Westwood Primary School Community Council 

Governance of our school 

The Elliot Foundation Academies Trust is the governance body responsible for the school as a whole with the Board of Trustees accountable for decisions made. For more information on the Trust and how our governance structure works, please visit www.elliotfoundation.co.uk (Trust Governance and Community Council documents) noting in particular the Scheme of Delegation and Accountability and Representation documents. The Trust Legal, SEND and Governance Director can also be emailed on simon.pink@elliotfoundation.co.uk 

Welcome and Introduction to our Community Council

Community Councils are a formal part of the Trust’s governance structure. They are advisory bodies who:

1. Evaluate whether the school's vision and ethos reflect the lived experiences of pupils, parents, staff, and the wider community;
2. Consider how well the school’s curriculum supports and develops all of its pupils so that they are able to contribute positively to life in modern Britain and are ready for the next stage of their education; and
3. Champion the strengths and achievements of the school and the Trust to parents, staff, and the wider community.

They deliver on these 3 areas of responsibility whilst ensuring that pupil and staff mental health and wellbeing continues to run as a core thread through all school activities and school priorities.

Community councillors are a much valued group of volunteers that play a crucial role in our school offering challenging but respectful, positive and proactive support to the Principal and Senior Leadership team on behalf of the children and community that the school serves. They know and celebrate the strengths of the community that the school serves alongside holding the highest aspirations and expectations for our pupils. 

Community councillors are appointed from current parents, staff and committed individuals from the wider community. Councillors have an interest in the education and wider opportunities offered by the school to all pupils and have some free time to give to supporting the school to be innovative, inclusive and ambitious for all pupils.

If you are interested in finding out more about Westwood Community Council, please contact Sandra McLaughlin, Clerk to the Community Council, at office@westwood-cambs.org.

We are currently looking to recruit a community-based councillor to join our Community Council, if you are interested in working with us, please contact Sandra McLaughlin, Clerk to the Community Council, at office@westwood-cambs.org.

Meet Our Community Councillors

Tina Bidwell - Community Councillor:

I’m Tina and I’m proud to have been part of the Community Council for the last 4 years and part of the governing body before that. My background is in early years education and safeguarding. Experience which  I hope will be useful and supportive to the Community Council. I feel passionately that all children should have opportunity to achieve the best they can with their welfare and happiness being at the very heart of this.

Diane Crabbe - Community Councillor:

I have been a Community Councillor at Westwood Primary School since it became an academy in
2018. Prior to that I was a member of the school Governing Body, first joining as a parent governor
in 2004, although my first connection to the school was way back in the 1960's when I was a
Westwood pupil myself! I believe that a good primary education is essential for a child's overall
development and wellbeing, not only in terms of knowledge but in teaching vital social and life skills
necessary for a successful transition into secondary education and beyond.

Sarah Gore - Staff Councillor:

I am Sarah Gore, currently a Year 1 teacher here at Westwood Primary and soon to be Year Lead.

My whole career has been dedicated to the care and education of children; I started out in nurseries, progressed to teaching assistant and took the leap into teaching just over 4 years ago. I love working with children and get great satisfaction from seeing the improvements children make, both academically but also socially and emotionally. 

I have worked in several schools in the county, so have a good working knowledge of education, both within Westwood primary but also other school settings.

Outside of work, I am a wife and mother to 4 daughters, so my work doesn’t finish when I leave school! 

I have worked exceptionally hard since gaining my qualified teacher status and am proud to be moving up to Year Lead in the next academic year. I have a good understanding of teaching and look forward to gaining a better understanding of ‘whole school life’ as part of my role within the school council.

Chris Harrold - Parent Councillor:

I'm Chris, I chose to become a school parent councillor  because I believe our children are the future. The education for the children is paramount, I also feel that all children and parents have the right to be heard and have someone who they can talk to for support. I have two children at Westwood in Year 3 and Year 4.