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Who's who

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 31/03/2024
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 18/12/2023
term of office 4 years
date end of service due 17/12/2027
appointed by Local Authority
declaration of interests none
governance at other institutions none
% attendance  60%

 

Ms Katie Wood

Co-Opted 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 05/02/2024
term of office 4 years
date end of service due 04/02/2028
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 21/10/2023
term of office 4 years
date end of service due 20/10/2027
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 4th 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%

 

Image previewRay 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

 

Image previewMarcus 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

 

Image previewStuart Bayliss

Co-Opted Governor

 

Stuart is Head of Music at Hazelwick School in Crawley. His passion for music and the arts is what drives his enthusiasm for education and ensuring that a quality music education is accessible to all. Balfour Primary is Stuart's first appointment as a governor and he is excited to get stuck in and make a difference. 

Stuart lives just outside the city in Burgess Hill with his wife and two young daughters. 

date of appointment 05/07/2023
current term of office start date 05/07/2023
term of office 4 years
date end of service due 04/07/2027
appointed by Governing Body
declaration of interests none
governance at other institutions none
% attendance  N/A

 

Image previewThomas Holman

 

Parent Governor

 

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date of appointment 18/01/2024
current term of office start date 18/01/2024
term of office 4 years
date end of service due 17/01/2028
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

 

EX-MEMBERS

Anna Hudson-Young

Parent Governor

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
date of resignation 14/09/2023

 

 

Jessica Sullivan-Wrenn

Co-Opted Governor

date of appointment 24/03/2021
current term of office start date 24/03/2021
term of office 4 years
date end of service due 23/03/2025
appointed by Governing Body
date of resignation 31/07/2023

 

Fiona Dowley

Co-Opted Governor

date of appointment 08/12/2020
current term of office start date 08/12/2020
term of office 4 years
date end of service due 07/12/2024
appointed by Governing Body
date of resignation 30/11/2022

 

Mrs Charlotte Bonham-Carter

Parent Governor

date of appointment 13/03/2019
current term of office start date 13/03/2019
term of office 4 years
date end of service due 12/03/2023
appointed by Parents
date of resignation 14/09/2022
 
Mr Chris Clark

Co-Opted Governor

date of appointment 04/05/2022
current term of office start date 04/05/2022
term of office 4 years
date end of service due 04/05/2026
appointed by Governors
date of resignation 12/09/2022
 
Mr Simon Davies

Headteacher

date of appointment 04/11/2019
current term of office start date 04/11/2019
term of office whilst in post
date end of service due 04/11/2023
appointed by n/a
date of resignation 31/08/2022
 
Ms Neelam Parmar

Parent Governor

date of appointment 13/03/2019
current term of office start date 13/03/2019
term of office 4 years
date end of service due 12/03/2023
appointed by Parents
date of resignation 23/02/2022

 

Mr Nick Huxley

Staff Governor

date of appointment

11/10/2018

current term of office start date 11/10/2018
term of office 4 years
date end of service due 10/10/2022
appointed by Staff
date of resignation 19/01/2022