Our governing body

Our Local Governing Body works closely with the Headteacher and Trust to support the school’s direction, ensure high standards and represent our community.  Governors bring a range of skills and experience, offering challenge and support that helps every child thrive. They monitor key areas such as safeguarding, curriculum, finance, attendance, and wellbeing, and they visit school regularly to understand how our values and priorities are lived each day.

Governor categories

Parent governors are elected by parents. Staff governors are elected by staff. MAT appointed governors are chosen by the Trust. Co-opted governors are selected for their skills and experience.

Who our governors are

Each governor has a role, a category and a term of office. They also declare any interests to keep our work open and fair.

Governor Team

Name	Role
Joanne Lockey	Chair of Governors
Catherine Carvel	Vice Chair of Governors
Gavin Johnston	Head Teacher Governor
Roy Bearpark	Trust Governor
Laura Rutherford	Parent Governor
Erika Allen	Parent Governor
Jacqueline Atkinson	Trust Governor
Pauline Richmond Atkin	Parent Governor
Nazneen Khan	Staff Governor
Hugh West	Trust Governor
Alison Sutcliffe	Staff Governor

Attendance

Governors attend meetings across the year. This table shows attendance for the last academic year.

What governors do

Governors help with

• vision and values

• curriculum

• safeguarding

• finance

• staffing

• attendance

• wellbeing

• premises

They meet regularly to look at how well the school is doing and to support the next steps.

Contact

For governor enquiries please contact the school office. They will pass your message to the right person.

Local Governing Body 

Academic Year: 2025–26

Name	Category	Appointed / Elected By	Term Start	Term End	Committee (until July 25)	Links / Roles	Declared Interests
Gavin Johnston	Headteacher	Ex‑officio	28/04/2025	–	Curriculum, FSP, Admissions	Marketing	None
Jacqueline Atkinson	MAT Appointed	Trust Board	01/01/2024	31/12/2028	–	Attendance, Wellbeing	None
Roy Colin Bearpark	MAT Appointed	Trust Board	01/01/2024	31/12/2028	FSP	Safeguarding	Governor at Corbridge Middle School
Hugh James West	MAT Appointed	Trust Board	01/01/2024	31/12/2028	Curriculum	–	None
Joanne Lockey (Chair)	Co‑opted	LGB	01/01/2024	31/12/2026	FSP, HTPM, Admissions	Marketing	Blackswine Farm Management Ltd
Catherine Carvel (Vice‑Chair)	Parent	Parents	01/01/2024	10/07/2026	FSP, HTPM, Curriculum, Admissions	Finance	West Denton Community Church Trustee (since Oct 2022); Employee at Crosslands (since June 2018)
Pauline Richmond	Parent	Parents	01/01/2024	10/07/2026	Curriculum	Phonics, Literacy	None
Erika Allen	Parent	Parents	10/07/2025	09/07/2029	–	–	Deputy Head Teacher, SENCO, Associate Governor at Chillingham Road Primary School
Laura Rutherford	Parent	Parents	10/07/2025	09/07/2029	–	–	None
Alison Sutcliffe	Staff	Staff	01/01/2024	25/06/2026	–	Safeguarding, Attendance	None
Nazneen Khan	Staff	Staff	27/01/2025	26/01/2029	–	–	None
Rachael Croll	Associate	LGB	01/01/2025	31/12/2029	Curriculum	–	None

 

Historic membership

This list shows governors who have served in the past twelve months. It helps us keep a clear record of changes in our governing body.

Historic Membership

Past 12 Months

Name	Category	Appointed / Elected By	Term Start	Term End	Committee	Links / Roles	Declared Interests
Emma Thompson	MAT Appointed	Trust Board	01/01/2024	31/12/2028	–	Phonics, Literacy, SEND	Director – Happy Days Club Ltd (since Oct 2022)
Jonathan Booth	Co‑opted	LGB	01/01/2024	31/12/2025	–	–	Headteacher at Warkworth First School
Mick MingStones	Headteacher	Ex‑officio	01/02/2010	–	FSP, Curriculum, Admissions	Safeguarding	Support Worker for Stomping Ground (Holidays) since Summer 2024
Mark Wright	MAT Appointed	LGB	01/01/2024	31/12/2024	FSP, HTPM	Marketing	None
Rachael Croll	Staff	Staff	01/01/2024	31/12/2024	Curriculum	Parent Engagement	None

 

You can read our full governor information in the PDF below.

Governing body minutes are available on request.