Welcome to the Governors’ section of our website which aims to introduce you to the governing body at our school.
The key role of the LGB is to provide a balance of challenge and support to school leaders, understanding the strengths and areas for improvement in the school.
Our responsibilities are to:
1. Deliver the Trust and school strategy and vision, contributing to the creation of the School Development Plan and ensuring this sets priorities to deliver the strategy articulated by the Trust in the Local context
2. Support educational Improvement by ensuring that the plans put in place by Head Teacher and School Improvement specialists are leading to improved outcomes for children. This will include reviewing the impact and effectiveness of the pupil and sports premium spend, as well as reviewing progress against the School Development Plan
3. Monitor safeguarding outcomes in the school
4. Review recommendations from the Bridge specialists relating to IT and Health and Safety and highlight any concerns identified with proposed plans
5. Engage with stakeholders – examine, evaluate and feedback to parents and other stakeholders on the overall quality of the children’s experience in the school as well as identify, understand and respond to stakeholder’s views and concerns.
Meet the Local Governors (For Hub Governor details, please see the register of interests below (these are the governors who meet together from a group of schools)).
Tim Carson - Chair of Governors and safeguarding governor
I have been a parent governor at Brunel Primary & Nursery Academy since February 2014. I have two children at the school, now both in Key Stage 2. Both of them attended Issy Brunel's and the pre-school before starting in Reception.
I have been Chair of Governors since September 2016 and . As well as chairing meetings of the Local Governing Body, I attend meetings with Chairs of other Local Governing Bodies of schools within Bridge Schools Multi Academy Trust, and I try to get into school as often as possible to speak to staff and children. I am happy to speak to parents and carers about any issues, and you can email me at
chair-tcarson@bridgeschools.co.uk.
As well as my role as Chair, I am the named governor for safeguarding
Helen Casson - SEN
After graduating from the University of East Anglia in PsychoSocial studies, I went on to complete my PGCE at Sheffield Hallam University. I then taught in Sheffield for a few years before moving to an inner London school as Assistant Headteacher, leading on student and staff wellbeing. After a move to Cornwall in 2011, I became Deputy Headteacher at Looe Community Academy until I moved to lead the Community Hospital Education Service in Cornwall. I now work as Executive Principal for Medical provision across Devon and Cornwall, where I work to ensure the most vulnerable young people receive the education they are entitled to.
I am trained SENCo, a Designated Safeguarding Lead and a Thrive practitioner and am passionate about ensuring the needs of all young people are met. I am delighted to be able to use my experience both within mainstream education and alternative provision to help support and challenge the local primary schools. Outside of school I enjoy exploring Cornwall in our rusty VW camper and bright orange beetle!
Mary Hill - Pupil Premium
Drew Kearney - EYFS
Darren Woolner - Headteacher
Lorraine Sanchez-Cabello - Staff Governor
Adrian Pierce
I am from, and have lived in, Southeast Cornwall for much of my life and moved to Saltash, a town my mother’s family are from, 8 years ago. Our family live within the catchment area, my son started at Brunel in reception in 2017, and my daughter started at Issy’s last year and is now in reception.
I have had 35 years of experience in the Navy, specialising in Navigation and Warfare. I have Commanded, led and managed Ships at Sea and Teams ashore. In the last ten years, I have had roles that have included leading significant organisational change, managing the delivery of training, and leading operational and strategic planning.
LGB Monitoring at Brunel Primary Academy
As the strategic leaders of our school, Governors have a vital role to play in ensuring every child gets the best possible education and are therefore an integral part of the monitoring schedule. Our roles and responsibilities remain strategically aligned to the skills and knowledge of individual members to ensure that the body has the ability to hold the school to account and promote continual school improvement.
Monitoring that has taken place recently includes:
Focus of monitoring
Curriculum
Data challenge
Pupil Premium
Safeguarding
SEN
Recovery Premium
EYFS
View the following documents within your web browser or download to read later
Creative
We are bold and innovative in our approach to find new solutions to the challenges we face.
Curious
We are inspired by the awe and wonder of the world.
Responsible
We take responsibility for our actions in an environment of mutual respect.
Enthusiastic
We are passionate about learning.
Excellent
We are the best we can be.
Determined
We overcome all barriers to reach our potential, developing a capacity to improve further.
Brunel is an Ofsted graded 'GOOD' school with 'OUTSTANDING' Personal Development and Early Years Provision - click here to see the full report
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