School Community » Governors
Governors
Who are we? What do we do?
The Governors’ role is not about fundraising nor about cheer-leading for the school – although governors might well do these things! Their role is to provide strategic leadership and accountability in the school. This means they do not take decisions about the day to day running of the school but have a general responsibility for the effective management of the school. This includes involvement with the appointment of staff, finances, the curriculum and the school buildings.
Each governor is a member of the Governing Body. All decisions are those of the Governing Body as a whole and no governor can act independently of the rest of the Governing Body.
Much of the work of the Governing Body is done by committees which also usually meet at least once a term with governors usually being a member of just one committee. At Pool we have the following committees:
Resources which includes Finance, Premises, Staffing, Health and Safety, Teaching,
Learning and Assessment (TLA)
Pupil Support which includes Foundation (Church)
The standard term of office for a governor is four years. Whilst the Governing Body may at times look for various specific skills, there are no particular qualifications or requirements, other than a willingness to give time and commitment to the role, undertake any necessary governor training and be able to work with others as a team – although an ability to question and analyse does help!
For more information on being a governor, please see the National Governornance Association
Who’s who …?
The Governing Body of Pool School: Headteachers have an automatic right to a place on the Governing Body. At least one staff governor place should be available for an elected teacher. Staff governors may not chair the Governing Body meetings or committees and are only excluded from discussions of the salary and conditions of employment of other members of staff.
Joanne Pellow (appointed by the Local Authority) is the Chair of our Governing Body.. She trained and worked as a solicitor specialising in property development. She has lived in Pool since 1998 and has three grown up sons. Joanne sits on the Pupil Support and Resources committees and aims to make a positive contribution with her organisational and team management skills. (Current Term : 22/07/23 - 22/07/27. Joanne is now in her 4th term of office)
Vikki Farrar (appointed by the Governing Body) is the Vice-Chair of our Governing Body. She is an Underwriting Delivery Manager with 30 years’ experience in financial services in insurance and IT software. She is a Prince 2 practitioner in project management and ITIL certified. Vikki is part of the TLA Committee. (Current term : 13/06/24 -12/06/28 Vikki is in her 2nd term of office)
Claire Taylor has worked at Pool CE Primary School since 2024 and became Headteacher in April 2025. She graduated from Manchester University in 2007 with a degree in BSc Geography. She completed her QTS in 2009 and began her teaching career in London, before relocating to Yorkshire. She has 2 children and lives in Otley. (Term commenced 13/06/24)
Rachel Worsnop (elected by the staff) has worked at Pool CE Primary school since 2008 teaching in Year 3, Year 1 and Reception. She is the Deputy Headteacher, SENDCo and part of the Safeguarding team in school. She graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2001 with a degree in BA Early Years Education with QTS. She has completed her SENDCo qualification. She has 2 children and lives in Menston. (Current Term :17/07/24 - 16/07/28 . Rachel is in her 2nd term of office)
Moira Keith (appointed by the Diocesan Board of Education for the Diocese of Leeds): is a Foundation Governor. a retired Clinical Physiotherapy Manager for Neurosciences at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and now a Licensed Lay Minister in our local Benefice of Lower Wharfedale. She is part of the Pupil Support and Foundation Governor Committees. (Current term: 07/09/2025 - 06/09/2029. Moira is in her 5th term of office)
Joe Allen (appointed by the Governing Body) - Joe has been a co-opted governor since 2021 and currently serves as Chair of the Teaching ,Learning and Assessment Committee. He works as the Marketing Manager for a local multi-academy trust, leading communications and brand strategy across its schools. Joe is also a qualified primary school teacher with experience teaching in both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. (Current Term : 03/02/2025 - 02/02/2029 Joe is in his 2nd term of office)
Alex Allen (elected by the Parents) -Alex sits on the IT Operations Senior Leadership team at The University of Leeds. This department of around 450 are responsible for the provision, development, and support of digital technologies for approximately 10,000 staff and 40,000 students. Alex has a passion for developing people and processes and, through continual service improvement activities, has led service desks to become award winning, He has a Master of Business Administration degree (distinction), Chartered Manager status and is a member of the Chartered Managers Institute. Alex uses the skills and knowledge developed to help govern the school in his role as Chair of the Resources Committee. He is a Pool resident with two young sons, and with a passion for sport, he combines the two and helps coach his son’s football team at the weekends. (Current Term : 11/11/2022 – 10/11/2026)
Andrew Riley (elected by the Parents) - Andew is a chartered accountant and works as a corporate finance director at a large accountancy firm, advising clients on acquisitions and disposals of businesses. Prior to training as an accountant, he completed a PhD in pure mathematics at the University of Hull. Andrew has lived in Pool since 2012 and has two young children. Andrew's other interests include tennis and cycling. (Current Term : 11/11/2022 - 10/11/2026)
Claire Kirk (appointed by the Governing Body) - Claire is an HR professional and has worked in the NHS for over 18 years. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and is currently working in Cyber Security for NHS England, leading on how the NHS attracts and retains top cyber talent. Claire lives locally with her husband and 2 children, and outside work enjoys running and baking. (Current term :13/07/2023 - 12/07/2027)
Rev. Stroma McDermott (Ex-officio Foundation governor (appointed by virtue of the office she holds) - (Term commenced 09/11/2023 ) Info to follow.
