What is a school governor?

The role of a governor is to act as a critical friend to the school. We provide a robust and consistent challenge as we review the progress and achievement of our pupils. Governors visit the school regularly, observing lessons, speaking to children and hearing their thoughts on what they are doing and how they feel at school.  We also speak to the staff to understand how they feel things are going across the school.

We also watch how the senior leadership team of the school use the resources and funding at their disposal to ensure the children have the best possible opportunity to maximise their potential during their time at Brampton Primary Academy.

Overall, we work with the senior leadership team at the school to ensure that children have a safe, nurturing and stimulating place to learn, not just the core subjects the school offers like reading, writing and maths, but also the values and behaviours that we believe will give them the best possible start in life.

If you want to contact either myself or any member of the governing body on any matter concerning the school, then please write to us at the school email address admin@bramptonacademy.org. We are here to listen and to help where we can.

Membership

We currently have 10 members on our Local Governing Body:

1x Headteacher

2x Staff Governors

2x Parent Governor

3x Co-opted Governors (appointed by governors)

2x Appointed Governors (appointed by the Trust)

We are clerked by a highly experienced Governance Professional, who ensures that we discharge our statutory obligations in accordance with the REAch2 Scheme of Delegation.

Structure

Governing Body meetings happen six times a year, with the key focus alternating between Quality of Education and Resources & Enrichment. We invite a range of other staff to attend, in order that we can hear from a wider group about what is happening in the school. For example, last year we heard regularly from the Subject Leads and a new to teaching member of staff.

As well as attending meetings, governors are expected to arrange visits to schools, linked to the area of specific focus agreed at the start of the year. It is a requirement that each governing body has a named governor linked to:

• Safeguarding
• Special Educational Needs
• Statutory Grants

In addition, we appoint governors to oversee the progress on the school priorities for the year.

Governors also regularly attend training, to ensure that they are kept up to date on the ever-changing educational landscape.

Meet the Governors

Allan Wilkins – Chair

Business Declarations: None

Type of Governor: Appointed

Term of Office: 22 February 2024 – 21 February 2028

Areas of Responsibility: Curriculum

Jessica Ellis – Vice Chair

Business Declarations: None

Type of Governor: Co-opted

Term of Office: 22 February 2024 – 21 February 2028

Areas of Responsibility: SEND and Inclusion

My name is Jessica Ellis. I’m a Co-Opted Governor and Vice-Chair of the Brampton Local Governing Body. I also have the SEND & Inclusion responsibility along with Gareth Keen.

Professionally, I am a self-employed Business Consultant with over 25 years’ experience working for large UK organisations in senior Marketing positions, playing a lead role in governance, managing budgets and defining business strategy. As a Chartered Marketer and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, I recently set up my own business helping small and scaling firms build their brand, marketing and communications capabilities.

Having been a Brampton parent from 2011 to 2024 when my youngest child left the school, I have been invested in the Academy’s success for quite some time. Both my daughters had a wonderful experience at Brampton, making many friends and memories, and I look forward to helping guide the school to continued success over the coming years.

Mark Burnett

Business Declarations: None

Type of Governor: Appointed

Term of Office: 01 February 2024 – 31 January 2028

Areas of Responsibility: Safeguarding

Gareth Keen

Business Declarations: None

Type of Governor: Co-Opted

Term of Office: 21 March 2024 – 20 March 2028

Areas of Responsibility: SEND and Inclusion

Emma Magee

Business Declarations: None

Type of Governor: Co-Opted

Term of Office: 31 March 2022 – 30 March 2026

Areas of Responsibility: Safeguarding

Katie Barwell

Business Declarations: None

Type of Governor: Parent

Term of Office: 22 February 2024 – 21 February 2028

Areas of Responsibility: Finance

Mark Neeley

Business Declarations: None

Type of Governor: Parent

Term of Office: 22 February 2024 – 21 February 2028

Areas of Responsibility: Health & Safety

Hi I'm Mark, dad to Caitlin (Year 5) and Liam (Year 2). When I'm not working in Banking I'm also the Governor who has a focus on Health & Safety matters across the school. 

Debbie Buckner

Business Declarations: None

Type of Governor: Staff

Term of Office: 1 September 2024 – 31 October 2028

Areas of Responsibility:

I am Debbie Buckner I have worked in the office for 7 years.  I was previously a midday meals supervisor for a year before moving into the office. 

I have been at Brampton for many years, firstly as a parent.  I was an active member of FOB before joining the governing body as a parent governor.  

Before having children, I was a legal secretary where I have worked in different departments from Litigation & Insolvency to Aviation law. 

I am extremely passionate about Brampton having been involved with the school for over 16 years. 

As a governor I feel it is important to support our senior leaders and staff and am able to bring a different perspective from my knowledge of the school and its background in a variety of areas. 

Louise McKenzie

Business Declarations: None

Type of Governor: Staff 

Term of Office: 1 September 2024 – 31 October 2028

Areas of Responsibility: 

I'm Louise McKenzie and I work in the school office.  I have worked at Brampton for over 9 and a half years after starting as a parent volunteer.  I have worked in school in a variety of roles, from midday supervisor to a teaching assistant before transitioning to the school office.

My background before Brampton was within finance, working for a local Building Society from leaving school in a range of roles.

I was elected by the staff to represent them on the governing body.  My role is to bring experience and knowledge of the school, support senior leaders and give a fair and accurate representation of staff views and opinions on important issues. 

I have a real passion for Brampton and our school community and am fully committed to supporting our staff and pupils through their journey at Brampton.

Clerk to Governors

Nigel Marchant

Date of Appointment: 1 March 2019

Governors who stepped down in this academic year

Brendan Hollyer

Type of Governor: Appointed

Date of Resignation: 7th September 2024

Governors who stepped down in previous academic year

Viktoria Papen

Type Of Governor: Co-Opted

Date of Resignation: 31st August 2023