Portfield School is designated as a non-maintained special school. It is owned by Autism Unlimited.
The Governing Body includes representatives of the trustees, school staff, parents, the local community and others with specific skills and experience to contribute to its work; the local authority is also represented.
The Governing Body of Portfield School is accountable to the Board of Trustees of Autism Unlimited. Through the powers delegated to it by the Board it has oversight of the school’s operations and on behalf of the trustees holds the school management to account for its standards and performance. The Head Teacher is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school but governors are closely involved in matters such as developing the school’s aims and setting appropriate policies to ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
The Governing Body normally meets three times a year. Governors visit the school regularly, with each governor taking a particular interest in a specific area relevant to the quality of education and help and support provided to students at the school.
To contact the Chair or any of our school governors, please get in touch via governance
Who we are
Our board is made up of the following people:
- Anna Hewitt - Head Teacher - Appointed on 20 July 2023
-
Jan Thurgood – Trustee Governor – Appointed 10 February 2025 – First Term – 4 Years
-
Jane Newell - Safeguarding Lead Governor -Appointed on 30 March 2020 - First term – 4 years Relevant declared interest: Retired deputy Headteacher – life member of National Association of Head Teachers
- Kim Vivian – Community Governor – Appointed 19 March 2026
- Keith Mitchell – Chair of Governors – Appointed on 14 April 2025 - First Term – 4 Years
- Lydia Harris - Community Governor - Appointed on 19 February 2024 - First term – 4 years
- Rebecca Shaw – Parent Governor – Appointed on 12 January 2026 – First Term – 4 Years
- Ruth Kavanagh - Teacher Governor - Appointed on 9 July 2019 - Second term – 4 years
- Simon Hickling – Parent Governor – Appointed on 12 January 2026 – First Term – 4 Years
- Steve Pyburn – Staff Governor – Appointed 15 January 2026 – First Term – 4 Terms
- Tara Roudiani – Trustee Governor – Appointed 4 December 2025 – First Term – 4 Years
- Tom Norrish – Community Governor – Appointed 19 March 2026
To become a community governor, you will need to be over 18 and live or work in the local community with skills and time you can contribute to the school governing body.
The role of the school governing body is:
- to ensure that the teaching and therapeutic approach and student experience provided by Portfield School is of the highest quality and complies with statutory and regulatory requirements and the requirements of Autism Unlimited, the charity that operates the school;
- to ensure that appropriate policies and arrangements are in place to ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements;
- to hold the school leadership team to account for the quality of education and school life provided to students at Portfield School and the quality of teaching by its staff;
- to approve, monitor and support the implementation of the annual school development plan; and
- to advise the board of trustees of Autism Unlimited on the strategic direction of Portfield School and monitor the risks to delivery of the strategy and overall operational performance.
- The governors act together as the school governing body rather than as individuals, which is why it’s important to have a diverse range of skills and experience represented on the governing body.
What does a governor do?
As a governor you bring your skills, experience and understanding to the school's governing body. You would be expected to:
- attend school governing body meetings, which normally take place three times a year outside school hours;
- review information about the school's performance and progress and discuss this with the school leadership team;
- visit the school and join school events to see how plans and policies are delivered in practice and meet with staff, students and parents; and
- participate in induction training and ongoing learning and development to understand the role and responsibilities of a governor.
What are we looking for?
We welcome people from all backgrounds, because we know that diversity is our strength; it makes us more inclusive, innovative and in tune with every student we serve.
We’re looking for people with varied skills and fresh perspectives to ensure we have a wide range represented on the school governing body. It’s great if you have specialist knowledge or skills in autism or education but there are a range of skills and knowledge that the governing body needs to perform its role.
What can you expect?
- Personal growth through developing confidence, insight and leadership skills.
- A sense of purpose, knowing that you make a lasting difference in students’ lives.
- Networking and building relationships with people who share similar goals and aspirations within our community.
- Career development, having a role with a governing body and in decision-making.
- Learning about the inner workings of a school and school life.
If you are interested in becoming a governor then contact governance
Why become a school governor?
You don’t need to be an experienced professional – it’s about attitude as well as expertise.
School governing boards need skilled people to help them run effectively, but both hard and soft skills are needed around the table. Whether you’ve spent 20 years as an accountant or are in the earlier days of your career, schools need soft skills such as problem-solving or negotiation as much as specific expertise.
Being a school governor is a chance to experience leadership at board level at any point in one’s career. The role provides individuals with the opportunity to develop and hone skills such as negotiation, influencing and teamwork. Volunteers need to be dedicated people who care about improving education, but they do not need prior board experience. It makes the role perfect for professionals looking to improve their business and leadership skills, give back to society and enhance children’s futures.