Welcome to the governors’ page of Masham Church of England (VA) School. This page will tell you about our governors and their role in school.
Membership
The membership of our Governing Body is comprised of parents, school staff, and individuals connected to the local church and community.
The role of the Governing Body
The school governors are the strategic leaders of our school, and they have a key role in ensuring that each child thrives and receives the best possible education. Their core functions are:
- To set the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction;
- To hold the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school, and the performance management of staff;
- To appoint the staff, agree the budget and make sure the school’s money is well spent.
Our governors bring a wide breadth of experience and expertise to our school. They know the school: its strengths and challenges, the data about progress and attainment, the staff and pupils, the parents and the community. They oversee the School Development Plan that identifies our priorities for the year, and drives change to improve outcomes for our pupils.
The structure of the Governing Body
The Governing Body meets once a month, and makes collective decisions. Governors take on individual responsibilities as Lead Governors in relation to specific school priorities and areas. This involves Lead Governors visiting the school, and a linked member of staff, on a regular basis, to find out more about their area and to be involved in developing, supporting and monitoring. Lead Governors also visit classes and talk to pupils to learn more about the school. Lead Governors feedback to the full Governing Body to keep all governors informed about progress, be made aware of any concerns that require addressing, and successes to be celebrated.
Governors Attendance at Meetings


Rosalind Arnold
Foundation -Masham PCC
Term of Office:
September 2020- August 2024
Register of Interests:
Grandparent of pupil

Susan Briggs Vice-Chair of Governors
Foundation - Bradford and Ripon & Leeds Diocese
Term of Office:
October 2018 – September 2026
Register of Interests:
None

Ronald Buchanan
Parent
Term of Office:
October 2019 – October 2023
Register of Interests:
Parent of pupil

Jim Dalton Chair of Governors
Foundation - Masham PCC
Term of Office:
September 2020 – August 2024
Register of Interests:
None

Becca Clarkson
Staff Governor
No longer in office, stepped down 31 March 2023
Term of Office:
September 2021- September 2025
Register of Interests:
None

Sue Gill
Foundation - Masham PCC
Term of Office:
February 2023 – February 2027
Register of Interests:
None

Sue Johnson
Foundation - Bradford and Ripon & Leeds Diocese
Term of Office:
October 2017 – October 2025
Register of Interests:
None

Fiona Lawson-Ross
Headteacher from 24 April 2017
Term of Office:
Ex-officio
Register of Interests:
None
Natalie Nicholson
Parent Governor
Term of Office:
September 2022 – September 2026
Register of Interests:
Parent of pupil

Miranda Rennie-Oxley
Parent
No Longer in Office: stepped down August 2022
September 2018 – August 2022
Register of Interests:
Parent of pupils

Sarah Webster
Foundation - Ripon Diocesan Board
No longer is office: stepped down 8 February 2023
Term of Office:
September 2016 – August 2026
Register of Interests:
Parent of pupils, Governor at West Tanfield School
Foundation - Bradford and Ripon & Leeds Diocese
Term of Office :
Vacant Position
Register of Interests:
None

Local Authority
Term of Office:
Vacant Position
Register of interests
None

Cate Lawton
Staff Governor
Term of Office:
May 2023 – May 2037
Register of Interests:
None

Helena Moss
Clerk to Governors
Term of Office:
None
Register of Interests:
None
Rosalind Arnold
is a retired early years teacher, and has been a Foundation Governor since January 2013. She is on the School Improvement and Fabric and Health and Safety Committees and has particular concern for Class 4. She enjoys visiting to help children develop their reading skills. Her three children all attended the school during the eighties and she loves supporting her five grandchildren at Celebration Assemblies, sports days etc. Rosalind met her husband, Bob, whilst working in Kenya. In the late seventies they spent five years in South Sudan, and more recently, over eight years leading a rural development project in Uganda. Her interests include being actively involved in St. Mary’s church, singing in Ripon Choral Society and reading.
Jim Dalton
has been a governor since September 2008 and is the current Chair of the Governors. He has known Masham all his life, was a frequent visitor from the 1980s and came to live here when he and his late wife retired. For 40+ years he worked in education and children’s services, mostly in Hertfordshire. He has three children and six grandchildren, in London and Geneva. He is also Chair of Trustees of a centre for health and pastoral care in Thirsk, and has been a churchwarden and the treasurer of St. Mary’s Church, Masham. Opera is his extravagance. He runs a lunch time chess club at Masham School and expects to be beaten by nine year-old pupils!
Susan (Sue) Johnson
has been a governor of Masham School since 1994. Sue is a Foundation Governor, SEND Governor (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and sits on the Personnel and Finance Committee, the School Improvement Committee and is clerk for the Headteacher Performance Management Group. Sue comes into school on a regular basis to hear Class 2 children read. Sue is a retired teacher and deputy headteacher, having taught for twenty-four years, twenty-twenty-one in Special Education at both day and residential special schools. She worked for North Yorkshire County Council as a library assistant at Masham Library since 1997, being library assistant in charge there from 2005 until 2011 when the library closed. Sue is a member of St Mary’s Church, Masham Parochial Church Council (PCC) and has served as Church Warden there for three terms of office). Sue sings in St. Mary’s Church Choir, being a founder member of the present choir. She is also a long-standing member of Ripon Choral Society. Sue enjoys music, walking, swimming, cycling and spending quality time with her family.
Susan Briggs
has been a governor since October 2006, starting when her daughter, Nina was at the school. She is on the Personnel and Finance, and the School Improvement Committees and has a particular interest in literacy, foreign languages, history and making the school and children as aspirational as possible. She lives in Masham and is a trustee of the Masham Community Office and is on the Sheep Fair committee. Susan runs her own marketing, publishing and training company, The Tourism Network and loves promoting places like the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. In her spare time she enjoys walking her three springer spaniels, cooking, arts and crafts, and pretending she’s not really over 50 by spending time with friends who’re younger than her.
Ron Buchanan
joined as a parent governor in October 2019. He has 2 children in school and is looking to play an active role in the school governing body. He runs his own Executive Search company and has lived in Masham for over 16 years. He moved here having spent a period making wine in South Africa.