Date Appointed 2012

Appointed by the Diocese of York

After working as an Intensive Care Sick Children’s Nurse for 11 years, I then went on to complete 2 degrees in Midwifery and Health Visiting in 1999 and 2001 and practiced as a Health Visitor for 9 years, before giving up work to look after my children in 2009. I have recently carried out a Return to Nursing Practice course at Bradford University and I now work as a Practice Nurse in a local GP Surgery.  I joined the Governing Body in 2012.

As Chair of Governors at St Peters School Brafferton, I work in close partnership with the Headteacher, to promote and improve high standards of educational achievement. I also lead a highly motivated team of governors, who are strongly committed to the school. I facilitate the Governing Body to work effectively, within a corporate culture to have a clear vision, ethos and strategic direction, in order to drive school improvement.

Another one of my roles as Chair of Governors, along with the team, is to ensure financial credibility of the school and to play a pivotal role, along side the Headteacher in supporting, monitoring and evaluating pupil progress and the overall performance of the school. Our shared aim at St Peter’s is to ensure that every child at our school receives the best possible education.

I feel passionately about our fantastic village school and I am very proud of our achievements and values and most of all, of our children. I feel honoured to be part of such a motivated and committed team of governors and teachers here at St Peters and I look forward to continuing with the excellent progress made in recent years to make this a truly outstanding school!
Contact details: cofg@st-peters-brafferton.n-yorks.sch.uk

In my teaching career I have worked across both small schools and a 2-form entry large town school, but my heart lies in small schools, where you can work with families and nurture children to grow and thrive. My journey at St Peter’s Brafferton started in September 2014 as Year 5/6 Teacher, then Senior Teacher and more recently as Headteacher (2020).

I love the diversity of my role from teaching across the ages, and getting to know each and every child. My specialisms are in maths, French and mental health support, recently qualifying as the Senior Mental Health Lead in school.

My work with the governors ensures the school has a clear strategic direction; we want to deliver the best possible outcomes for all the children.

As a staff team, we work hard and strive for the very best at St Peter’s Brafferton so that every child succeeds. We embody the Christian ethos in school life and we really are ‘small school, big heart’.

Date Appointed 2020

Nominated by the staff, appointed by the Governing Body

I joined St Peter’s School as the Class 2 teacher in September 2019 and love it here! I was offered the opportunity to join the Governing body in 2020 and I jumped at the chance to become more involved at a strategic level in this wonderful, inclusive, family & community orientated school.

My teaching career has been varied, I qualified as a teacher in 1993 and left North Yorkshire to pursue my first teaching role in a small, church school in Lincolnshire. Since then, I have worked across all Year groups in the primary age range, choosing to work in small schools and developing my skills across mixed aged teaching.

Here at St. Peter’s I am the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator, Writing and PE Lead. I relish the challenge that these roles provide me and thoroughly enjoy helping our children fulfil their potential, preparing them for secondary school and beyond.

Date Appointed 2023

Nominated by the parents, appointed by the Governing Body

I have lived in Helperby since 2012 and now have two lively sons who are both at St Peter’s, one currently in year 2 and the other has just started at Helperbees.

I have worked in health care for over 15 years and have a varied experience of both the NHS and the private sector. I currently work as an Osteopath with a specialist interest in persistent pain management and have previously worked as an Occupational Therapist. Throughout my career, I have had experience of working with young people and adults with both mental and physical illness and fully understand how much physical and emotional health can impact on life and learning. I feel that this has been heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic and have seen how this has affected both children and their families in many individual ways.

I feel passionately about equality and that every child deserves a comprehensive, balanced, and individualised education with emotional wellbeing at the heart. St Peter’s is an inclusive, caring and nurturing school and my role as the link governor for special educational needs (SEN) will allow me to support the school in providing the best education possible for every pupil.

Date Appointed 2022

Nominated by the Local Authority, appointed by the Governing Body

I joined the Governing Body in 2022 and it is my absolute privilege to support the leadership team in further developing our fantastic village school.

I live in the village of Helperby with my wife and daughter and my 2 dogs. My daughter attends St Peters and this made me realise just how fantastic this school is! her attendance at the school, also made me want to volunteer my services to help make our outstanding school even better. I bring with me a wealth of experience in strategic planning and risk assessing and this has enabled me to competently take on the role of Health and Safety Governor, along with my passion to ensure keep children safe at the school. I know I join a highly motivated team of governors and I am looking forward to making a real difference to the staff and children of the school.

