Meet the Governors

Welcome to our Governors’ section.
Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.
 

MEMBERSHIP OF THE GOVERNING BODY

Governors serve a four year term of office.  (Date when term of office expires listed below).

 

 

Name of Governor                       Position Held                 Term of Office                       

                                        

Rod Goody                             Chair of Governors                 31/08/18 - 31/08/22

Richard Baker                        Vice Chair of Governors        30/09/16 - 30/09/20

 

Jeremy Gush                         Local Authority                        31/08/19 -31/08/22

 

Helen McCombe                    Co-opted                                30/09/19 - 30/09/22

Martyn Mellis                          Co-opted                                30/09/19 - 30/09/22

Hilary Saunders                     Co-opted                                24/11/19 - 24/11/22

Gemma Andrews                   Co-opted                                03/04/16 - 03/04/20

Ian Levinson                           Co-opted                                03/04/16 - 03/04/20

Laura Sargent                        Co-opted                                31/08/18 - 31/08/21

 

Mark Pettit                              Parent                                     29/11/18 - 29/11/21

Rhoslynn Frost                       Parent                                     04/02/19 - 04/02/23

Sarah Monks                          Parent                                     13/0319 - 13/03/23

 

Toni Copp                               Staff                                        03/12/19 - 03/12/23

Susan Shipp                           Headteacher/Staff

 

 

GOVERNING BODY

PEN PORTRAITS

 

Rod Goody - Chair of Governors

My daughter started at Friars Grove infants in 1982, I joined the then PTA, now the Friends of Friars Grove, and supported the school until my son left the school in 1992. During that time I had great fun in organising the school Fetes.  At this time I was asked by the school to continue my support and became a community Governor. I served as a governor during the years when the government separated the Infant and Junior schools and was Chair of the Junior school governors in the later years.  I was instrumental in the amalgamation of the two schools into Friars Grove Primary of which I now have the honour of being the Chair of the Governors.  I have run my own electronics design company for the past 20 years which has allowed me to offer business experience and more importantly time to support a great school.  The school gave my children to an excellent education and start in life, I want to continue that ethos and give all our children the best start we can.

 

Term End: 31 August 2022

 

Richard Baker - Vice Chair of Governors

I have been a Governor at Friar’s Grove for over 25 years serving both the Infant and Junior schools before they amalgamated. I volunteered initially when my children were there to give something back as they say and have continued for many years since. I work with my colleagues to do the best we can for the School’s well-being, serving on several committees and am currently Vice-Chair of Governors. I am always impressed by the ability and resilience of all those that work there to rise to the challenges of an ever changing education system and its’ increasing demands and am happy to support them wherever possible.

 

Term End: 30^th September 2020

 

Jeremy Gush - Local Authority

I have been a governor at Friars Grove for about 10 years now, initially as a parent governor at the junior school, then staying on as a local authority governor and helping the school through the amalgamation process in order to become a primary school.  I have a long career background within local authority finance, mostly within the education sector in one form or another.  I currently work full-time for the local authority within the county schools music service (Essex Music Services).  Both my children attended Friars Grove and The Gilberd and are now at university.  I chose to represent Friars Grove as a member of the inaugural governing body that helped to establish Queen Boudica Primary School a few years ago, and I remain committed to ensuring that governors continue to support Friars Grove Primary in order to move the school forward for the benefit of its pupils and staff alike.

 

Term End: 31^st August 2022

 

Helen McCombe - Co-opted

I became a parent governor at Friars Grove when my daughter entered the Junior School in 1997. After she left the school I became a local authority governor. I have served as Chair of Governors at the Junior school and worked with other governors to bring about the amalgamation of the Infant and Junior schools into Friars Grove Primary.

I have a long career with the Civil Service and am able to bring my professional experience and knowledge to my role as governor.

I am proud to be associated with this highly successful school and enjoy my role in supporting and helping to drive forward a culture of continuous improvement whilst ensuring a supportive and friendly environment for pupils and staff.

 

Term End: 30^th September 2022

 

Martyn Mellis - Co-opted

I joined the governing body when my daughter was in year 1, she is now a teenager at The Gilberd. I also support Friends of Friars Grove at activities they run. I honestly feel Friars Grove is a great school - I am particularly impressed that although some children come from out of catchment that it has retained a strong community feel.  I have been a civil servant for 34 years and currently work within HR.  In my spare time I can be found on my allotment.

 

Term End: 30^th September 2022

 

Hilary Saunders – Co-opted

I have been a governor at Friars Grove for four years and in that time have really enjoyed the debate and discussion at our meetings and during visits into school. I became interested in understanding the way that school works, and how to help influence that process when my eldest grandchild started in reception, subsequently her siblings have joined  the school. All of them enjoy school and are achieving their potential.   I have recently retired from a career in specialist nursing, so am pursuing some of my hobbies of gardening, sewing and travelling.

 

Term End: 24^th November 2022

 

Ian Levinson – Co-opted

I have recently become a co-opted governor at Friars Grove Primary School where my son is currently in the infants. I have over 20 years of teaching experience in the secondary and post-16 sector and I teach Politics at the local Sixth Form College. My particular interests are international education and exchanges, citizenship education, and educational assessment. I have also planned and run numerous educational trips, visits and exchanges including trips within the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and also an annual trip to Krakow, Poland and the Auschwitz concentration camp museum. I hope to use my educational experience for the benefit of all the staff, pupils and governing body at Friars Grove.

