| Lead Governor – EYFS | Eleanor King | ||
| Lead Governor – Curriculum Monitoring | Kate Lovell | ||
| Lead Governor – Gifted and Talented | Kate Lovell | ||
| Lead Governor – Buildings/Premises | Graham Cockill | ||
| CLP | Honoria Thompson – Headteacher | ||
| Head teachers Performance Management | |
| Kate Lovell Graham Cockill Laura Wynn Derek Watts | All Agreed |
| Subject Governors | |
| Humanities & Science – Laura Wynn – lwynn@sheptoninfants.co.uk PE – Kim Reeves – kreeves@sheptoninfants.co.uk English & EAL – Kate Lovell – klovell@sheptoninfants.co.uk Maths & RSHE – Eleanor King – Eking@sheptoninfants.co.uk ICT & SEND – Graham Cockill – gcockill@sheptoninfants.co.uk Creative Arts & Early Years – Eleanor King – Eking@sheptoninfants.co.uk |
Statutory Committees
| Pupil Discipline | Staff Dismissal | Staff Dismissal Appeal |
Meet the Governors
Kate Lovell – Chair of Governors/Co-opted Governor
With a background in education, I have many years’ experience of school governorship and over that time have learned a lot about how schools best operate to ensure that their students thrive. My children, all grown up now, started their school careers at Shepton Mallet Infants, and it is a privilege to be able to provide support to the school community and another generation of children.
Graham Cockill – Vice Chair of Governors/LA Governor
‘Now retired, the whole of my professional life was in education, as a secondary school teacher in London, Cornwall, and Somerset, and latterly as a Local Authority Education Adviser. Both my children attended Shepton Mallet Infants School, and I am very pleased to be able to use my knowledge and experience to support the school and local community as a governor.’
Clare Bamford – Clerk to the Governors
Elaine Hewitt – Associate Member
Claire Dargie – Staff Governor
I joined the school in 2010 as the Nursery Teacher. Over the years, my role in the Nursery has expanded, and I now coordinate support for Special Educational Needs. In 2016, I became the Manager of the Nursery, and shortly thereafter, we received an Outstanding rating during our inspection by OFSTED. Outside of school, I enjoy gardening and tend to a flourishing allotment.
Kim Reeves – Co-Opted Governor
I was keen to become involved with my children’s school and was appointed as a parent governor in October 2019. Currently, I work as the nursery administrator and also a teacher in the school. Previously, before I moved to Shepton Mallet, I was a primary school teacher in Hertfordshire.