Jen Peachey (appointed by the Governing Body)- Jen is a CIPD-accredited HR professional with over 15 years of experience within the field. She graduated with a First Class Honours in Business with Human Resource Management from Northumbria University and began her career in the public sector at Leeds City College. She soon transitioned to the private sector and currently is the HR Manager for a large, US-owned manufacturing company and leads a team of HR and Payroll professionals, supporting over 900 employees across the UK. Jen is passionate about STEM and is dedicated to developing apprenticeship programmes within her organisation, currently supporting over 30 apprentices and is also passionate about encouraging more women to pursue careers in engineering. She also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma and Master’s Degree in HRM both from Leeds Beckett. She lives locally to the Pool area with her husband and enjoys spending time with friends and family. (Current term : 25/09/24 - 24/09/28)
Anne Proctor (appointed by the Governing Body) - Anne is currently in her 6th year of headship at a Church of England school in East Morton, Bradford, with a similar size and ethos to that of Pool School. Working in this role has deepened her appreciation for the community impact of schools. Anne is a mum of three – two of whom have already flown the nest. Anne also enjoys the gym and walking the dog.( Current term : 06/11/24 - 05/11/28)
Sarah Mather (appointed as an Associate Member by the Governing Body). A previous Foundation Governor at Pool Primary School, Sarah is a qualified teacher and FE lecturer and has worked in education since 2005. Her main focus has been literacy and language, however she has also taught key skills and computing. Currently, she works in a support role in a SEN/D school. Sarah lives in Pool with her husband. Her 3 adult daughters all attended Pool Primary. Sarah sits on the Teaching Learning & Assessment committee where she has voting rights. (Term : 25/09/25 - 24/09/26)
Rachael Thomas (appointed as an Associate Member by the Governing Body). Rachael has been a qualified Primary School Teacher for over 14 years and has successfully completed her NQPSL. She moved to Yorkshire from Cornwall 12 years ago and now teaches in a mainstream school with a resourced provision for children with complex physical and medical needs. She has three children who all attend Pool Primary School. Rachael sits on the Teaching Learning & Assessment Committee where she has voting rights. (Term : 25/09/25 – 24/09/26)
To enable our Governors to be an active part of our school and well-known to our pupils, they are assigned to classes and stay with that class throughout their school journey at Pool. The Governors often come into school to work alongside the children; accompany them on school trips and attend class and whole school assemblies or Collective Worship.
CLASS LINK GOVERNORS. 2025-26
Rec Governor: Vikki Farrar
Y1 Governor : Sarah Mather and Rachael Thomas
Y2 Governor: Claire Kirk
Y3 Governor: Joe Allen
Y4 Governors: Moira Keith and Jen Peachey
Y5 Governor: Andrew Riley and Joanne Pellow
Y6 Governor: Alex Allen
How to Contact a Governor
The Governing Body is working hard in partnership with staff and parents to ensure that the school and pupils reach their full potential. We welcome constructive feedback and are keen to respond to any concerns. If you wish to discuss your child, we would encourage you to speak directly with your child's class teacher, or with the Headteacher, in the first instance. Some governors have children in the school and would be happy to be approached in the playground. The Governing Body is also represented at parents' evenings and school events.
Alternatively, please ring the school office on 0113 2843151 or email info@poolprimarysch.org.uk and a message can be passed on.