Date of Appointment 2014

Appointed by the Diocese of York

I moved to Helperby in the summer of 2013 with my husband Miles after several years working together in Antarctica.  Keen to contribute to the community and use my experience as a maths teacher, I became a school governor a year later.  We have 2 young children, both of whom attend St Peter’s and I am working as a maths teacher at King James’ school in Knaresborough. I also work privately, tutoring children who require extra maths support up to GCSE level.  I have recently been elected as co-vice-chair of the governing body and as part of this I am working closely with the chair and the head teacher to ensure our key leadership objectives are being met. I am also the link governor for Maths and am working with staff to develop the maths action plan and raise standards in maths throughout the school.  St Peter’s is a wonderful, warm and inclusive school and I feel so lucky to be able to contribute to its continuing success.

Date Appointed 2015

Appointed by the diocese of York

I have lived in Helperby all my life and am very pleased to be on the School Governors.

I studied Biology at Bristol University. I then did a Short Service Commission in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. I now work on the family farm, which is based in the village. I also have an interest in renewable energy; I sell anaerobic digestion plants for a German company in the UK. I enjoy playing cricket for Helperby. My other interests are rugby, skiing and farmland wildlife.

Appointed September 2017

Appointed by the Diocese of York

I have lived in Helperby for 12 years now and have been an active member of the community including being past Treasurer of the village hall and enjoy playing cricket for the village in the summer! I’m a qualified accountant as well as having a real interest in rural affairs.

I’m married to Charlotte and we have two boys who are both attending St. Peter’s, so I’m very happy to be joining the school of Governors to help make a positive contribution. It’s been a period of recent change at school but I believe that presents lots of new opportunities and positivity. I’m very passionate about the value and role of the school in the community.

I will be the Science link governor and I’m looking forward to supporting the staff to ensure science continues to be an interactive and exciting subject!

Appointed November 2020

Appointed by the Diocese of York

I moved to Helperby in 2016 with my wife Liz after studying for a masters in mathematics in Manchester, followed by a brief time working in finance before undertaking my teacher training in York. I currently teach mathematics at Queen Ethelburga’s and hope my experience in education settings can add value to my role as a school governor.  

My interests include watching, playing and coaching in a number of sports, notably cricket for which I play in the local Helperby team and American football where I am a season ticket holder for the London games. As part of my involvement in the cricket club I also support with the village junior cricket coaching programme, and have been the team secretary since the start of the 2019 season.

I have a keen interest in the development of the social education of young people as well as their academic endeavours and I look forward to supporting St Peter’s with it’s continuing achievements.

Date of appointment 2015

Nominated and appointed by the Governing Body

I have been a governor at St Peter’s for 9 years and have enjoyed playing an active role in school governance during that time, initially as a Parent Governor and subsequently as an Associate Governor. I am passionate about the school and the valuable role it plays in educating children here in our small rural community. Both of my own children attended the school and benefitted hugely from the quality of education they received here and the nurturing ethos it provided. As an Associate Governor, I am committed to supporting the school and its staff team to continue to deliver the high quality of education that characterises St Peter’s Brafferton and through my role as a ‘critical friend’ to ensure constructive dialogue, effective monitoring and accountability underpins all that we do as a governing body.

Date Appointed 2023

Appointed by the Diocese of York

I wear many hats, I’m most proud to be the CEO and Co-founder of a vibrant youth media production company, The Reporters’ Academy. My career has been a whirlwind of exciting adventures and memorable projects, collaborating with amazing people from all corners of the globe. My true passion lies in amplifying youth voices, and one of my proudest moments was paving the way for young people to be accredited as journalists for the London Olympic Games.

When I’m not busy with work, I’m active in our community. My daughter and I are the current guardians of the village playgroup (Tuesday mornings 10am Helperby Village Hall), I’m also a trustee for the Brafferton & Helperby Fund and proud to have helped establish a village choir.

Being a mother of two keeps me on my toes, my husband and I have a gorgeous garden which we all enjoy tinkering in, I swim as often as possible, am faith filled and chuffed to have the opportunity to support St. Peter’s Brafferton Primary school.