Our Governors
The Governors at St Michael’s, together with the staff team, are responsible for ensuring that the school delivers the best educational and learning environment possible.
We bring experience from a variety of business, professional and community backgrounds with many of us either currently or previously having our children in the school.
Our role has four main parts:
To ensure the clarity of the school’s vision, ethos and strategic direction
To hold the school leadership to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, as well as effective and efficient performance management of staff
To oversee the financial performance of the school and ensuring its money is well spent
To consult with all stakeholders (staff, parents/carers, pupils/students and the wider community) about the vision, plans, progress and the impact of changes
We currently have 19 serving governors:
1 Authority Governor appointed by Wiltshire Council
2 Staff Governors elected by the staff
9 Foundation Governors elected by the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education in association with the Parochial Church Council
2 Parent Governors elected by Parents of Pupils
1 Ex Offico Governor elected by the Diocese
1 Co-opted Governor appointed by The Governing Body
In addition, there are also 3 Associate Members appointed by The Governing Body.
Our Strategic Aims:
- Maintain the culture of the school, where the staff are committed to driving up standards whilst supporting the development of the ‘whole child’, ensuring every pupil achieves their potential.
- Continue to develop the school’s innovative and research-based practices to support school improvement and wider collaboration
- Further develop the effectiveness of our Christian vision in enabling pupils and adults to flourish so that they have a lifetime love for learning
The Full Governing Body (FGB) meet 5 times a year, with meetings being set at the start of the academic year.
For further information on attendances at meetings, business and pecuniary interests and more information on our work please see links below.
Minutes of the meetings are available on request.
Please note that Associate Governors do not have voting rights.
If you have any queries or would like to know more about being a governor at St Michael’s, in the first instance, please email the clerk to the governors, Sandy Martin:
smartin@stmichaelsaldbourne.co.uk
Our Acting Chair of Governors, Scott Room, can be contacted via the school office on 01672 540434 or at the below address:
C/O St Michael’s C of E VA Primary School
Back Lane,
Aldbourne,
Marlborough,
Wiltshire,
SN8 2BP
Recent letters from our Governors
| Governor | Bio | Type of Governor | Appointed / Elected by: | Term of Office | Committee | Business / Other interests | FGB Attendance 2022-2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judith Arkwright | I am proud to be the Headteacher of St Michael’s school as it is such a happy place to learn, work and play. I was a teacher at St Michael’s before becoming the headteacher in April 2013. | Staff | Local Authority | 8.4.17- 7.4.25 | Finance, Premises & Infrastructure, Curriculum Monitoring | Headteacher | 15.9.22 6.12.22 23.3.23 15.6.23 |
| Scott Room (Chair) | Scott became a governor in 2022 with both his son and daughter attending St Michael’s. Scott has lived in Hungerford for over a decade and works at Nationwide in Swindon in Digital and Marketing. Scott’s wife Kate is an English teacher at St John’s in Marlborough. He’s looking forward to working with the fantastic teaching staff and other governors to ensure St Michael’s continues to be a top primary school in the UK. | Parent Governor | Parents | 17.11.22-16.11.26 | Chair Finance, Whistle Blowing Online Monitoring & Reporting, Curriculum Monitoring | Wife teacher at St John's, Marlborough Employed by BT Group | 6.12.22 23.3.23 15.6.23 |
| Emily Best | Emily became a Foundation Governor in 2020 and has 3 children at the school. She has a passion for sharing her love for wildlife; teaching at Action for the River Kennet and running Aldbourne Wildlife. As a governor Emily sits on the Quality of Education, PE and Christian Distinctiveness committees and is often in school helping with lunchtime bible clubs and after school sports activities. | Foundation | Diocese | 27.10.20-26.10.24 | Curriculum Monitoring, Sports, Christian Distinctiveness | No conflict of interest. Husband Head of Internal Medicine & Oncology at Eastcott referrals | 15.9.22 6.12.22 15.6.23 |
| Rupert Bound | Rupert has been involved with the school since 2006. He considers it a constant privilege to be involved with such a thriving school. | Co-opted | n/a | 01.01.15-31.12.26 | Premises & Infrastructure | Director Property Company Spouse: Landscape Architect, Garden Designer who works locally | 15.9.22 23.3.22 |