Term End: 3^rd April 2020

 

Gemma Andrews – Co-opted

My journey as a leader, in education, began when working for 5 summers as a senior member of staff at an Educational summer camp in America. I knew my heart belonged in teaching, making a difference to the life chances of young people.

Back in the UK, my leadership path began working in a learning team dedicated to a particular year group.  I was responsible for the educational progress and day to day care of 330 students.  Focussing on their learning, coordinating an impactful tutorial and assembly programme, and ensuring those students who needed support beyond the classroom received it, were some of my responsibilities. During this time, I became aware of the changing criteria for SEND students and approached my Principal to offer to research this.  My research led to the restructure and redefining of SEND staffing and provision.  This was carried out strategically to ensure our readiness for the changes to the statutory guidance and school funding.  I ensured that we were getting value for money and maximising the impact our teaching assistants offered. I quickly realised that in order to change the life chances of large numbers of young people I needed to work with as many teachers as possible.  This led me to taking up the role of Initial Teacher Training coordinator.  This has been an amazing journey, which has seen me become a Specialist Leader in Education and form a School Direct partnership with seven other schools.  I now work with three different providers as well as being a pilot school with the NCTL to develop part time teacher training courses.  I am currently on secondment to the central team in Academies Enterprise Trust as the Head of Learning and Development.  I am working to bring a coordinated suite of development for staff across 66 Academies.  

 

Term End: 3^rd April 2020

 

 

Laura Sargent – Co-opted

My daughter joined Friar’s in 2014 and since that time I’ve become more and more interested in supporting the school in anyway I can. I have joined the Friend’s of Friar’s grove and I am enjoying rolling up my sleeves and helping with events and fundraising. However I want to take this further by developing a deeper understanding of how the education process works, and I want to play my part in shaping the school’s future.

 

I have worked in financial services for 18 years holding a variety of leadership, development and compliance roles and I am currently a fully qualified financial advisor and work with other self employed financial advisors consulting to help them grow their businesses in a safe and compliant manner. I feel that my professional background will enhance my contribution to the role of governor, allowing me to work within the governing body to support and challenge the school, for the benefit of all of our children.

 

Term End: 31^st August 2021

 

 

Mark Pettit – Parent

I am an alumnum of Friars Grove, for just one year back in the day, and my daughter started at Friar’s Grove school in September, 2017.  I live locally, and moved back to the area a couple of years ago to be closer to my parents

 

I am a Business Coach and Business Consultant, and set up my practice in September last year after a very successful business career, latterly as Managing Partner of a 60 strong Marketing Agency in London heading up the business with a number of leading FMCG brands including Heineken UK, Anchor Butter, The Times and The Telegraph.

 

I have also headed up £multi-million marketing accounts for a number of international clients including The Government of Malaysia and The Government of Peru.

                                                           

I want to make a positive contribution to children’s education, including my daughters, and specifically at Friar’s Grove.

                  

My background in strategic planning, leadership, productivity, creating high performance teams, marketing and revenue generation are skills I hope would be valuable to Friar’s Grove.

 

I currently work with many of my clients around building a vision for their business, setting clear outcome goals and helping them gain clarity and focus on their highest value, most effective activities.

                                                             

I have a strong background in project management, managing teams and resources and have managed budgets (up to £8million) and P&L for the last 20 years

 

Term Ends:  29^th November 2021

 

Rhoslynn Frost – Parent

My eldest daughter started at Friar’s Grove in 2011, and whilst her journey with the school came to an end in July 2018, her siblings still remain part of the Friar’s Grove family, one starting Reception in September 2018 (and so that seven years begins all over again!).

I work for the North Essex Youth Offending Team, which forms part of Children’s Social Care within Essex County Council. My role is the administration side of pre and post-court work for young people aged 10-18 involved with the Criminal Justice system. I am also responsible for the financial and budgetary tasks here, as well as other financial commitments for the Children’s Social Care teams based in Colchester.

 

Term Ends:  4^th February 2023

 

Sarah Monks – Parent

My eldest son joined Friars Grove in 2011 and has recently left to go on to secondary school. I have two other children in the school, one in year 5 and one has just started in reception. As I have seen one child go all the way through his school journey, one almost at the end and one, just embarking I thought it was about time I put myself forward to serve the school in any way I can.

I have worked with children in an early year’s setting for the last 20 years, during this time working in full day nurseries, in a school and in preschools. I currently work in Abacus Day Nursery on site of the Friars Grove School. I have knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage but I’m eager to learn how the Friar’s Grove education process works throughout the rest of the school.

 

Term Ends:  13^th March 2023

 

 

Susan Shipp - Headteacher/Staff

Toni Copp – Staff Governor

 

FRIAR’S GROVE PRIMARY SCHOOL GOVERNORS ATTENDANCE RECORD 01.09.19  – 19.07.20

 

FGB = Full Governing Body Committee                          CPR = Curriculum and Pupil Related Committee

PFP = Personnel, Finance & Premises Committee       PAY = Pay Committee Committee

NA = Not required to attend meeting