Governor Information
If you wish to get in touch with the governors to compliment the work of the school or pass on a concern or criticism, please email the school office. If the message is confidential, please make a request for a governor to contact you including your contact details so that the governors can address you directly without needing to ask the school to provide contact details.
How our governing body is structured
Governors are organised into two committees; ‘Teaching and Learning’ and ‘Finance, Staffing and Resourses’. These two committees meet separately every term and jointly for Full Governor’s meetings. Committees with delegated responsibilities allow governors to work on key areas of school improvement in detail, developing expertise and then reporting back to the joint meeting.
Mrs Ali Ross - Chair of Governors
Authority governor – appointed by local authority
Date of appointment: September 2021
Attendance 2020/2021: 100%
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility: Safeguarding, Child Protection
SEN, Pupil Premium & LAC
I have been a parent governor since 2016 and my role has responsibility for safeguarding within school. I am passionate about the federation and have watched both my children thrive and grow in confidence since they started Bugthorpe School.
Prior to moving to the area in 2010, I was previously a Local Authority Housing Manager, managing tenancies as well as involvement with local school, social services and policing teams.
Mr Tristan Marini - Vice Chair
Authority governor – appointed by local authority
Date of appointment: March 2019
Attendance 2020/2021: 100%
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility: Church & Living Well Subject Team
Former Chair of Sutton upon Derwent Governors
I am a retired Armed Forces Officer now working for Network Rail as a Senior Quantity Surveyor & Commercial Manager.
My daughter is a pupil at Sutton and I wanted to participate in her education and contribute to the community we adopted when we moved here in 2015. My original Degree was a BSc Geography and Ecology and I am keen to promote Environmental education through the ‘Our World’ subject area across the Federation, and to help promote both Schools’ ‘Eco’ credentials. In my spare time I enjoy sailing, cycling and skiing.
Mrs Eileen Fenton
Foundation governor, appointed by the governing body.
Date of appointment: September 2021
Attendance 2020/2021: 100%
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility: Educational Visits
Communication Subject Team
I have been a school governor for the last fourteen years as Foundation Governor and currently Co-Opted Governor.
I am married with three children, all of whom have attended Bugthorpe School. I currently work with my husband and one of our sons in the family Chartered Accountancy business. Previously I worked at the Prudential Underwriting department.
I am a committee member of my local Parochial Church Council, Village Hall and Action Research. I fundraise for Marie Curie, RNIB and Cerebra.
My main interests are sport and gardening.
Mrs Kirsty Scott
Co-opted governor – appointed by governing body
Date of appointment: 17th November 2021
Attendance 2020/2021: n/a
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility:
My husband and I moved to the area in 2007. Our son and daughter are thriving at Bugthorpe School and growing in confidence as they discover their own pathways.
I am a State Registered Biomedical Scientist working in Laboratory Medicine at York Hospital. Hopefully my experience of external inspection, audit and change control will be beneficial to the board. I am passionate about science and enquiry based learning and feel privileged to have the opportunity to work with staff and parents for the benefit of the children.
I want children to be excited to come to our schools and leave bubbling with enthusiasm to learn more.
Mr Bracken Holtby
Executive Headteacher – Voting ability
Date of appointment:
Attendance 2020/2021: 100%
Mr Nathan Edwards
Parent governor – appointed by parents
Date of appointment: December 2019
Attendance 2020/21: 100%
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility: STEM Subject Team
Aside from being a Parent Governor, I work at Leeds City College as Head of SEND and Vulnerable Students. I am proud to be in a position where I can ensure the college is an inclusive place of study for all students irrespective of their personal barriers, educational attainment, and previous experiences. Since becoming a qualified teacher and later through studying a BA (Hons) in Education, I developed a strong sense that the quality and creativity of the delivery of education is a cornerstone of the success of what we hope to be achieved, no matter the age of learners involved.
