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Kirby Hill C of E Primary School

Kirby Hill C of E Primary School

Life at Kirby Hill C of E Primary School Life at Kirby Hill C of E Primary School Life at Kirby Hill C of E Primary School Life at Kirby Hill C of E Primary School Life at Kirby Hill C of E Primary School Life at Kirby Hill C of E Primary School Life at Kirby Hill C of E Primary School

Meet the Governors

  • David Orr
    Chair and Parent Governor

    David Orr

    Date of Appointment: 03rd October 2018
    Term of Office:     4 years
    Appointed by:     Parents
    Business and/or Pecuniary Interests:     None
    Governance Roles in Other Schools:     None
    Relationships between governors and members of staff:     None

    Having led a nomadic life as an Army officer for the past 20 years I am delighted that my family and I have had the opportunity to settle in Kirby Hill. My eldest daughter has attended Kirby Hill Primary since 2015 and my younger daughters started Pre-School in 2018.Â

    I recently left the Army after a thoroughly enjoyable tour as Head of Operations in the MoD's Joint Forces Cyber Group where I was responsible for weaving all aspects of cyber warfare into wider military planning. I have maintained my interest in cyber security in my first civilian job and I now manage NCC Group's global Security Operations Centre in Leeds. I have responsibility for leading a team of cyber specialists in delivering security as a managed service to customers across all sectors. Needless to say I have a passion for technology and I look forward to championing Information Technology as part of a wider science curriculum whilst serving as governor.

    Away from work I enjoy attempting to keep fit by cycling and running. This summer I cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise money for Forces charities. My wife Katy and I are lapsed skiers, but there is light at the end of the tunnel and we are looking forward to teaching our girls to navigate the slopes in the years ahead.

  • Christine Millett
    Local Authority Governor

    Christine Millett

    Date of Appointment: 7th March 2022 (second term)
    Term of Office:     4 years
    Appointed by:     Nominated by LA and appointed by GB
    Attendance Record for the 2018/19 Academic Year:
    Business and/or Pecuniary Interests:     None
    Governance Roles in Other Schools:     None
    Relationships between governors and members of staff:     None

    I currently work as an educational consultant operating across all phases of primary education.

    I lead inspections for Ofsted and have reported on over 200 primary schools and early years settings across the country. I also carry out independent reviews of educational practice in the UK and UAE as well as the auditing of safeguarding requirements, pupil premium reviews, the mentoring of PGCE students for York St John University and the external moderation of academic quality and standards on NCTL funded primary and secondary programmes for Leeds Trinity University.

    My long and varied teaching career covered all aspects of secondary, middle and primary education including middle management, senior leadership roles and ultimately headship.

    I am totally committed to school improvement and firmly believe that all children should have access to the best education possible.

  • Laura Angus
    Parent Governor

    Laura Angus

    Date of Appointment: 07th February 2018
    Term of Office:     4 years
    Appointed by:     Parents
    Business and/or Pecuniary Interests:     None
    Governance Roles in Other Schools:     None
    Relationships between governors and members of staff:     None

    I currently work as a Strategic Lead Pharmacist, for NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group, the commissioning side of the NHS, I am responsible for managing a budget of ~£50 million providing me with good financial planning, project management and contracting experience to ensure the costs of prescribing of medication remain within this budget, whilst at the same time maintaining the highest quality and safety with regards to prescribing. During my career I have worked in a wide range of roles as a Pharmacist including working in GP Practices as a practice pharmacist; community pharmacy; hospital pharmacy; and in academia as a teacher practitioner at the University of Bradford and as a regional professional training manager. I have a passion for improving outcomes and achieving positive change using audit, education and development tools. I am a big advocate for lean thinking and continuous improvement. I am mum to two boys, William, 7 and Louis, 4, both attend Kirby Hill School. I am keen to be involved in the future development of Kirby Hill School and committed to improving education for all pupils.

  • Pip Leake
    Parent Governor

    Pip Leake

    Date of Appointment: 03rd October 2018
    Term of Office:     4 years
    Appointed by:     Parents
    Business and/or Pecuniary Interests:     None
    Governance Roles in Other Schools:     n/a
    Relationships between governors and members of staff:     None

    I am a resident of Kirby Hill and currently have two children at the school.

    I attended University in Newcastle where I completed my degree and also Part One of a Diploma in Careers Guidance which was offered as part of the degree course. Following this I lived in Spain for a year before commencing a career in insurance and after undertaking industry qualifications, became an Associate of the Chartered insurance Institute (CII). I currently manage a team of Insurance Brokers dealing with a variety of Corporate and Commercial clients across a wide range of businesses and sectors including Education and Care. The role also involves dealing with Risk Management, Training and Compliance issues.

  • Margaret Wilkinson
    Foundation Governor

    Margaret Wilkinson

    Date of Appointment: 4th September 2019
    Term of Office: 4 years
    Appointed by: Nominated by Leeds Diocesan Board of Education and appointed by GB.
    Business and/or Pecuniary Interests: None
    Governance Roles in Other Schools: None
    Relationships between governors and members of staff: None

    I am a resident of Kirby Hill and a member of Kirby Hill Church, and the Mothers Union. I actively support fundraising for the Candlelighters, the Yorkshire based children's cancer charity.

    I gained my degree in Agricultural Science from Newcastle University and then worked in animal nutrition, market research and farm assurance. I have been working in recruitment for the last 15 years and now run my own recruitment business, working with a wide range of clients within the Agriculture sector. I also take a keen interest in the family farm.

    My children attended Kirby Hill School, and during that time I was a volunteer, listening to the younger children read each week, and I was on the PTA committee as Secretary and then Treasurer, and enjoyed helping with a wide range of fund raising events.

