Shirley Sowray
Chair of Governors and Communications Governor
Date Appointed 2012
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
Sarah Anderson
Headteacher
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’.
Sarah Atkinson
Staff Governor
Profile coming soon
Anna Blackwall
Parent Govenor ( SEND, ART & DT)
Profile coming soon
Geoff Arnott
Local Authority Governor ( H&S, Equality)
Profile coming soon
Stephen Baker
Parent Governor (Pupil Premium, Sport & PE)
Profile coming soon
Laura Wise
(Foundation Governor), Vice-chair Link Governor for Maths.
Date of Appointment 2014
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.
Tom Spilman
(Local Authority Governor), Link Governor for Pupil Premium
Date Appointed 2015
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.
Pete Hambling
Science Link Gov and Finance Focus
Appointed September 2017
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!
John Rhodes
Foundation Governor and link Governor for RE. Wellbeing Governor
Appointed September 2019
My wife, Claudine, and I moved to Raskelf in 2010 from Teesside in preparation for future retirement from our jobs as teachers. In 2015 I retired as Vice Principal of an 11-18 school in Middlesbrough having completed 39 years in teaching, the first 4 years of which were spent in Jamaica. I continued as a governor at the same school in Middlesbrough for 3 years, following my retirement, finishing in 2018. We have 2 grown up sons, both married, one living in Milan and one living in Middlesbrough.
I am involved in the Youth for Christ organisation and also sit on the board of UK-USA Ministries, an organisation which brings American young people to churches in the North East on gap year programmes. In my spare time I play walking football with Easingwold Wanderers, travel a lot with my wife and together we look after our granddaughter 2/3 days a week over on Teesside.
It was placing some Americans in St Peter’s in the summer term of 2019 that led to the opportunity of me becoming a governor. I was delighted to accept the invitation and I attended my first governors’ meeting in September. I am the link governor for Religious Education, an area where the school excels, and I look forward to being involved not only in that area but also in other aspects of school life.
Mike Dennett
Safeguarding Governor and PHSCE Link Governor
Appointed November 2020
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.