Meridian Primary School

Governing Board

The governing body at Meridian Primary School

Since September 2025, Meridian Primary School Governing Body has operated through a ‘circle’ structure, which we feel is a dynamic and effective way of working.

The full Governing Body meets monthly, usually in the evenings, and in between we visit the school on a regular basis to monitor its activities. Through a planned calendar of meeting themes, we monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the school development plan and encourage staff to present updates to the governing body throughout the year.

The aims of the circle model of governance are:

• Continuous school improvement
• Effective strategic planning
• Robust monitoring and evaluation through monitoring in pairs/small groups
• Regular meetings allow for more meaningful support and challenge of the leadership team
• Every governor has a different focus for their termly school visit and produces a short report with recommendations
• Shorter Headteachers report/update, focused on items for the meeting
• The whole board is updated on the progress of the development plan and has more frequent updates directly from the subject/key stage leaders within the school

The Term of office for all Governors (other than the Headteacher) is four years. Co-opted governors are elected by the Governing Board. Parent Governors are elected by the parents of the Meridian Primary School. Staff governors are elected by the staff. The Local Authority governor is confirmed by the Local Authority.

If you are interested in becoming a School Governor, then for more information please contact Rebecca Snelling (Headteacher) or Richard Mulderij / Ruth Noble (Co-Chair of Governors). Contact details for governors are available from the School Office.

Organisation and Roles

Each academic year, the Governing Body collectively defines the key areas of focus for monitoring, as determined by the School Development Plan. This plan is monitored throughout the year by specific governors who report back to the full board. Each curriculum subject is monitored via subject leads directly presenting to the governing board.

About our Governors

Richard Mulderij

Co-Chair of Governors

Co-opted Governor

Link roles: Health and Safety and Sustainability.

Richard is a co-opted governor and was elected in April 2025. He became Co-Chair, along with Ruth in April 2026.

Ruth Noble

Co-Chair of Governors

Parent Governor

Link roles: Attendance and Behaviour, Reading.

Ruth is a parent governor and was elected in May 2024 to start July 2024. Ruth became Co-Chair, along with Richard in April 2026. Ruth is a primary school teacher with an in depth knowledge of how schools run. She also currently works with PhD students at Cambridge University. She has two children at the school and attended herself as a pupil. Ruth is passionate about all aspects of school life and the role it plays within the community in keeping up with ongoing improvements and developments.

Cei Whitehouse Co-opted Governor

Vice Chair

Local Authority Governor

Cei is an LA Governor and was elected in February 2026. Details to follows.

Vicki Scott

Parent Governor

Link roles: Safeguarding, Maths.

Vicki is a parent governor and was elected in July 2023 to start September 2023 and has children in the school.

Samantha Chamberlain

Staff Governor

Sam is a staff governor, elected in September 2026 and currently the Year 6 teacher at Meridian. Sam is also Deputy Headteacher and KS2 phase leader. Sam is a DDSL and leads on behaviour and attendance in school. 

Julie Horne

Co-opted Governor

Julie is an Co-opted Governor and was elected in July 2026. Details to follows.

Jenny Gilbert

Co-opted Governor

Jenny is a Co-opted Governor and was elected in May 2026. Details to follows.

Past Governors

The following have now stepped down as governors or reached the end of their term: