Big enough to make a difference, yet small enough to know each child
Governors
Welcome
Thank you for visiting the Governor section of the Abbeyfield School website. Here you will find details about our roles, our responsibilities and some background information about all the different Governors.
I was elected Chair in July 2023 and I am very much looking forward to working with my fellow Governors alongside the Headteacher, the staff and all those who share our hopes for the future life of this school.
We are also looking forward to meeting students and their families at the various school events and to hearing their thoughts and ideas. I know that I speak on behalf of all the Governors when I say that we are all very proud to be involved with Abbeyfield and determined to see the school flourish so that every young person achieves his or her full potential.
If you would like to get in touch with me or any of the governors then please contact the Clerk to the Governors on contact@abbeyfield.wilts.sch.uk
Paul Wilson
Chair of Governors
Paul Wilson
Chair of Governors
Board of Governors
Mr Nick Norgrove
Headteacher
I have lived in Wiltshire for most of my life having been born in Bradford on Avon and attended St Laurence School. Abbeyfield is my 4th school and my second as a senior leader. I have been at the school for just over 10 years and have been involved in all aspects. Having taken on the role as Co-Headteacher in January 2019 I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to continue the progress we have made, in a substantive position from September 2020. I live in the surrounding area with my wife and two children so know first-hand how difficult it is today for the young people growing up. Sport is my passion so I can often be found relaxing on a court or golf course at the weekend.
Mrs Liz Banister
Co-opted Governor
I grew up in Chippenham, attending local schools, and then returned to the area in 2000. I started as a teacher of science and progressed to hold a range of leadership positions in secondary schools in the south-east and finally in Bristol. I joined the school improvement team at Wiltshire Council in 2004 and it was here that my association with Abbeyfield began. I now work part-time as an educational consultant and governor trainer supporting primary, secondary and special schools. Gaining a little ‘spare’ time and wishing to give back to the community, I became a governor at Lacock CofE Primary about seven years ago. I am really pleased to be appointed as a governor at Abbeyfield and to develop further my link with the school. I hope the knowledge and expertise I have gained during my career can be used to support the students, staff and fellow governors.
Mr Bryan Slade
Co-opted Governor
My name is Bryan Slade and I have two children, a son, who attends Chippenham College and a daughter who attends Kings Lodge School. I am a local business owner whose company offers compliance training courses, Health & Safety Advice and services. We also provide Medical cover for events. I have been running the business in its current state for about 7 years now and although Covid restrictions have impacted, we have emerged stronger. Before running my own business, I used to work in leisure, either as a Duty Manager or as the Centre Manager, always with a keen interest in Health & Safety and training. After leisure I worked for Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Services (Now called Dorset and Wiltshire), I was employed for 2 years as their Health, Safety and Environmental Assistant Advisor. I am also a Community First Responder for the South West Ambulance Service. I am joining the governing board as I am passionate about education. By supporting teachers, the Head, the pupils and of course the parents/guardians in getting the most out of the school and all the skills and services it has to offer. I can help ensure that everyone is safe and healthy in an environment where they can grow, learn and try new things and ideas, but safely and with no negative effects to their wellbeing.
Miss Carolyn Cook
Co-opted Governor
I am a social worker and work for Wiltshire Council currently as a manager within the Integrated Front Door Service (MASH and EDS). I have held a number of social work and management roles within Wiltshire’s children’s services for the past 8 years including within the Support and Safeguarding Service (SASS), MASH (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub), EDS (Emergency Duty Service) and the Stronger Families Team. As well as my core role in triaging new referrals to children’s services, chairing strategy discussions, overseeing assessment work, supervising social workers and other staff and being duty manager for our out of hours service for all of children’s services across the county I have a number of additional roles I have become involved with. I have previously worked as a Parent Support Advisor in Wiltshire Schools, as a Residential Child Care Officer at a Wiltshire Special School and as a Therapeutic Practitioner / Support Worker within several residential children’s homes. I am passionate about education and learning and development in general and am currently a co-opted governor at St Nicholas Primary in Bromham. I have taken a lead on Safeguarding and SEND within this role and have been a governor there for around 5 years. I have a daughter and twin boys. We live in Bromham and I have grown up in Wiltshire attending local schools myself.
