Governors

The Governing Body works closely with the Headteacher in the management of the school. It meets regularly during the term with additional committee meetings to discuss specific matters, such as school effectiveness, health and safety, the school environment and the school finances. The minutes of the governors’ meetings are available to all parents and are on display in the foyer.

The governors are all local people, caring for the welfare of the children and bringing their interests and experience to support the school. They are always happy to talk with you about any matters related to school and your children.

If you do have any concerns about your child or the school in general, please contact the class teacher and/or the Head in the first instance. If you then still feel concerned after these meetings please contact one of our parent governors who are appointed to help you and to represent your views.

Meet the Governors

Chair

Richard Sharman I have been a parent governor since late in 2001. I have two children; Christopher and Francesca. I am currently the Chair of the premises committee and I also serve on the school development committee. I have lived in Bar Hill for over ten years and work in Papworth for a small electronics consultancy.

Vice Chair

Bunty Waters I have lived on the village since 1972, my three children all attended Bar Hill Primary School, enjoying their time at the school. I work at present in a Pupil Referral Unit in Cambridge and I am an LA Representative on the Governing Body. I am a District Councillor and member of the Parish Council.

Parent governors

	Matt Cundy I have lived in Bar Hill for over 30 years, attending Bar Hill School before progressing to Swavesey Village College.  My wife was also a pupil at Bar Hill and Swavesey and is a member of the school PTA committee.  Our children are both now following the same path; Georgia is in Year 4 and Daniel in Year 1.  I work as a Senior Project Manager in a business that serves the Life Sciences industry.  Having recently completed an MBA, the opportunity to make use of my new found spare time by serving as a Parent Governor at my old school was too good to pass up.  It is my intention to return energy into the local community, helping the school and pupils achieve great things.
	Peter Knott
	Jo Montgomery I am a full-time mother to two small children (currently one in reception at the school). In my spare time I squeeze in working part-time for a Pharma company and teaching baby swimming. I came to Cambridge 10 years ago to study for a science PhD and have lived in Bar Hill for 6 years. Since the birth of my first child I have found the many village groups and other parents to be very welcoming and inclusive (despite often feeling that most of the village have grown up together!). Bar Hill has an enviably strong sense of community and I believe a village school is at the heart of any such community. I am pleased to be putting something back by serving as a school governor.
	Ben Peterson I am married with two children, who are currently pupils at the school. I have enjoyed living in Bar Hill for the past 9 years and look forward to working with everyone involved with the school. I work as a Business Development Manager for a company in Birmingham.
	Vacant

LA governors

	Margaret Traylen I was appointed LA Governor for Bar Hill Primary school in September 2005. I have lived in Cambridge for 4 years with my husband and 2 cats. I am a retired Primary school teacher having taught 5-11 year olds over a period of 32 years. I spent my teaching career in Oxfordshire and Cheshire. I originate from Bangor, North Wales. There have been so many changes in education recently and I felt that I wanted to make a commitment, give support and become involved with a local school by becoming a Governor. I am a member of the personnel and school development committees and look forward to the challenges they present. I spend the rest of my time doing voluntary work or going on holidays with my husband.
	Jo Hall Having been born and brought up in Lowestoft, Suffolk, I qualified as a nursery nurse in 1962 and arrived in Cambridge three years later. Here I met my husband Roger, and we moved to Bar Hill in 1969. Both our children attended Bar Hill school and Swavesey Village college. For over 30 years, I was a supervisor for the Bar Hill toddler group, 25 of which I also worked at the Rosie Maternity Hospital. During this time I have served on the PTA, been a Parish Councillor and I am a member of the Residents Association. For the last eleven years, I have been a Guider, helping to run the 2nd Bar Hill Brownies. I am proud to be be a school governor, assisting Mrs Stelmaszuk in reception one morning a week.
	Andrew Brown Having taught in primary schools, secondary schools and at the University of Cambridge as well as having received master’s and doctoral degrees from that University in the areas of educational research and primary school performance management, I wanted to use my educational experience and qualifications to help the pupils and staff of Bar Hill Primary School. I have been a governor at Bar Hill since autumn of 2006

Community governors

	Richard Lewney I am married to Emily and have two children, Sarah and Chris, who attended Bar Hill School and subsequently went on to Swavesey Village College. In my ‘day job’ I manage an economic modelling consultancy firm in Cambridge. I am a member of Bar Hill Church where I chair the Church Meeting and organise drama sketches from time to time. I have been a governor since 1992 and served as chair over 1997–2002.
	Ruth Adams I became a governor after moving to the village to be the minister here.  I am proud to be associated with the school and am particularly involved with the school’s eco team and vegetable garden.
	Jim Lay I have been a governor since mid 2004, building on the strong links I have had with the school for a number of years. I help maintain the school website and have helped Year 6 produce their own site for more years than I care to remember! I am married to Liz and we have lived on the village for over 20 years. Our four children have all progressed through the school, before going on to Swavesey VC. I am Chair of Finance, and sit on the personnel committee.
	Laura Parkinson I have been a Community Governor since mid 2007. I live on my own in Bar Hill and have lived here for three years. In my day job, I am a Community Development Worker, based in Cambourne working for the Housing Associations there. I enjoy working in the community and wanted to bring that knowledge into my local community.

Staff governors

	Lin Whyte I commenced my post as Head Teacher of Bar Hill School in January 1997. It is my third headship and I have returned to the school which hosted me as a newly qualified teacher twenty five years ago! I am very proud to be Head Teacher of our community school as it is a school which truly values children and who are always on the centre stage.
	Claire Higgins I started working at Bar Hill school in September 2005. I currently teach Year 1 which I absolutely love. I am the ICT lead teacher which I also really enjoy. I also lead the ABC or Anti-Bullying council and am a school governor. Phew! Bar Hill has a really strong community which I am pleased to say has made me feel incredibly welcome.
	Krysa Parker I am an LSA currently helping in the Reception department and Year 5, supporting two children in particular. I became an LSA eight years ago and enjoy being part of the school community and helping children to succeed. It is particularly rewarding to have worked alongside so many children and seen them progress from Reception to Year 6. My family have lived in Bar Hill for over 15 years and my children have all attended Bar Hill school. I lead a busy life and enjoy any precious time that I get to myself.
	Clare Ryan I have worked at Bar Hill Primary School since 1998 as part of the admin team alongside Emily and Jayne. I am the school’s data administrator with responsibility for the maintenance and analysis of pupil data and also the school’s information management system. I am the school’s resources manager and ensure that everyone is supplied with paper, pencils etc. I have been actively involved with the governing body since 1999, first as clerk to the governors and, since 2003, as a staff governor. I am currently a member of the School Development Committee.

Clerk

Jenny Dedman I am married with three children. My children all attended Bar Hill school before going on to Swavesey Village College. I worked at one of the local playgroups for five years before starting work as a teacher support in September 2000.

[Governors can be contacted via email or the school office]