| Ben Everitt | Ben joined the school as a member of the Senior Leadership Team in 2013. Now Deputy Headteacher, he leads on Maths and Design Technology in the school as well as supporting Judith with Safeguarding and the running of the school. | Associate Member | Staff | 27.09.16 – 26.11.24 | Curriculum Monitoring | Deputy Head. Wife is a class teacher (different school) | 15.9.22 6.12.22 23.3.23 15.6.23 |
| Sarah Gandolfo | Sarah worked for the original after school club “Woodleys” when it first started over 20 years ago, at the same time as working as a childminder in the village. She then became a TA at St Michael’s in 2012 and is now an HLTA. Sarah is also the admin officer for the current “Willows” after school club. She, therefore, has a broad range of experience with both pupils and parents. | Staff | Staff | 30.11.20-29.11.28 | Health and Safety | Teaching Assistant | 23.3.23 15.6.23 |
| Alex Lambert (Vice Chair) | Alex has been a Parent Governor since 2017. She is currently the Safeguarding governor and maintains a link between the Governors and the PTA. She is heavily involved in fundraising for the school. She has 2 daughters, Amelie and Flo who have loved / are loving their time at St Michael’s and is a self-employed physiotherapist working in the village. | Parent | Parents | 26.01.18 – 25.01.26 | Vice Chair Curriculum Monitoring, Safeguarding | Physiotherapist, Secretary PTA, Husband teacher and chair of Aldbourne Youth Council (AYC) | 15.9.22 6.12.22 23.3.23 15.6.23 |
| Victoria Parmiter | Victoria has been involved with the school for many years – both her daughters attended St Michael’s, she was Chair of the then PSA, as a governor was Chair of Staffing and is now an Associate Member. She has recently retired though is still more than happy help out when asked – the school is very hard to leave. | Associate Member | Governing Body | 4.3.17 – 3.3.25 | Curriculum Monitoring, Website Compliance | Husband Freelance Photographer | 6.12.22 23.3.23 |
| Marguerite Seaward | Marguerite has been a Foundation Governor since 2016. She was formerly a tutor at Newbury College. She monitors the RE for St Michael’s School and has a great interest in Open the Book and children’s worship. She currently sits on the staffing committee. | Foundation | Diocese | 13.7.16 – 12.7.28 | Staffing & Christian Distinctiveness | Receptionist, Husband a director | 15.9.22 6.12.22 23.3.23 |
| Eleanor Williamson | Eleanor became a Foundation Governor in 2018 and joined the Communications Committee. She grew up in the village and attended St Michael’s. She has a child at the School and enjoys volunteering. Eleanor runs Carbon Neutral Aldbourne and enjoys working with the School Council to identify ways to lower the school's environmental impact. Eleanor has a background in marketing and works for a local fitness business. | Foundation | Diocese | 21.12.18 – 20.12.26 | Premises & Infrastructure, Christian Distinctiveness, Communications | Member of LCC and PCC & Carbo Neutral Aldbourne. Husband works for Malone Roofing | 15.9.22 6.12.22 23.3.23 15.6.23 |
| Sandy Martin | I have been Clerk to the Governors for over 20 years. During that time, I have served several different head teachers and chairs of governors. | Clerk to the Governors | N/A | 5.5.11 – N/A | Clerk | Administrator of St Michael’s Church, Husband Trustee AYC. Member of Swindon IET | 15.9.22 23.3.23 15.6.23 |
| Brenda Robinson | Brenda became a school governor in September 2023. Brenda has lived in Aldbourne since 1995 and has been a member of St Michael’s Church since living in the village. Currently Brenda is a member of the diocese and deanery synods in the Salisbury diocese. | Ex Officio | Diocese | 1.9.2023-31.8.27 | Christian Distinctiveness | Solicitor specialising in family law | |
| Alison Whalley | Alison became a school governor in 2023 and comes with a wealth of experience in property and planning. Alison lives and works in Aldbourne with her husband and two sons who both went through St Michael's and now attend secondary school. | Foundation | Diocese | 18.1.23-17.1.27 | Premises & Infrastructure, Christian Distinctiveness | No conflict of interest | 23.3.23 |
| Laura Reesby (Vice Chair) | Laura became a Foundation Governor in 2023 when she and her husband arrived in Aldbourne from 2yrs in Zimbabwe and following 17yrs in the British Army. Their three children, Raffa, Indiana and Jasmine were swiftly enveloped by the school - and every day since has been 'their best day at school'. | Foundation | Diocese | 15.3.24-14.3.28 | Staffing, Christian Distinctiveness | No conflict of interest | |
