Meet our Board of Governors

Governors are one of the largest volunteer groups in the country and play an important part in raising school standards. The role of the governing body is key to the effectiveness of the school. Ofsted consistently note that the most effective schools demonstrate effective leadership and management – including the governing body.

School governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in schools. Governors appoint the head teacher and deputy headteacher (if applicable). As an academy trust the governors and the trustees hold responsibility for the finance in schools. The governors work with the headteacher to make tough decisions about balancing resources. As a strategic body its key functions are:

  • set the aims and objectives for the school
  • set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
  • set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
  • monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
  • be a source of challenge and support to the headteacher (a critical friend)

Occasionally we hold elections for Parent representatives for the Governing Body – and there will be more information here when that is happening.

Each individual governor is a member of the governing board, which is established in law as a corporate body.

They are expected to spend between 10 and 20 days a year on their governing responsibilities. There may be periods when the time commitment may increase, for example when recruiting a headteacher or Ofsted inspections.

Governors are expected to make every effort to attend full governing meetings, have involvement in a sub-committee group and respond to email communication with the group.

Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the governing body; decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing body.

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Rebecca Stacey

Head Teacher

Rebecca Stacey has been Head Teacher here at Castle Carrock since September 2014. Passionate about education, Rebecca firmly believes that all children can succeed and all children should be given the opportunity to do so! She trained as a teacher at the Institute of Education in London.

She considers herself to have the best job in the world!

    Jane Helliwell

    Class 2 Teacher and Staff Governor

    Jane Helliwell - BA Hons and NVQ 3 Childcare Learning and Development. Trainee Teacher and Staff Governor

    After five years working as a teaching assistant at Castle Carrock School,  Jane has just completed her Straight to Teaching QTS course, at school, in conjunction with the TES Institute. She is now starting her second year here at Castle Carrock School in Class 2.

     

      Jason Munn

      Community Governor

       

      Jason has, until recently, worked at Castle Carrock School as a Teaching Assistant. He has now begun a three year degree course with the University Of Cumbria.
      Having knowledge of the whole ethos of the school he continues to play a part of the team as a school governor.

       

        Alison Goodchild

        Parent Governor

        Alison joined the governing body in September 2019, and serves as a parent governor on the Teaching, Learning and Acheivement committee.

        She has a daughter Eve and son Jack, who both attend the school, Alison herself attended the school as a child. Alison has worked at James Rennie School for 17 years as a teaching assistant who specialises in special educational needs.

        By being a governor Alison hopes to help play a part in supporting the school community in moving forward to carry on providing a safe, happy and inspiring environment to flourish and reach their full learning potential.

          Kirstie Smith

          Kirstie joined govenors as a parent govenor in Sept 2019. She moved to Castle Carrock village 4 years ago with her husband and daughter Heather who attends the school. She has worked as a physiotherapist in the NHS for 19 years, including working with children in the past, and most recently with adults with learning disabilities. Kirstie strongly feels all children should have fair and equal access to education and hopes to support the school to provide a safe, supportive and stimulating environment. School should be fun and set up a love of learning for life.

            Ben Draper

            Member of the Teaching and Learning Committee

            Ben joined the governing body in May 2020, and has joined the Teaching, Learning and Achievement committee.

            He teaches piano and guitar for Ben Draper Music in many schools in North East Cumbria including William Howard School as well as private lessons. He has over 16 years experience running his own business. Ben has also worked with the choir for Castle Carrock School and has taught classroom music lessons for the school.
            He lives in a village close to Castle Carrock and has two daughters who attend the school.
            Ben is grateful to be a member of the Governing Board and looks forward to working with the team.

              Christian Judd

              Chair of the Governing Board

              Christian joined the governing body in June of 2017 and is a member of the Finance Committee. He is a director of an architectural practice in Carlisle, he enjoys most sports and is a keen amateur musician. He can often be seen, but mostly heard, playing at local venues in his rock covers band “Mid-Life Crisis”. He lives just outside Cumrew and has three children who all currently attend the school.

              Ruth Drew

              Vice-Chair of the Governing Board

              Ruth first became a Governor in 2002, her passion was to ensure every child was given the opportunity to attain and achieve to their full potential in a happy and safe environment. Her length of office as a Governor was seventeen years, fourteen of which as Chair of Governors including Chair of Finance, Resources Committee, special responsibility for Parent complaints also Health and Safety.

              Ruth relocated to Castle Carrock in 2018 and soon found the village to be friendly, community driven and always lots going on.

              She wanted to contribute to the community and decided to apply to become a Governor at Castle Carrock Primary School as she felt her knowledge and experience would be put to good use. Ruth is really happy to have been elected to the Governing Board and looks forward to working with the team.