Our Governors

Governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in all St Christopher’s Multi Academy Trust schools, however the ultimate responsibility for the school lies with the Board of Directors with much of the work delegated to the Local Governing Body (LGB).

The LGB has three core functions:

  • Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
  • Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
  • Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent

Governors set the aims and objectives for the school and set the targets/policies for achieving those aims and objectives. They monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making and act as a source of challenge and support to the headteacher. 

Governors bring a wide range of skills and expertise from their professional lives to the governing board and schools benefit greatly from working with skilled volunteers. 

If you are interested in hearing more about becoming a governor please contact;

Name
Type of Governor
Appointing Body
Role
Term Start/End
Committee(s)
Registered Interests
Attendance 2022/23
Kelly Earnshaw Ex-officio Trust Headteacher 1/9/2019 Post related     6 out of 6
Anne Newall Foundation Trust Co-Chair of LGB 01/09/23 - 31/08/27   School Improvement Partner 5 out of 6
Mike O'Sullivan Foundation Trust Co-Chair of LGB 01/09/23 - 31/08/27     5 out of 6
Paul Ottewell Foundation Trust Vice Chair of LGB 12/11/21 - 11/11/25     3 out of 6
Leon Sim Foundation Ex-officio Trust   09/11/22 Post related     3 out of 5
Kayleigh Vickery Parent Parents  

01/05/22 - 30/04/26

    5 out of 6
Sophie Daykin Staff Staff  

01/09/23 - 31/08/27

  Staff 3 out of 6
Ruth Cadoux   Trust Clerk

09/10/23 Post related

     
Resigned              
Ruth Peck Parents Parents   Resigned July 2023     5 out of 6
Siw Wysome   Trust Clerk Resigned Aug 2023     5 out of 6

Governors have specific areas of responsibility:

Chair of Governors: Anne Newall/Mike O'Sullivan

Vice-Chair of Governors: Paul Ottewell

Safeguarding Lead: Anne Newall

Meet your Governors

Anne has been a Governor at St George’s for several years, having previously also been a Governor at St Matthew’s.

She is the lead governor for Safeguarding, SEND, and all aspects of  English - phonics, reading and writing. Anne trained as a teacher in Plymouth, and taught in several Plymouth schools before becoming Deputy Headteacher of Salisbury Road Junior School in 1992 and Headteacher of Glen Park Primary from 1998 until 2012. 

Anne trained as an Ofsted inspector in 2006, and was involved in inspections as a team member. After retiring from Headship in 2012, she worked as a lead inspector until 2015. Anne’s motivation for being a Governor at St George’s is to help the staff provide the best educational opportunities possible for the children.

Anne and her husband Jeff have three adult daughters, living in Spain, Plymouth and Cornwall respectively, and two lovely grandchildren, aged 7 and 4. In her spare time she enjoys swimming, cycling and learning Spanish

Mike was born and educated in Exeter and trained as a teacher in Worcester. He is married to Zeta and they have 2 children (Emma and Andrew) who live in London and Stockholm respectively and 5 grandchildren ranging from 2 to 13 years. Mike and Zeta attend St Peter’s RC Church in Crownhill.

Mike began his teaching career in Luton moving on to Bridport, then Cardiff. He moved to Plymouth in 1980 where he was Head Teacher of 3 different primary schools in Plymouth (St. Pauls RC, Hyde Park Junior and Widey Court) before retiring in 2005 to work part time with the LEA until 2010.

Mike is in his seventh year as a school governor having spent 4 years as a governor when the school had a joint governing body with St Matthews. Now, solely a governor at St. George’s for the last two and a half years, he has enjoyed getting to know the school, the children and staff better and being part of a team working with a newly appointed Headteacher. While he is the named governor for ‘Teaching and Learning’ with particular responsibility for Mathematics, PE and Modern Foreign Languages Mike is interested in all aspects of school life and the celebration of the achievements and successes of the whole school community.

Mike has always enjoyed travelling and has a lifelong interest and involvement in sport. He played his twilight years of rugby at Plymouth Albion and is still a regular supporter on the terraces. He played league cricket for Roborough and now plays golf at Elfordleigh. Mike also enjoys gardening, walking, reading and going to the theatre.

Diversity Data

The board believes that it is important that we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Diverse boards promote inclusive school environments and provide diverse role models for staff and young people. We collect data on the diversity of the board, including age, ethnicity, and gender and we use this data to inform our recruitment and training needs, ensuring there is always a diverse range of perspectives around the table to support robust decision making. We do not publish diversity data online as individual governors could be identified and we have a legal obligation to protect their personal data.