The Governing Body works with the school’s Headteacher and her Leadership Team to make sure that Hilltop lives up to its mission 

…to create and maintain a school that gives its children the best possible outcomes.

The Governing Body carries out three roles at Hilltop:

• Set the strategic direction of the school, ensuring that this is in line with the school’s vision, its ethos and values.
• Holds the Headteacher and her Leadership Team to account for the quality of provision at Hilltop; to make sure that every child receives the best possible teaching, learns in a nurturing and exciting environment and is making excellent progress in their education as a result.
• Monitor the school’s academic and financial performance, to ensure that the provision offered by Hilltop results in the children attaining well, compared to their peers across the country, and that the school is making the best use of the money in its budget.
   

Hilltop governors come from right across the school and wider community.  We have three governors currently elected by the parents, one governor elected by the staff of Hilltop, one elected by the Local Authority and four Co-Opted governors elected by the Governing Board itself and the Headteacher.  Individually they have wide-ranging skills which the Governing Board uses to carry out its work effectively, as outlined below. Collectively, what they all share is a strong commitment to the school and the children of Hilltop.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES - reviewed and updated Autumn 2023

1. To become the school of choice in the heart of our community.
2. To develop a rich, relevant and ambitious curriculum that supports children’s learning at all stages.
3. To enhance the indoor and outdoor learning environments to support the values of the school.
4. To grow high quality teachers to become leaders who can share good practice beyond our school.
5. To continue to ensure that pupils, staff, parents and carers experience a sense of belonging within the school.

2025/2026

Meet the team...

Darren James

Chair of Governors

Appointed by GB

Date Appointed: March 2018

Term of Office: March 2026–March 2030

(Looked After Children and Safeguarding Governor, PPG Governor; HT Performance Management)

Other Governance Roles: None

Clive Haines

Local Authority Governor

Appointed by GB

Date Appointed: 25th June 2025

Term of Office: June 2025 – June 2029

(Governor's responsibilities: TBC)

Other Governance Roles: TBC

 

Vicky Brand

Local Authority Governor

Appointed by GB

Date Appointed: 25th June 2025

Term of Office: June 2025 – June 2029

(Governor's responsibilities: TBC)

Other Governance Roles: TBC

 

Chris Nelson

Local Authority Governor

Appointed by GB

Date Appointed: July 2024

Term of Office: July 2024 – July 2028

(Governor's responsibilities TBC)

Other Governance Roles: TBC

 

Ian Trevena

Co-opted Governor

Appointed by GB

Date Appointed 14th April 2026

Term of Office: April 2026 – April 2030

(Governor's responsibilities: TBC)

Other Governance Roles: TBC

 

Chris Pohl

Staff Governor

Nominated

Date Appointed 5th May 2025

Term of Office: May 2025 – May 2029

(Governor's resposibilites: TBC)

Other Governance Roles: None

 

Lynn Bima

Headteacher

Date Appointed: September 2017

FGB Meeting Attendance 2024-2025 

	15/10/2025	19/01/2026	30/04/2026	18/05/2026	23/06/2026
Darren James	P	P	P	P	P
Lynn Bima	P	P	P	P	P
Clive Haines	P	P	P	A	P
Vicky Brand	P	P	P	A	P
Chris Pohl	p	P	P	P	P
Chris Nelson	N	N	P	P	A
Ian Travena	N	N	N	N	P

Key:
A	Absent
E	Governor's term ended before meeting date
NA	Meeting did not take place
N	New governor, not yet in post
P	Present

If you are interested in finding out more about being a governor at Hilltop, please contact the Clerk to Governors (Irene Jeffers) on governors@hilltopfirst.co.uk.

Governors whose terms ended in the previous 12 months: