Welcome to the Governors' section.

Message from the Chair of Governors

 

We thank the staff, pupils and everyone who has contributed to this website and hope that all parents and guardians find it a useful introduction to Ashfield Primary School.

Ashfield provides the right level of support to each child to equip them for their onward journey through education.  We achieve this by providing our children with a supportive framework. We encourage a spirit of discovery, we promote the realisation within each child that they have the ability to achieve.  At Ashfield we embrace the impact of new technology in the classroom.  It is vitally important that new technology is a focus in our school. We ensure that our staff receive the necessary training to be able to teach these skills in the classroom for the maximum benefit.

Ashfield benefits from a close relationship between pupils, teaching staff, governors and parents.  This manifests itself in an active social calendar, a high level of parental involvement in school activities and an active and highly effective PTA (Friends of Ashfield). 

Every day, in every way, everyone at Ashfield ensures that every child is equally valued and their future is equally worked for.

 

 

Parents / carers are free to speak to Governors – they can be contacted through the school office or info@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Governing Body 2018-2019

Membership 17, Quorum, 9

3 co-opted vacancies

 

 

Ashfield Primary School - Governors and committees

 

 

Governors with specific responsibilities:

 

 

 

Find out more about our governors

I am Mark Rhodes and I have been a governor at Ashfield for the past 11 years, I have also been vice-chair of the governing body for the last 5 years.  My original involvement was motivated by the desire to help and support the school where 3 of my children all started their learning journey and give something back, they have all since moved on to secondary school.  

I have worked for a major high street bank for 30 years, carrying out a number of roles, but currently an IT based one.  Being a governor gives me an opportunity to use my work experiences hopefully to the benefit of Ashfield, delivering the best possible outcomes for all our pupils.   

My name is Kris Clayden and I have lived in Otley for over 10 years.

My daughters, Sonny (in Year 3), attends Ashfield Primary School as did Freya (now a Year 8 student at PHGS).

I became a School Governor because I wanted my children to receive the best possible education. And they are.

I believe in a children and young people centred approach, education for all, community and unicorns (if Sonny tells me to dress up as a unicorn for the carnival…. guess what?!).

I am an Instructor in Education for Leeds City Council where I work with children and young people with complex needs.

I am Ann Blaikley and I live in Otley with my family. I’ve been a parent governor for 5 years.
I decided to take the role after my youngest son Ollie, 8years old, started pre school at Ashfield. William my eldest, now 13 at PHGS, had already been attending Ashfield for 4 years. My interest was to take a closer insight at how the school runs as a whole and not just seeing it from the playground environment also to be there to offer a parents view on matters.
Over the years I have volunteered helping out in Early years and KS1, interacting closely with the children and teachers. This has helped me become more of an active parent and governor and a friendly face around the school. It has been an enjoyable and informative experience and I am proud to be part of the governing team at Ashfield.
My working background pre children was in the London Ambulance Service and I am now working locally part time as a care worker amongst the elderly.

My name is Paul Barrowman and both our children are at Ashfield Primary School. Daniel is in his final year and Callum is in Y4. Before Daniel started school, we looked around all the Primary Schools in Otley and reached the conclusion that Ashfield would be the best school for us. Six years later we are more than happy with that decision. I became a Governor when Daniel started at the school to try and understand more about Ashfield and offer my help and support. Over the six years the one thing that has constantly stood out is the time and effort which the Ashfield team pour into the children’s education. I enjoy being a part of that and working with a very dedicated team.

My name is Angie Georgeson. I have been a governor since my eldest child was in year 1 (he is now in Year 7).  I feel privileged to be an Ashfield governor and to have the  opportunity to input into how school is governed.  It is a role I take very seriously.   I am a primary school teacher myself and I am currently  Pupil Premium governor. 

