Welcome to the Governors' section.

Message from the Chair of Governors Guy Jackson

 

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 2021-2022

Membership 13  Quorum 7

 

 

 

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 Paul Barrowman. My eldest child, Daniel, went to Ashfield and is now at secondary school and Callum is in Y5 at Ashfield. 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 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 4. 

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.

I am Chris Haley.

I am a governor because I believe in education, and I care about the lives and futures of children. I was already involved in the life of the school, having two children at Ashfield, as well as being involved with school assemblies. I want to be able to give back to a school that has done so much, and is still doing so much, for my children. I believe I am a useful voice, having experience leading an organisation, as well as possibly a different perspective as a leader in the faith community. I believe that a community is at its strongest when there are strong links and connections between different groups within it. I am already seeking to foster those links in other areas of life. As well as bringing skills from my professional life, I am always looking to learn new skills which, I am sure, would help me in other areas of life.

I am Katherine Pettinger

I am a proud (adopted!) Yorkshire woman – having moved up here for University. I’m now married to a local man, so I know we’ll never leave! 
We’re a busy household, so I really feel how pressured life as a parent can be. My husband Tom and I are both doctors – we work in Bradford at the moment. We came to Otley 8 years ago and absolutely fell in love with it. We go to the parish church and really love the community here. Since coming to Otley we’ve had our two little girls – Phoebe who’s in Year 2 and Connie who is 23 months old.
We moved Phoebe to Ashfield after visiting and seeing what a welcoming place it is, and how each child is valued as an individual.  As a parent I’m really keen to see that the needs of the child, within the context of the family and wider community, are always a school’s first consideration.

I am Derek Revill.

I'm a dad of two boys at Ashfield, George in Y6 and Ralph in Y3. You will no doubt have seen me dropping off and picking up many times, or attending school events. My wife and I have always been very happy with Ashfield school, not only for the education and experience they provide for their pupils, but also in how well they listen and respond to the needs of the children and families who attend. Having engaged parent governors is an important part of keeping this link active. I'm glad to be a governor to help keep up the process that we've benefitted from over the years. I've got an interest in education and have an appreciation of some of the important issues for schools. I trained and worked as a science teacher at a local secondary school and now I help teach children as a private tutor. I try to be an advocate for the views and needs of Ashfield families.

I am Andy Lancashire, and have lived in Otley for 5 years coming from Barnoldswick originally. I have two young girls at the school (Rosie and Eliza).

I have 15 years’ experience in Local Government in various Town Planning roles working to create and maintain sustainable places to live and work, whilst actively engaging with members of the public and elected officials on community led plans. I have developed good communications skills which enable me to achieve positive outcomes.

I am passionate about improving the environment for children to learn, grow and prosper. I hope to use my experience to support Ashfield Primary School such as: encouraging sustainable development, maintaining and improving school environment for healthy and safer wellbeing; travel plans getting to and from school; development plans; general governance, procedural and parent concerns.

I want to be a Governor so I can give back to the educational system which has served me so well. I want to support he school and community in any way that I can through my diligence and enthusiasm for people and place.  

Outside of work, I am a keen DIY’er, I love travelling, camping, painting and sport!

 

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.