Governance

Branton Primary School and Nursery is part of Pele Trust.

Pele Trust Directors

Pele Trust Directors are responsible for:

  • Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
  • Holding executive leaders accountable for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils
  • The performance management of staff
  • Overseeing the financial performance of the Trust ensuring that public money is well spent

School Academy Committee

The members of the Academy Committees will support the work of the Directors by taking on a more substantial role in school to closely support and challenge the Headteacher and senior leaders to ensure that the school is offering an excellent education to all pupils. They have a prominent role to play in:

  • Identifying and agreeing key objectives
  • Development planning for improvement
  • Monitoring and evaluating the progress that the Academy is making towards its set objectives

The members of the Academy Committees will support the work of the Directors by taking on a more substantial role in each school to closely support and challenge Headteachers and senior leaders to ensure that the school is offering an excellent education to all pupils. They have a prominent role to play in:

  • Identifying and agreeing key objectives 
  • Development planning for improvement 
  • Monitoring and evaluating the progress that the Academy is making towards its set objectives.
Branton Primary School and Nursery
Academy Committee July 2025

 

Name

Role

Committee membership

Committee
Voting rights

Period of office

Parent Governor

Mrs Charlotte Griffiths-Stent

Chair of Governors
Safeguarding

Resources

Yes

12.01.2021

20.02.2028

Co-opted member

Rev. Tracey Malthouse

Vice Chair of Governors
SEND Governor

 Resources

 Yes

20.01.2023

 19.01.2027

Co-opted member

Mr Ryan Jobson

 Wellbeing Curriculum and Standards  Yes  25.01.2023  24.01.2027

Co-opted member

Mrs Abi Wilson

 

Resources

Yes

01.05.2012

12.03.2028

Parent Governor

Gemma Boyce

  Resources  Yes  25.06.2025  24.06.2029
Parent Governor Hannah Smith Health and Safety Curriculum and Standards  Yes  13.03.2024  12.03.2028

Staff representatives

Mrs Emma Miller

Headteacher

All

Yes

01.09.2023

 

 "

Miss Rachel Plunkett

Online Safety Governor

Curriculum and Standards

Yes

01.05.2013

30.04.2025

Co-opted 

Mrs Jan Johnston

Associate Governor

All

No

1.1.2015

16.9.2026

Academy Committee Information
 
Definition of pecuniary interest as stated in the Local Government Act of 1993 - A pecuniary interest in a matter is one where there is a reasonable likelihood or expectation of appreciable financial loss or gain to the person, or to other persons as defined by section 443 of the Act. Updated November 2024
 
Name 
 
 
 
     
 
 
Appointed by
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business or pecuniary interests
 
 
 
 
Governance roles in other educational institutions                                                     
 
                                          
Any material interests arising from relationships between governors or relationships between governors and school staff (including spouses, partners and close relatives)
 
 
 
Charlotte Griffiths Governing Body None None None
Abi Wilson Governing Body None None None
Rev Tracey Malthouse Governing Body None None None
Ryan Jobson Governing Body CEO of Trident Soccer  None Trident Soccer coach the pupils each autumn term for Football. 
Gemma Boyce Parent Governor  None  None  None
Hannah Smith Parent Governor None None None
Jan Johnston Associate Member None None None
Rachel Plunkett School staff None None Employed by school
Emma Miller Headteacher None None Employed by school
Attendance at full Academy Committee meetings 
(previous years' attendance can be found in the minutes of each meeting)
Name
Spring Term Meeting 2024 
Face to Face
Summer Term Meeting 2024
Face to Face
Autumn Term Meeting 2024
Face to Face
Spring Term Meeting 2025
Face to Face
Summer Term Meeting 2025
Face to Face
Sarah Parsons Yes  Yes  Yes Yes N/A
Daniel Leng  Yes Yes No No N/A
Jan Johnston No  Yes  Yes No No
Rev Tracey Malthouse  Yes Yes  Yes Yes No
Ryan Jobson  Yes, via speaker phone No  No Yes No
Abi Wilson Yes  Yes  Yes No  No
Charlotte Griffiths Yes  Yes  Yes Yes Yes
Hannah Smith  Yes Yes  Yes Yes Yes
Gemma Boyce N/A N/A N/A N/A Yes
Emma Miller Yes Yes  Yes Yes Yes
Rachel Plunkett Yes Yes  Yes Yes Yes
Kieran McGrane N/A N/A N/A N/A Yes
Claire Leightley N/A N/A N/A N/A Yes
Governing Body Meetings 2025-26
 
Autumn term 2025 – Thursday 23rd October 2025 at 5.00pm
Spring term 2026 - Thursday 5th March 2026 at 5.00pm
Summer term 2026 – Thursday 4th June 2026 at 5.00pm
 
 
Meet our Governors!
  • Mrs Charlotte Giffiths-Stent

    Chair of Governors, Parent Governor, Safeguarding

  • Rev Tracey Malthouse

    Vice Chair of Governors, Co-opted Governor and SEN link

  • Mr Ryan Jobson

    Co-opted Governor

  • Mrs Hannah Smith

    Parent Governor

  • Mrs Gemma Boyce

    Parent Governor

  • Mrs Jan Johnston

    Associate Member

Thank you!

