A chance to meet the
Governing Body
Mr Ric Welsby - Chair
Mr Simon Arnold
Mr John Bailey
Mrs Karen Burton
Miss Shannon Cerff - Staff Governor
Mrs Heather Chester - Staff Governor
Mr Mike Collins - Community Governor
Canon Nick Horton
Mr Andy Ramsden
Mrs Gill Ward
Mr Richard Wilkinson
Clerk to Governors - Mrs Sue Houseman
Governor Profiles:
Ric Welsby - I retired after teaching for forty years, in England, Kenya and Papua New Guinea where I was headmaster of Bugandi High School in Lae. Hilary and I have been happily married for forty-five years. We have two daughters, who both attended the old primary school, and two granddaughters.
Simon Arnold - We are relative newcomers to Yorkshire having lived in Langthorpe for just 5 years, but we really love it here. I have two girls currently at Kirby Hill - Alys and Esther - and am determined to all I can to help the school and children develop and improve continuously. I previously partnered a grammar school under the Government Partners in Leadership programme and work for Norwich Union Healthcare. Away from all this, I also suffer from a love of Queens Park Rangers FC and Alys humours me by coming with me to watch them a few times every season.
John Bailey -
Karen Burton - I have been a Governor for 4 years and live in Kirby Hill. I work locally at the Doctors' Surgery and am a member of the local church at Kirby Hill. I my spare time I enjoy gardening, walking and fund raising. I have a 19 year old son who attended Kirby Hill School and is now at University.
Shannon Cerff - I was born in Durban, South Africa, and moved to England with my Mum and Sister when I was 13. After school I did my A levels in History, Psychology and ICT. I then went to York St John University to do a QTS teaching degree where I specialised in ICT. From there I got my first teaching job at Kirby Hill. I have taught in Reception and Year 1. Within school I share the role of ICT coordinator and I am the PSHCE coordinator. I also run the school council.
Heather Chester - My involvement with Kirby Hill goes back to 1996 when our daughter, Emma first started school. I joined the PTA soon afterwards, serving 2 years as Treasurer and 3 years as Chairman. I am also Minute Secretary for the Coronation Hall Committee.As a member of staff for the last 6 years, I am passionate about helping to realise the tremendous potential of our wonderful school. Before joining Kirby Hill School, I worked for over 18 years as an Analytical Chemist for the construction materials company Tilcon (now Tarmac) heading their Laboratory Services Department. Following the birth of our son, Mark in 1996 I became an Analytical Consultant, setting up my own laboratory facilities, a role which continued for 9 years. As a family, along with my husband Mike, we are vintage and classic tractor enthusiasts who enjoy motorcaravanning, especially visiting the Clyde,its ships and ferries.
Mike Collins - I have lived in Langthorpe for 20 years, having moved here from Buckinghamshire. I am married to Anne and we have three grown-up sons. I worked in Harrogate, but I am now retired. For the past year (2008) I have been a Community Governor. I am a Parish Councillor for Langhthorpe, Treasurer of Coronation Hall and run the local Scout Group.
Nick Horton - I have been Vicar of Kirby Hillfor nearly 11 years and for all that time I have been a governor at both Kirby Hill and Skelton Church of England Schools. I have been a Vicar in the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds since 1973 and for most of those 35 years have been a school governor - either as a Foundation (Church) Governor or in Leeds as a Parent Governor. Both our children were educated in main-stream, local-authority schools. I very much enjoy being with and around children - especially of primary age. I am due to retire as Vicar and Govenor in September 2009.
Andy Ramsden -
Gill Ward -
Richard Wilkinson -