Governors

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.

 

Meet the Governors

East Somerset Federation Governors 
What we do:

Currently there are 15 members of the Governing Body, representing the Local Authority, local community, parents and staff. We are all volunteers, and we all have the same aims and ambitions for the school. We are interested in children, their education and their development. The Full Governing Body meet four times a year; with separate Education and Business and Finance committees meeting three times a year each. 

 

We recognise that there are three important core roles to our contribution at both Bruton Primary School and Upton Noble Church of England Primary School. 

 

The first is strategic. It is our responsibility to agree policies and to monitor their impact.

 

The second is to be a ‘critical friend’. It is important that we ask relevant but probing questions. We examine the performance of the children in the school, and we give praise where it is good and seek ways of making improvements when expectations are not achieved.

 

Thirdly, we must ensure accountability. For instance, if we delegate a task to a committee or working party, the terms of reference for the group must be clearly set. We must evaluate ourselves and the actions we take.

 

Introducing the members of the Governing Body:

 

Phil Butler (Chair) 

 Phil has been a Governor on the body since it first federated in April 2013. Before that Phil was a Governor for Bruton Primary School. Phil is a business leader in Bruton and took over as Chair in September 2016.

 

Victoria Christophers

I have one child at Upton Noble Primary School and began my role of Governor in September 2018.

 

Chris Colliers

Chris works at Bath Spa University where he is a lecturer in the School of Education. He is involved in teaching across the undergraduate Education Studies course and the postgraduate initial teacher education programme. Before joining the University, he taught in a primary school on the Isle of Wight and prior to that he worked as an environmental geologist. He became a governor for the East Somerset Federation when it was formed in 2013 and is a member of the Federation’s Education Committee. He hopes his experience of education, both policy and practice, is of value to the Federation.

 

Michael Gorman

 

 

Mrs Rhiannon Tidby

I am the Executive Headteacher of the East Somerset Federation

 

Mary La Trobe-Bateman

I have lived in Batcombe for 40 years and have three children who went to Upton Noble primary School; I’m impressed by the wide variety of careers they and their contemporaries have achieved. I have always valued the start to their education and am a co-opted governor so that I can help to maintain excellence in both schools.

My nine grandchildren go to three very different primary schools – an all Welsh speaking in N Wales, a rural village school in Wiltshire and a private school in central London. This gives me a chance to see how our two schools compare.

 

I now work part-time curating exhibitions, having run Contemporary Applied Arts Gallery in London after my own gallery in Batcombe.

 

Margaret Pritchard

 

Helen Gadsden (Clerk)

I started as Clerk to the Governing Body shortly after the formation of the East Somerset Federation 2013.

I'm not based at either of the schools but, as first point of contact for the governors, I can be contacted at hgadsden@eastsomersetfederation.co.uk  

 

Karen Cook 

Karen has a very busy family life, she has three daughters, the youngest is studying at Sexey's school and the elder two are continuing their journey in further education.

 

Karen lives in South Brewham and for over 10 years has played an active roll on the Village Hall Committee. Her kind and friendly attitude and experiences as a mother have all helped to organize many fantastic events in Brewham.

 

Working in Bruton Karen loves meeting people and as a Governor looks forward to both schools in the federation work together in making them great places of learning for all the children of the community.

 

Kelly Ann Hambleton

I joined the governing body in late 2017 as the staff representative. My roles include sitting on the education committee and being responsible for monitoring PE and sports premium funding. I have worked as a part-time teacher at both Bruton Primary school and Upton Noble Primary School which has offered an insight into the challenges and succeses of both schools. 

 

I am a mum to two boys who attend Upton Noble School and the Tree house nursery allowing me to see things from a parents perspective.

 

I look forward to helping the East Somerset Federation reach its goals. 

 

Jemima Newman

I became a parent governor in 2016 and I put myself forward having two children at Bruton Primary School and wanting to contribute to, and support the running of the schools.  I grew up in Bruton and attended Bruton Primary School myself (many years ago) and it still has the same great feel about it now.  

 

I sit on the education committee and am responsible for English.  Before children, I was an HR Manager and I feel this experience will be beneficial in fulfilling my role as parent governor in helping the children achieve the best school experience possible and start to their education. 

 

Melanie Bowes-Lyon ( Vice Chair of Governors)

I became a co-opted governor in September 2017 because I am a mum who very much enjoys being part of, and contributing to, the local community.  For the last 10 years I have been a secondary school mathematics teacher, working initially in central London state schools and now working at Kings’ Bruton in the mathematics department. Prior to my career in teaching I was an Engineering Officer in the Army which developed many skills that I find useful for governance.

 

I am enjoying immensely being a part of the school and federation that I hope my daughter will attend next year.  My responsibilities include sitting on the Education Committee as well as being responsible for the progress and attainment in mathematics across the Federation.

East Somerset Federation Governing Body

Meeting attendance record 2017/2018