School Governors

The main role of the school governing body is to support the Head Teacher and the staff through providing rigorous challenges to ensure the school is constantly improving. A role described as a “critical friend.”

School Governors 2023 – 2024

Governors  Type
David Elvidge Chair
Kirsty Gent  
Jenny Hamlyn  
Ben Merrell  
Terri Turton Headteacher
Samantha Walker  
Kate Leaf  

 

Governor Testimonials

My name is David Elvidge and I’ve been a Governor at the School since 2011, I’m currently Vice Chair.

I work for the Babcock Defence Support Group at Leconfield supporting the Defence School of Transport where I manage a team including Vehicle & Equipment Inspectors, Metalsmiths, Painter, Drivers, and an Armourer, have worked here since 1993.

I live locally and am married to Janet with one son Alex, (a former pupil of our school )and three rescue Siberian Huskies, Snowball, Mr Spock, and Willow.

I have always been and continue to be extremely proud of the school, its staff, its pupils, and everyone involved and engaged that make ours a community to be proud of on so many different levels.

From my personal interaction with the school, I can say that the children really are a credit to us all and their behaviour and engagement when I’ve visited and brought visitors into the school has always been amazing to behold.

My name is Kirsty Gent and I’ve been a Governor at the School since 2017.

I work for the local Council as one of the HR School Locality Leads working to support primary schools with their staff management.  Prior to this I worked as a Senior Human Resources Officer working with Children and Adults Social Care.  I have a wide range of expertise around staff management, especially with a School focus and have a lot of experience providing advice and guidance to Schools and Governors in both a primary and secondary school setting.

I was really pleased to join the team of Governors as I had been looking for an opportunity to give something back to the local community.  I live locally and my daughter now attends the School having started in the foundation stage in January.  It’s therefore really important to me that the School succeeds in providing a well rounded and quality curriculum to all of the children attending, helping them to prepare for secondary school and beyond.  I am a strong believer that learning can be fun and I think at St Nicks we strike an excellent balance, helping to keep children engaged in learning.

I feel very proud to play a small part in this fantastic school. The children really are a credit to us and my favourite part of being a school governor is definitely coming into School and meeting the pupils!  I am always impressed be their behaviour around school and during lessons and they never fail to make me smile!

My name is Samantha Walker and I am one of your parent Governors. I grew up on the Isle of Wight and having completed a degree in archaeology at Winchester University I became an archaeologist for Wessex Archaeology. I spent 15 years as an archaeologist travelling all over the country running some fairly big excavations, I took some time out travelling and spent some time teaching English at a school in Thailand and I also moved to Japan teaching English there.

I met my husband on an excavation and with him coming from Market Weighton we settled in Beverley. I had to leave archaeology to start a family and we have a son who is now in year 3. I now have a part time job working in a boarding kennels and I help out a Beverley St Nicholas a couple of days a week.

Hello,

I’m Ben, one of the parent governors here at Beverley St Nicholas. I’ve been a parent at the school since September 2019, and on the governing body since summer 2021. I work at Beverley Minster as the youth and children’s minister, so being able to link with the school in a formal way make a lot of sense both as a parent and minister. I have the joy of leading assemblies in school once every couple of weeks, so being able to build relationships with the pupils and staff at the school through this really complements my work as a governor.

I find that spending time in school when I’m able to really helps cement for me that our children spend their days in an environment that is caring, nurturing and fun. The children are always keen to say hello and tell me about what they’re up to. I’m delighted to be a small part of our wonderful school, and excited to see what the future holds for us as we move into the next stage of being part of Edukos.

The main duties are to:

  • Monitor the effectiveness of the Quality of Education.

  • Ensure Policy and Procedure is implemented.

  • Engage with and support the school’s community.

There are termly full governing body meetings to discuss issues arising and curriculum meetings to monitor the progress within school.

Different types of governors:

  • Trust Appointed x4.

  • Parent Governors x2.

  • Head Teacher (ex-officio) x1.

  • Staff Elected x1.

Register of Pecuniary Interests

Governor Roles and Responsibilities

Attendance

Each governor also has a subject to which they pay special attention and meet with the teacher involved to discuss progress. Governors are also linked to areas of the school development plan.

  • If you wish to contact the governors directly please contact David Elvidge, chairs of Governors can be contacted by getting in touch with the school office [email protected].

“My children both have great relationships with their teachers and it’s really lovely to see.”

Parent comments

“Since joining our children have been happy and made to feel as though they weren’t the new kids buy had always been at this school. They have improved with so much.”

Parent comments

“Also I love The Ark on Friday morning you get to meet parents and guardians of different children and chat and drink tea or coffee and Miss Hamlyn is such a lovely lady.”

Parent comments

“The teachers are very approachable and regularly take the time to inform me if they have concerns about either of my children- I trust them to take care of them both and notice if they need any extra attention.”

Parent comments

“We also think the work the teaching and support staff put into activities out of school hours is fantastic. They keep our girls active and driven to do better.”

Parent comments

“The staff from my experience are friendly and helpful. I have grown with confidence since my children started here. It is an amazing school and the teaching is amazing too.”

Parent comments

“I like the atmosphere of the school. It is a positive and happy place. I am extremely grateful for the quality of nurture in school, my child benefits greatly from its care and understanding.”

Parent comments

“My son has come on leaps and bounds since starting in September. He comes home and has been taught something new every day which he can’t wait to share with us.”

Parent comments

“Our son excitable and positive about school and I love the fact that he has settled so well. It’s always a worry for a parent but I was at ease from my sons first ever day. Thank you St Nicholas School.”

Parent comments

“I love that the Headteacher is very present and visible at the school. She knows all the children by name and connects with them. The school has a nurturing feel.”

Parent comments

“Staff are approachable, caring and friendly. I’m confident my child is receiving a good education at this school.”

Parent comments

“As soon as you walk into the school you notice how much time the staff put in to make it as comfortable a learning environment as possible for the children. Thank you..we really appreciate it.”

Parent comments

“My children both have great relationships with their teachers and it’s really lovely to see.”

Parent comments

“The school is accessible and involves parents – The teachers are passionate about their work – Our children and their friends enjoy attending the school .”

Parent comments

“Support from teachers has been fantastic and without a doubt has been key to my child’s success. I have always felt confident in approaching school and have always had your full co-operation.”

Parent comments

“We think the stay and play mornings are brilliant as it gives us an insight to how our daughter’s are taught and what kind of environment they learn in.”

Parent comments

“The staff have a really good caring relationship with the children and they get lots of opportunities for different learning.”

Parent comments

“EYSF staff are absolutely fantastic! Cannot praise them enough!! My older child has a new teacher this year who has also been brilliant with her encouragement, my child has come on so much since her return in September. I just love that the staff are all so approachable and friendly.”

Parent comments