Governors
Welcome to our Governors’ section.
Please find below details of how our new, Federation Governing Body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor. We became part of the Three Rivers Federation, with Stoke Canon Church of England Primary School, on 23rd April 2019.
Our other governors come from all walks of life and include volunteers from our community. We have excellent parent representatives on our governing body and we value all the contributions that our governors make to school life.
The governing body meets each term as a group. Many of the responsibilities of the governing body are delegated to committees that meet before the main governing body eg Resources and Teaching and Learning.
Our governors have various legal responsibilities and duties: they are responsible for the effective management of the school, for the school budget and for Health & Safety. They help to set, and monitor the school ethos and policies. Governors support the Headteacher and staff in the running of the school.
To contact any of our governors please send your enquiry to the clerk to Governors, Mrs Lyn Flack, by emailing admin@stokecanon.devon.sch.uk and this will be passed onto the appropriate governor.
Governing Body Minutes are available from the school office.
The Federation Governors are:
Jos Greenhow – Associate Member
I have been with Devon and Cornwall police since 2008 and I am currently a police sergeant
at HQ. Prior to moving to Devon and joining the police I was a barrister in self-employed
practice in London in Middle Temple for 6 years. I worked mainly in Criminal and Family law
so am used to dealing with difficult subjects and people in perilous personal circumstances
with tact and empathy.
I am an Associate Governor and involved on the 2nd Committee.
Peter Grierson – Head of School, Co-opted Governor
I am a Deputy Head at Stoke Canon Primary School and am involved in the Quality of
Education Committee.
Louise Herbert – Executive Headteacher
I am the Head Teacher of both Clyst St Mary Community School and Stoke Canon C of E
Primary School.
Lucy Topliss – Co-Opted Governor
I have served as a parent governor and chair of the PTFA at Clyst St Mary Primary School
for 3 years. I would like to continue in this role in the new Three Rivers Federation.
I have two children at Clyst St Mary School and am passionate about representing the views
of fellow parents. I will endeavour to continue to put forward the voice of all parents should I
be elected to the new governing body.
I hope you all see me as an approachable member of the school community who ensures
comprehensive challenge of school leadership.
Mandie Rose – Associate Member
Associate Member on the Teaching and Learning Committee. I have been involved with
CSMPS since 1998; as a parent, a volunteer, class teacher and over 8 years as a governor.
I hope that my skills and experience will be useful in supporting the staff and the Three
Rivers Federation governing body, in maintaining a supportive learning environment,
continuing the high standards of education, and the well-being of all of the children in
CSMPS and SC.
Lesley Hockin - Staff Governor
I have worked at Clyst St Mary Primary School, in a variety of roles, since 1998 and served
on the governing body for many years but my first contact with the school was when my
children were pupils here. My background in medical research has provided me with a keen
interest in the teaching of science and my self driven interest and determination to conquer
computers enabled me to help the school move forward in its IT provision and teaching. My
current role is that of administrator and singing co-ordinator.
Clare Werry – Co-Opted Governor
I was a parent governor at Clyst St Mary Primary School from 2015 and, when Clyst St Mary
and Stoke Canon primary schools federated, I was co-opted as a governor of the Three
Rivers Federation. I am Chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee and I’m particularly
involved with school performance data and school improvement. My children were at Clyst
St Mary Primary School and I was previously chair of Clyst Valley Pre-school. I enjoy playing
an active role in school life, and am keen to give support and challenge as a governor to
help ensure that all children across the Federation have a high-quality education. I’m a
solicitor in private practice.
Briony Kempton – Co-Opted Governor
I was a co-opted governor at Clyst St Mary Primary School for several years - my son is a
pupil at the school so I have a vested interest in supporting the school and being involved in
its governance. I am now a co-opted governor of the Three Rivers Foundation and I am
involved in the Resources Committee as my background is in finance. I am a chartered
accountant and for many years worked at EY where I was an audit director.
Tanya Smith – Local Authority Governor
I joined the Governing Body at Clyst St Mary in 2015. I currently sit on the Teaching and
Learning Committee of the newly formed Federation. I have 3 boys and I work full time for
South Gloucestershire Council’s education department as the Strategic Lead for School Place
Planning and Capital Investment. I develop policy and practice in the delivery of key statutory
functions of the Local Authority including school admissions and school organisation and I
lead in the commissioning of new schools. I am also an Independent School Admission
Appeal Panel Member and School Exclusions Review Panel Member for Devon County
Council and I work with other governing bodies to model good governance. I look forward to
providing effective support and challenge to both Clyst St Mary and Stoke Canon Primary
Schools as part of the Three Rivers Federation.
Ellie Wilkinson – Head of School, Associate Governor
I am Deputy Headteacher of Clyst St Mary Primary School and am involved with the
Teaching and Learning Committee. I have been teaching for thirty two years, nineteen of
which have been at Clyst St Mary.
Kellie Perry – Associate Governor
I am the School Business Manager for the Three Rivers Federation and joined the School in
September 2021. I have worked in the education system for 6 years and have previous
experience of HR, Finance and Business Management.
Danielle Sparks – Parent Governor
I have worked in business management in the financial services industry and have 15 years
of experience of providing UK and International recruitment and HR advice. I currently work in
People Operations for a global animal welfare charity.
I have several family members that have all attended Stoke Canon Primary school and my
daughter also attends the preschool. My strengths lie in being able to build and maintain
productive relationships and forge cohesive partnering and I hope to use these skills in the
role of Governor
Stuart Busby – Associate Member
I have been a governor at the Three Rivers Federation since September 2023. Both of my
children have attended a school in our federation and, thanks to the excellent support they
received, are now achieving success in their later lives.
My day job is being Director of School Improvement for a group of schools in
Worcestershire. I am also completing a part time Phd at the University of Exeter, focused on
leadership and Education in the East African country of Tanzania.
I hope that my skills and experiences can support our federations' future work, so that it
continues to provide motivational learning experiences for all pupils within our schools.
Peter Hale – Parent Governor
I have recently joined the governing body (Jan 2024) and will be contributing to the
resources committee. As a data scientist with a background in physics I'm keen to help to
promote science and mathematics to the next generation. Where better to start than my
children's primary school! We have one child in Reception, and another to join next year, so
I see this as a good time to start to help the school in whatever capacity I can. My father is
a retired primary school headteacher, so I'm well aware of the difference a good governing
body can make to a school.
Updated 23.02.24
