Governors

The governing body is the school’s accountable body. It is responsible for the conduct of the school and for promoting high standards. The governing body aims to ensure that children are attending a successful school which provides them with a good education and supports their well-being.

Contact the Governors

You can email the Governors at joe.williams@hook-norton.oxon.sch.uk

Alternatively email office.3044@hook-norton.oxon.sch.uk making the email for the attention of the Chair and the school will forward the email on. Letters and emails addressed to the Chair of Governors C/O the School will be forwarded.

The Governing Body

Sets the strategic direction of the school by:

  • Setting the values, aims and objectives for the school
  • Agreeing the policy framework for achieving those aims and objectives
  • Setting statutory targets
  • Agreeing the school improvement strategy which includes approving the budget and agreeing the staffing structure.

Challenges and supports the school by monitoring, reviewing and evaluating:

  • The implementation and effectiveness of the policy framework
  • Progress towards targets
  • The implementation and effectiveness of the school improvement strategy
  • The budget and the staffing structure.

Ensures accountability by:

  • signing off the school’s own self-evaluation report
  • responding to Ofsted reports when necessary
  • holding the headteacher to account for the performance of the school
  • ensuring parents and pupils are involved, consulted and informed as appropriate
  • making available information to the community.
  • Appoints and performance manages the headteacher who will deliver the aims (through the day to day management of the school, implementation of the agreed policy framework and school improvement strategy, and delivery of the curriculum) and report appropriately to the governing body.

For governing bodies to carry out their role effectively, governors must be:

  • Prepared and equipped to take their responsibilities seriously;
  • Acknowledged as the accountable body by the lead professionals;
  • Supported by the appropriate authorities in that task; and
  • Willing and able to monitor and review their own performance.

The role of a governor

In law the governing body is a corporate body, which means:

  • no governor can act on her/his own without proper authority from the full governing body;
  • all governors carry equal responsibility for decisions made, and
  • although appointed through different routes (i.e. parents, staff, Local Authority community, foundation), the overriding concern of all governors has to be the welfare of the school as a whole.

Governors of Hook Norton CE Primary School have adopted the following procedure to deal with formalcomplaints from members of the school community or general public.

If parents, pupils or members of the public have concerns they should:

  • Discuss their concerns with the member of staff most directly involved and, if not satisfied;
  • Discuss their concerns with a senior member of staff and, if not satisfied; (this stage will not apply in small schools)
  • Discuss their concerns with the headteacher.

Only where all these avenues have been tried and found unsatisfactory should the complainant take a complaint to the Chair of Governors or Clerk to the Governing Body.

Further information detailing the schools complaint policy can be found here:

Complaints Policy

Our Governors

Mrs Nellie Crouch (Headteacher)
I have thirty years of teaching experience having taught in London and Kent before moving to the Cotswolds. I have taught across all three key stages of the primary phase: Foundation Stage and Key Stages One and Two. I am Headteacher at Hook Norton, and know the school well having been Deputy Headteacher for twenty years. I have been actively involved in voluntary work including leading children and family activities at large conventions and charitable trips abroad. I enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, entertaining friends and being actively involved in a church. I particularly enjoy spending time with my husband, son, daughter and son-in-law.

Joe Williams (Chair – Co-opted)

I have been a governor at Hook Norton Primary school for 20 years, serving as Chair for 8 of those years, following in my grandfather’s footsteps who was a school governor and councillor.

On leaving school I became an apprentice in operations and administration management, starting in my parents business then 6 months working for a clothes retailer before returning to the family business where I am now managing partner and postmaster for the Budgens store in Hook Norton. I have also previously been a parish councillor including the Chair and 16 years as an operational firefighter at the village fire station.

Alongside my main job and that of being a school governor, I am Vice President of the sports & social club, Chair of Hooky Neighbours Pantry and a director on the independents board of ACS (association of convenience stores)

I have lived in the local area all of my life, my 2 two lively jug dogs keep me active in my spare time.