My name is Linda Morison. I have lived in the Wharfe Valley for over twenty years with my husband and two sons. I have had the privilege of working at Ashfield Primary for 17 years and I have been a governor for 15 of these years. During my time at our school, I have gained a vast knowledge and experience of our children and school community. My roles have included; art and design and technology leader, leading literacy teacher for Education Leeds, class teacher in Early Years, Key Stage 1 and lower Key Stage 2. I currently teach in Year 2. I love spending time outdoors and consider myself very lucky to be able to work in a school with such an amazing outdoor space.

My name is Kelly Bannister, I live in Otley with my partner Rob and my children, Michael(21), Charlie(17) and George(10). I am also a teaching assistant at Ashfield, currently working in Year 3. 

I have lived in Otley all of my life, raising my three boys who have all attended Ashfield with George being in his final year. 

Having been involved with Ashfield for around 18 years, initially as a parent and more recently also as a teaching assistant, I was keen to become a governor and play my part in helping the school, not only because of mine and my family's personal experience but because I want future pupils and their families to be as successful and as happy as we have been and still are. 

I am Dee Patel and have been a governor at Ashfield since 1999 when my eldest daughter Jayna joined nursery.  It was Mrs Perring who approached me and asked if I would consider being a governor...and the rest is history!  My youngest daughter Alisha left Ashfield in 2013 and I continued to be a school governor as I wanted to give something back to the school/community that had helped to raise 2 beautiful and confident individuals.  I work part time for the civil service and Hasu my husband is in IT.

I am Karen Hey. I became a governor at Ashfield because I felt I could bring a perspective as a parent and a member of staff. Now I am Learning Mentor, I am very involved with the pupils, families and staff. 

I have 2 grownup children, both ex -Ashfield pupils, and want to support the school as a member of staff and the local community. I feel I am well placed to discuss attendance, welfare and mental health as these are all aspects of school life I deal with daily.

 

I am Sandra Perring. In July 2018 I finally retired from a career that I have so many wonderful memories of. I started my career as a Nursery Nurse in Cambridgeshire and it was during this time that I realised that teaching was my passion and career path. After teaching in a community school in Cambridgeshire for 11 years I moved to Leeds and secured a teaching post at Ashfield. I spent 31 fulfilling happy years at Ashfield and during this time was offered many opportunities in my professional development. I was a school based teacher training mentor for Leeds University for 4 years. This was The Article Teaching Scheme where graduates could experience 2 year school based training with pay. Following this I served on Leeds Metropolitan teacher training committee. At Ashfield I was primarily the SENDCO and Early Years Unit Manager. However, during my time I also took on the role of Designated Child Protection key worker, teacher governor and staff member of the F.O.A. Some people may remember the Under Fives Group in Otley which I developed and chaired for several years.

I am married and have two sons who both started their learning journey at Ashfield. Whilst I have enjoyed teaching in a range of age groups my particular passion is Early Years and Special Educational Needs. I will use the experience and knowledge I have gained as a parent and educational professional to support the school in continuing to make the greatest impact on every child in their care. Now in my retirement I can offer commitment, support, time and enthusiasm to my new role as governor in the school and community I know so well. Hopefully when COVID restrictions are lifted I will be able to play a more active part in school life once again.

My name is Dorraine Watson and I have lived  in Otley for around 8 years now. Both my children attend Ashfield Primary School and I have also more recently started working as a teaching assistant in Early Years. As a parent it can be tough to juggle everything, however I have found Ashfield very helpful and supportive throughout my children's school life. Ashfield has given my children the best start to their education. As a governor I'd like to extend that support to other parents within the Ashfield community to help future pupils achieve their goals.

I am Elspeth Warren.  I joined Ashfield in January 2006 as Assistant Headteacher and I have been Headteacher here since April 2015.  I have two grown up children.  One is an IT consultant and the other has followed in my footsteps to become a primary school teacher. 

 As head at Ashfield, I attend all governor meetings. I enjoy meeting with governors as they represent a good cross-section of our local community - I too am a resident of Otley. Working with governors helps us on the leadership team step back from day-to-day issues and allows us to look carefully at all our decisions. The most important part of working with governors is that, together, we continually look for ways of making things better for the children at Ashfield. I am passionate that our decisions should be centred around the well being and learning needs of our pupils.