| Liz Osbourne | Liz has lived in Aldbourne for over 30 years and was previously a governor at St Michael's School when her children were there. Now with school age grandchildren she has been impressed by the changes in the school and is keen to support the staff as a Foundation Governor. As a member of the Methodist Church, Liz has been actively involved in Aldbourne Churches Together and looks forward to supporting the strong Christian ethos of the school. Previous work experience includes managing a local homeless centre, working with vulnerable adults. | Foundation | Diocese | 20.2.24-19.2.28 | Curriculum Monitoring, SEN & Disadvantaged Children, Christian Distinctiveness | No conflict of interest | |
| Sue Rodd | Sue has lived in the village since 2003, and started the “Sparklers” toddler group at St Michael’s church in 2007. Her involvement with the school started when she joined the clergy team of the Whitton Parish after being ordained in 2010 (although she is now – theoretically – retired!). She introduced “Open the Book” (now “Share the Story”) in the parish. She and Mike have two children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild! In a previous life, she was a teacher of Maths & English, and then Technical Editor & Administrator of several academic distance-learning courses and journals. | Foundation | Diocese | 16.3.24-15.3.28 | Christian Distinctiveness | No conflict of interest | |
| Alex Ford | Alex has two boys - eldest goes to School at St Michael and is married to Becky Ford who teaches part-time in school. They run a diversified arable farm just outside the village. Alex studied agriculture at the Royal Agricultural College and then trained as an accountant. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 2010 and has worked in practice for a local firm and then later for several larger agricultural farms before returning home to work in partnership with his father. Alex enjoys all sports and play hockey for Marlborough hockey club. | Local Authority | Governing Body | 21.5.24-20.5.28 | Finance | Married to Becky Ford, part time teacher at St Michael's | |
| Katie McHugh | Katie McHugh is an education professional who produces learning materials for a charity called Ambition Institute. The charity train teachers and school leaders across England, from those without any qualifications in teaching all the way to executive leaders. Prior to her current role, Katie was a secondary school English teacher and, before that, a documentary maker for the BBC. Katie currently has three children at St Michael's and is delighted to be a foundation governor. She shares the school's vision for excellence in both academic success and the development of the whole child and embraces the school's Christian ethos as a place of love, respect and honesty. | Foundation | Diocese | 17.9.24-16.9.28 | Curriculum Monitoring, EYFS, Christian Distinctiveness | ||
| PREVIOUS GOVERNORS | |||||||
| Patrick Zebedee | Patrick has been a Parent Governor since 2014, and chairs the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee. He lives in Aldbourne and has two children at the school. Patrick was formerly a secondary Maths teacher, and now works in the Electronics industry as a Project Manager. | Associate Member | Governing Body | 17.11.18- 16.11.26 | Monitoring & Evaluation Committee lead and Maths Monitoring, DP Officer | No conflict of interest | 15.9.22 6.12.22 23.3.23 15.6.23 |
| Liz Morris | Liz has been a governor for 8 years and was on the PSA for 3 years before that. She is very proud to be a part of our outstanding school. | Foundation | Diocese | 15.5.18- 14.5.22 | Finance and Premises & Staffing Committee & School Effectiveness, Pay Panel, Performance Management | Art Teacher Pinewood School. Husband IT programmer | 15.9.22 |
| Nigel Payne | Nigel became an associate governor in 2019 and is now the Local Education Authority governor. He moved to Aldbourne in 2013 after retiring from a career in the food industry. He is an experienced school governor, from small primary schools to large secondary and is looking forward to supporting St Michael’s School and its wider community. | LA Governor | Local Authority | 3.10.19 – 15.5.24 | Finance and Premises Committee & School Effectiveness & Leadership, Operations and Collaboration, Pay Panel, Performance Management, Whistle Blowing, Sports Funding | Chair of Governors No conflict of interest | 15.9.22 6.12.22 23.3.23 15.6.23 |
| Liz Nestor | Liz has been a Foundation Governor since 2019. She has 2 daughters at St Michael’s School. | Foundation | Diocese | 24.2.20 – 23.2.24 | Safeguarding and EYFS Monitoring, SEN Monitoring | No conflict of interest | 15.9.22 6.12.22 |
| George Spence | George has been a Foundation Governor since 2019. He has a son and a daughter at St Michael’s School. | Foundation | Diocese | 24.2.20 – 20.12.22 | Finance and Premises Committee | No conflict of interest | 15.9.22 6.12.22 |
