Governing Body

Ethos Statement

Recognising its historic foundation, the school will preserve and develop its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the Church at parish and diocesan level.

The school aims to serve its community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context of Christian belief and practice. It encourages an understanding of the meaning and significance of faith and promotes Christian values through the experience it offers to all its pupils.

Please contact the school offices if you would like copies of non-confidential governing body minutes.

The governing body is comprised of up to 16 people:

Structure

As set out in our Terms of Reference, we are structured with a Full Governing Board (FGB) supported by two committees and one steering Group.  The Strategic Steering Group consists of Headteacher, Chair of Governors and Vice Chair of Governors. The committees are Education, Development and Safeguarding (EDS) and Finance, People and Premises (FPP). 

In September 2022, we merged the meetings of our committees into the Full Governing Board, which we find provides us with improved oversight and a much better understanding of all of the relevant factors in decision-making. We find it is also a more efficient use of our Governance time and reduces duplication.  Every meeting starts with a focus on Safeguarding, and through the year we have an alternating focus in our meetings, between EDS and FPP agendas.  Our Scheme of Delegation framework on the Governance Page sets out in detail which responsibilities are allocated to FGB, EDS, FPP or to individual governor roles.

We maintain an allocation of Governors to the committee structure (see below) which allows us to delegate certain matters and decisions to each committee, outwith FGB, should that be required.

We also have specific Governor roles for key statutory areas such as Safeguarding, Data, Attendance, SEND, Disadvantaged Learners etc.

Members

Email: governors@brinkworthearldanbys.wilts.sch.uk. 

Theresa Chapman, Co-opted Governor, Chair

Theresa joined the Governing Body in 2025 and spent most of her career in education.  After graduating, she spent 10 years as a teacher of modern languages before re-qualifying as a Chartered Certified Accountant. A few years in the small business sector was followed by roles in education finance, ending with 14 years as Director of Finance & Administration and Company Secretary at the Royal Agricultural University. She retired in 2017 and then spent 5 years as a Parish Clerk. She volunteers locally and is a Trustee and former Treasurer of the Wiltshire Federation of WIs, Publicity Officer for the Dauntsey Vale Link Scheme and the North Wilts Regional Co-ordinator and Assessor for Pets As Therapy.

---

Janine Reid-Hutchings, Co-opted Governor & Vice Chair

Janine has lived in the local area for 26 years, and one of the main reasons for settling here was Brinkworth Earl Danby’s School – both her sons attended the school. Before moving into education, she spent 20 years working in the IT industry, mainly in insurance and airline reservations, where she worked as an Analyst/Programmer and later as a Project Manager.  A few years ago, she retrained as a Teacher of ICT and Computing, and after some time in the classroom, she moved into a Teaching Assistant role, which suited her family life better. Now recently retired, she is looking for a new challenge – something that combines her experience in project work and problem-solving, while also drawing on her understanding of the pressures and realities schools face today.

Kostas Beis, Co-opted Governor

 

 

 

Bernadette Boulton, Co-opted Governor

Bernadette is an International People Director for a Fortune 500 global technology business. She has previously served across industries including legal, finance, manufacturing and sales and brings a wealth of business experience. Bernadette holds an BSC (Hons) in Systems Thinking, a Diploma in Systems Practice and Post Graduate qualification in Personnel and Development. She is a chartered member of the CIPD and a qualified Industrial Engineer. Bernadette has lived in the Brinkworth/Dauntsey area for around 25 years and her son attended Brinkworth Earl Danby's School. She currently has 2 grandchildren at the school, so she has an active interest in the school.

Lizzie Christopher, Co-opted Governor

Lizzie has lived in Dauntsey since 2012 and is proud to be part of the local community. With over 17 years’ experience as a headteacher across Swindon and Wiltshire, she brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the education sector to the governing body. Lizzie holds a degree in Music and Education and has a particular interest in the arts. She plays the piano, saxophone and clarinet, and values the important role that creativity plays in a well-rounded education. Currently leading a very large primary school, Lizzie has also worked in smaller school settings, giving her a broad perspective on the opportunities and challenges schools face. She became a governor to support the continued success of the village school and is committed to helping it go from strength to strength. In her spare time, Lizzie enjoys walking with her dog, camping, cooking and reading.

