Governance
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@forres.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.
Chair of LSC
Raj Sagoo
Vice-Chair of LSC
Dave Stoten
Clerk to the LSC
Patrick Aikman
The Local School Committee (LSC) meets at least once a term. The dates for the academic year 2025-2026 are:
- 17/9/25
- 3/12/25
- 13/3/26
- 24/6/26
Governors who have held the office:
Mr Raj Sagoo - Chair of Local School Committee. First appointed 01/02/23 as parent governor. Appointed Chair of LSC by Spiral Partnership Trust Board of Directors in Sept 2024. SEND, Curriculum, Teaching & Achievement (Key Stage 1)
Mr Dave Stoten- Co-opted Representative and Vice Chair. First appointed 07/07/2021 and again from Curriculum 07/07/2025. Teaching & Achievement (Key Stage 2), Health & Safety and Risk Management.
Mr Gavin Douglas- Headteacher. First appointed 01/09/2020
Mrs Laura Port - Associate Representative and Deputy Head Teacher
Ms Tessa Payne - Staff Representative. First appointed by staff election on 13/03/2019 and again from 03/01/2025
Mrs Sarah Garry - Co-opted Representative. First appointed 16/10/2018 and again from 16/10/2022. Pupil Premium, Looked After Children
Mrs Abigayle Fisher - Parent Representative. First appointed 04/01/2021 and again from 04/01/2025. Attendance & Behaviour, Personal Development & Wellbeing, EYFS
Ms Caroline Sayer-Thomas - Co-opted Representative. First appointed 03/07/2025. Curriculum, Teaching & Achievement (Key Stage 1 and 2 Math focus)
Mr Martin Rance - Parent Representative. First appointed 15/11/2025. Safeguarding
Governor Attendance 2024/25
Raj Sagoo 5/5
Dave Stoten 5/5
Gavin Douglas 5/5
Laura Port 4/5
Tessa Payne 5/5
Sarah Garry 4/5
Abigayle Fisher 5/5
Caroline Sayer-Thomas 1/3
Martin Rance 1/1
Meet the Governors
Our Governing Board consists of nine governors who are either appointed by the Board itself or elected by parents and staff. Our current membership is:
Raj Sagoo
Category: Chair of LSC
Terms of office: February 1 2023 – January 31 2027
Committees: SEND, Curriculum, Teaching & Achievement (Key Stage 1)
With over 20 years of experience in IT, I currently serve as Head of IT for a branding agency. As Chair of the Local School Committee, I'm committed to supporting Forres Primary Academy in providing the best possible education for all our pupils.
My connection to Forres runs deep. I'm a former pupil myself, and my children attend the school. This personal investment means I understand firsthand the challenges and opportunities our families face. Through my role on the LSC, I work to ensure strong governance, strategic oversight, and accountability, always keeping our children's wellbeing and educational outcomes at the heart of every decision.
I bring practical problem-solving skills from my IT background, alongside a passion for creating environments where every child can thrive. Outside of work and school commitments, I enjoy sports and DIY projects.
Dave Stoten
Category: Vice chair of LSC
Terms of office: July 7 2021 – 6 July 2029
Committees: Teaching & Achievement (Key Stage 2), Health & Safety and Risk Management.
I recently retired after a 47-year career in the postal service industry having acquired a substantial skill set in a range of retail, operational, commercial, HR, safety, security and transformational change roles. I worked at every level in the organisation and for the last 26 years led teams in senior and directorate positions. I was a secondary school governor for around 6 years in early 2000 carrying out roles such as Vice Chair of the Governing Body, Discipline Chair and led the premises sub-group. My passion, throughout my career and in my personal life centres on supporting and mentoring others to grow and succeed. As a “returning” governor, I relish the opportunity to help children achieve academic success develop life skills. I am particularly proud that my wife of 43 years and I have raised two children who mirror the values, enthusiasm, and life positivity that we hold dear.
