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Governors

Our Responsibilities and Principles

The three core duties of a Governing Body comprise:

- having a vision for how the school, over time, will develop;

- ensuring that public funds are used appropriately;

- and, in more general terms, holding the headteacher and his staff to account for the way in which pupils learn and the school functions.

Additionally, the governors will be involved in making important decisions such as appointing senior staff, including the headteacher, and setting policies and procedures that govern the operation of the school. 

Our Governing Body is made up of thirteen members of the local community, either elected by their sector (parents, staff etc), as a result of the office they hold (the headteacher) or through co-option to ensure there is a judicious mix of knowledge, skills and experience.

We are a committed group with a diverse and inclusive membership. We bring a range of skills and experience including teaching and learning, health and safety, accounting, finance and banking, architecture and planning and operational knowledge of the charity sector.

Our own skills are important and we conduct annual Governing Skills audits, comparing the results to the skills we consider we need to work well in our governing roles. We can then respond to any skills needs through training and development and targeted recruitment.

Importantly we work well as a team. We are friendly and open and we are all encouraged to express our thoughts within meetings. We follow a Code of Conduct and hold dear the seven Nolan Principles, setting out standards for those in public office.

Ultimately, good school governors work collaboratively with school leaders, staff, parents, and the wider community to create a safe, supportive and nurturing learning environment that enables all students to thrive academically and personally. It is from such involvement that we derive a special kind of satisfaction from being part of this school. 

You can find out more about us and the professional clerk who supports our work via the details provided in the section of the school's website entitled ‘Who are DGSB’s Governors?’

Please select from the one of the tabs below for more information.

Who are DGSB’s Governors?

DGSB Governing Board 2023-2024

Local Authority Governor:

SUE KING
	Sue is our Chair of Governors. She has been part of the schools' governing community at both primary and secondary levels for over twenty years, serving on boards, including many years both as vice chair and chair. Sue is a local accountant, educated at Dover Grammar School for Girls. Her son and daughter were educated within the Dover Grammar schools and she works hard to inspire everyone to reach their very best.

SUE KING

Sue is our Chair of Governors. She has been part of the schools' governing community at both primary and secondary levels for over twenty years, serving on boards, including many years both as vice chair and chair. Sue is a local accountant, educated at Dover Grammar School for Girls. Her son and daughter were educated within the Dover Grammar schools and she works hard to inspire everyone to reach their very best.

Co-opted Governors:

ANDY BAWTREE
	The Revd Dr Andy Bawtree is one of our two Vice Chairs. He serves as parish priest of River, and Area Dean of Dover. He has been involved in education as well as the Church of England for over 30 years. He has seen three of his children pass through DGSB and benefit from the all round education it offers. His foci within his governors role include Wellbeing, Community Links along with Spiritual, Moral and Cultural development.

ANDY BAWTREE

The Revd Dr Andy Bawtree is one of our two Vice Chairs. He serves as parish priest of River, and Area Dean of Dover. He has been involved in education as well as the Church of England for over 30 years. He has seen three of his children pass through DGSB and benefit from the all round education it offers. His foci within his governors role include Wellbeing, Community Links along with Spiritual, Moral and Cultural development.

ANDY ROGERS
Andy Rogers is one of our two Vice Chairs. As an experienced civil servant who specialises in Business Continuity Planning and puts his expertise to good use as the school embraces the significant developments the future holds. Andy has fifteen years’ experience as a governor, including as Chair at a successful local primary school. Andy has a son in the sixth form and is the school's Safeguarding Governor, oversees the school Health and Safety practices and is a link governor for the Combined Cadet Force.

ANDY ROGERS

Andy Rogers is one of our two Vice Chairs. As an experienced civil servant who specialises in Business Continuity Planning and puts his expertise to good use as the school embraces the significant developments the future holds. Andy has fifteen years’ experience as a governor, including as Chair at a successful local primary school. Andy has a son in the sixth form and is the school's Safeguarding Governor, oversees the school Health and Safety practices and is a link governor for the Combined Cadet Force.

MARTYN JENKINS
	Martyn is a Co-opted Governor who has worked in education for the whole of his working life. He was the Deputy Headteacher of a Kent secondary school where he taught mathematics for twenty five years. Currently, he works as the Regional Lead for the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP) which aims to promote students' pursuit of mathematics qualifications to Level 3 and to provide support to teachers and schools in offering the suite of qualifications. Martyn has previously been a governor at a local primary school. He has two sons at DGSB as well as one at university and another still in primary education. He brings to the Governing Board significant experience of working with school performance data and also of the Post 16 curriculum.

MARTYN JENKINS

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Martyn is a Co-opted Governor who has worked in education for the whole of his working life. He was the Deputy Headteacher of a Kent secondary school where he taught mathematics for twenty five years. Currently, he works as the Regional Lead for the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP) which aims to promote students' pursuit of mathematics qualifications to Level 3 and to provide support to teachers and schools in offering the suite of qualifications. Martyn has previously been a governor at a local primary school. He has two sons at DGSB as well as one at university and another still in primary education. He brings to the Governing Board significant experience of working with school performance data and also of the Post 16 curriculum.

ALI EYDEN
	Ali Eyden is a co-opted Governor. She has a son in Year 13 at DGSB and a daughter at Dover Girls Grammar School. She is Dean of Learning and Teaching at Canterbury Christ Church University with a background in healthcare. Ali has considerable experience of being a governor at a primary school and also as a staff governor at the university. She has governance responsibility for 16-19, and the school website.

