Our governing body is made up of the following Governors:
Our Governors
Click on the photos to read our Governor Bios
Governing Body 2026 (ID 1109)
-
Jennifer HewittChair of Governors
Jennifer Hewitt
Type of Governor: Parent Governor
Appointed by: Parent Election
Declaration of Interest: None
Length of Service: Elected November 2023 – November 2027
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibilities: Chair of Governors, Safeguarding (including Filtering and Monitoring and PREVENT), Pupil Premium, Headteachers Performance Management, Quality of Education
Other information: Jenny is mother to Jackory and Jacob and is Director of Services / Head of Safeguarding at Daisy Chain, a charity supporting autistic and neurodivergent people and their families
-
Kate SteeleVice Chair of Governors
Kate Steele
Type of Governor: Co-Opted Governor
Appointed by: Governing Body
Declaration of Interest: None
Length of Service: Re-elected September 2025 – September 2029
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibilities: Vice Chair of Governors, Finance Working Group, English (reading & writing), PE and Sports Premium
Other information: Kate is a management accountant, and has a daughter at Burton Leonard and a son who attends Ripon Grammar School
-
Matt CharlesworthLocal Authority Governor
Matt Charlesworth
Type of Governor: Local Authority Governor
Appointed by: Local Authority
Declaration of Interest: None
Length of Service: Re-elected November 2025 – November 2029
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibilities: Health & safety
Other information: Matt is Dad to Aoife and works in Financial Services
-
Lesley SlaterFoundation Governor
Lesley Slater
Type of Governor: Foundation Governor
Appointed by: Diocese of Leeds
Declaration of Interest: None
Length of Service: Re-appointed September 2022 – August 2026
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibilities: Church school distinctiveness, Head Teacher Performance Management
Other information: Lesley holds a number of roles in the local community: Church Warden at St Leonard's Church, Vice President of the Burton Leonard Women's Institute, Leisure Club Co-ordinator, Member of the Village Hall Committee, “Library Granny”, Knitting Club leader and reading volunteer at Burton Leonard School
-
Elizabeth EarlFoundation Governor
Elizabeth Earl
Type of Governor: Foundation Governor
Appointed by: Diocese of Leeds
Declaration of Interest: None
Length of Service: Appointed September 2023 – September 2027
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibilities: Church school distinctiveness, Maths
Other information: Elizabeth is mum to Matilda and Ophelia. She works in pharmaceutical research and has a background in project / client management. Elizabeth also supports the local community by raising money for Burton Leonard and Bishop Monkton village churches
-
Helen JohnsonParent Governor
Helen Johnson
Type of Governor: Parent Governor
Appointed by: Parent Election
Declaration of Interest: None
Length of Service: Elected January 2025 – January 2029
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibilities: Finance, People & Wellbeing, Headteacher Performance Management, Finance Working Group
Other information: Helen is mother to Ellie and Abigail and is a Chartered Accountant, working for an electrical engineering business
-
Jennie ShuttleworthParent Governor
Jennie Shuttleworth
Type of Governor: Parent Governor
Appointed by: Parent Election
Declaration of Interest: None
Length of Service: Elected October 2025 – October 2029
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibilities: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) & Vulnerable Groups, Early Years Foundation Scheme (EYFS) including Phonics and Early Reading
Other information: Jennie is mother to Rafferty and Edward and is a Speech and Language Therapist
-
Ian BarrassCo-Opted Governor
Ian Barrass
Type of Governor: Co-Opted Governor
Appointed by: Governing Body
Declaration of Interest: None
Length of Service: Elected January 2026 – September 2029
Term of office: 4 years
Responsibilities: Assessment & data, Finance Working Group
Other information: Ian was raised in Hampsthwaite, and was educated at the village primary school and then at secondary school in Harrogate. After reading Modern History at university, he then pursued a career in finance in London, returning to live in the Harrogate area with his wife, Katy, in 2019. He has has three grown-up sons.
-
Jack DoohanStaff Governor
Jack Doohan
Type of Governor: Staff Governor
Appointed by: Staff Election
Declaration of Interest: None
Length of Service: Appointed November 2023
-
Rebecca WolfeHeadteacher
Rebecca Wolfe
Type of Governor: Headteacher
Appointed by: Ex-officio
Declaration of Interest: None
Length of Service: Appointed January 2023
-
Sally DrakeAssociate Governor
Sally Drake
-
Kate OwenAssociate Governor
Kate Owen
-
Carol HarrisClerk to the Governors
Carol Harris