Gavin Douglas
Category: Headteacher
Terms of office started: September 1 2020
Committees: Standards and Curriculum; Finance, Premises and Personnel
Business/Finance interest: None
In many ways I was always destined for a career in Education, having grown up as the child of a teacher. After leaving school I completed my Batchelor's degree in History at King's College London. Whilst considering my next step I volunteered at a primary school and realised this was where I wanted to make a career. In 2006 I completed a PGCE at the Institute of Education in London and began my teaching career in a large school in Edmonton. During this time, I developed a passion for teaching and in particular an interest in supporting staff to improve pupil outcomes.
In 2010 I began my first tenure at Forres, when I was appointed as KS2 Leader. It was during this time that I moved up to become Assistant and then Deputy Headteacher. Whilst at Forres I completed my NPQH and secured my first Headship at a Junior School in Cheshunt in 2016. In 2020 I returned to Forres as Headteacher and am now determined to ensure that every child has the confidence to succeed at Forres.
I am passionate about the school, the community and every stakeholder involved. Outside of school in my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, my wife and two daughters. I enjoy reading and learning about Modern European history, running and martial arts; I am currently working towards my black belt in Shotokan Karate.
Tess Payne
Category: Staff Governor
Terms of office: 13/03/2019 - 02/01/2029
Committees:
After having a successful career in the Media industry, I gave up working in London once my first child arrived. After having a couple of years as a stay-at-home mum, I launched my own local business franchise and put all my efforts into developing that. What started as a hobby soon turned into a successful business which I won several awards for, including a Love Hoddesdon Business Award. When the Covid crisis hit, and we were all forced to home school, I found that I had a love and passion for helping and supporting children to learn. I made the decision to enrol with a university and I worked hard to achieve several qualifications including my Higher-Level Teaching Assistant qualification and I am proud to be putting it to good use by working at Forres. I am proud to be a Forres Primary School parent, employee and governor.
Sarah Garry
Category: Co-opted Governor
Terms of office: 16/10/2018 – 15/10/2026
Committees: Pupil Premium, Looked After Children
Sarah has been Chief Executive of the Property Care Association (PCA) since November 2023. The PCA is the UK’s leading representative organisation for the protection of buildings and operates across domestic, commercial and civil sectors in the structural repair, structural waterproofing, timber preservation, damp protection, flood remediation, residential dwelling ventilation and invasive weed control industries.
Sarah has spent 20 years working with membership and trade associations; including for construction trade bodies and in the international medical sector.
Prior to PCA, Sarah led the British Society of Soil Science (BSSS) where she was Company Secretary and responsible for the day-to-day management of its activities including delivering the annual strategy, operational and staff management. She led the delivery of the multi-award winning World Congress of Soil Science 2022, and was a trustee of the company set up to manage the delivery of the event.
In previous roles, Sarah was active in the construction industry’s response to the issue of competence following the Grenfell Towers tragedy and represented construction as a member of the Department for Education’s On Site Construction T Level Panel, the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Card Management Committee and the Greater London Authority (GLA) Construction Skills Group.
Sarah has a keen interest in skills, training and policy and led the development of a Soil Science apprenticeship and has worked with organisations to engage policymakers and provide evidence, which support decision making. Whilst with BSSS, this included registering BSSS as a Non-Governmental Organisation with the UN and actively participating in UNFCCC COP Summits.
Abigayle Fisher
Category: Parent Governor
Terms of office: January 4 2021 – 3 January 2029
Committees: Attendance & Behaviour, Personal Development & Wellbeing, EYFS
I have more than 20 years’ experience in journalism and communications specialising in employee engagement and strategy. My husband and I founded our own local company Insight MCL seven years ago, offering video content, event production and communications services to businesses and organisations of all sizes. I am co-director and as well as general business skills, I have extensive experience in building and delivering communication strategies, and client, event and project management. We have two daughters at Forres and have very much enjoyed being part of the school community. I became a governor in 2020 because I am interested in the strategic direction of the school and am keen for it to grow and develop. Forres is a wonderful school, but I believe there is a lot of potential to be even better, and I hope to be able to contribute to that journey.
Ms Caroline Sayer-Thomas
Category: Co-opted Representative.
Terms of office: 03/07/2025
Committees: Curriculum, Teaching & Achievement (Key Stage 1 and 2 Math focus)
Mr Martin Rance
Category: Parent governor
Terms of office: 15/11/2025 - 14/11/2029
Committees: Safeguarding