CASTLE PRIMARY SCHOOL – GOVERNING BOARD AS AT 01/09/2026

Name Type of Governor Appointing Body Office

Term – 

3 years

Committee(s) Lead Governor Role(s) Registered Interests
Val Bishop Local Authority Local Authority Chair of FGB 16.06.2026-15.06.2029 Pay Staff Wellbeing, Early Years, School Improvement, Curriculum KS1 Parent of a child / children at school
Mike Cooper Parent Governing Body – uncontested   25.11.2025-24.11.2028 HT Appraisal Community / Parental Engagement, GDPR Parent of a child / children at school, Employee at Equin Ltd, software used at CPS
Jill Larcombe Foundation Tiverton Co-operative Learning Partnership (TCLP)    07.12.2023- 06.12.2026 HT Appraisal, Pay  Safeguarding, Inclusion / SEND, Vulnerable Children, Children In Care Devon Association of Governors
Charlene March Parent Governing Body – uncontested   22.05.2026 – 21.05.2029     Parent of a child / children at school
Tom Paddon Staff–Head Teacher   Head Teacher 01.09.2025     Staff Member, Director of TCLP
Katy Plumley Staff Governing Body - uncontested   07.12.2023-06.12.2026   Health & Safety, Premises, Personnel / HR Staff Member & Parent of a child / children at school
Barnaby Poslett Co-opted Governing Body   21.05.2026 – 20.5.2029 Pay   Employee of Blackdown Education Partnership
Vacancy Foundation TCLP       Attendance & Behaviour, Pupil Premium  
Vacancy Co-opted            
Vacancy Co-opted         Deputy Safeguarding, Inclusion / SEND, Vulnerable Children  Parent of a child/children at school
Vacancy Parent       HT Appraisal Curriculum KS2, Finance  
Fiona Lowe Clerk     01.09.2018      

Details of those who have left within the last 12 months:

Catherine McBride Co-opted Governing Body 11.07.2024 – 22.07.2026
Jeremy Hidderley Parent Governing Body  15.12.2025 – 22.07.2026
Emma Fell Co-opted Governing Body 12.09.2024 – 12.02.2026
Kylie Taylor Parent Governing Body – uncontested 25.11.2025 – 26.01.2026
Val Bishop Parent   17.03.2025 – 15.12.2025

 

CASTLE PRIMARY SCHOOL - GOVERNORS ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS - ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026

 

Full  Governing Body (FGB)

 

Pay Committee

10/09/25

16/10/25

15/12/25

11/02/26

23/04/26

21/05/26

15/07/26

 

23/11/2025

Val Bishop

Yes

Yes

V

S

V

S

Yes

 

YES

Mike Cooper

 

 

V

Yes

V

Yes

Yes

 

 

Emma Fell

S

Yes

V

Yes

 

 

 

 

 

Jeremy Hidderley

Yes

Yes

V

Yes

V

Yes

Yes

 

YES

Jill Larcombe

S

Yes

V

Yes

V

Yes

S

 

YES

Catherine McBride

Yes

Yes

V

Yes

V

Yes

S

 

 

Charlene March

 

 

 

 

 

 

S

 

 

Tom Paddon

Yes

Yes

V

Yes

V

Yes

Yes

 

 

Katy Plumley

Yes

Yes

NS

Yes

S

Yes

Yes

 

 

Barnaby Poslett

 

 

 

 

 

Yes

Yes

 

 

Kylie Taylor

 

 

S

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key:         

NS Absence not sanctioned            
  S Absence sanctioned            
  V Attended Virtually            
 

 

Shaded areas denote meeting when a governor is not a member at the date of the meeting    

 

The Structure of the Governing Board 

The Governing Board of Castle Primary School is made up of:

  • 3 elected parent governors
  • 2 Foundation governors (nominated by Tiverton Co-operative Learning Partnership) 
  • 1 Local Authority (LA) governor
  • 2 staff governors (one of which is the Head Teacher)
  • 3 co-opted governors

Other than the Head Teacher, each governor serves a three year term of office at a time.  The Governing Board is assisted by a Clerk to the Governors, who is employed by Devon County Council.

Contact the Governing Board  

To contact the Governing Board, please email the clerk, Fiona Lowe, at:

 clerk@castletiverton.school 

The role of Castle Primary School’s Governing Board is:  

  •  to raise educational standards   
  •  to set the Schools' policy framework  
  •  to support the Head of School and staff in the management of the school 
  •  to improve the school's financial effectiveness  
  •  to represent the community in general in the running of the school  

The Full Governing Board meets twice per term.