  • Sally Cowling,
    Co-Opted Governor,

    Sally Cowling,

    I am a local resident who has lived in the area for over 25 years. My four children all came through Kirby Hill School; the older two when the school was in the original building and my younger two attended the vastly improved new school building. I have a passion for education and have been involved in primary schools for nearly 30 years - as a parent, a teaching assistant, a class teacher and now a headteacher. Although during that time those running the Department for Education may change, policies may come in and out of favour and teaching methods may go full-circle, what we all want for our children hasn't fundamentally changed - children who are happy, positive, secure in the skills they will need for their future and contributors to the world they want to see.

    When I'm not in school I can be found out and about on my bike, or out walking the fantastic countryside we have on offer. Having completed the Nidderdale Way, Cleveland Way and Coast to Coast long distance footpaths, my husband and I are now on to the Pennine Journey. I have also been known to sit down with a good book occasionally too!

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  • Jennifer Clements
    Co-Opted Governor

    Jennifer Clements

    Date of Appointment: 04th October 2017
    Term of Office: 4 years
    Appointed by: Governing Body Board
    Business and/or Pecuniary Interests: None
    Governance Roles in Other Schools: None
    Relationships between governors and members of staff: None

    I joined Kirby Hill School as a class teacher in 1986, teaching all primary school ages during my career in education. Before I had my children, I was Deputy Head of a large Infants school in Tadcaster.

    During my time at Kirby Hill I had three periods as Acting Headteacher and helped with the transition into the new school building.

    I also became SENCO at the school, a sector of education which is of particular interest to me.

    I retired from Kirby Hill in 2009, but then became employed on a part-time basis by York St John University. I am now an External Mentor and Link Tutor, helping and judging students competency when they are on teaching practice, in many schools throughout North Yorkshire, and as far afield as Cambridge.

    I also interview for potential PGCE, undergraduate and School Direct students each year for York St John.

    I have also been involved with students specialist modules in their final year, where they study Children with Special Educational Needs.

  • Mark Jowett
    Foundation Governor

    Mark Jowett

    Date of Appointment: 26th October 2023
    Term of Office: 4 years
    Appointed by: Nominated by Leeds Diocesan Board of Education and appointed by GB.
    Business and/or Pecuniary Interests: None
    Governance Roles in Other Schools: None
    Relationships between governors and members of staff: None

    I am originally from Bradford in West Yorkshire, but spent 20 years living in the Cotswolds and West Midlands. I moved to Langthorpe in December 2021, to be closer to my parents and have settled quickly into the area.

    Since moving to the area, I have been a committed member of the congregation at All Saints’ Church Kirby Hill and am engaged in many different aspects of church life. I believe that strong links between the school and the church are essential, so I have willingly accepted the invitation to join the board of governors to help ensure the school children can establish a meaningful relationship with the church family.

    My background is in architecture, but now work as a technical consultant to the Offsite Construction Industry, working with architects, engineers, and manufacturers to advise them in constructing various building types within a controlled factory environment.

    Outside of work I have been on the board of a charity working with children living with HIV/AIDS in Zambia. I have also served as Chair of a charity which supports the wellbeing of the business community in Birmingham City Centre.

    In my spare time, I also enjoy watching live sport, particularly football and cricket along with listening to many types and genres of music.

    I am married with a grown up daughter, who attended a C of E village school on the outskirts of Leeds. I saw during that time the benefits of the great education and start in life that the school gave to her.

  • Alex Houghton
    Staff Governor

    Alex Houghton

    Date of Appointment: 23rd November 2023
    Term of Office: 4 years
    Appointed by: Elected by Staff
    Business and/or Pecuniary Interests: None
    Governance Roles in Other Schools: None
    Relationships between governors and members of staff: None

    I am currently a KS1 teacher at Kirby Hill School and have worked here since the onset of the first COVID lockdown. Prior to this I was a teacher at Sharow School for 18 years and at Richmond Methodist School for 3 years. During my teaching career, I have taught across all age groups and have also had two spells as acting head.

    I was a staff governor at my previous school for 12 years, and I then became a parent governor at my children's school for 6 years. I also became chair of governors for a couple of short periods and supported the school through both a successful OFSTED and SIAMS inspection. I enjoy the governor role because I like looking at the school as a whole and contributing to the quality of life and educational experiences for all children.

    I have two children of my own and a husband who is also a teacher. He teaches music across the school at Kirby Hill one day a week. My philosophy is seeing children as individuals who need love, support and encouragement through all life's challenges, developing a love of life and learning.

  • Fiona Tomlinson
    Co-Opted Governor

    Fiona Tomlinson

    Date of Appointment: 21st April 2023
    Term of Office: 4 years
    Appointed by: Governing Body Board
    Business and/or Pecuniary Interests: None
    Governance Roles in Other Schools: None
    Relationships between governors and members of staff: None

    I have lived in the local area for over 44 years. I am married with three grown-up children, three stepchildren and five grandchildren.

    Before retirement, I worked for the NHS for twelve years as the Voluntary Services Manager for Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust managing a team of over five hundred volunteers, ranging in age from sixteen to ninety, a very varied and rewarding career. Prior to this role , I was working as a Regional Fundraiser for Yorkshire for a health-based charity, liaising with primary and secondary schools throughout the county.

    When my children were younger, I was the elected Parent Governor at their Ripon Primary School . I was also the school secretary for a local, village school .

    I have also served a six-year term of office on the NYCC Adoption & Fostering Panel as an adoptive parent.

    I am passionate about Education and believe that every child deserves the chance to thrive and learn in a nurtured and caring environment.

    I am a busy hands-on grandparent. I also enjoy travelling and spending time with friends . My husband and I can be seen every day on Leeming Lane , walking our dog, Archie.