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Brinkworth Earl Danby’s CE Primary School

Brinkworth Earl Danby’s CE Primary School

Believe to Achieve! "Roots will grow down into God's love and keep us strong" EPH 3:17

Governing Body

Governing Body

The governing body is comprised of up to:-

5 parent governors
1 local authority governor
2 staff governors (including the head teacher)
6 co-opted governors
2 foundation governors

The Governing Body's ethos statement is:

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.

Jo Maitland, Foundation Governor, Chair

Jo Maitland, Foundation Governor, 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. She is a school parent, with a children at both sites.  Email: governors@brinkworthearldanbys.wilts.sch.uk

Fiona Hegarty, Co-opted Governor, Vice Chair

I joined the Governing Body in July 2022 and am the link governor for safeguarding. I am retired, but spent almost 40 years working in the NHS initially as a community nurse, but finally as the Director of Clinical Services for a social enterprise providing a range of Community Health Services. Although new to Wiltshire and Brinkworth Earl Danby’s I have several years experience as a school governor in Surrey. I am kept busy by five young grandchildren and love walking, reading and singing in a choir.

Sally Cross, Co-Opted Governor

I am the Deputy Head teacher, SENCO and currently the Year 2 teacher. I have taught all my working life in schools in Nottinghamshire, London, Gloucestershire and Singapore. I have also taught all 7 primary school year groups during this time.

I have two teenage boys who are both now taller than me. I love reading, listening to music and yoga.

Robert Jackson, Co-Opted Governor

Member of Education Development and Safeguarding Committee.

Robert Jackson has served as a Parent Governor for 4 years and he now serves as a Co-Opted Governor.  He is married with 2 children, both of which attended our School since Foundation Stage.  With an extensive background in Aviation and Information Technology, he is shortly to become a STEM Ambassador, which will assist him in his role as Science Link Governor.  He also fulfils the schools SEN and EYFS Link Governor roles.

Chris Foster, Staff Governor

In a previous life, I worked as a manager in the IT sector for 10 years before retraining to become a teacher. I have now been teaching at Brinkworth Earl Danby’s for 10 years. As well as sitting on the Health, Safety and Welfare Committee, I am the subject lead for Maths and PE.

Outside of school, I have 2 young boys who keep me busy and I enjoy playing football for a local team.

Matthew McGrady, Parent 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.

Nandi Mellor, Parent Governor

Nandi Mellor, Local Authority Governor.  Joined the Governing Body in 2021.  Has 2 children, with the youngest in Year 6.  My background is in nursing, however, over the last 15 years I have specialised in Occupational Health.

Konstantinos Beis, Parent Governor

Kostas joined the governing body in 2021. He has a daughter in year 2 and a son in year 4. Kostas has over 15 years experience in the higher education sector, including teaching biochemistry, and he is also running a research lab. In his spare time, he is an amateur astronomer and enjoying hiking and travelling.

 

Jack Watkins, Parent Governor

I’m the proud parent of a child at Lower Site and was elected as a Parent Governor at the end of 2022. I had not been involved in education at all since I completed mine, so it has been a steep learning curve, but I can honestly say I am really enjoying my time on the Governing Board. I wanted to become a Governor to support the school, to do something a bit different and to network within our local community. I hopefully make a useful contribution bringing different experiences to the Governing Board gained over a 25-year career in energy and financial services. I enjoy spending time away from my desk, perhaps walking or cycling locally, travelling abroad or keeping fit and healthy (mentally and physically). You might see me at the Upper Site bus stop on some mornings or occasionally at Lower Site picking up so please come and say hello.

Ella Morgan, Associate Governor

I became a governor in 2015 to support the school my three sons attend utilising my professional experience. My background is in buying management roles for high street retailers. More lately I have a property investment business and work as support for design and construction businesses. Family life for myself and my husband is very busy and we are generally found out and about in the fresh air with the boys or spending time with family and friends. In my spare time my nose is usually in a book or buying things I don’t need from antiques auctions.

Charlotte Sjoberg, Associate Governor 

I joined the governing body in 2021 whilst my eldest son enjoys reception class.  My second son joins Brinkworth Earl Danby’s in 2022.  I wanted to join the governing body to help support the school, to see it flourish and ensure all pupils thrive. With nearly 20 years’ experience in communications, working as a Communications Director for a global brand in sectors from lifestyle to space, I hope to bring my sound counsel, advice and creativity to the table.  When I'm not working, you’ll find me indulging in my love of musical theatre as well as pounding the local lanes as a recent graduate of #couchto5k.

Committees:

Finance, People & Premises Chair: Matthew McGrady
Education, Development & Safeguarding Chair: Nandi Mellor
Strategic Steering Group Chair: Jo Maitland
Name Start of Term End of Term Governor Type Appointed By Committees Pecuniary Interest
Joanna Maitland 24.06.21 23.06.25 Foundation Diocese Chair, FPP, EDS Nil
Alana Walch 01.09.22 31.08.30 Staff (Headteacher)   All Nil
Robert Jackson 18.03.22 19.03.26 Co-opted GB EDS Nil
Sally Cross 20.09.19 19.09.27 Co-opted GB EDS Nil
Fiona Hegarty 06.07.22 05.07.26 Co-opted GB Vice Chair  
Chris Foster 14.12.21 13.12.25 Staff GB EDS Nil
Konstantinos Beis 26.03.21 25.03.25 Parent Parents EDS Nil
Matthew McGrady 26.03.21 25.03.25 Parent Parents FPP Nil
Nandi Mellor 26.03.21 25.03.25 LA LA EDS Nil
Ella Morgan 01.09.22 31.08.26 Associate GB n/a Nil
Charlotte Sjoberg 26.03.21 25.03.25 Associate Parents n/a Nil
Jack Watkins 08.12.22 07.12.26 Parent Parents FPP Nil
Matthew Parfitt 08.12.22 07.12.26 Parent Parents FPP Nil

  Governor Attendance - 2022-2023

  14/9 5/10 11/10 16/11 8/12 18/1 9/2 8/3 23/3 26/4 23/5 28/6 24/7

Jo

Maitland

Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Ella Morgan Y n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Y n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Robert Jackson Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Alana Walch Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y
Fiona Hegarty Y Y Y N Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y
Jack Watkins n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Matt Parfitt n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Y N Y Y Y Y N Y
Sally Cross Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Chris Foster Y N N N N N N N N N N N N
Andrew Willy N N N N N n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Anne-Marie Tuck Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Nandi Mellor Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y N
Konstas Beis Y N N Y Y Y Y Y Y N N Y Y
Charlotte Sjoberg n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Matthew McGrady Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y
Trish Blacker n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a N Y Y Y N Y Y Y

At present, voting rights are not held by any Associate Governor.