Northdown Primary School Local Governing Body
Northdown Primary School is an academy as part of The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT).
Please find a link to the TKAT Governance pages: https://www.tkat.org/1120/governance
Please find a link to TKAT key documents: http://www.tkat.org/93/documents
TKAT is a multi-academy trust which was established on 1st September 2010. Its constitution is set out in the Articles of Association and this is shared with individual academies via the Scheme of Delegation. TKAT has, through the Scheme of Delegation, established Local Governing Bodies for each of the Academies.
The Local Governing Body of each of the Academies is responsible for fulfilling the strategic and operational governance role in the conduct of the Academy.
Click here to link to the Directors of the TKAT Board. https://www.tkat.org/670/meet-the-trustees
Governance for Northdown Primary School is provided through the Local Governing Body.

Vision
The Local Governing Body is committed to TKAT’s mission:
- Achieving more together.
- Our vision is to put children first to build a better world.
- We will ensure that the life chances of all pupils in our Academies are significantly improved as a result of our educational provision.
- We will provide outstanding teaching and learning to enable all children – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds – to reach their potential and meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
Purpose
The Local Governing Body is committed to TKAT’s mission:
- Achieving more together.
- Our vision is to put children first to build a better world.
- We will ensure that the life chances of all pupils in our Academies are significantly improved as a result of our educational provision.
- We will provide outstanding teaching and learning to enable all children – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds – to reach their potential and meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
GOVERNANCE
Following the meeting of the Joint Local Governing Body on February 9th 2022, it was decided to end the Joint Local Governance Structure for TKAT schools within Thanet.
From 9th February 2022, there is a single Local Governing Body for each school. There is a Chair and Vice-Chair for each school’s Local Governing Body.
Governors on each school’s Local Governing Body will have specific responsibilities, including: Finance, Standards and Assessment, Behaviour and Welfare, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, SEND, EYFS and Leadership and Management.
GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
The composition of each Local Governing Body is up to 9 governors:
The Chair (Appointed)
2 Parent Governors (elected by parents)
2 Staff Governors (elected by staff)
Headteacher (ex-offico)
Up to 3 other appointed Governors
Other members of the School’s leadership team may join meetings as appropriate.
PAY COMMITTEE
Our pay committee officially approves teacher and admin staff pay, with advice from our Headteacher.
The membership of the pay committee is reviewed and approved annually at a governor’s meeting.
The pay committee is made up of our Chair of Governors and one other nominated governor.
Membership of Northdown Primary School Governance Committee
Chair of local governing body:
- Jack Packman – Chair
Appointed by GB/board
Appointment/Start date 6 October 2022
Current Term of Office 6 October 2022 to 6 October 2025
Email address Jack.packman@northdown-tkat.org
Telephone 01843226077
Declaration of interest including transactions to 31st August 2023 = Nil
2022/23 attendance = 100% - Heather Waller – Vice Chair
Appointed by GB/board
Appointment/Start date 18th October 2023
Current term of office 18th october 2023 to 18th October 2026
Declaration of interest including transactions to 31st August 2023 = Nil - Matthew Harris
Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal
Appointment/Start date 15 July 2020
Current Term of Office 15 July 2020 –
Declaration of interest including transactions to 31st August 2023 = spouse employed in the Office at Northdown since 01.09.2023..
2022/23 attendance = 100% - Dave Turnbull
Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates
Appointment/Start date 7 July 2021
Current Term of Office 7 July 2021 to 6 July 2024
Declaration of interest including transactions to 31st August 2023 = Nil
2022/23 attendance = 100% - Sally Potter
Elected by school staff
Appointment/Start date 7 July 2021
Current Term of Office 7 July 2021 to 6 July 2024
Declaration of interest including transactions to 31st August 2023 = employed as a family liaison officer at Northdown since 01.09.1994
2022/23 attendance = 100% - Christina Goldsmith
Staff Governor
Appointment/Start date 23 March 2023
Term of Office from 23rd March 2023 to 23rd March 2026
Declaration of interest including transactions to 31st August 2023 = Parent Governor at Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School since 22.11.2019, employed as an Inclusion Manager at Northdown since 20.02.2023.
Director of Southall Close Management since 22.02.2020, No Transactions with TKAT
2022/23 attendance = 25%
Leavers 2022 – 2023
- Beth Pritchard
Community Governor
Appointment/Start Date 07th July 2022
Term of Office 7th July 2022 – 7th July 2026
Resignation date 31st August 2023
Beth Pritchard 2022/23 attendance = 50%
Beth Pritchard – Declaration of interest: Nil - Roger Silk
Appointed by GB/board
Appointment/Start date 6 October 2022
Term of Office from 6 October 2022 to 6 October 2025
Resignation date 6th September 2023
Roger Silk – 2022/23 attendance = 100%Declaration of interest: Chair of Governors at Drapers Mill Primary Academy since 13.06.2016
Chair of Directors at Westgate and Birchington Golf Club from 01.04.19
Governor at Life Skills Manor school for Autism from 01.01.21
Chair of Governors at Priory Infant School from 01.07.22
Secretary at KCB Thanet from 24.03.14