Hollesley and Waldringfield Partnership Governing Body
The people who carry out this job bring a range of age and experience to the task.
Our governing body is made up of parents, staff from the school, and those co-opted because of their particular abilities or interests. Governors are volunteers who have the well-being of the staff and children in mind in all that they do – we are always ready to listen to ideas, suggestions or problems relating to the school.
According to the latest advice from the Government, the role of the school Governors includes:
- Setting the aims and objectives of the school
- Monitoring and evaluating progress towards these aims
- Acting as a “critical friend” to the Headteacher
- Maintaining links with parents and the community
As Governors, we carry out these and other roles by visiting the school as often as we can, and by attending meetings that deal with our key responsibilities.
There is a termly meeting of the Whole Governing Body where a regular report from the Head on the work of the school is received. There are also separate meetings for Governors’ committees which look at particular issues with the Head:
- Resources – the school’s budget, how it is spent, managing the development and recruitment of staff, reviewing Health and Safety,and the buildings and grounds.
- Curriculum – looking at standards and how subjects are taught.
Our Governing Body
Patrick Spencer – Chair
Term Started: 1st September 2021
Term Ends: 31st August 2025
Co-opted Governor
Serves on the Resources Committee
Responsible for Leadership and Management
About Patrick
Patrick and his family have lived in the area since the mid-1980s. He has worked for most of his life in the charitable sector but now works at the Department for Education. Giving children in Suffolk the opportunity to get a great education and a good start in life is a definitely passion.
Patrick is married to Anna, a Primary School teacher in London, and they have two boys, Leo and Jasper.
Rachel Lavender – Vice-Chair
Term started: 1st September 2021
Term Ends: 31st August 2025
Local Authority Governor
Serves on the Curriculum Committee
Responsible for ECT/Equality, Quality of Education and Behaviour and Attitudes
Stephen Collins
Term started: 1st September 2021
Term Ends: 31st August 2025
Co-opted Governor
Serves on the Resources Committee
Responsible for Leadership and Management
About Steve
Steve has been a governor at Hollesley Primary School for the last sx years firstly as an Associate and since 2021 as Co-opted. Originally from Dronfield near Sheffield Steve moved to Suffolk in 1987 and has lived in Hollesley with his wife Sonia for the last 15 years.
Steve trained as a quantity surveyor and has spent his working life in construction latterly holding senior management posts running major construction projects and at company board level.
Steve is now semi retired and together with Sonia run their own consultancy business offering commercial and programme advice to a number of contractors. As well as being a governor Steve also is a keen bird watcher and works part-time as a volunteer for the RSPB. Hobbies include walking, golf, gardening and when he gets the chance, being Grandad to his four grandchildren.
Theresa Elder
Term Started: 1st September 2021
Term Ends: 31st August 2025
Co-opted Governor
Senior Teacher (SENDCO)
Serves on the Curriculum Committee
About Theresa
Theresa joined the governing body in 2018 when she joined Hollesley Primary School as a class teacher. She has been teaching for 30 years and has had lots of different opportunities along the way; including setting up a school nursery, teaching in every year group and overseeing different subject areas.
Theresa is currently teaching in the Early Years class, she is a senior teacher at Hollesley and is the SENDCo across both schools.
Theresa lives in Kesgrave with her 3 daughters and an array of pets! In her spare time, Theresa enjoys spending time with her family, walking and going to the Theatre.
Phil Pethybridge
Term Started: 1st September 2021
Term Ends: 31st August 2025
Co-opted Governor
Serves on the Resources Committee
Responsible for Personal Development
About Phil
Phil and his wife Cheryl, have two daughters at the school. His background is in music and motorsport touring, events, festivals and e-commerce. Running a business in this sector and based in Suffolk.
Dealing with the strategy and operations of projects with multiple stakeholders in different locations is his day to day. In addition, Phil has spent nearly 10 years teaching in FE and HE and is a qualified teacher (FE and HE).
Jennifer Shone-Tribley
Term Started: 23rd May 2023
Term Ends: 22nd May 2027
Co-opted Governor
Serves on the Curriculum Committee
Responsible for Literacy, Maths, SMSC & Computing
About Jennifer
Jennifer emigrated from Canada to Suffolk in 2008 and has resided in Waldringfield for the past 4 years. She is a qualified HR professional and has worked in HR positions in Academy Trusts for over 7 years. She is currently working in a local family business, and is Clerk to the Waldringfield Parish Council.