To relax, I enjoy reading historical fiction which is a genre that captivates my interest and links to my pursuit of appreciating the importance learning from those that have gone before us. I enjoy the outdoors and value living in the countryside along side the local community.
Miss Rachel Earnshaw
Authority governor – appointed by local author
Date of appointment: Feb 2015
Attendance 2020/2021: 100%
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility: Child Protection & Safeguarding,
SEN, Pupil Premium & LAC
Our World Subject Team
Mrs Zoe Jones
Authority governor – appointed by local authority
Date of appointment: April 2018
Attendance 2020/2021: 100%
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility: Health & Safety
I hold the position of Teaching Assistant in Class 4 at Sutton upon Derwent school, however my background lies within engineering (I was a consultant engineer working in the water industry prior to having my third child), so I have a particular interest in the STEM aspects of the curriculum.
Dr Alex Medcalf
Authority governor – appointed by local authority
Date of appointment:
Attendance 2020/2021: n/a
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility:
I am a Lecturer in the History of Science and Medicine at the University of York’s Department of History, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. I have taught in higher education since 2010 and enjoy helping students develop as independent scholars, hone transferrable skills, and pursue their passion for the history. I believe that studying the past is important throughout life, to help us better understand ourselves and the world around us.
I enjoy sport, playing the guitar, and spending time in the wonderful countryside around York.
Mrs Julie Ashton
Staff governor – appointed by Staff
Date of appointment: 16th July 2020
Attendance 2020/2021: 83.3%
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility:
I have worked in education since I was 19 years of age, starting my career as a Nursery Nurse and progressing to being a full time teacher. Over the years of my working life I have been fortunate enough to gain a wealth of valuable experience, this I feel has helped me to be the reflective person that I am today.
My enthusiasm for becoming a teacher Governor is because as a member of staff I feel I have a good all-round understanding of our school and have a good relationship with staff, parents and students. I am passionate about being involved in the education of children in order to help the next generation. Being a Governor gives me a chance to use the skills that I have developed in my own working life to the benefit of the children and it provides a really interesting role, giving me the opportunity to be involved in the strategic decisions and future direction of the school.
I feel very privileged and proud to work with the children, staff and governors of Bugthorpe Primary school and look forward to observing our children succeed in life and personally contribute to their bright and happy futures.
Mrs Helen Harrison
Parent governor - appointed by parents.
Date of appointment: March 2020
Attendance 2020/2021: 100%
Responsibility: Our World Subject Team
I moved to the area in December 2018 with my husband and daughter.
My daughter started going to 'stay and play' at Bugthorpe just after we moved and she really loved it, so we transferred her nursery place to Bugthorpe once she was old enough.
I am currently a stay at home parent, I started my career many years ago in the Travel Industry and most recently worked in Police custody for 13 years.
Becoming a parent governor was highly recommended to me as a rewarding experience and I'm looking forward to being able to help strengthen the future of both schools.
Mrs Sarah Braun
Foundation governor, appointed by the diocese
Date of appointment: Pending
Attendance 2020/2021: n/a
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility:
Previous Governors
Mrs Susannah Baines
Co-opted governor, appointed by the governing body.
Date of appointment: Oct 2010 until June 2021
Attendance 2019/2020: 88.9%
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility: EYFS & Phonics
Mrs Gill Wright
Co-opted governor – appointed by the governing body
Date of appointment: March 2014 unitl June 2021
Attendance 2019/2020: 100%
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility: Educational Visits coordinator
Communication Subject Team
Mrs Anna Hastie - Vice Chair
Parent governor – appointed by parents
Date of appointment: April 2016 until 2020
Attendance 2019/2020: 83%
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility: SEND and Pupil Premium governor
Mrs Debbie Braithwaite-Hall
Foundation governor – appointed by the Church authorities.
Date of appointment: Jan 2015 to August 2020
Attendance 2019/2020: 83%
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility: Religious Education & Sport