Mrs Natalie Burke
Parent Governor
Since my children have recently started their secondary education at Abbeyfield, I see my election to the governing body as a great opportunity for me to invest in the setting where they embark on the next phase of their educational journey. I am currently the assistant headteacher in a Wiltshire primary school which is the result of my commitment to a 23-year career in teaching and still going strong! I have extremely fond memories of my own school days with great role models around me and I hope for the same for my own children. I think it is so important for schools to nurture their pupils - preparing them for life beyond school both socially and academically. I believe in the importance of equity for learners and the skill of teachers in recognising children’s unique talents which enable them to pursue a successful path. Within my role as assistant headteacher, I quality assure education in my setting and ensure that children are getting the ‘best deal’. I strive to be a great role model to all stakeholders and I pride myself on being an expert in developing sustainable progress since I am an emotionally intelligent person. From an early age, music was my passion. With a supportive family (not financially wealthy), I was able to learn to play the flute and piano and sought opportunities both in and out of school to sing with choirs. I remember my flute teacher and how she inspired me and I remember all of my music teachers who encouraged my passion which has been both the foundation of my teaching career and continues to give me intense pleasure especially when I can inspire the children I teach and work with currently. Beginning my teaching career in Swindon as a secondary music teacher, I took an interest in all art forms and quickly sought promotion to faculty/middle leadership. Whilst on maternity leave in 2013, I changed direction and began teaching in primary settings and well….the rest is history! I live in Melksham with my husband, my twins and two crazy spaniels!
Mr Paul Wilson
Chair of Governors
As a resident of the area since 1994, I am honoured to be a Governor and Chair of the Governors of Abbeyfield. I am a Chartered Surveyor by background, mainly from an investment and finance of real estate perspective as well as the development and management of property. I have also run businesses, served on the Boards of many UK, US and European companies primarily, but not exclusively, related to real estate investments. I have lived and worked in the USA (16 years), Luxembourg (1 year) as well as in London, but am now retired, so I am delighted to be able to devote some of my new found time to Abbeyfield School. I am married to Brenda and have two adult children and one recently born grand daughter.
Miss Selina Jones
Staff Governor
I have always held an ambition to work in education, and following a move to Bristol in 2010 I took the opportunity to apply to UWE and retrain as a teacher. On completion of my PGCE, I started at Abbeyfield as an NQT in Sept 2013. In my time at Abbeyfield, alongside my classroom teacher role, I have had a range of leadership responsibilities, and was appointment to my current role as Head of 6th Form in September 2019. Since this time, I have overseen improved retention and outcomes, and I look forward to continuing to build on this success. Prior to retraining for teaching I worked in business management for 16 years, so have lots of experience that I can bring to the role of Staff Governor.
Mr Stuart Millward
Co-opted Governor
I was pleased to be appointed in December 2019 as a co-opted governor for Abbeyfield. In my work life I am a Vice President for a global technology company and responsible for business across EMEA (Europe Middle East & Africa) and APAC (Asia Pacific). I have experience of building business strategy and plans and working with many different types of companies all over the world. I am excited about bringing this experience to my role as governor particularly around the schools’ technology provision. Calne-Stockley has been home for the last 15 years, I am married to Jo and have three children, one of whom currently attends Abbeyfield.
Miss Tina Foley
Co-opted Governor
I am local to the Chippenham area and have worked within education for 24 years. I qualified in 2000 from St. Mary’s University College, London. I am a teacher working in a large secondary school in Swindon. Throughout my career I have predominately taught Physical Education and Psychology. I have also taught a range of other subjects including English, RE and Music. I have held a variety of roles during my teaching career. These have included Head of Department, Head of Sixth Form and Assistant Principal. I love working in education and value the responsibility that comes with teaching young people and preparing them for their next steps. I really can’t imagine doing any other job. Outside of teaching I enjoy playing cricket and golf and sing in a choir! I believe that my experience helps me to bring a balanced and considered view to the role of Co-Opted Governor, at Abbeyfield School.
Mr Jon Thurlow
Parent Governor
My name is Jon Thurlow and I have worked for Toshiba for twenty years in a commercial capacity. It is an IT based role supporting & project managing Toshiba installations in a wide variety of vertical markets. My work is mainly based around the UK, but I have also conducted business in Ireland, Egypt, India, South Africa and most of mainland Europe. For the last seventeen years I have lived in Calne and my two Sons have grown up locally with both attending Abbeyfield. I am proud to have been appointed a Parent Governor in May 2023 and am here to help with the challenges facing us All. Outside of my responsibilities I can found alongside a pitch (my boys are rugby and football players) or wild swimming in a lake.
Mrs Jessica Ackland
Local Authority Governor
I currently work as a Business Manager in the Civil Service. Previous to this, I was the Bursar at Abbeyfield School, so am pleased to still be involved with the school in the role of Governor. Due to my time working within education, I have gained a detailed understanding of all the non-teaching elements of running a school as well as an understanding of some of the teaching aspects. This knowledge should help me support the staff, fellow Governors, students and school as a whole. Away from work, I have two daughters, so also understand a parent’s perspective of education and what is important to them when looking at schools. I volunteer with some youth organisations and with the local air ambulance at events. I am from Wiltshire and have lived and worked in Wiltshire for most of my career.
