THE GOVERNORS
Amberley Parochial School is a Voluntary Aided School which means that our Governors have an important role in working with our Headteacher to determine the direction of the school. Our Governors are comprised of a varied group of parents/ex parents and members of the local community who care about the school and how it works best to benefit our children. The Governors bring a variety of skills and backgrounds to help make decisions on matters of staffing, admissions, premises, curriculum, finance and health and safety always remembering the three key roles Governors hold:
1.
To provide a strategic view
2.
To act as a critical friend
3.
To ensure accountability
Our Full Governing Board meet six times a year and is made up of two staff governors, two parent governors, one local authority governor and seven foundation governors as listed below. We occasionally invite people with particular expertise to be associate members of the governing board; their role is to assist and advise the governors in the decision making process.
Sharon Cale
Head Teacher/head@amberley.gloucs.sch.uk
Sharon Cale joined Amberley Parochial School as the Head Teacher in January 2015. She has been teaching for over 22 years and enjoys being involved in teaching and learning. Miss Cale enjoys playing and watching sport; she is a keen netball player and umpire.
James Holmes
FGB Chair/Foundation Governor/jholmes@amberley.gloucs.sch.uk
James Holmes has been a Foundation Governor since September 2013 and is currently FGB Chair. He lives in Amberley and has 3 daughters in school. He works as a local GP at Rowcroft Medical Centre in Stroud.
Revd John Spiers
F&R Chair/Ex-Officio Governor
Reverend John Spiers is the associate priest with primary responsibility for Amberley within the benefice of Minchinhampton with Box and Amberley. Because of this role John is an ex officio- Governor. He is the lead Governor for Religious Education and Class Governor for Belted Galloway Class. Prior to becoming a priest John worked in the oil industry primarily in IT project management. After taking early retirement, he trained on the Oxford Ministry Course at Cuddesdon, a theological college near Oxford. He was a curate in two parishes in Winchester Diocese, one suburban and one rural before becoming a part-time priest here in Amberley.
Kath Cross
P&S Chair/Foundation Governor
Kath Cross joined the Governors in 2013 and is a Foundation Governor, responsible for RE, PSHCE and the School Council. She is also Chair of the Performance and Standards Committee. Kath has worked at Amberley since 2010 and is our lead lunchtime supervisor and breakfast club manager. She has a son at secondary school and a daughter at college.
Joanna Wood
P&S Vice Chair/Foundation Governor
Joanna Wood is the lead Governor for Safeguarding and EYFS in addition to being part of the Performance and Standards Committee. She has a son currently attending Amberley Parochial School and lives in Littleworth, enjoying the scenic walk to school in the mornings! Joanna is a Primary School teacher in the Stroud area with over 16 years teaching experience.
Clare Atherton
Foundation Governor
Clare Atherton is the lead Governor for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, part of the Performance and Standards Committee and Class Governor for Dexter Class. She has two children, who having been at Amberley School, have now moved on to secondary school. Prior to having children she worked as a teacher in primary schools in Gloucester and is now working part time as the SENCo here at Amberley as well as continuing in her role as pre-school teacher at Amberley Playgroup.
Matt Anderson
Foundation Governor
Matt Anderson joined as a Foundation Governor September 2019 and is a member of the Finance and Resources Committee. He has two children, a son currently attending Amberley and another son at Amberley Playgroup. He moved to Nailsworth with his wife in 2007 and runs his own architectural practice in Nailsworth. He enjoys playing table tennis in the local Stroud League and practicing Yoga on a regular basis. The latter interests allow him to keep up with two energetic boys!
Jessica Mitchell
Parent Governor
Jess Mitchell is a Parent Governor and has two daughters at the school. She is responsible for the Arts curriculum and sits on the Finance and Resources Committee. With a degree in Arts Management, Jess has worked in Theatre, Television and Audiobook Production. She is also an experienced choral singer and soloist and supports the school’s singing programme as a volunteer.
Georgina King
Foundation Governor
Georgina King has two daughters at the school and joined as a Governor in 2019. She sits on the Finance and Resources Committee with responsibility for SENd, ICT and communications. Professionally, she holds a degree in business management, is a practicing member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and specialises in marketing communications for medical IT & healthcare technology companies. Georgina grew up locally, attended Amberley Playgroup and returned to live in the village in 2006.
Cliff Hodgson
LA appointed Governor
Cliff Hodgson has been the LA appointed Governor since November 2012, and is the Deputy Governor for numeracy. Husband, father and grandfather, Cliff is married with two children and four grandchildren! He (officially!) retired in 2006 and now lives in Minchinhampton. His hobbies are clocks, poetry, his grandchildren and fixing things!
James Gegg
F&R Vice Chair/Parent Governor
James Gegg joined as a Parent Governor January 2019 and has recently become Vice Chair of the Finance and Resources Committee. He has a two sons currently attending Amberley.
Sarah Holden
Staff Governor
Miss Holden joined the teaching staff in September 2016 and teaches in Hereford Class. Although she lives in Gloucester has been teaching in the area for the last few years. Miss Holden has taught in both KS1 and KS2 and leads English and DT in the school. Miss Holden enjoys playing netball, socialising with friends and travelling.
Sam Russell
Clerk to the Governors/clerk@amberley.gloucs.sch.uk
Mrs Russell is the school Business Manager and Clerk to Governors and joined the school in September 2015 having previously worked at Nailsworth Primary School for a number of years, prior to which Mrs Russell had a career in banking. She spent her childhood living in Minchinhampton and currently lives in Nailsworth.
Our Governing Board is made up of two committees. They are the Performance and Standards committee and the Finance and Resources Committee, both meet regularly and report back to the Full Governors Meetings. The Structure of the committees are listed above.
