THE BISHOP’S COFE PRIMARY ACADEMY

LOCAL GOVERNING BODY

Statutory Panels – Membership from DNEAT academies when required.

Kate Clements- Chair of Governors 

I have been a co-opted governor at a small village primary school in Suffolk since 2012. More importantly I am a mum of three girls aged 12, 11 and 9, who bring a great deal of fun into my life along with some challenges as they develop and grow.
I also work part time as a Finance Director supporting our business which my husband set up back in January 1997. I previously worked as a full time Finance manager for a large manufacturing company where I learnt a great deal about communication and managing people. I am now also extremely lucky to be able to volunteer some of my spare time in supporting children at the local village school.

Whilst being a school governor, I have learnt to appreciate the pressures in education whilst staff endeavour to nurture every individual child’s needs and aspirations.

Thetford is a town that has supported my family and my grandparents who used to live here back in the 1970’s/80’s and I have made some very special friends. I hope I will be able to give back to Bishops my experience, enthusiasm and positivity for meeting the challenges that the school will face moving forwards.

Claire Vittles- Parent Governor 

Hello. I’m a mum to 4 very happy children. I’ve seen my eldest flourish at Bishops from nursery through to year 6 and then go on to Thurston Community College.  I currently have 2 children who attend Bishops C of E  Primary Academy and the 4^th who is already on the application list to start when she's 3.  I have a very keen interest in the school environment  and the education my children receive.

Along with looking after my family, I work part time for Tesco on the night  team 2 nights a week. I also tend to my allotment where I have won a couple of awards for the quality of my plot. I love for my children to understand where food comes from the work that goes in to producing things for us to eat. This year alone we have been onion, green bean and courgette sufficient .  In my spare time, I sew crafts from my kitchen table. I love making bunting and sensory luvies.

Some of my best qualities are that I have a great can-do attitude. I have seen the school develop over the last 8 years and go from strength to strength.

I’m looking forward to my new role as a parent governor.  I have seen the change over to the new Academy trust as a positive thing and would love to help you have a parents input on current  and future changes within the school environment.

Martha Evans- Parent Governor

My name is Martha Evans and I am one of your new parent governors. I have a son who is in year one at Bishops. Many of you will know me from Tesco where I have worked for 26 years. I love to cook and grow herbs and am always looking for new recipes for my family to try.

Kalle Boyle- Staff Governor

I have had the pleasure of working at The Bishop's Academy for almost two years now, teaching in year 6 and leading mathematics across the school. I previously worked in Essex and was the Geography and History Lead at my last school. Becoming a member of the governing body has added a new dimension to my role at Bishop’s and created further opportunities for me to make a difference. I enjoy and thrive on the challenge that comes with every aspect of school life and am passionate about high quality education and each and every child reaching their full potential. Nothing but the best is good enough.

Henry Armes- Associate Governor

I joined the Bishops Primary family in July 2016 as Business Manager with a passion to help improve the learning provision for children in Thetford. Having lived in Thetford all my life, and now raising my own family in the town, I am keen to continue to grow the link between our school and our local community.

Outside of school, I have a keen interest in sport and music and will take any opportunity to escape to the coast with my wife and 2 children. 

I believe my local knowledge, along with my varied working background from banking to building sites, will be an asset to our governing body.

Annie Williams- RSE Governor

As well as a newly appointed Governor at Bishops school, I am also a trained reader helper and work as a volunteer for Coram beanstalk. My husband and I share reading sessions with three children, we each come in once a week and spend half an hour reading with each child. It’s a hugely rewarding role and we both gain great satisfaction from seeing the progress of the children, not only in helping to support their reading skills but also seeing their confidence grow and the enjoyment they gain from our reading sessions.  

Rev Tony Heywood

I have been a vicar in the Thetford Team Ministry since July 2011. The focus of my job has been the Abbey Estate and from the start of my time here, I have really enjoyed taking assemblies at Bishop's School, visiting classes to talk about various RE topics and hosting school tours of St Cuthbert's church building. In 2013 we set up Grace Church that has met at the school on Sundays and in 2017 we started a Toddler Group. I was a governor from 2013-2016 and am excited to be taking on this role again. I'm married to Helen and we have two children at primary school. I love all sport, try to keep vaguely fit and my interests include: history, literature, polar exploration and the novels of Patrick O'Brian.

Gillian Holland-

I have recently retired from the University of East Anglia where I was the Course Director for the Primary PGCE course which focusses on training people who want to teach.  I have taught throughout the whole primary age range although most of my teaching experience is with EYFS and Key Stage 1.  I believe that all children should be supported to achieve their full potential which means that positive experiences of education at nursery through to the end of primary school are essential.