Governor Profiles

Karen Davidson

I grew up in Pickering, North Yorkshire and moved to Wells with my family when I was 15 where I attended The Blue School. I completed my teaching degree at Warwick University and worked at a First School and then an Infant School in Warwickshire before moving back to Somerset to take up the deputy headship at Ilchester Primary School.

I became a teacher governor in 1996 and have attended Governing Body meetings ever since!

Each term I write a report for the governing body to keep them informed of school matters as well as providing information at committee meetings. I also work very closely with the Chair of Governors on a more regular basis.

I’ve been the Head at Brent Knoll since January 2006 and it’s been my most interesting and varied job yet! I feel very fortunate to be working at a school with such supportive parents and governors, a dedicated and talented staff and motivated children.

I’m keen that we continue to move forward as a school and that we keep challenging ourselves, governors and staff, to do the very best for our pupils.

Ruth Sheridan

As a young girl I moved around due to my father's job. I was born in Oldham, Manchester and at the age of four moved to Toulouse, France. After becoming fluent in the language and attending a French speaking school we moved again, finally settling in Weston-super-Mare in 1991.

I attended Worle Comprehensive Secondary School where I obtained many GCSEs and continued my academic studies at Weston College in 2001. I spent two years at the college studying for a Btec National Diploma in the Early Years. Using this qualification I applied for and gained a place at the University of the West of England (UWE). After four years of hard work, I finally finished in May 2007.

My teaching career began at Brent Knoll Primary school as the Foundation / Key Stage One teacher. After three wonderful years I felt it was time to further my professional development and I took the role of Foundation teacher at Mead Vale Primary School in Weston.

Continuing the role of a Governor enables me to remain in contact with former pupils’ academic progress and support the school in educating the citizens of the future.

Alison Banham

I spent my early childhood in Buckinghamshire and Suffolk, but from the age of 7 lived in Solihull, West Midlands where both my parents worked in education.

I completed my teaching degree at Homerton College, Cambridge and Birmingham Polytechnic (as it was then!) and moved down to Somerset to take up my first teaching post in 1979.

My husband and I have two daughters, one just completing her degree and one just about to start university life. They both recall their days at Brent Knoll School with great fondness.

Since 1996 I have gradually eased my way back into full time employment at Brent Knoll School, having been a 'mum helper', a special needs assistant, a supply teacher and now a full time year 5 and 6 class teacher.

This is my second stint on the governing body having been a parent governor during the 1990s.

Karen Polly

Although my childhood was spent in various locations, I have lived in the West Country for many years now and both of my children went to Brent Knoll School.

Having got my degree in Maths and Computing I started working for Somerset County Council in their IT department in 1985.  After two years I moved to Bristol and worked for a software house.  When the children were young I worked for myself developing computer systems for small businesses and volunteering at Brent Knoll School.  I started working at the school in 1999 as a support assistant and IT Technician and became a governor in 2000. I now work in IT at the Hydrographic Office in Taunton as a Test Analyst.

Gary Cavill

Born and bred in Bridgwater, I started my working career as an Electrician at British Cellophane (BCL). Whilst completing my apprenticeship I also gained a HNC in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. I progressed through a variety of positions in the electrical industry, finishing up as a Design Engineer with a pump company in Yate. I have four daughters, two of them currently at Brent Knoll School, one at King Alfred's and the other in further education. Prior to my starting at Brent Knoll I was fortunate enough to be able to spend some years at home watching them grow from babies into young children. My association with the school started as a parent helper around 2004 and as a member of staff in September 2005. I have enjoyed the subsequent years as a Teaching Assistant working with various classes throughout the school but mainly with Class 2. I joined the Governing Body in 2006 as an associate member.

Jane Hannah

I grew up in Somerset and after reading Law at Warwick University returned to the West Country where I worked in Insurance and then the Civil Service. I moved to Brent Knoll in 1985 and helped run the Church Sunday School for ten years. I became a Foundation Governor in September 2007, my husband having also been a Foundation Governor at this school. Both our sons received their primary education here and during that time I worked as a voluntary classroom helper and spent many happy hours ironing, mending and making costumes for school productions and Nativity Plays!