ALI EYDEN

Ali Eyden is a co-opted Governor. She has a son in Year 13 at DGSB and a daughter at Dover Girls Grammar School. She is Dean of Learning and Teaching at Canterbury Christ Church University with a background in healthcare. Ali has considerable experience of being a governor at a primary school and also as a staff governor at the university. She has governance responsibility for 16-19, and the school website.

Partnership Governor:

CHRIS TURNER
	Chris Turner is a retired university lecturer, and worked in the Institute of Education at Manchester Metropolitan University. Before that he was the Head of English at a comprehensive school in Stockport. Prior to moving to Deal, he was the Chair of Governors at a girls’ comprehensive school in Manchester. He leads for the Governing Board on matters to do with Teaching and Learning, meeting regularly with the school’s Assistant Headteacher. He also takes a special interest in the subject he used to teach.

CHRIS TURNER

Chris Turner is a retired university lecturer, and worked in the Institute of Education at Manchester Metropolitan University. Before that he was the Head of English at a comprehensive school in Stockport. Prior to moving to Deal, he was the Chair of Governors at a girls’ comprehensive school in Manchester. He leads for the Governing Board on matters to do with Teaching and Learning, meeting regularly with the school’s Assistant Headteacher. He also takes a special interest in the subject he used to teach.

LIZ GIBNEY
	Liz Gibney is a Partnership Governor and the parent of a former pupil. Having been closely involved in the design and construction of the new school building, she has continued to build a close association with the school. Liz is the Chair of the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership and Business Advisory Board, Chair of Canterbury for Business, and Board Director for the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and Chair of their Coastal Communities Action Group. She is passionate about raising the aspirations of young people in Dover District and inspiring creativity. Liz is taking a special interest in the development of Careers Education at DGSB.

LIZ GIBNEY

Liz Gibney is a Partnership Governor and the parent of a former pupil. Having been closely involved in the design and construction of the new school building, she has continued to build a close association with the school. Liz is the Chair of the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership and Business Advisory Board, Chair of Canterbury for Business, and Board Director for the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and Chair of their Coastal Communities Action Group. She is passionate about raising the aspirations of young people in Dover District and inspiring creativity. Liz is taking a special interest in the development of Careers Education at DGSB.

Parent Governor:

GEORGINA ALLCOCK
	Georgina Allcock is a parent governor and an experienced teacher of over 20 years. She has recently obtained her National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership and has Designated Safeguarding Lead status. Georgina is currently a member of the senior leadership team at a primary school in Walmer and also has a son at DGSB in Year 8.

HANNAH GOLDING
	Hannah joins us a a Parent Governor in 2024. Hannah is from Dover and attended Dover Grammar School for Girls. Hannah has worked for Nationwide Building Society for the last 20 years and is an experienced manager and HR CIPD qualified. Hannah has worked closely with local Scouting Groups, Charities and Organisations within the Dover area for the last 10 years.

Headteacher:

PHIL HORSTRUP
	Phil Horstrup became Headteacher at DGSB in September 2018, having been Deputy Headteacher (and previously Assistant Headteacher and Head of Sixth Form) at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls. Born in London, Phil moved to Kent aged 10 and was educated at Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone, before doing his BA in French at Southampton University. He undertook his PGCE at Canterbury Christ Church University and has taught in a number of different environments including single sex-selective, mixed selective and non-selective schools in Kent and Medway.

PHIL HORSTRUP

Phil Horstrup became Headteacher at DGSB in September 2018, having been Deputy Headteacher (and previously Assistant Headteacher and Head of Sixth Form) at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls. Born in London, Phil moved to Kent aged 10 and was educated at Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone, before doing his BA in French at Southampton University. He undertook his PGCE at Canterbury Christ Church University and has taught in a number of different environments including single sex-selective, mixed selective and non-selective schools in Kent and Medway.

Staff Governor:

CARL HANSEN
Carl Hansen is the school’s Staff Governor. He has taught for over twenty five years in a range of settings, both in this country and abroad. Carl joined DGSB as Director of ICT in 2018 and in addition to his subject leadership position, he played a key role in planning the move to our new premises and its state of the art ICT facilities. Carl has three children, one at university with the others working their way through the grammar school system, and has a passion for music and fine arts. He was appointed to the Board in 2022 and is keen to add to his already impressive range of professional experiences that of governing a school at a strategic level.

CARL HANSEN

Carl Hansen is the school’s Staff Governor. He has taught for over twenty five years in a range of settings, both in this country and abroad. Carl joined DGSB as Director of ICT in 2018 and in addition to his subject leadership position, he played a key role in planning the move to our new premises and its state of the art ICT facilities. Carl has three children, one at university with the others working their way through the grammar school system, and has a passion for music and fine arts. He was appointed to the Board in 2022 and is keen to add to his already impressive range of professional experiences that of governing a school at a strategic level.

Associate Governor:

BEN RALPH
Ben Ralph is one of our two Deputy Headteachers. He is in charge of Curriculum and Outcomes and is also the Lead Teacher for A Level Economics. Ben joined DGSB in 2000 as a newly qualified teacher and has taken on increased responsibility over time. He has served on the Governing Body since 2010.

Clerk to the Governing Board:

SARAH CARROLL
	Sarah is our Clerk to the Governing Body. She has been working as Governing Body Clerk in a number of local primary and secondary schools since 2021 and joined Dover Grammar School for Boys in April 2024. Sarah has previously worked as a Personal Assistant in Local Government and Further Education. Sarah has two young children, currently at primary school.