Local School Committee (LSC)

The Local School Committee (LSC) provides strategic oversight, support and challenge to the school’s senior leadership team to ensure high standards of education and the best possible outcomes for pupils. It works within the vision, ethos and policies of the Trust and ensures that statutory responsibilities are met, including those set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together to Safeguard Children.

The LSC is made up of the Headteacher (and Head of School where applicable), elected staff and parent members and co-opted community members who are appointed for their skills and experience and meets 4 times a year alongside a programme of LSC member visits to the school.

The LSC has delegated responsibility to work with senior leaders on the following:

• Standards
• Stakeholder engagement
• Safeguarding
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

The LSC is a committee of the Spiral Partnership Trust which is legally responsible for overseeing the operations of the Trust’s schools.  Our decisions are monitored by, and may be influenced by, the Board of Directors who are ultimately responsible for all the actions of the Trust’s schools.

The LSC supports the work of the Trust and Board of Directors, acts as a questioning friend to the school, monitoring decision making and its impact on pupil progress, achievement and attainment and ensures that the Trust’s vision, ethos and strategy is adopted and applied by school leaders.

If you would like to contact the Local School Committee or find out more about how it works, please contact the school office by telephone or email at admin@mandeville.herts.sch.uk

LSC members do not deal with individual pupil matters or specific complaints and parents and carers should first raise concerns with their child’s class teacher and then with the Headteacher or Head of School where necessary.

Correspondence for the personal attention of the Chair of Governors or Clerk of Governors should be addressed "care of" the school.

Chair of Governors

Mr Ed Holloway

Vice-Chair of Governors

Mrs Mandy Abley

Clerk to the Governors

Mr Patrick Aikman

The Local School Committee (LSC) meets four times a year. The dates of the LSC meetings for the year 2025-2026 are:

Tuesday 23rd September

Tuesday 9th December

Wednesday 18th March

Tuesday 16th June

Signed Minutes and Agenda of future Governors' Meetings are available at the school office.

Governors who have held the office in last 12 months:

Mr Ed Holloway - Chair of Local School Committee. First appointed 22/06/22, appointed Chair of LSC by Spiral Partnership Trust Board of Directors in September 2023. Health and Safety Governor

Mrs Mandy Abley - Co-opted Representative and Vice Chair. Safeguarding and Inclusion Governor. First appointed 20/09/21 by Spiral Partnership Trust Board of Directors. Safeguarding and Inclusion Governor

Mrs Cathy Longhurst - Headteacher. First appointed by Spiral Partnership Trust Board of Directors in September 2013

Mr Martin Reed - Parent Representative. First appointed by parent election on 13/07/22

Mrs Kelly Drew - Co-opted Representative. First appointed by Spiral Partnership Trust Board of Directors from 01/09/23 Finance Governor. 

Ms Katie Ellingham - Staff Representative. First appointed by staff election on 18/07/19 and again from 01/09/23

Mrs Penny Slater - C0-opted Representative. First appointed by Spiral Partnership Trust Board of Directors from 23/07/2025.

Mrs Laura Williams - Associate Representative and Deputy Head Teacher

Mrs Patsy Harding - Associate Representative and School Business Manager

Mr Barry Maraj - Parent Representative. First appointed by parent election on 01/09/23, stepped down 18th March 2025

Governor Attendance 2024-25 (88.8%)

• E Holloway 3/4
• M Abley 4/4
• M Reed 2/4
• K Drew 4/4
• K Ellingham 4/4
• L Williams 4/4
• C Longhurst 3/4
• P Harding 4/4
• P Slater 1/1
• (B Maraj 1/3)