Governors

Governors play a significant role in the life of a successful school. They are representatives of the outside world, including specific stakeholder groups and they act as a mirror into and out of the school. Governors are very busy people and their role is voluntary. The Governing Body are active and supportive of school life and their purpose is to help the school to provide the best possible education for its pupils.

Our Governing Body

Dr Thomas Finnie - LA Governor and Chair

I have come, via an academic background (working and teaching in universities), to providing statistical and numerical analysis to support public health. I currently lead the analytics team within the UKHSA’s emergency response division. All my children are at, or have attended, Sutton Veny School and I believe passionately in the power of good education and internal confidence to provide opportunities that lead to a happy and fulfilled life. Something I want for each and every child in our school.

Mr Adam Lewis - Headteacher

I am extremely proud to have been appointed as the Head Teacher of Sutton Veny School. I feel incredibly lucky to have the support of such a committed and dedicated team of staff and governors, who all strive to provide the children that we serve with the best possible environment for their personal and academic development. Every child deserves to be happy, cared for and be given the chance flourish, whilst developing the behaviours and attitudes that will enable them to contribute positively to society, lead happy and successful lives and thrive in their relationships with others. It is a real privilege to be in a position to make these aspirations a reality for our children. I currently provide support for new headteachers through the Local Authority's headteacher mentoring scheme, as well as supporting school leadership as a consultant headteacher within Wiltshire.

Miss Leah Gee - Staff Governor

Mr Richard Jackman - Foundation Governor

I spent a full career as an engineer in the Royal Navy. Moving 17 times in 35 years, my family settled in Sutton Veny in 2009 and since then I have been drawn into village life. A member of the Parochial Church Council (PCC), I am one of the school’s two Foundation Governors and as such take a close interest in its Christian ethos and also try to promote its links with the local church. With involvement on the Village Hall committee and as a co-editor of the Sutton Veny Village Newsletter, I am well placed to understand and foster the important place the school plays in village life. I am married with 3 grown-up daughters and now several grandchildren who keep me in touch with the needs of a primary school age group. My primary escape from village life is sailing.

Mrs Amy Boyce - Parent Governor

I am a parent governor with two children at the school. My background is childcare with a degree in education and a Masters in play therapy. My own employment has mostly been family support through managing children’s centres and then working with domestic abuse victims. I am now a qualified child therapist with a business, offering play therapy and parenting support. I also work part-time as a family support worker within a school.

Mrs Maria Bairstow - Co-opted Governor

I live in the village with my husband and we have two grown up children and a dog. My background is in financial regulation having worked for 20 years within Retail & Investment Banking. My husband was in the Forces and we moved to Germany where I worked in a Forces Primary School for the first time. Since then I have worked in primary education in a variety of roles and have a good understanding of the challenges faced and the joys it can bring. As a governor, I believe I can undertake a more strategic role whilst understanding the operational practicalities providing a balanced perspective.

Mrs Anna Frapwell - Co-opted Governor

I live in Sutton Veny with my husband and our two sons. Both our children attend the school and at the time of writing this our eldest is in year 6 and youngest is in reception. We have a long history with the school with many close relatives either attending or working there over the last 20 years. I own and run a thriving digital marketing agency servicing online businesses across the world, so I bring with me a wide range of invaluable skills and experience. I am hugely passionate about equality and well-being for all, and I firmly believe that primary education is part of the essential foundations for continued success. I believe these first few years in education are pivotal in setting children up for personal growth and further development as they navigate their later school years.

Mr Tom Robinson - Parent Governor

We are a military family and moved to Warminster in 2023, our son is in secondary school and our daughter attends Sutton Veny. In my day job, I am an Army Education and Training Officer and completed the Cert Ed, a BA (Hons) in Post Compulsory Education, a PGCE and an MSc in Educational Practice and Innovation. As someone who left school without qualifications, I passionately advocate the importance and value of education and the crucial role of the primary years in preparing children for the future. I previously served as a parent Governor at my son’s school during the pandemic and hope that my educational profession, as well as my experiences as the parent of service children will enable me to support the governing board.

Mr Steve Tims - Co-opted Governor

I live in Longbridge Deverill and my wife and I hosted a Ukrainian family with a young boy who joined Sutton Veny’s reception class (22/23). My own children are now in their 20s and just before they started at their primary school it was placed in special measures. It felt right to join the governors in working to help the school improve. I served on the governing body for 4 years during which time we all worked hard to secure a new headteacher and make the school a great place for the local community. Prior to moving to Wiltshire, I worked for over 20 years for a group of English language & secretarial schools, so have a good understanding of learning organisations. I am looking forward to working with a school that is already providing an excellent place for study and work in our local area.

Mrs Jayne Melia - Clerk to the Governing Body

Jayne is an LA appointed clerk to the governors at Sutton Veny.

Schools are required to share the register of business interests and attendance of governors. Please click this link to view our information:

Governor Website Information 2025-26.pdf

Governor Website Information 2024-25.pdf

Governor Website Information 2023-24.pdf

Governor Website Information 2022-23.pdf

Governor Website Information 2021-22.pdf

Governor Website Information 2020-21

Governor Responsibilities and Committee Structure:
Our governors all have responsibilities relating to the following areas of school life;

Curriculum and Welfare Committee:
Curriculum: Ensuring the curriculum is broad and balanced, the implementation of the National Curriculum, Teaching, learning, assessment, special educational needs, collective worship, religious education.
Pupil Welfare: Child protection, safeguarding, health, sex and relationship education, equality, behaviour, anti bullying and e-safety.

Staffing Committee:
Agree staffing levels and make appointments, redundancies and dismissals, decide levels of pay, oversee performance management, responsible for the performance management of the Headteacher, ensure on-going teacher development and training.

Resources Committee:
Finance: Manage the school budget, make sure accurate accounts are kept, determine pay policy in accordance with School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions. Premises: Health and Safety issues, manage the school premises and building work, oversee and update the school’s maintenance plan.