Governors

Welcome to Blagdon Primary School Governors

Members of the Local Governing Body are drawn from parents, school staff, and the community. They oversee the management and leadership of the school.

Our meetings for 2025 - 2026 will take place on: tbc

Our meetings for 2024 - 25 will take place on :

1st October 2024, 4th December 2024, 12th February 2024, 25th March 2025, 20th May 2025, 8th July 2025

Please follow the link to see our Governors' Newsletters.

Who are our Governors?

Mr Chris Mills

Co-opted Governor

Chris is a parent to two children at Blagdon Primary School and has been a governor since 2017.

"I lived in Blagdon for 15 years and I now live in the neighbouring village of Rickford. I joined the Governors following the initiation of discussions to join a Multi-Academy Trust, given my background and experience in Mergers & Acquisitions. I qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte and I have worked both in practice and latterly for a global financial services business responsible for strategy and corporate development. I am a firm believer in joining an academy trust, due to the administrative help and depth of educational support it can provide to a thriving but small village school. I am also Chairman of Bristol Cricket Club and been on the executive committee for over 15 years".

Co-opted Governor: 16 March 2021 – 15 March 2025
Business & Pecuniary Interests: parent of children at Blagdon Primary School
2020/21 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2021/22 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2022/23 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2023/24 Meeting Attendance:
2024/25 Meeting Attendance:

Mr Eamonn McGivern

Co-opted Governor

Eamonn joins us with a wealth of experience in the education sector.

"I am a retired secondary school teacher living in Blagdon. My two grandchildren attend the school and I wish to use my experience to support Blagdon Primary."

Co-opted Governor: 1st October 2024 - 2027
Business & Pecuniary Interests: grandparent of children attending Blagdon Primary School
2024/25 Meeting Attendance:

Miss Kerrie Buer

Head of School

Kerrie is our Head of School and SENDCo at Blagdon Primary School.

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Head of School Governor: September 2025
Business & Pecuniary Interests:
2025/26 Meeting Attendance:

Mr Tom Herbert

Co-opted Governor & Link Safeguarding Governor

Tom is a parent to two children at Blagdon Primary School and has been a governor since 2021.

"My specific governor responsibilities are as statutory Link Governor for Safeguarding and Prevent and Attendance".

Co-opted Governor: November 2021
Business & Pecuniary Interests: parent of children at Blagdon Primary School
2021/22 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2022/23 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2023/24 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2024/25 Meeting Attendance:

Miss Beth Brown

Co-opted Governor

Beth was a class teacher at Blagdon Primary School from 2020 to 2025.

"I am a teacher and have worked in a primary school in Somerset prior to moving to Blagdon Primary School. I am currently a Deputy Head at Walliscote Primary School. I am proud to have been part of Blagdon's journey to a strong, good Ofsted outcome. As a governor, I will continue to support the school in creating the best environment for our children".

Teacher Governor: 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2027
Business & Pecuniary Interests: Teacher at Blagdon Primary School.
2023/24 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2024/25 Meeting Attendance: 100%

Mr Patrick Keating

Co-opted Governor & Vice-Chair of Governors

Patrick is a co-opted governor and has been a governor since 2018.

"I live in Blagdon with my wife, Lindsay, and two dogs, Monty and Junior. I am Head of Government Affairs at Honda Europe, and will be looking to use my planning, organisational and communications skills to support the work of the Governing Body. I am a local councillor".

Co-opted Governor: 8 May 2022 – 8 May 2026
Business & Pecuniary Interests: parent of children who were at Blagdon Primary School, local councillor
2020/21 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2021/22 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2022/23 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2023/24 Meeting Attendance: 50%
2024/25 Meeting Attendance:

Co-opted Governor

Mr Mark Phillips

Parent Governor & Chair Of Governors

Mark is a parent to one child at Blagdon Primary School and has been a governor since 2019.

"I live with my family in a nearby village and, despite other schools being closer, we chose to send our son to Blagdon as we felt that it provided the best environment for him to begin his educational journey. I am a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience in practice and industry and I currently work at the Belmont Estate, where I am responsible for finance and infrastructure. As a governor I will look to use this experience to help wherever possible".

Parent Governor: 11 February 2019 – 10 February 2023
Business & Pecuniary Interests: parent of a child at Blagdon Primary School
2020/21 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2021/22 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2022/23 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2023/24 Meeting Attendance: 100%
2024/25 Meeting Attendance:

Co-opted Governor

Historic Governors (left within the last 12 months):

Annie Harcourt-Brown, Parent Governor - From 2nd September 2021 to 1st September 2024

Katrina Forster, Parent Governor - 2025

Michael Follett, Co-opted Governor - 2025

Jenny Campbell, Headteahcer - 2025

Carol March, Co-opted Governor - 2025

If you're interested in becoming a governor, please read the information below about the role (and ineligibility), and arrange to speak with Mr Mark Phillips (Chair of Governors) by emailing mark.phillips@blagdonprimaryschool.com

The role of a Governor

What does a Governor do?

Governor ineligibility

Governors are appointed for a four-year term of office. In appropriate circumstances, they may serve a subsequent term.

Our Governors attend training sessions and seminars to help keep up to date with changes in schools and education and to enable them to do a fantastic job. They also regularly come into school to meet the Headteacher, members of staff and the pupils. This helps them find out how the school is progressing towards it targets.

At Blagdon Primary School, all Governance duties are carried out in close collaboration with the Headteacher and staff. It is often said that Governors should aim to act as a “critical friend” to the Headteacher. Every decision made is done so with the best interests of pupils, staff and parents very much in mind.

If you need to contact the Chair of Governors, Mr Mark Phillips, correspondence can be sent to mark.phillips@blagdonprimaryschool.com .

Our Trust

We are part of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership Multi-Academy Trust.

Please see the Scheme of Delegation for information on what responsibilities lie directly with the Trust and those that are delegated to our Local Governing Body.

To access the following documents please use this link to view: