Every school has a Governing Body which is made up of the following:

1. Parents of children who attend the school
2. Teachers and ancillary staff of the school
3. People appointed by the Local Education Authority.
4. Businessmen and women and others working within the local Community

Governors usually serve for a period of four years and they require no special Qualifications. However all Governors are informed about their responsibilities and encouraged to undertake training to ensure they are fully aware of their strategic role in the life of the school. The Governing Body meets at least once a term and there are additional meetings for other business.

Please get to know our Governors. The Governors are local people with a shared commitment to the school.

A Governors report is prepared and issued during the Autumn term regarding the previous academic year to parents.

Position	Name	Date From	Date to
Chair of Governors	Ms Hannah Mitchell	01/09/25	01/09/29
Vice Chair of Governors	Mrs Sam Carson	01/06/23	01/06/27
Parent Governors	Mrs Caroline Conway Mr Ivan Tang Vacant	18/03/24 01/10/25	18/03/28 01/10/29
Local Authority Governors	Ms Hannah Mitchell Mrs Eira Sperring	01/09/25 01/09/25	01/09/29 01/09/29
Community Governors	Mrs Gwen Hardman Mrs Sam Carson Mrs Sue Jones	01/05/25 01/06/23 10/10/24	01/05/29 01/06/27 10/10/28
Staff Governor	Mrs Sarah Watts	12/09/23	12/09/27
Teacher Governor	Miss Keely Taylor	12/09/23	12/09/27
Headteacher Governor	Mrs Emma O’Neill	01/09/25	01/09/29
Clerk to Governing Body	Vacancy

Annual Report to Parents 2022/23

Annual Report to Parents 2023/24

Annual Report to Parents 2024/25

Governors who’s who

Hannah Mitchell, Ysgol Y Foel Chair of Governor’s

‘m thrilled to be leading the Ysgol Y Foel school community as Chair of Governors. My connection to this wonderful school runs deep – I actually attended Ysgol Y Foel as a child, having moved mid-year from another local school. The small nurturing environment which transformed my childhood and experience of education continues to thrive here at the heart of the beautiful, rural village of Cilcain.

With a career spanning 23 years in the public sector, including my current role as Head of HR at a government law enforcement agency, I’ve gained a wealth of experience in leadership, strategy, and community engagement. I’ve also had the privilege of chairing a registered charity, where I’ve honed my skills in governance and advocacy.

But my proudest role is being a mum to three amazing kids, including my youngest who attends Ysgol Y Foel. As an Additional Learning Needs parent, I’m passionate about ensuring our school community is inclusive, supportive, and equitable for every child. I believe every child deserves to thrive and reach their full potential, and I’m committed to working tirelessly to make that happen here.

If you’re considering Ysgol Y Foel for your child or are already part of our community, I’d love to chat with you. Let’s work together to make our school an amazing place for every child to learn and grow! 

Hannah Mitchell FCIPD – Chair of Governors, Ysgol Y Foel 

Susan Jones, Community Governor

Susan Jones is a Cilcain resident of 37 years, who now devotes much of her time to helping in the Community. Susan grew up in the Conway Valley, North Wales, before her family were posted to Wrexham with her father’s Police commitments. Susan moved to Mold then Cilcain and balanced the demands of the teaching profession with motherhood until her retirement.  Community endeavours are Susan’s great interest resulting in the management of Cilcain’s public conveniences since 2013, being an active Village Hall Committee member and a strong promoter for Capel Gad’s continued use as a public facility ( Croeso Coffi). Susan relishes her prime role as a Community Governor in Ysgol y Foel and has seized the opportunity to offer help and support in any way she can. By using Welsh as a second language, Susan can see the pupils’ enjoyment in its delivery in a natural and fun way.

Gwen Hardman, Community Governor

Gwenda (Gwen) is now retired.  After graduating and completing post grad studies, Gwen started work as an English lecturer in a Liverpool further education college.  Some years later, she was promoted to manage programmes for mature students returning to education, and subsequently to coordinate Student Services in an amalgamated college.  

Continuing to lecture in English, Gwen then moved to the university sector.  As part of a special project team, she worked with parents in primary schools and with the Sure Start organisation in disadvantaged areas of Liverpool, with a brief to develop curriculum for parents wishing to progress to degree level study.  

Gwen and her husband moved to Cilcain nearly thirty years ago to be near her family.  Now retired, Gwen is a volunteer in the community, being a community councillor, secretary of the village hall management committee and the WI, and a member of Clean ‘n Lock, the public loos cleaning team.  Some years ago, the work she did on the WI’s Century of Memories project with years 5 and 6 children and staff at Ysgol y Foel brought her back to the world of education and she is now delighted to be a member of the team of governors at our wonderful village school.

Link Governor – Monitoring comments

Come with me as I peer through the WINDOW ON WELSH  in Ysgol y Foel. A warm CROESO greets me on my walkabout with informative displays everywhere I turn. Welsh phrases speak out from colourful dragons whose tail reminds the children of targets to meet, steps to follow and rewards to achieve. The Cymraeg Campus initiative promotes a strong ethos within the school and increases the use of the Welsh language in all areas throughout the working day. The children experience a range of enjoyable activities to support their learning of Welsh with the Criw Cymraeg providing valuable encouragement to their classmates. My position as Community Governor is to help the school continue to develop its standing within the community. By offering encouragement and support, the Dragon will be fired up – Tanio’r Ddraig – Welsh will progress naturally. The school so want to achieve the SILVER award and I am looking forward to meeting the Criw and reading Cymraeg with the children very soon. We can do this as a community…..Let’s fire up the Dragon….we can do this…..Gallwn ni wneud hyn!