On 30th September 2014 the Governing Body of Branton First School said goodbye to two longstanding Governors, Mrs Katie Carr-Ellison and Mr Derek Roughton. A huge thank you to them both for their support and enthusiasm over the years.

Mrs Sybil Telford, parent and grandparent of pupils in our school now and in the past, stepped down from her role as Co-opted Governor in April 2016.  We thank her for her past and present support of our school and also her fantastic baking can't go unmentioned!

Mr Stuart Nelson has also been a long standing member of the governing body as a parent and co-opted member, and great supporter of Branton. He stepped down in May 2016 having stepped in to cover for another Governor for a period of time.

Mr David Wilson a long term supporter of our school stepped down from out Governing body in June 2016. 

Mrs Laura Capper, our longstanding Chair of Governors stepped down as Chair and as a Governor on 27th September 2016.  We all say a huge thank you to Mrs Capper for her continued and tenacious support over many, many years! 

Mrs Helen Cowens stepped down from her role as Parent Governor in June 2017 and we thank Helen for her support and commitment during her period of office. 

Mrs Lynne Romartinez stepped down from her role as Co Chair and governor in June 2018.  We say a huge Thank You to Lynne for her time and commitment to our school. 

Miss Gillian Hogg stepped down from her role as Co Chair in June 2018 and Governor from August 2018.  A huge Thank you to Gillian for all she has done in support of our school and the school team. 

Mr Ross Wilson stepped down from his role as Parent Governor at the end of August 2018.  We thank Ross and his extended family for their support for our school over many, many years. 

Mr Tom Oates stepped down form his role as co-opted governor in October 2018.  We thank Tom for all his expertise and support for our school. 

Mr Tim Rogerson stepped down from his role as Parent Governor in November 2019.  We thank Tim for his support of our school and his work on our school and school grounds over the last few years. 

Mr Gary Schofield stepped down from his role as co-opted Governor in March 2020.  We thank Gary for his support and expertise for our school during his tenure. 

Cllr Wendy Pattison stepped down from her role as co-opted Governor in June 2020.  We thank Wendy for her support, knowledge, and experience.  Wendy worked tirelessly in support of our school and brought about may beneficial changes during her tenure. She continues to offer support in her role as County Councillor. 

Mrs Joyce Jenkins stepped down form her role as Co-opted Governor on 29th September 2021.  Joyce has been an invaluable member of our Governing Body over the last four years and did have the role of Chair for one year.  Mrs Jenkins brought experience and knowledge of education to the role and she will be well missed.  Good luck for the future Joyce! 

Mr Kevin Thompson stepped down from his role as Coopted Governor on 13th October 2022.  We thank Kevin for his support and knowledge during his term of office as Governor at Branton. 

Mrs Janice Woods stepped down as our Local Authority Governor in August 2023, having served a period of 7 years as Governor and in that time taking a lead on SEND for the Governing Body. We thank Janice for her knowledge, expertise and guidance over her years as governor. 

Mrs Fiona Strachan stepped down as our Co-Opted Governor in November 2023, having served a period of 3 years as Governor. We thank Jill for support, skills and expertise as a former headteacher herself.

Mrs Sarah Parsons stepped down as our Chair of Governors in April 2025 following our conversion to Pele Trust. Sarah served a period of 5 and a half years as Governor. We thank Sarah for her dedication, support, skills and expertise.

Mr Daniel Leng stepped down as our Vice Chair May 2025 having served a period of 4 years as Governor. We thank Daniel for his support, skills and expertise.

    Past members of our Governing Body
   Period of office
From To
Mrs Katie Carr-Ellison               Sept 2014
Mr Derek Roughton   Sept 2014
Mr Stuart Nelson   July 2015
Mrs Sybil Telford   April 2016
Mr David Wilson   June 2016
Mrs Laura Capper Dec 1999 Sept 2016
Mrs Helen Cowens Nov  2013 June 2017
Mrs Lynne Romartinez May 2016 June 2018
Miss Gillian Hogg  May 2016 Aug 2018
Mr Ross Wilson July 2017 Aug 2018
Mr Tom Oates Oct 2015 Oct 2018
Mr Tim Rogerson July 2018 Nov 2019
Mr Gary Schofield  Nov 2018 Mar 2020
Cllr Wendy Pattison  Jan 2018 June 2020
Mrs Joyce Jenkins  Sept 2017 Sept 2021
Mr Kevin Thompson 2020 Oct 2022
Mrs Janice Woods Sept 2016 August 2023
Mrs Fiona Stratchan April 2021 November 2023
Mrs Sarah Parsons November 2019 April 2025
Mr Daniel Leng January 2021 May 2025