Governors

The Role of the Governing Board

We have a very hard working and dedicated Governing Board and their role is to help to provide a strategic vision for the school. They work closely with the headteacher to decide on the school’s future priorities and then act as a critical friend in monitoring the school’s performance and effectiveness. This is achieved in a variety of ways including regular visits to the school to liaise with staff, children and parents. Part 1 (non-confidential) meetings of the Full Governing Board are open to the public, by prior arrangement with the Clerk to the Governors (contactable via email: clerk@ottery-primary@devon.sch.uk).

You can view a list of our current Governors and their roles HERE

Useful links:

Ottery St Mary Primary School Complaints Procedure

Ottery St Mary Primary School – Governor Impact Statement

You can view our 2022-23 impact statement HERE

In order to delegate and share the responsibilities of the Governing Board more effectively and efficiently, there are two main sub-committees. The Committees are a flexible way of dealing with specific or fairly detailed matters and offer individual governors wider opportunities to apply their personal expertise. The two main sub-committees are:

Learning and Development
Resources

Our Chair of Governors is Mr Craig Allen and, like all the governors, he can be contacted via the school office on 01404 812 977 or via the Clerk to the Governors at clerk@ottery-primary.devon.sch.uk.

Ottery St Mary Primary School – Staff Salary Declaration

There is now a requirement for maintained schools in England to declare the number of employees who have a salary in excess of £100,000.

At Ottery St Mary Primary School, we do not currently have any employees with a salary exceeding £100,000.

Mr Craig Allen

Governor (LEA) and Chair of the Board of Governors

Date of Appointment: 10th August 2022
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Governing Body
Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests: I work for Scomis. a Traded Service from DCC which provides ICT services to schools.
Beginning my life as a Secondary Teacher, I made a change to ICT Support and have worked in Education ICT since 2001. I specialise in consultancy work on School’s Management Information Systems with emphasis on Assessment Tracking, Parental Engagement and School Improvement Data. In my spare time I coach football and am currently Chair of Ottery St Mary Youth FC.

Mr Mark Gilronan

Ex Officio Governor (Headteacher)

Date of Appointment:
Term of Office: Ongoing
Appointed by: Ex Officio
Registered Business and Pecuniary Interests: Trustee of Smile Trust

I moved to Ottery with my family in 2008 and joined the school as Deputy Headteacher. I have been the Headteacher since 2012. Both of my children attended the school when we moved to Ottery and have grown up in the town. In my spare time I enjoy getting out and about with my camera and indulging in my love of photography.

Mr Joe Wall

Governor (Foundation)

Date of Appointment: 1st March 2023
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Smile Trust
Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests: Nil
I am Assistant Director of Finance at Exeter University and have held financial roles for 20 years. I have two children who have now finished at Ottery Primary School and am keen to use my training and skills to help where I can.

Mr Lloyd Meredith-Chapman

Governor (Parent)

Date of Appointment: 27th June 2022
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Parents
Registered Business and Pecuniary Interests: Nil

We moved to Devon in 2020, having previously lived in Hampshire. I have worked in local councils for 8 years, both in Children’s and Adults’ Services, currently as a Project Manager. I have two children at the school which is why I was keen to become a governor. In my leisure time I enjoy reading, playing football and generally keeping active.

Mrs Jo Wilson

Governor (Foundation)

Date of Appointment: 19th July 2022
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Smile Trust
Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests: Parent

I am the Director of JW Dance, with our own studio premises in Ottery St Mary, although I am a qualified secondary school teacher in Dance and PE too. After performing professionally for a number of years I then progressed to teaching and love to share my passion for dance. I have a son in Year 1 at Ottery Primary and I am keen to provide support to the school as a Governor.

Mrs Katie McLelland

Governor (Staff)

Date of Appointment: 11th July 2023
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Staff
Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests: Nil

I joined Ottery St Mary Primary School in September 2020. I currently hold the position of Pastoral Support Manager and the primary objective in my role is to ensure all children feel safe and listened to. I’m eager to utilise my experience to provide extra support and welfare to the children and parents at the school. I love spending time with my two young children, we all have a fondness of animals which we like to enjoy at weekends.

Mrs Alice Riley

Governor (Co-opted)

Date of Appointment: 19th July 2023
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Co-opted
Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests: Parent

I have 2 young children, the eldest currently at Ottery Primary and the youngest excited to start next September. I have over 15 years experience of assurance provision and am proud to work for a Devon based mental health charity as their Governance and Assurance Manager. I am keen to use my skills and experience to support the school in achieving its vision.

Ms Amie Langley-Ellis

Governor (Co-opted) and Co- Vice Chair

Date of Appointment: 25th May 2021
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Governing Board
Registered Business and Pecuniary Interests: Parent

I am a qualified primary teacher, currently taking a professional break to look after my young children. I have taught in schools in the UK and also in China, where I lived with my husband for 3 years enjoying many adventures! I currently have two children attending Ottery Primary and have a younger child still at home who will hopefully be joining them in a couple of years. I am pleased to have this opportunity help contribute to the education and welfare of students from my community.

Mr Alastair Price

Governor (Parent)

Date of Appointment: 4th November 2020
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Parents
Registered Business and Pecuniary Interests: Parent

I am a senior manager at the Met Office with many years’ experience in delivering quality weather services and, in that role, I am responsible for managing and developing people, scrutinising finances and output and determining future strategy. I have two children at OSM Primary but where I get leisure time I particularly enjoy hiking and exploring the great outdoors.

Miss Lois Harris

Governor (Co-opted)

Date of Appointment: 19th July 2022
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Governing Board
Registered Business and Pecuniary Interests: None

I am an HLTA at Glendinning Academy in Newton Abbot and I have been there since the school opened in 2020. This is a school for social, communication and interaction needs, and every child has an EHCP. This has helped me to gain a deeper understanding of different additional needs and ways that they can be supported to thrive. Music is a big part of my life, whether that is teaching it to students or outside of work where I often perform and write songs. I also spent time volunteering in the music department at Newton Abbot College where I helped put on productions, live events and ran music clubs.

Mrs Emma Blake

Co-opted Governor

Date of Appointment: 29th March 2023
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Co-opted
Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests: None

I am a Practice Nurse at the local GP surgery and also a Specialist Travel Nurse in Exeter. I have nursed all of my adult life in various specialities, settling with Practice nursing and travel since the millennium. Both of my children (now fully fledged adults) attended the Primary school following our move to Ottery some 20 years ago. I am pleased to be able to have the opportunity and privilege, to use my experience gained during my nursing career to provide support to our local school.

Mr John Farquhar

Parent Governor

Date of Appointment: 16th January 2024
Term of Office: 4 years
Appointed by: Parent Governor
Relevant Business and Pecuniary Interests: None

As a parent of 2 children at Ottery primary, I am very thankful for all of the fantastic work the school does, and am very pleased to have the opportunity to use my skills and experience to support the school. I have worked in Primary Education for 20 years; for the last 10 years I have been the IT director at a Multi Academy Trust based in London. I have experience across a number of projects including the building of new schools, large capital procurement projects and supporting other local schools. When not working I enjoy playing football and I volunteer as one of the youth coaches at Ottery St Mary AFC.