Governance & Scheme of Delegation (Academies)
The Role of Governor
Within England, there are over 300,000 School/Academy Governors, who form the largest volunteer force in the country.
The roles of individual Governors, and subsequently members of a Governing Body, work collectively to perform a strategic role and carry out key functions such as:
- Discuss and set the aims and objectives for the Academy.
- Set the required policies for achieving those aims and objectives.
- Set the required targets for achieving those aims and objectives
- Monitor and evaluate the progress that the Academy is making towards it’s set aims and objectives.
Finally the role of the Academy Governor is to be a source of challenge and support to the Principal, i.e. a 'critical friend.'
The Governing Body of Harris Primary Academy Merton
The Academy is a member of the Harris Federation. Ultimate responsibility for the Academy rests with the Board of Trustees of the Federation, (Federation governance details and scheme of delegation can be found here), but much of the work of the Board is delegated to the Local Governing Body (the Governors of the Academy). Some Governors are appointed by the Federation whilst others are elected by parents or guardians of students at the Academy or by staff. The details of the Governors at Harris Primary Academy Merton are shown below.
The Chair of the Academy Governing Body is Mr Alan Palmer
The Governor responsible for Safeguarding is Mr Alan Palmer
The Clerk to the Governing Body is Mrs Karen Rowland
| Name | Date of appointment | Term of office | Appointed as | Business and pecuniary interests | Total Attended 2023-24 | Total Attended 2024-25 |
| Sir Dan Moynihan | 01/09/2014 reappointed 30/08/2022 | 4 years | Sponsor Governor | CEO, Harris Federation | 0 | 0 |
| Sabeena Hasan | 01/09/2014 reappointed 30/08/2022 | 4 years | Sponsor Governor | Director of Primary Education, Harris Federation | 0 | 0 |
| Victoria Forbes | 01/09/2019 reappointed 01/09/2023
| 4 years | Sponsor Governor | None | 1 | 2 |
| Alan Palmer | 1 September 2022 | 4 years | Chair of Governors | None | 4 | 3 |
| Emma Catley | 1 September 2023 | 4 years | Ex-officio | None | 4 | 3 |
| Sajini Sajufirst | 1 September 2022 | 4 years | Staff Governor | None | 4 | 2 |
| Henry Swash | 3 June 2024 | 4 years | Sponsor Governor | None | 3 | 3 |
| Sharah Mufti | 20 November 2023 | 4 years | Parent Governor | None | 3 | 2 |
| Devyani Patel | 7 May 2024 | 4 years | Sponsor Governor | None | 1 | 3 |
| Kazden Farruggio | 4 October 2024 | 4 years | Parent Governor | None | 0 | 2 |
| Lorna Wright | 3 March 2025 | 4 years | Sponsor Governor | None | 0 | 1 |
| Christiana Dujardin | 15 May 2025 | 4 years | Sponsor Governor | None | 0 | 1 |
Governors who have resigned in the last twelve months
| Name | Date of appointment | Date of resignation | Term of office | Appointed as | Business and pecuniary interests | Total Attended 2023-24 |
| Sara Osman | 01/01/2021 | 19/06/2024 | 4 years | Parent Governor | None | 1 |
| Bob Doye | 09/03/23 | 12/09/2024 | 4 Years | Sponsor Governor | None | 4 |
Please see the link to the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) website for our school page: https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/141143#school-governance
To contact the Chair of Governors/Safeguarding Governor or clerk to the governors, please write to Harris Primary Academy Merton, Abbotts Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 1JW, or telephone 0208 679 3707, or send an email via info@harrisprimarymerton.org.uk
Should you wish to contact the Governing Body regarding a complaint please use the above email address.