Mr Richard Thomson (Vice chair - Co-opted)

I arrived in Hook Norton is 2015 whilst still working in London as the Managing Director of a large TV Production company, which I continued to do until 2019. Since then, I have been a Non-Exec Director and Consultant to various TV production and related companies both in the UK and abroad, and am currently Executive Chair for a Natural History company based in Bristol. I love being in Hooky and along with being a Governor of the school, I distribute the bi-monthly village newsletter and am involved in the organisation of both the Hooky Beer Festival and the annual Apple Day. Most days I can be seen out and about with my faithful companion Dylan the Vizsla dog.

Mr Nick Harrison (Co-opted)

I am a Chartered Surveyor who moved to Hooky 10 years ago and have two children at the school. In my day job I travel the country looking at commercial buildings and can often be found jogging on the lanes around the village and up at the Sports and Social Club.

Helen Lewis (Co-opted)
I am proud to be one of the co-opted governors of Hook Norton primary school. I have three children - two teenage boys who loved their time at 'Hooky' and a girl who is still at the school. I have been involved in secondary and higher education for over twenty years -teaching History, RE and Personal Development at secondary level and teaching on PGCE courses at two Universities. I am passionate about training and supporting the next generation of teachers. Presently, I am the Lead Induction Tutor for Early Career Teachers at a secondary school in Bicester and I also work as an academic supervisor on a PGCE course at Sussex University.

Sally Newman (Co-opted)

My family and I have loved living in Hook Norton for the last 29 years. Until retirement my husband taught at the village school, and both our daughters attended. For 35 years I taught in primary schools in East London, Essex and Oxfordshire, spending the last 14 years of my career as headteacher of a school in Banbury.

Despite being retired, I have retained my interest in, and passion for, education so I feel that being a school governor is an interesting and useful role that I can undertake. I visit the school regularly and hope that I am both supportive, as well as a critical friend.

I am also a trustee of the Heath Allotment Trust, a charity based in the village.

I enjoy a variety of hobbies; keeping active through dance, swimming and walking, as well as watching sport, gardening, choir, reading and spending time with my friends and family.

Jill Edge (Co-opted)

I am proud and honoured to be a co-opted governor of Hook Norton Primary School

I have worked with children and families in the community for over 30 years. In January 1996 I became Centre Manager of The Sunshine Centre which is situated in the heart of the third most deprived area in Oxfordshire. Over the 25 years I lead the Centre we developed many services including a 48 place childcare setting. Childcare had an outstanding Ofsted report when I retired in 2024. The setting also received an outstanding recognition award from Oxfordshire Virtual School department for our work with young children with additional needs.

During my time as manager I worked multi agency, with local schools, statutory services, voluntary and local organisations.

Developing services responding to children and families needs and filling gaps in service provision involved working collaboratively with many partners both voluntary, statutory and local community groups.

I have previously served on the Governing body of another local primary school. I volunteer for Warriner School Farm engaging young children with the different animals whilst at the same time discovering and sharing their knowledge on the names of different animals and where our food comes from

Working with children and families who face adversity in life and seeing them grow and develop as been one of my greatest pleasures. Being alongside children and families and seeing them reach for their true potential has been very rewarding.

I am honest, calm and persistent by nature . I believe there is always a way we just have to be adaptable, patient and flexible to find it.

I look forward to being part of the Hook Norton School community learning new skills and sharing my skills and knowledge.

Leigh Larkin (Associate Member, School Business Manager)

I am Joint School Business Manager alongside Laura. I first joined Hook Norton Primary School in 2021. This followed several years of volunteering in classrooms as I slowly returned to work following a career break to care for my young children. I also served as Chair of FOHNS (Friends of Hook Norton School) for two years, which gave me valuable insight into the school’s culture and the many things that make it such a special place.

All three of my daughters have attended Hook Norton and have thrived here—something I feel incredibly grateful for and proud to have been a part of both personally and professionally.

Outside of school life, I spend most of my time juggling the busy schedules of three children, including club drop-offs, playdates, and the occasional much-needed family escape to Charmouth Beach—always on the lookout for that elusive T-Rex fossil!

