Our Governors

Tom Butcher

Co-Chair

tbutcher@ladysmithfederation.net

Business Interests: None
Term: 18/05/20 - 17/05/24
Appointment: Co-opted by Governing Body
FGB Attendance 2022/23: 7/7
I work at the Met Office where I am Head of the Industry Consultancy Team and work with customers to understand and solve problems related to the weather and climate change. I have previously worked in a variety of management and leadership roles for the Met Office in the UK, Australia and elsewhere around the world. I will seek to apply the experience gained through my work as a Ladysmith governor. I have a daughter at the Junior School.

Greg Hawkins

Vice Chair, Lead Safeguarding Governor

ghawkins@ladysmithfederation.net

Business Interests: None
Term: 21/9/22 - 21/9/27
Appointment: Co-opted by Governing Body
FGB Attendance 2022/23: 5/7
I have worked in Education since graduating in 2014 - and am currently teaching Science at South Devon College. Within the College I have a role as a Quality Coordinator - this involves managing performance and data to ensure that teaching and learning is consistently outstanding. I hope this experience can be useful in helping the school to continue to progress and improve.

Karen Bates

Lead GDPR Governor

kbates@ladysmithfederation.net

Business interests: Partner Foot Anstey LLP
Term: 02/10/18 – 01/10/22
Appointment: Co-opted by Governing Body
FGB Attendance 2022/23: 6/7
About: I am a Partner and management board member at Foot Anstey solicitors, specialising in employment and education law. As part of my role at work I frequently work with a wide variety of Schools and Colleges on personnel and structural issues and I am happy to lead on this area for the governors, alongside providing more general input into the strategy, direction and resourcing of the school. I have two children at Ladysmith.

Kate DeBurgh

Deputy Safeguarding Governor

KDeBurgh@ladysmithfederation.net

Business Interests: None
Term: 18/10/22 - 18/10/26
Appointment: Parent Governor
FGB Attendance 2022/23: 5/7
I am a consultant clinical scientist and governance lead in the NHS with a focus on radiation safety. I began my career in environmental protection and sustainability in the energy sector in 2021. Our child started at Ladysmith in 2021 and becoming a part of the Ladysmith community has been fantastic. I enjoy assisting at the impressive CPTT and school events and am extremely appreciative of the time given and the care taken by the staff team to educate and engage our children. I hope to contribute to the school with my experience in quality assurance, legislative compliance and sustainable development.

Justine Brooker

Lead Curriculum Governor

jbrooker@ladysmithfederation.net

Business Interests: None
Term: 18/10/22 - 18/10/26
Appointment: Co-opted by Governing Body
FGB Attendance 2022/23: 7/7
I have been a secondary school teacher for the last 11 years, teaching History across all key stages at a highly selective grammar school. This has given me a great insight into the demands of education. I am now a parent to two young boys, one in nursery and the other in reception. I hope this perspective will help me to ensure the school is providing the best environment for our children.

Mrs Sophie Blinstrub

Business Interests: None
Term: 19/3/24 - 19/3/28
Appointment: Co-opted Governor
FGB Attendance 2024/25:

Mr Greg Bagwell

Business Interests: None
Term: 19/3/24 - 19/3/28
Appointment: Co-opted Governor
FGB Attendance 2024/25:

Mr Omar Jamil

Business Interests: None
Term: 19/3/24 - 19/3/28
Appointment: Parent Governor
FGB Attendance 2024/25:

Also serving on the board of governors in 2022/23 were:
 
Richard Goodchild
Business Interests: None
Term: 18/10/22 - 18/10/26
Appointment: Parent Governor
FGB Attendance 2022/23: 3/6
Ana Salter
Business interests: none
Term: 18/10/22 - 18/10/26
Appointment: Staff Governor
FGB Attendance 2022/23: 3/5
 
James Hewlett
Business interests: Director J & E Hewlett Ltd
Term: 25/11/19 – 24/11/23
Appointment: Co-opted by Governing Body FGB
Attendance 2022/23: 4/7 
 
Jill Green
Business interests: none
Term: 19/05/21 – 18/05/25
Appointment: Local Authority Governor FGB
Attendance 2022/23: 6/6
 
Also serving on the board of Governors in 2021-22 were:
 

Amy Grashoff

Co-opted Governor

Date appointed: November 2017

Date stepped down: July 2022

Business Interests: None

Meetings 2021-22: 4 / 7

 

Charlotte Hartland

Staff Governor

Date appointed: June 2021

Date stepped down: July 2022

Business Interests: Otterway Cranbrook management Company Limited

Meetings 2021-22: 4 / 7

 

