Welcome to our Governors’ section.

Please find below details of how our 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 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 e.g. Resources and Quality of Education.

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 Executive Headteacher and staff in the running of the schools.

To contact any of our governors please send your enquiry to the clerk to Governors, Ms Sam Morgan, by emailing clerk@threeriversfederation.org.uk and this will be passed onto the appropriate governor.

Governing Body Minutes are available from the school office.

The Federation Governors are:

Louise Herbert – Ex Officio Governor (Executive Headteacher)

Committee - Quality of Education & Resources

Lead Role - Safeguarding
I am the Head Teacher of both Clyst St Mary Community School and Stoke Canon Church of England Primary School.

Laura Leat - Ex Officio Governor (Headteacher - Clyst St Mary)

Committee - Quality of Education & Resources

Lead Role -

Peter Grierson – Co-opted Governor (Head of School - Stoke Canon)

Term of Service - April 2023 - April 2027

Committee - Quality of Education
I am a Deputy Head at Stoke Canon Primary School.

Tanya Smith – Local Authority Governor

Term of Service - April 2023 - April 2027

Committee - Quality of Education, & Resources

Lead Role - Chair of the board
I joined the Governing Body at Clyst St Mary in 2015. 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.

Clare Werry – Co-Opted Governor

Term of Service - April 2023 - April 2027

Committee - Quality of Education (Chair)

Lead Role - Vice Chair, & Data Protection

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 became co-opted as a governor of the Three Rivers Federation. I am Chair of the Quality of Education 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.

Danielle Sparks – Co-opted Governor

Term of Service - April 2023 - April 2027

Committee - Resources, & Second Committee
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 school. 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.

Lucy Topliss – Co-Opted Governor

Term of Service - April 2023 - April 2027

Committee - Quality of Education, & 1st Committee

Lead Role - SEND
I served as governor and chair of the PTFA at Clyst St Mary Primary School for four years prior to the formation of the federation. I have two children who attended Clyst St Mary School and am passionate about representing the views of parents.
I hope you all see me as an approachable member of the school community who ensures comprehensive challenge of school leadership.

Briony Kempton – Co-Opted Governor

Term of Service - April 2023 - April 2027

Committee - Resources (Chair), & 1st Committee

Lead Role - H&S
I was a co-opted governor at Clyst St Mary Primary School for several years prior to the federation - my son was 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.

Stuart Busby – Foundation Governor

Term of Service - September 2023 - September 2027

Committee - Resources, Quality of Education, & SIAMS

Lead Role - Climate Action, & SIAMS

Both of my children 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 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

Term of service - Jan 2024 - Jan 2028

Committee - Resources

As a data scientist with a background in physics I am keen to help to promote Science and Mathematics to the next generation. Where better to start than my children's primary school! I have two children at the school. 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.

Peggy van der Ploeg - Parent governor

Term of Service - July 2025 - July 2029

Committee -Resources

I volunteered to become a parent governor because I want to ensure all children have a positive, safe and happy learning environment. I work as a Project Manager and some of my transferable skills include safety, planning, budgeting and organisation. I hope these skills will be useful in supporting the running of the schools. I have a daughter at Clyst St Mary Primary School and live locally, so I feel connected to both the school and the wider Three Rivers Federation. I want to make sure our teachers feel supported and valued, so that they are empowered and comfortable in their roles and thereby offer the very best teaching experience to our children during their formative years. I am always happy to listen to thoughts and ideas of parents and staff. I believe that working together is the best way to help our schools thrive and ensure every child has the opportunity to flourish, so please do come and say hello if you see me around.

Lewys Ryan - Parent Governor

Term of Service - July 2025 - July 2029

Committee - Quality of Education

Lesley Hockin - Staff Governor

Term of Service - April 2023 - April 2027

Committee - Resources

Lead Role - Safeguarding
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, singing co-ordinator and Health & Safety coordinator

Kellie Perry – Associate Governor

Term of Service - April 2024 - April 2028

Committee - Resources
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.

Mandie Rose – Associate Member

Term of Service - April 2023 - April 2027

Committee - Quality of Education

I have been involved with Clyst St. Mary Primary School since 1998; as a parent, a volunteer, class teacher and over 8 years as a governor. I hope my skills and experience are 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 supporting the well-being of all of the children in Clyst St. Mary and Stoke Canon primary schools.

Updated 01.09.26

Financial Information

Clyst St Mary Primary School does not have any employee with a gross annual salary of £100,000 or more.

Please click here to view our school’s financial data