Claire Mellor-Hill, Co-opted Governor

Claire is a marketing and communications specialist at Firefly Communications Group and a hands-on artisan at Dauntsey Preserves. At Firefly, she excels in strategic communications, crafting reputation-shaping campaigns across Europe. At Dauntsey Preserves, Claire applies her passion for sustainable, small-batch food production—managing ingredient sourcing, jam-making, and local market events. Her dual roles reflect a unique blend of creative communication and a heritage-driven craft, all powered by community spirit and entrepreneurial flair.

---

Neil Baker, LA Appointed Governor

Following his retirement as a Headteacher for nearly 25 years, Neil is now working for Wiltshire Council’s School Effectiveness Team as a School Improvement Advisor. His main areas of expertise lie in school leadership, governance, strategy and school finance.

---

Leo Lester, Foundation Governor

Leo joined the Governing Body in 2024. He is an international Programme Director with a career of successfully building institutional capabilities. His experience spans multiple sectors, including energy, finance, consulting, education and government. Leo holds a PhD in evolutionary biology from the University of Reading and a Ba(Hons) from the University of Oxford, and is both a Chartered Financial Analyst and a certified Financial Risk Manager.

Jo Maitland, Foundation Governor

Jo joined the Governing Body in 2021.  An engineer by background, Jo has nearly 20 years’ experience in British Army leadership roles, and has worked in engineering, training, safeguarding and consulting in Defence. She now divides her time between consulting, life coaching and parenting. She is a Christian and attends Brinkworth church.

---

Matthew McGrady, Associate Governor

Matt joined the governing body in 2021 as a parent governor. He has one daughter in lower site and a second who will join reception in 2023. He has spent his career as a mechanical engineer in the electricity industry. Outside of work and family life he enjoys running, cycling and tinkering in the garage.

---

Rob Blacker, Parent Governor

Rob joined the Governing Body as a Parent Governor in July 2025. He has three children at the school across both sites and is also a former pupil, giving him a strong personal connection and a long-standing commitment to the school’s success.  Rob holds a BSc in Psychology and Computer Science and is a Chartered Accountant. He brings over 15 years’ experience leading UK and international finance and commercial teams. With this background, he brings to the board an analytical and strategic mindset, alongside a focus in challenging the status quo in order to drive continuous improvement, supporting the school's continued success. Outside of work, Rob enjoys family time, cooking, and tackling a variety of DIY projects.

Simon Cope, Parent Governor
Simon joined the Governing Body in 2026, having one child at the school and a second joining reception in 2026. He is passionate about supporting the school to provide the best experience for our children and provide them with the opportunity for a strong future.
Simon is a Chartered Engineer with over 15 years’ experience working in civil engineering consultancy, leading and managing design teams and projects. He will explore opportunities to champion STEM subjects, progress and attainment. He enjoys spending time with his family.

Catriona McBride, Parent Governor

As a parent with children on both sites of the school—and one due to join in 2026—Catriona has a long-term, vested interest in the continued success and sustainability of Brinkworth Earl Danby’s. Professionally, she brings over 20 years of strategic experience as a Finance Consultant within the NHS, leading transformation programmes, improving operational efficiency, and supporting system-wide change. She brings a strong analytical mindset, collaborative approach, and a commitment to high standards. Catriona is passionate about ensuring every child has access to a high-quality education and am dedicated to supporting the school’s leadership in delivering its vision and long-term goals.

Ami Powe, Parent Governor

Ami joined the governing body in September 2025 as a parent governor and is a proud parent to two children; one child who has just gone up to Upper Site and another who has just started in Reception. She has spent the last 14 years in pharmaceutical research and development, with a focus on data analysis. She is a member of the Upreach mentoring program and has a keen interest in the implementation and promotion of STEM within education. Outside of work, Ami likes to spend time walking the dogs or in the garden.

Emily Williams, Parent Governor

Emily joined the governing body in April 2026 and is a proud parent to a child who joined the Lower Site in 2025. Drawing on a professional background in governance and operations, they bring a strong understanding of policy, risk mitigation, and accountability to the role. As a former DJ, is particularly passionate about nurturing creativity within the school to ensure every child has the best start to their learning journey. Outside of work she enjoys family time and dance parties with her children.

Governor Details:

  Governor Attendance – 2025-26

Voting rights are not held by any Associate Governor.