Adam Riches
Term Started: 1st September 2021
Term Ends: 31st August 2025
Parent Governor
Serves on the Curriculum Committee
Responsible for Quality of Education and SEND
Brian Devine
Term Started: 1st September 2021
Term Ends: 31st August 2025
Parent Governor
Serves on the Resources CommitteeResponsible for Personal Development
Gill Whiffin
Term Started: 28th March 2023
Term Ends: 27th March 2027
Co-opted Governor
Serves on the Resources Committee
Responsible for School Council
About Gill
With a background in senior management Gillian and her husband Ray came to Suffolk in 2007 to run the village pub in Hollesley going on to be a care-home chef and then a primary school cook. Working for a contract caterer Gillian became Menu Development Manager and was responsible for nutrition and menu development for schools throughout the county. These days cooking is a favourite hobby alongside dressing up as an Anglo-Saxon for the National Trust at Sutton Hoo and performing the duties of Churchwarden and Elder in the Church of England.
Staff Representatives
Sarah Wood
Term Started: 1st September 2021
Term Ends: 31st August 2025
Headteacher
Serves on the Resources Committee and the Curriculum Committee
About Sarah
Sarah joined the governing body at her appointment as Headteacher in September 2008. Prior to her headship at Waldringfield Sarah was Deputy headteacher at Melton Primary school, an Advisory Teacher for SEN for the Local Authority and a SENCo and class teacher at St John’s Primary school in Ipswich. Sarah trained at Canterbury Christchurch University, graduating with a BAEd in June 1998, since then she has completed a Masters degree with Anglia Ruskin university and achieved her NPQH (Qualification in Headship) in June 2008.
Sarah was born and brought up in Ipswich, attending Britannia Primary, Copleston High School and Northgate Sixth Form. She is a product of good Suffolk schools and enjoys working with some colleagues in the Local Authority and in other schools that taught her as a child!
Sarah lives in Ipswich with her husband, young son and two stepsons. She enjoys long coastal walks, enjoying the Suffolk countryside, travelling, quizzes and crosswords and socialising with family and friends.
Karen Harrow
Term Started: 1st September 2021
Term Ends: 31st August 2025
Staff Governor
Senior Teacher (Curriculum Lead)
Serves on the Curriculum Committee
About Karen
Karen has taught for many years in both Essex and Suffolk. She has two boys, one in primary school and one in secondary school. They enjoy exploring the United Kingdom in their trusty VW, ‘Long John Silver
Nicola Dawson
Term Started: 1st September 2021
Term Ends: 31st August 2025
Associate Member
Link Governor
Serves on the Resources Committee
About Nicola
Nicola worked for Suffolk County Council’s Education Department for five years before moving to Germany with her husband. On returning to the UK she worked as Finance & Admin Officer in a school in Wiltshire before moving back to Suffolk and joining Waldringfield School in 2003.
Nicola became an Associate Governor in 2008 and serves on the Resources Committee.
Nicola lives in Ipswich with her husband. Her interests include walking, baking and reading
Annabel Britcliffe
School Employed Clerk
All School Governors can be contacted through the school.
All School Governors can be contacted through the school.
Governors meetings take place each term. Minutes of these meetings are available in school.
Regulations also allow access to the following:
- The LA statement of Curriculum Policy and, where it exists, the Governing Body Statement of Curriculum Aims;
- Any Statutory Statements (including Statutory Orders for the National Curriculum Subjects), circulars and administrative memoranda relating to powers and duties under Chapter 1 of the Education Reform Act (The Curriculum) sent to schools by the DfES.
- Any published HMI reports which refer expressly to the School.
- Any schemes of work currently used by Teachers in the School.
- The LA’s agreed syllabus for RE.
- A full copy of the arrangements for the consideration of complaints about the School Curriculum made by the LA and approved by the Secretary of State under Section 23 of the ERA.
Performance Table information from the Department for Education
Record of Governor Attendance
DfE Performance Table Information
Pecuniary and Business Interests
The governing body of a school is required to establish a register which lists for each member of the governing body, the Headteacher and school staff any business interests they have.
The governing body for the Hollesley and Waldringfield Partnership have declared their pecuniary interest and these can be found in the document below.
HWP Pecuniary Interests Declaration
Download the latest HWP Pecuniary Interests Declaration (PDF)