Welcome to our Governors’ section. 

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

The Governing Board plays a vital role in supporting and challenging the school. Governors are keen to work with parents and welcome the opportunity to discuss any element of school life. Governors play an important part in monitoring and evaluating the school's performance, which it does through a variety of committees. Governors can be contacted via the school office or our email: governor@haltoncc.school
​
The Governing Board is responsible for the conduct of Halton Community Combined School. It is the school’s accountable body whose role is to promote high standards of educational achievement. It does this through three core strategic functions:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
2. Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent

Our Governors represent the many walks of life within the community and share the same goal; to act in the best interests of the children and to support them in their learning journey through the school.

The Governing Board currently consists of:

-          The Head Teacher
-          1 Local Authority Appointed Governor
-          1 Member of Staff
-          5 Parents
-          6 Co-opted Governors* (includes 1 staff member) *recruited to the Governing Board because of their specific skills set

We can often be found at the school gates keen to talk to you, in particular Colin Horsfield and Caroline Allen, (our Staff Governor), as well as various Parent Governors. 

​All who serve on the Governing Board do so voluntarily for a maximum period of four years at a time, so Governing Board vacancies do arise. If anyone is interested in learning more - or taking on this demanding, yet extremely rewarding role, please look out for notices and contact either the Head Teacher, Colin Horsfield, or Chair of Governors, Lindsay Ablitt, via the school office or our email: governor@haltoncc.school

Please click on the links here to see our latest communications, reports and committee structure. Minutes of meetings are available on request:

Our Governors

Details and photos of many of our Governors can be found below; a full list of all Halton’s Governors and a register of any interests they are involved with can be found in the 'Committee Grid 2023-24' file above. A register of attendance for both the full board meetings and individual committees, is also detailed in a separate file at the bottom of the

page.

Chair of Governors: Lindsay Ablitt became a member of the board in July 2020 as a Parent Governor and from January 2022 she now chairs the Full Board. She sits on the Finance and Teaching & Learning Committees and is the Subject Lead for Maths. 
 
Lindsay has over 10 years experience in PR within the motor industry and now enjoys time away from the corporate world to be with her young family. She likes exploring the Buckinghamshire countryside, and beyond, and also loves baking.

Sue Harratt is a co-opted governor who joined the board in September 2021. She is the chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee and the governor responsible for safeguarding. She also has subject responsibility for English and phonics.

Sue is a former headteacher with many years’ experience of leadership at several schools in the primary sector. More recently, she has been a consultant school effectiveness adviser supporting school improvement services in a neighbouring county.

She has now retired from work but continues to enjoy links with Halton School.

In her spare time, Sue enjoys walking, gardening, boating and spending time with her grandchildren.

Janette Scott is Halton's LA Governor with specific responsibility for financial matters. She sits on the Finance, Personnel and Pay Review, and the Premises, Health and Safety Committees.

Janette joined the Governing Board in 2014 and brought with her a wealth of financial experience - in particular from within the education sector. She is AAT qualified and has been the Finance Manager at The Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School in Aylesbury for many years.

Chani Dhaliwal is a parent governor who joined the Governing Board in 2022. He is the subject lead for Maths and sits on the Teaching and Learning Committee and the Finance Committee. 

Chani is a solicitor and Partner at a national law firm.  He leads a team that specialise in complex serious injury litigation representing clients with brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, and complex orthopaedic injuries.

__________________________________________________________________________

Richard Ablitt joined the board in October 2022 as an associate governor, specifically to have the role as Computing, Cyber Security and GDPR governor. As part of his role as subject lead for computing, he sits on the teaching and learning committee. Richard has over 15 years experience in the telecommunications industry and has worked for the country’s biggest brands in the sector. His career has included aspects of engineering, planning, security and product management.

__________________________________________________________________________

Mark Slater is a parent Governor who joined the Governing Board in 2022. Mark is the Vice Chair of the board and is the subject lead for PSHE. He is also a member of the Finance Committee. Mark is a Branch Manager in the food retail industry. He has 20 years’ experience in leading teams in sales, cost control, organisational change, strategy and HR. In his spare time Mark loves the outdoors and cooking.  

__________________________________________________________________________

Jess Charman became a member of the board in September 2024 as a parent governor. She is the link governor for PE and Sports Premium and is a member of the Teaching and Learning committee.  

Jess is currently the Head of HR in the events and transport industry. She has over 10 years’ experience managing people and projects within the professional services sector, specialising in employee relations, performance management, and workplace culture. Her move away from the busy city was driven by a desire to spend more time with her two girls, and together they love crafting, baking, and exploring the great outdoors.

__________________________________________________________________________

Matt Tope joined the board in 2025 as a parent Governor and serves on the Teaching and Learning Committee. He has a specific interest in the representation of service interests for both the school and the pupils. He is currently based at RAF Halton and has 24 years of training and education experience within the RAF as a Training Officer, and as a teacher prior to that. Married to Caroline with 2 children, the family lives locally and enjoys travelling, biking and being outdoors wherever possible. 

__________________________________________________________________________

Joe Griffin was appointed a parent governor in 2025. He is the Early Years governor and sits on the Teaching and Learning committee. Currently serving at RAF Halton, Joe is an officer in the RAF with a broad background in training and education within the military. An outdoor and fitness enthusiast, he is married with two young children.

__________________________________________________________________________

Colin Horsfield is the Headteacher of Halton Community Combined School and has been since April 2020. Halton is very much part of Colin's DNA having been a teacher here, prior to taking on the headship, and also attending the school as a pupil when his father was posted to RAF Halton in the early 90's. Having also been born in the old Princess Mary's hospital, the local area and community, particularly RAF Halton, is a really important part of Colin's own family history.

Colin has worked in education for over 20 years teaching a variety of year groups and taking on various leadership responsibilities prior to becoming the head at Halton. With his own education following a drama route, building confidence and 'finding your voice' have always been key in his approach to teaching and learning.

In his spare time Colin likes travelling, driving his VW campervan and he is a season ticket holder at MK Dons.

__________________________________________________________________________

Jen Dawkins

__________________________________________________________________________

Caroline Allen

__________________________________________________________________________

Stephen Green (staff governor)

__________________________________________________________________________

Governor attendance records for FGB and all committee meetings over the last academic year can be found in this file:

Governing board diversity:

Our school is committed to having a governing board that is diverse, inclusive and reflective of the community we serve.