Emma Brennan

Co-opted Governor

Date appointed: December 2015

Date stepped down: June 2022

Business Interests: None

Meetings 2021-22: 1 / 5

Annie Fletcher

Co-Chair and Lead EYFS Governor

afletcher@ladysmithfederation.net

Business interests: Early Years Advisor, Sole Trader
Term: 22/09/21 - 21/09/25
Appointment: Co-opted by Governing Body
FGB Attendance 2022/23: 6/7
I started my teaching career in Oxford in 1999 where I worked as a Teaching Assistant in a Year 6 class alongside an outstanding teacher. This gave me the teaching bug and I moved to Devon and began my formal teacher training. My specialist subject is Early Years. I have worked in this area for 15+ years; the last 5 years as a phase leader.
I was the Key Stage 1 Phase Lead at Alphington Primary and taught in Year 2. I have an SLE in Early Years and have supported teachers early in their careers as well as those who wanted more experience in the Foundation Stage. I was a Staff Governor at Alphington for 4 years up until I left the school. I will be able to use my experience and expertise for the benefit of the school. I live in Exeter with my husband and two children and I love all things sunny and outdoors!

Andy Thornhill

Lead Finance Governor

athornhill@ladysmithfederation.net

Business Interests: None
Term: 18/05/20 - 17/05/24
Appointment: Co-opted by Governing Body
FGB Attendance 2022/23: 4/7
I am a corporate finance director at Francis Clark in Exeter and focus on utility scale renewable energy advisory, I am a chartered accountant with a background in energy, real estate and audit. I have 2 children at Ladysmith and live in very close proximity to the school and enjoy being part of the close-knit community. We really value the education and care that Ladysmith has been giving and will be giving our children and wanted to contribute to the school. Hopefully, I can use my financial and advisory background to lend some support and ideas to the team.

Sarah Melhuish

Lead Personnel Governor and Lead Community, Staff and Parental Links Govenor

smelhuish@ladysmithfederation.net

Business Interests: None
Term: 18/05/20 - 17/05/24
Appointment: Co-opted by Governing Body
FGB Attendance 2022/23: 5/7
I have worked in the field of HR for over 15 years. I recently held the role of a Human Resources Business Partner for a national company working within their Employment Services and Enterprise Operation. I have a daughter attending the Junior School and a son attending the infant school.

Mark Wilkinson

Ladysmith Federation Executive Headteacher

mwilkinson@ladysmithfederation.net

Business interests: none
Term: 01/09/14 - present
Appointment: Ex officio
FGB Attendance 2022/23: 7/7

Adam Brown

Teacher

Business interests: none
Term: 17/10/23 - 17/10/27
Appointment: Staff Governor
FGB Attendance 2023/24:

James Lee

Lead School Improvement Governor

JaLee@ladysmithfederation.net

Business Interests: None
Term: 18/10/22 - 18/10/26
Appointment: Co-opted by Governing Body
FGB Attendance 2022/23: 6/6
I work as a specialist mental health pharmacist within the NHS where I have been since 2012. I mainly work across the Community Mental Health Teams covering the city of Exeter as well at supporting the Perinatal Mental Health Teams across the whole of Devon. I work alongside a Multi-Disciplinary Team of psychiatrists, nurses and other professions to support those of mental health difficulties to use their medication safety and effectively. I have two children at Ladysmith and have lived in the Heavitree area for the last nine years.

Hannah Snowden

Deputy Inclusion and SEND Governor

hsnowden@ladysmithfederation.net

Business Interests: None
Term: 30/11/22 - 30/11/26
Appointment: Co-opted by Governing Body
FGB Attendance 2022/23: 5/6
I have 14 years experience in both secondary and primary, mainstream and specialist education. I am a trained SENCo. I have a passion in developing well-being and promoting good mental health in schools. My son has joined reception and I feel that I can use my experience and knowledge to support the governance of the school and look forward to the opportunity to give back to the school community.

 
Also serving on the Board of Governors in 2020/21 were:
 
Anthony Fothergill 0/1, Emma Brown 2/3, Heather Mills 4/5, Sarah John 6/6, Alex Banks 7/7
 
Also serving on the Board of Governors in 2019/20 were:
 
Ian Gibson, Lesley Dunford.
 
Also serving on the Board of Governors in 2018/19 were:
 
Catherine Winterbottom: 0/1 Full Governing Body
 
Ana Salter: 5/5 Full Governing Body; 2/2 T&L Committee