I have also worked at Fairlands Middle School in Cheddar supporting children who have special educational needs. I have also helped run the Village Toddler Group for many years and I enjoy seeing the ‘toddlers’ growing up and now attending Brent Knoll School.

Rosemary Keele

I was born in Somerset and went to school in Somerset and Bristol.  I studied Botany Zoology and Geography at Portsmouth and went on to work in Health Education, and Health Informatics working on electronic patient record development. In 2000 I gained an MSc. in Health Sciences as a mature student at the University of East Anglia.

My husband was a GP in Norfolk where we lived for 25 years before returning to Somerset 11 years ago. There I helped run a nature Watch Group for 4 to 12 year old children for 7 years.  We have two grown up children and two grandsons, aged 3 and 5. My daughter lives in Botswana so we make regular visits to Africa to see the family there.

My interests are natural history, walking, travel, cooking, pottery and art and I am involved in a number of community societies.  

As a Foundation Governor I would like to ensure that a Christian ethic is maintained in the school and would hope to facilitate the liaison between the school and the wider community.  I look forward to working with the head teacher, staff and other governors to ensure the continuation of a happy and successful Church of England village school.

Jools Price

I left Brean at 18 to commence my SRN training, where I specialised in Paediatrics. After 15 years home ownership forced me to leave my beloved nursing. I took a job in corporate finance. Successful but unfulfilled, 5 years later I left and started a day nursery for under 5's. The nursery was a happy and popular place for 6 years.  Ill health forced my return to Brean. Once fit & well I spent some years as a voluntary classroom helper in 2 local primary schools.  My gorgeous sons are my complete focus now that I am a stay at home farmer and mum.

Revd. S. Lewis

I grew up on south London, educated both in a three and two tier school system.  Leaving school at sixteen, I worked for the John Lewis Partnership for seven years - with a break of fifteen months spread between working for Camp America, in the USA, the Mission to Seafares, Brisbane, Australia, and travel in Malawi. 

In 1995 I began an eleven year teaching career in secondary education.  It was during the last three years of teaching that I trained (part-time) to be a priest. 

2006 my family and I went to live on the Isle of Wight where I was an Assistant Curate.  Then in July 2009, we moved to East Brent, and I am now the Priest-in-Charge of the Benefice of Brent Knoll, East Brent and Lympsham.

I am married to Claire and have three children, all of school age. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I grew up in Berkshire but moved to Somerset in 1986.  I met Alison whilst working for Lloyds Bank in Highbridge and we married in 1996.  We have a daughter, Florence, who has gained so much from being at Brent Knoll School that I decided to give some time back to it by way of joining the Governors.

As I am a self employed Financial Adviser, I am lucky that I can arrange my time around school activities and aim to give as much support to these as I can. I am also aiming to champion the schools fantastic vision, its' approach and Christian ethic.

Annette Smith

I grew up in the West Midlands moving to the West Country with my husband in 1999.

I worked in the Insurance industry for 15 years with roles ranging from general insurance underwriting through multi team management to most recently managing a Customer Service Call Centre.

We have lived in Brent Knoll for many years and have two daughters, Ellie who is in Class 4 at Brent Knoll Primary School and Abbie is in Class 1.

I enjoy regularly helping out at the school and have been a parent governor since July 2009.

Des Thompson

I was born and grew up in Berwick upon Tweed Northumberland – however I left the area on qualifying as a radio officer to travel the world in the Merchant Navy.

I settled in the Burnham on sea area to work at the maritime radio station in Highbridge, here I enjoyed a varied and successful 20 year career during which I studied business management.

I currently work for the Ministry of Defence at the Hydrographic Office in Taunton editing communications publications for the worldwide maritime community.

I have 4 great children ranging from 29 to 2 years of age, My 10 year old daughter is currently attending Brent Knoll primary school and our youngest child will be in a couple of years.