Governance at Stephen Freeman Primary School
Stephen Freeman Primary School joined Ridgeway Education Trust (RET) on 1st November 2024, as an academy school in part of a wider Multi Academy Trust.
Local Governing Body
The Local Governing Body is made up of Governors who work together with the Head and other teachers to ensure that our school provides the best possible education for all our children. In particular, governors are responsible for:
- The overall direction of the school – including the steps it needs to take to continue to develop and improve.
- The teaching and learning – making sure that the curriculum is broad and balanced and that all pupils are given the opportunities to achieve their potential.
- Monitoring the progress and achievement that children make.
- Overseeing safeguarding, health and safety and ensuring that the school is inclusive for all pupils and staff.
The role of governors is largely a thinking and questioning role, not a doing role. It is their role to set the school’s strategic framework and to ensure all statutory duties are met. They work to support and strengthen the leadership of the Headteacher, and hold them to account for the day-to-day running of the school. Governors must maintain a strategic view, and not get involved in the day-to-day management and operational responsibilities within school. The Headteacher is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school and the implementation of the strategic framework established by the local governing body.
Ridgeway Education Trust
Ridgeway Education Trust is run by a Board of Directors which has ultimate responsibility for running each academy within its structure and for setting the vision for schools within the MAT. You can find out more about Governance in the Trust by clicking this link. Each school retains its own Local Governing Body which includes representatives from staff, parents and members of the local community appointed for their particular skills and experience. Directors and Governors are appointed for a term of four years.
The schools in the MAT share the core values of high quality teaching and learning, respectful relationships and an inclusive community. These underpin the Trust’s continuing development and support its commitment to excellence.
The Local Governing Body meets as a whole at least six times a year. You can find key documents below.
All governors have declared relevant business and pecuniary interests including:
- Governance roles in other educational institutions.
- Any material interests arising from relationships between governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives).
Click here to view Governor attendance 2024-25
Click here to view a register of Governor interests
Stephen Freeman Primary School Supplemental Funding Agreement
| Name | Governor Type | Responsibilities | Term Starts | Term Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jess Lewis | Headteacher (Ex-Officio) | 01/09/16 | ||
| Matthew Bews | Staff Governor | 14/10/24 | 13/10/28 | |
| Mark Bodeker | Trust-appointed Governor | Chair | 01/11/24 | 01/11/28 |
| Andrea Coppock | Parent Governor | Curriculum, Attendance, SEND & Pupil Premium | 17/04/23 | 16/04/27 |
| Robert Lindsay | Trust-appointed Governor | Vice Chair, Safeguarding, GDPR & Health and Safety | 01/11/24 | 16/04/27 |
| Céline Ottaway | Parent Governor | 01/12/25 | 30/11/29 | |
| Historic | ||||
| Lyn Belton | Trust-appointed Governor | 05/10/21 | 18/07/25 | |
| Ann Cassidy | Trust-appointed Governor | 21/06/22 | 13/12/24 | |
| Steven Marr | Parent Governor | Safeguarding & Attendance | 26/06/23 | 09/09/25 |
Governors can be contacted through the School Office or the Clerk to Governors, Claire Picken cpicken@ridgewayeducation.com
Profile of Chair of Governors – Mark Bodeker
I began working in Didcot in 2013 as a Church of England minister at All Saints’. This evolved into full time ministry in the new development of Great Western Park as Community Minister, moving into a house on the estate in 2015. My role primarily relates to supporting the community as it develops its own character and confidence. I have also been busy establishing a new community church, meeting local needs and developing faith. In terms of community engagement, I am a Trustee of Boundary Park Sports Association, The Didcot Powerhouse Fund, a founding member of Didcot Community Youth Trust and have recently joined as school Governor of Pangbourne College. I studied finance and law at Canterbury University, New Zealand before gaining a Chartered Accountants qualification and emigrating to the United Kingdom in 1985. In London I worked for Price Waterhouse Coopers before moving into industry, taking up several senior finance roles, mainly in special engineering businesses and latterly high tech biotech turnaround situations, jointly building and running a successful international business.
Minutes of Governor meetings
Minutes of the governors meetings can be obtained by contacting the school office or by contacting Claire Picken, Clerk to Governors cpicken@ridgewayeducation.com