Governors

Welcome to Blagdon Primary School Governors

Members of the Local Governing Body are drawn from parents, school staff, and the community. They oversee the management and leadership of the school.

Our meetings for 2024 - 25 will take place on :

1st October 2024, 4th December 2024, 12th February 2024, 25th March 2025, 20th May 2025, 8th July 2025

Please follow the link to see our Governors' Newsletters.

Who are our Governors?

Mr Chris Mills

Co-opted Governor

Chris is a parent to two children at Blagdon Primary School and has been a governor since 2017.

"I lived in Blagdon for 15 years and I now live in the neighbouring village of Rickford. I joined the Governors following the initiation of discussions to join a Multi-Academy Trust, given my background and experience in Mergers & Acquisitions. I qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte and I have worked both in practice and latterly for a global financial services business responsible for strategy and corporate development. I am a firm believer in joining an academy trust, due to the administrative help and depth of educational support it can provide to a thriving but small village school. I am also Chairman of Bristol Cricket Club and been on the executive committee for over 15 years".

Co-opted Governor: 16 March 2021 – 15 March 2025
Business & Pecuniary Interests: parent of children at Blagdon Primary School
2020/21 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2021/22 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2022/23 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2023/24 Meeting Attendance:

Mr Eamonn McGivern

Co-opted Governor

Co-opted Governor: 1st October 2024 - 2027

Mrs Jenny Campbell

Headteacher Governor

Jenny is a parent to two children who were both at school within the Trust and has been a governor since becoming Headteacher in 2019.

"I have been a teacher and senior leader within North Somerset for a number of years. While at St Martin's Primary School in Worle, I was part of the team that both achieved a conversion from a Junior School to a Primary School, a significant improvement in standards and attainment by pupils and the transformation into a MAT through collaboration with other local schools. Since being Head at Blagdon, I have developed our strong staff team to achieve a strong 'good' OFSTED outcome from a challenging start point and re-established a school that the community is proud of. I am passionate about giving children the opportunities they deserve and am committed to staff development. I am currently leading as Executive Head and supporting Northleaze Primary School whilst at a point of structural change".

Headteacher Governor: 1 September 2019
Business & Pecuniary Interests: Executive Headteacher of Blagdon Primary School and Northleaze Church of England Primary School.
2020/21 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2021/22 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2022/23 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2023/24 Meeting Attendance: 100%

Mr Tom Herbert

Co-opted Governor & Link Safeguarding Governor

Tom is a parent to two children at Blagdon Primary School and has been a governor since 2021.

"My specific governor responsibilities are as statutory Link Governor for Safeguarding and Prevent and Attendance".

Co-opted Governor: November 2021
Business & Pecuniary Interests: parent of children at Blagdon Primary School
2021/22 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2022/23 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2023/24 Meeting Attendance: 100%

Miss Beth Brown

Teacher Governor

Beth is the Sycamore Class teacher at Blagdon Primary School and has been a governor since 2024.

"I have been a teacher for five years and worked in a primary school in Somerset prior to moving to Blagdon Primary School. I am proud to have been part of the school's journey to a strong good outcome over the last 4 years. I am the History and Geography lead for the Lighthouse Schools Partnership Trust and enjoy sharing my passion for these subjects to inspire and lead others. As staff governor, I will support our school in creating the best for our children".

Teacher Governor: 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2027
Business & Pecuniary Interests: Teacher at Blagdon Primary School.
2023/24 Meeting Attendance: 100%

Mr Patrick Keating

Co-opted Governor & Vice-Chair of Governors

Patrick is a co-opted governor and has been a governor since 2018.

"I live in Blagdon with my wife, Lindsay, and two dogs, Monty and Junior. I am Head of Government Affairs at Honda Europe, and will be looking to use my planning, organisational and communications skills to support the work of the Governing Body. I am a local councillor".

Co-opted Governor: 8 May 2022 – 8 May 2026
Business & Pecuniary Interests: parent of children who were at Blagdon Primary School, local councillor
2020/21 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2021/22 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2022/23 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2023/24 Meeting Attendance: 50%

Mrs Carol Marsh

Co-opted Governor

Carol is a co-opted governor and has been a governor since 2017.

"I am a retired primary school teacher and taught in South Gloucestershire and Bristol before working in North Somerset where I taught at a large primary school and was the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO). Blagdon Primary School is a vital part of our community to which I aim to make a contribution, working with the staff and fellow governors to help maximise the potential of the school for the benefit of all children. I would like the school to be a safe, happy and healthy environment for stimulating and challenging learning. I am the link governor for Pupil Premium and SEND".

Co-opted Governor: 1 September 2021 – 31 August 2025
Business & Pecuniary Interests: none
2020/21 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2021/22 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2022/23 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2023/24 Meeting Attendance: 83%

Mr Mark Phillips

Parent Governor & Chair Of Governors

Mark is a parent to one child at Blagdon Primary School and has been a governor since 2019.

"I live with my family in a nearby village and, despite other schools being closer, we chose to send our son to Blagdon as we felt that it provided the best environment for him to begin his educational journey. I am a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience in practice and industry and I currently work at the Belmont Estate, where I am responsible for finance and infrastructure. As a governor I will look to use this experience to help wherever possible".

Parent Governor: 11 February 2019 – 10 February 2023
Business & Pecuniary Interests: parent of a child at Blagdon Primary School
2020/21 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2021/22 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2022/23 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2023/24 Meeting Attendance: 100%

Mr Michael Follett

Co-opted Governor

Co-opted Governor:
Business & Pecuniary Interests: OPAL Director
2022/23 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2023/24 Meeting Attendance: 66%

Historic Governors (left within the last 12 months):

Annie Harcourt-Brown, Parent Governor - From 2nd September 2021 to 1st September 2024

Kerrie Burnell, Staff governor - From 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2023

Norma Sanders, Co-opted - From 2nd February 2020 to 27th August 2023

If you're interested in becoming a governor, please read the information below about the role (and ineligibility), and arrange to speak with Mr Mark Phillips (Chair of Governors) by emailing mark.phillips@blagdonprimaryschool.com

The role of a Governor

What does a Governor do?

Governor ineligibility

Governors are appointed for a four-year term of office. In appropriate circumstances, they may serve a subsequent term.

Our Governors attend training sessions and seminars to help keep up to date with changes in schools and education and to enable them to do a fantastic job. They also regularly come into school to meet the Headteacher, members of staff and the pupils. This helps them find out how the school is progressing towards it targets.

At Blagdon Primary School, all Governance duties are carried out in close collaboration with the Headteacher and staff. It is often said that Governors should aim to act as a “critical friend” to the Headteacher. Every decision made is done so with the best interests of pupils, staff and parents very much in mind.

If you need to contact the Chair of Governors, Mr Mark Phillips, correspondence can be sent to mark.phillips@blagdonprimaryschool.com .

Our Trust

We are part of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership Multi-Academy Trust.

Please see the Scheme of Delegation for information on what responsibilities lie directly with the Trust and those that are delegated to our Local Governing Body.

To access the following documents please use this link to view: