Kirstin Baker

 Governor- Chair & Finance

Kirstin was a senior civil servant for many years and is a qualified accountant. She now works as an inquiry chair at the Competition and Markets Authority and as a Non-Executive Director. Kirstin is a co-opted governor and has two children at the a school. 

date of appointment	01/04/2020
current term of office start date	01/04/2020
term of office	4 years
date end of service due	31/03/20204
appointed by	Governing Body
declaration of interests	parent
governance at other institutions	none
% attendance	100%

 

Miss Carolyn Bristow

Local Authority- Vice Chair

Carolyn has worked at the local authority  in a variety of roles. She has managed school admissions, been the Head of SEN statutory services and is currently the lead for Policy in the Families, Children & Learning directorate. She is also a qualified librarian with a specific interest in children's literature. Carolyn has lived in the city for many years and enjoys being a governor at a school with such a vibrant and engaged community. She looks forward to supporting the school to go from strength to strength. 

date of appointment	18/12/2019
current term of office start date	18/12/2019
term of office	4 years
date end of service due	17/12/2023
appointed by	Local Authority
declaration of interests	none
governance at other institutions	none
% attendance	60%

 

Ms Katie Wood

Parent Governor

Katie has two children in Balfour, currently in year 1 and year 4. She has worked in the education sector for almost 20 years, in primary, secondary, special and International schools, with a common focus on pastoral development, policy and leadership. She is currently undertaking a Professional doctorate in Educational and Child psychology, which combines research with school based intervention at individual and systemic levels.

Katie is passionate about social justice and ensuring that all children receive the very best opportunities to learn and achieve.

date of appointment	05/02/2020
current term of office start date	05/02/2020
term of office	4 years
date end of service due	04/02/20204
appointed by	parents
declaration of interests	parent
governance at other institutions	none
% attendance	100%

Ms Shelley Baker

Co-Opted - Safeguarding

Shelley has been involved in education in Brighton and Hove for over 20 years in various positions in teaching, leadership, management and governance. She has been a Chair of Governors in two other local schools and is currently a National Leader of Governance, supporting other governing bodies. Shelley has a passion for school improvement and determined that all children should be able to achieve regardless of their starting point. Shelley recognises the importance of a well-rounded curriculum and the benefits of working with everyone in the local school community. Shelley has two children in local schools in close proximity to Balfour Primary School.

date of appointment	21/10/2019
current term of office start date	21/10/2019
term of office	4 years
date end of service due	20/10/2023
appointed by	Governing Body
declaration of interests	Headteacher at Varndean School
governance at other institutions	Governor at Brackenbury
% attendance	100%

 

Alun Price

Co-Opted Governor

Alun has been involved in education for over 25 years and has worked across a range of age groups in both state and independent schools. He is currently Deputy Head at Lancing Prep Hove where he is also pastoral lead. As a Director of Sport for over 15 years, he strongly believes in the benefits to pupils of extra-curricular activities and outdoor learning in supporting pupils' wellbeing and self-esteem.

Alun has three children who all attended Balfour and enjoys travelling and downtime with his family.

date of appointment	24/11/2021
current term of office start date	24/11/2021
term of office	4 years
date end of service due	23/11/2025
appointed by	Governing Body
declaration of interests	none
governance at other institutions	none
% attendance	n/a

 

 

Erin Moore

Staff Governor

Erin has just started her 4^th year teaching at Balfour, and Balfour is where she started her teaching career in 2019. She has been a Year 5 teacher for 3 years and is now teaching in Year 6.

Erin has a degree in Education Studies, which allowed her to explore many different areas within education that she is particularly interested in, including SEN. As a teacher, she has a good understanding of many aspects of Balfour and the surrounding community, and can share valuable insights into the everyday life of the school, as well as informing and supporting others to develop their understanding of the school. She also has a passion to learn new things, and how best to support every child. She hopes her governance role will allow her to do this even more.

In her spare time, Erin enjoys reading, and particularly enjoys sharing this hobby with the children of Balfour, encouraging a love of reading.

date of appointment	04/02/2022
current term of office start date	04/02/2022
term of office	4 years
date end of service due	03/02/2026
appointed by	Staff
declaration of interests	member of staff
governance at other institutions	none
% attendance	100%

 

Anna Hudson-Young

Parent Governor

Anna has two children at Balfour and began her teaching career in Learning support roles before progressing in to her Lecturing role at Greater Brighton Metropolitan College 6 years ago, teaching Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy and Makeup Artistry. She is also an Equality and Diversity Representative for the University and College Union and has a high level of knowledge, skills and experience of Neurodiversity and Special Educational Needs, on both a personal and professional level. 

Having been diagnosed with Autism herself in adulthood, Anna struggled her way through school with no support and after realising that her oldest child also had Autism, she has fought hard to highlight the importance of the needs of children with SEN and neurodiversity to ensure they can progress and thrive in education, both through curriculum adaptation and deeper understanding.

In her spare time, Anna enjoys drawing, reading and swimming. 

date of appointment	20/07/2022
current term of office start date	20/07/2022
term of office	4 years
date end of service due	20/07/2026
appointed by	parents
declaration of interests	parent
governance at other institutions	none
% attendance	n/a

 

 

Ray Leeke

Co-Opted Governor

Ray has just started as a co-opted governor at the school. He has spent his whole career working in education. He began as a primary school teacher, then a headteacher, and held senior positions in various authorities as school inspector. He has been an Ofsted inspector of primary schools and finally an area director of children’s services. He is now retired but is a grandparent of two children at the school, with another one to start in a few years time. His outside interests include spending time with his grandchildren, walking and travel.

date of appointment	14/09/2022
current term of office start date	14/09/2022
term of office	4 years
date end of service due	14/09/2026
appointed by	Governing body
declaration of interests	none
governance at other institutions	none
% attendance	N/A

Marcus O'Dair

Parent Governor

 

Marcus has two children at the school, currently in Year 5 and Year 3. He has a background in the music and media industries, having worked for clients including the Guardian and the BBC and performed at venues including the Pompidou Centre and the Royal Albert Hall. He is currently Associate Dean of Knowledge Exchange and Reader in Innovation Management at University of the Arts London.

date of appointment	25/11/2022
current term of office start date	25/11/2022
term of office	4 years
date end of service due	24/11/2026
appointed by	Parents
declaration of interests	parent
governance at other institutions	none
% attendance	N/A

Alan Gunn

Headteacher

 

 

date of appointment	01/09/2022
current term of office start date	01/09/2022
term of office	whilst employed
date end of service due	n/a
appointed by	Governors
declaration of interests	none
governance at other institutions	none
% attendance	N/A