Meet the Governors
Our Governors support Bickerton Holy Trinity CE School, the headteacher and the staff by helping with the leadership and management of the school.
The main responsibilities of a school governor include:
- Ensuring the strategic direction, vision and ethos of a school.
- Holding leaders within a school to account on various issues.
- Overseeing financial performance and ensuring money is well spent across a school.
Our Governors bring a wide range of skills and expertise from their professional lives to the governing board and school benefits greatly from this.
Bickerton Holy Trinity CE Primary School adopts The Circle Model of Governance, which means six full governing board meetings across the year – one each half
term. The task of monitoring specific areas is delegated to individuals or pairs as link governors rather than the committee and working parties can be set up as and when required to address specific time-consuming matters. However, the majority of the work is completed in the two full governing board meetings a term.
Our Governors are local people who have one thing in common; they are all committed to the success of our school. Our governing body consists of two foundation governors appointed by the church, two co-opted governors, two parent governors, one staff governor, a local authority governor and the head teacher. It employs a professional clerk who minutes decisions and assists in the drawing up of agenda, and provides expert external advice to the full governing body.
Full details of Governors' roles, responsibilities and terms of office can be found by scrolling down to the bottom of the page and opening the 'Governing Body Details' document.
Our current Governing Body consists of:
Claire Carman: Chair of Governors-Co-opted Governor
(Health and Safety link Governor)
Nigel Briers: Vice Chair of Governors-Local Authority Governor
(SEND link Governor)
I have been a Governor at Bickerton Primary School for over 35 years. I am a retired teacher and former Headteacher at Calday Grange Grammar School on the Wirral. I have been an active member of the community for many years having been a Magistrate and Chairman of the Cheshire East Standards Committee. Locally I remain a member of the Bickerton Village hall committee and am Secretary of the Bickerton Holy Trinity Church Parochial Church Council. I am also the Vice Chairman of the Bickerton School Governors and fully support the work of our school.
Janine Arnott: Foundation Governor Ex-Officio and Reverend at Bickerton Holy Trinity Church
(Ethos and RE link Governor)
Hello! I am the Rector of the Benefice of Malpas, Threapwood, and Bickerton, where I have the privilege of serving our parish communities. I have a strong connection with Bickerton Holy Trinity School, leading Collective Worship each week and as a member of the Board of Governors. Additionally, I serve on the Diocesan Board of Education, within that role I also sit on the Distinctiveness Committee - this looks at the Christian ethos of schools.
Before entering full-time ministry, I worked in the voluntary sector and academic teaching and research, focusing on children's health and social care. These experiences continue to shape my ministry and my passion for children's education and welfare.
Janice Birch:Foundation Diocesan Board of Education appointed
Sandra Martin: Co-opted Governor
(safeguarding and Pupil Premium link Governor)
I moved to this area in 2019 and soon after became a school governor at Bickerton Primary School. Before retiring, I pursued dual career pathways in science and education. I hold a higher degree in Biomedical Sciences and worked in the scientific sector for many years, while also earning a BEd (Hons) and spending ten years teaching in two primary schools. In my free time, I enjoy Pilates, reading, and gardening, as well as exploring the surrounding countryside on walks with my Border Terrier.
Suzanne Smith: Staff Governor
Samantha Parker: Parent Governor
Lucy Davies: Parent Governor
Victoria Williams: Headteacher
I was appointed as Headteacher at Bickerton Holy Trinity CE Primary School in September 2024 and I thoroughly enjoy my role. I have been in the teaching profession for over 25 years and have worked in Shropshire and Cheshire and I have been a senior leader for the past 20 years. I love learning and have continued my own professional development through most most successfully completing my NPQH in 2023. I am very proud to be part of such a hard working, caring staff and feel very well supported by our dedicated Governing Body. In my spare time, I love to visit North Wales whenever possible with my family.
To get in touch with any of the Governors, contact the School Office on 01829720240 or e-mail admin@bickerton.cheshire.sch.uk