Laura Arnel (Associate Member, School Business Manager)

I have worked in Administration since 2007, beginning my career at Bristol University where I completed NVQ Levels 2 and 3 in Business Administration. I later worked at Oxford University before taking a career break to raise my two wonderful daughters. In 2022, I transitioned from higher education to working in a primary school setting and joined Hook Norton School in 2023. I bring a strong background in administrative support and a passion for contributing to the school community.
Outside of work, my family and I enjoy attending gigs - our favourite being country music. We also love our family holidays and time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life!

Mrs Sara Peters (Associate Member – Teaching)

I have been teaching for 33 years and joined Hook Norton School in 2003, a community I am truly passionate about. I have taught across all phases and currently serve as Assessment Lead, Key Stage 2 Phase Lead, and Deputy Headteacher. I have served on the Governing Body for 10 years and am now in my third term as a governor. I am deeply committed to supporting the school, its staff, pupils, and families. As a parent of two children, I understand the joys and challenges of raising a family, and I bring that experience, energy, and dedication to everything I do at Hook Norton.

Mrs Liz Voce (Staff Governor – Teaching)

I have taught at Hook Norton School since I joined as a newly qualified teacher in 2000, with a short break to have my children. I have experience of teaching across all Key Stages, including Foundation Stage during my teaching career and have had a range of different co-ordinator and leadership roles. I valued the opportunities Hook Norton School and village offered so much that we moved to the village in 2010 and my own three daughters all attended the school. They have since gone on to Chipping Norton School where they achieved highly, which was definitely supported by their fantastic primary education at Hook Norton and following secondary education there. I currently teach Year 1 and 2, am Phase Leader for EY, Key Stage 1 and Deputy Headteacher. I am also the Primary Link Teacher for the Chipping Norton Partnership and PE Co-ordinator. I have taken on a Staff Governor role to enable me to further support in the leadership and management of the school.

Sally Griffiths (Clerk to Governing body)

I currently work at Hook Norton School as a 1-2-1 SEN Teaching Assistant. Prior to this I worked in the telecommunication industry coaching and doing continuous improvement. In my free time I enjoy days out with the family and spending time in my garden. 

Andrew Maclauchlan (Parent Governor)

I am a parent governor living locally with my wife and two daughters, both of whom attend Hook Norton Primary School. We moved here 3 years ago inspired by both the village and school as the perfect place to raise our family. I’ve a professional career of c20 years in the Food and Retail industry across various commercial leadership roles and look forward to utilising some of this experience and training for the benefit of the school and pupils.

Elise Reid(Parent Governor)

I am one of the Parent Governors at Hook Norton Primary School. I have 3 children who have all attended this school, 2 are now at secondary school. I have a very comprehensive understanding of how the school works having been a Governor at Hook Norton for a number of years and worked as a special needs TA as well as having a parent’s perspective.

I have a background in Theatre Management having previously worked at Chipping Norton Theatre before I had my children.

I now work as an Exams Invigilator at a secondary school in Oxfordshire, but when I am not working or looking after my children I love to go on long walks with my 2 Border Collies.

Jenny Mead (Foundation Governor) 

I have been involved at Hook Norton School in various ways since we moved to Hook Norton in 1997. We live opposite and we love having school as our neighbour, watching the comings and goings over the years! My 3 children were there for 11 years and I was a Parent Governor between 2000-2004, so it’s a pleasure and privilege to be serving on the governing body again, this time as a Foundation Governor, representing St Peter’s Church and the Diocese.

I have spent my career in education, working with children and families in many different roles. For the last 20 years (almost), I have worked for the Oxfordshire SEND Sensory Support Service with the Deaf and Hearing Support Team. I am absolutely committed to inclusion and access to learning, and achieving the best outcomes for all children.

I worship regularly at St Peter’s Church and I am the Parish Safeguarding Officer across our Benefice, covering Hook Norton, Great Rollright, Swerford and Wigginton.

I am the Musical Director of the Hooky Singers; we meet and rehearse in the school hall on a weekly basis, and my husband and daughters are involved too – because Hook Norton is at the very heart of our family life.