Polam Hall School

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Governance and Management

Governance Update April 2010 (12Kb)

The leadership structure of the school is outlined below: -

• Board of Governors (including Trustee Governors)
• Full Senior Management Team:

Headmistress
Bursar
Junior School Headmistress
Deputy Headmistress
Senior Teacher
Business Development Manager

The members of the Governing Body are:

MRS SALLY PELHAM BA (OXON) MA (York) CHAIR OF GOVERNORS

s.pelham@polamhall.com

Appointed to the Governing body in 2006 and Chair in June 2010.

Sally read law at Oxford University and practised as a solicitor in the City, as a civil liberties and media lawyer and in house for the auctioneers, Christie's, before specialising in education law at Eversheds.

In recent years she has indulged her passion for art, working for the Public Catalogue Foundation cataloguing all the oil paintings in public ownership in West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and County Durham and completing an MA in History of Art at York University.

Sally is a trustee of Seven Stories, the Centre for Children's Books based at Newcastle. She has two daughters, the younger of which is a current pupil at the school.





DR MARY M CARR M.D., B.SC., F.R.C.P. – Vice Chair

A Governor since 1995, Chair of the Health and Safety Committee and a member of the Finance & Management Committee. A Consultant Dermatologist at the University Hospital of North Durham and Bishop Auckland General Hospital. Married to a Consultant Physician at Darlington Memorial Hospital. Mother of 2 daughters and 1 son. Hannah was at Polam Hall from 1992-1999 and read Law at Oxford University. Emma also attended Polam Hall and is now a well qualified graduate.

MRS FRANCES WEDGE - Vice Chair

A Governor since January 2003 and serves on the Finance & Management Committee. A partner in a local media consultancy.

MRS DAPHNE BATEMAN - Vice Chair

Attended Polam Hall from 1959 – 1962 and went on to The Birmingham College of Food and Domestic Arts. After gaining a diploma, held several positions in schools and private houses including at one time working as a shepherd in Northumberland. Secretary of Polam Hall Old Scholars Association from 1988 – 2001 and represented PHOSA on the Governing body for 9 years. Became a Governor in 2001. Mrs Bateman is Chair of the House and Boarding Committee and a member of the PHPA . Interests include Natural History and reading.






CHRISTOPHER D W PRATT BSc

A Governor since 1989 , and former Chair. A local farmer in Blackwell, Darlington;married to Carol, who is also a Trustee of the school. His daughter Katie is a former Polam Hall student who studied Biochemistry at Bristol University and his son Martin studied at Durham University after attending Hurworth House School and Polam Hall Sixth Form.

MRS ANGELA ELLIOTT

Represented the Parents Association on the Governing Body from 2004 to 2008. From January 2009 was elected as a full School Governor. Serves on the Education Committee.

MR KEVIN GORDON

Appointed a Governor in 2001. Initially trained in Accountancy, now runs an Executive Recruitment & HR Consultancy based in Leeds and London. Has a son and a daughter; the latter studied at Polam Hall. Interests include skiing, tennis, golf and music.

MISS DOROTHY MOUNSEY - Trustee

Elected Chair of Governors in 1972, taking over from her mother, and served in the role until 1985. Was at Polam Hall from 1928 – 1936 and worked as a gardener at the school for part of the war years. Interests include gardening and the Women's Institute weekly market.

MRS MARGARET L PRATT - Trustee

A governor since 1977 and member of the Finance and Management Committee. A retired farmer's wife, her husband Eric Pratt also served as a Governor. Daughter of Reginald and Mary Mounsey who were founder Governors. Both her grandmother and mother were pupils and she, along with her two sisters,was at Polam Hall in the 1930's. Since 1960 has had three daughters and two grandchildren at the school. Interests include natural history and gardening.






DR N J G WRIGHT MA DPhil - Chair of Education Committee

Durham University Representative since 2007.

The full Governing body meets four times each year.

Sub Committees meet as follows:

• Finance and Management - quarterly
• Education - September and May
• Health and Safety - termly
• House and Boarding - termly

All governors may be contacted via the Clerk to the Governors, Mr M N Carr, at the school.

All governors are welcome to visit the school at any time. We hold regular Governors' Open Days when the governors can see the school in action. They attend many school events and meet frequently with staff and students.