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 Bugthorpe School and have watched both my children thrive and grow in confidence since they started their time here.
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
I have been a governor at Sutton upon Derwent school since March 2014.
I am a retired teacher, having worked in Primary, Secondary and prison education.
I decided to become a governor because I was keen to become involved in the local community. I am a volunteer in the Star reading project in the school and look forward to my Wednesday mornings with the children, I have two other volunteering jobs working with York Cats’ Protection and as a receptionist at St. Leonards Hospice.
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.
Mr Bracken Holtby
Executive Headteacher – Voting ability
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
I have been a governor since February 2015 and enjoy contributing to our school community.
I work for the TCV a national environmental charity. Based in York I am the Senior Youth and Community project officer. My role is split into supporting community groups in developing and funding their projects and working with young people and families to encourage environmental awareness and responsibility.
I have qualifications in zoology and fundraising. I love nature and run the local music group for toddlers.
Mrs Zoe Jones
Authority governor – appointed by local author
Date of appointment: April 2018
Attendance 2020/2021: 100%
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibility: Health & Safety
I have been a staff governor at Sutton upon Derwent School since 2018. I hold the position of Teaching Assistant in Class 4, 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.
In addition to being a member of staff, I am also in the rather unique position of having two of my children currently attending the school, something which I feel brings a slightly different perspective, and a more holistic approach to the role of governor.
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, firstly qualifying as a Nursery Nurse and progressing to a Newly qualified teacher. For eight years I owned a Children’s day Nursery, all of this has granted me a wealth of valuable experience which has helped me to be the person that I am today.
I have lived in a small village near Driffield for the past 16 years with my husband and I am a proud mum to two sons and a daughter. Our children have a great zest for living life to the full, something we have encouraged whilst they were growing up. Zest, along with gratitude, hope, curiosity and love, being the key to harvesting beautiful character development.
I feel very privileged and proud to work with the children at Bugthorpe Primary school and look forward to encouraging them to also have the aspiration and self-belief to succeed in life and have 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 have been a parent governor at Bugthorpe since March 2020. 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 schools future.
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