Governors

Welcome to the Governors' section! 

Our job is to help lead the school strategically and act as a 'critical friend'.  Full meetings are held once every half term.  We currently don’t have separate committees so full meetings of the Governing Body will include discussions regarding Curriculum, Personnel or Finance/Premises at each meeting.  In addition, governors have special responsibilities and will report to the full Governing Body at scheduled meetings.  Minutes of meetings and further information are available from the school office.  See below for details of Governor backgrounds.

Governor Membership for the Academic Year 2020/21

Mr B Gordon                     (Joint Chair) Co-opted

Mr M Blake                       (Joint Chair) Co-opted

Mrs L Daisley                    Co-opted (Teacher)

Mrs R Houghton               Staff Governor

Mrs F Codling                    Parent

Mr M Cresswell                Interim Executive Headteacher

Mrs K Gill                           Co-opted (Staff)

Mr J Nickerson                  LA Appointed           

Mrs A Wrench                  Co-opted (Staff)    

Mr A McLennan               Co-opted

Emily Davidson                Clerk

Special Responsibilities:

Curriculum: Mrs Frances Codling & Mr Bruce Gordon

SEND/Safeguarding:  Mrs Annick Wrench

Attendance/Behaviour & Exclusions: 

Pupil & Sports Premium:  Mr Mike Blake

Finance: Mr Jamie Nickerson

Health and Safety:  Mr Jamie Nickerson

Extended Schools:  

Early Years Foundation Stage:  Mrs Kim Gill

GDPR:  Mr Bruce Gordon

Equalities & Diversity: Mr Andy McLennan

Governor Profiles

Bruce Gordon Joint Chair (Co-opted Governor)

I am a father of three girls, all of who have attended Cantley Primary school. I am self-employed, having previously run a small company specialising in the restoration of vintage aircraft. I now specialise in the location and supply of parts for vintage aircraft. I have been a governor at the school since 2010, and have been chair of governors in one form or another since 2014. I have also sat on Curriculum and Finance committees. My interests include Classic cars, Classic Aeroplanes and building scale models.

Term of office ends 31/12/2023    Business and pecuniary interests: None

Jamie Nickerson (LA Appointed Governor)

I am 59 years old, married to Ann, and have 2 daughters, Daisy and Florence, who both attended Horning Primary School. I was originally a Parent Governor, served as Chair of Governors at Horning, and vice-Chair at Cantley & Horning Federation now serving on the Governing Body of the Together Federation as LA governor, and with a responsibility for Finance.

Ann and I moved to Horning from London 20 years ago, where I used to work in a bank, and took over the running of my grandmother’s farm, where we breed alpacas, and sell firewood locally. I have also an IT support business offering tuition and support for people in the local community.

I used to spend every holiday as a child in the area, and played cricket for Hoveton & Wroxham C.C., so it was not a difficult decision to move here when the chance arose. It continues to be a great privilege to support the local school, and to have the opportunity to see children prosper and thrive in a small school environment.

Term of office ends 31/12/2023    Business and pecuniary interests: None

Annick Wrench (Co-opted Governor)

I have been connected to Cantley Primary School for over 14 years, in which time two of my children have attended the school. I have previously been chair of the PTA raising funds for the school and then became a governor in 2015 where I was responsible for SEN, Safeguarding, Finance and Training and I am currently responsible for Health and Safety, Safeguarding and RSHE. I have also been part of the transition of federating with Horning and Freethorpe Primary School into the ‘Together Federation’. I am committed to attaining the very best education and experience for every unique individual that attends our schools.

Term of office ends 31/12/2023    Business and pecuniary interests: None

Andy McLennan

I was formerly educated in Ludham and Stalham. Now as a father of two I share a keen interest in the management and enhancement of Norfolk's schools. I've lived and worked in 3 continents experiencing diverse cultures, environments and people. Professionally I'm a marketer that works with some of the largest financial services organisations in the world. This gives me insight and experience in listening, believing and acting upon the voice of communities to inform sustainable development. Outside of work you'll find me running along Norfolk's footpaths and tracks to battle the ageing bulge that occurs in middle age.

Term of office ends 31/12/2023    Business and pecuniary interests: None

Robbie Houghton (Staff Governor)

I am a deputy head at Freethorpe Primary School, currently teaching Year 6.

Term of office ends 31/03/2023   Business and pecuniary interests: None

Kim Gill (Co-opted Governor)

Profile to follow

Term of office ends 31/03/2023   Business and pecuniary interests: None

Mike Blake Joint Chair (Co-opted Governor)

Profile to follow

Term of office ends 10/09/2023   Business and pecuniary interests: None

Frances Codling (Parent Governor)

Profile to follow

Term of office ends 30/09/2023   Business and pecuniary interests: None

Mark Cresswell (Headteacher Governor)

Term of office on-going    Business & Pecuniary Interests: None

Roles & Governor Types

Chair of Governors

A chair of governors works with the headteacher to promote and maintain high standards of educational achievement, ensures that the governing body sets a clear vision, ethos and strategic direction for the school, with the governing body holds the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and for the performance management of staff and ensures oversight of the financial performance of the school and effective use of the schools resources

Vice Chair

The chair, with support from the vice chair, is responsible for ensuring the effective functioning of the board. Where the chair is absent from any meeting or there is at the time a vacancy in the office of the chair, the vice-chair is to act as chair for all purposes

Co-opted Governors

Co-opted Governors are people invited to join a governing body by the other governors. They usually live or work in the community served by the school or they are people committed to good governance and the success of the school.

Staff Governors

Staff Governors are in a unique position on a governing body. By definition staff governors are involved in the day to day running of the school and yet are asked, as governors, to put this to one side and participate in the governing body’s work as ‘strategic managers’.  This is not always easy to do!  However, the role of the staff governor offers an opportunity to make a real contribution to the strategic management of the school, providing an interesting and rewarding dimension to work.

Parent Governors

A Parent Governor is a representative and not a delegate of parents. Parent governors do not have to vote in a particular way because of pressure to do so by parents. Objectivity, however, is essential. Parent governors are elected by other parents and it is important to establish a rapport with the parental body that elected them, whilst continuing to maintain a strategic approach to school governance. Parent Governors are not there to promote the interests of their own children but all children in the setting.