Meet the Governors

The Governors are responsible for the policies and running of the school.  The day to day organisation and administration of the school is delegated to the Headteacher.  The Full Governing Body meet at least twice a term.  Governors may form committees to consider a particular issue such as Headteacher Performance Management, Pay or Complaints and individual governors frequently visit the school.

The Governors’ work is largely unseen but is of great importance.  They are part of a vital series of checks and balances of which the system of education by local authority is built up.   They have general responsibility for the fabric of the school building.  They are responsible, in close consultation with the Headteacher, for the appointment of staff.  They have oversight of Special Educational Needs provision, take interest in the school’s curriculum development and may offer advice to the Headteacher.

Each member of the Governing Body serves for a fixed term.  Minutes of all Governors’ meetings are kept at school and, given reasonable notice, can be seen at the request of any parent.  Governors will be pleased to receive any views that the parents may have.

Click here for our Governance Statement, effective September 2023.

 Foundation Governor - Mr Martin Ives - Chair of Governors

I am a recently retired teacher, headteacher and school chaplain with nearly forty years’ experience in three schools in Berkshire, Suffolk and Oxfordshire.

Having settled initially near Great Tey in September 2022 to be near to my two grandsons, I joined the governing body at Christmas 2022. I have recently moved to Woodbridge and serve as a foundation governor and have been Chair since September 2023. I am passionate in believing that a child’s school experience should be an enjoyable, enriching and enlightening one and that the focus of governors should be to work with Mrs Overton to enable the delivery of a stimulating curriculum in a safe environment.

Foundation Governor - Vacancy

  Representing the Local Authority - Mrs Cathy Rayner 

When my two daughters started at Great Tey, I joined the PTA and soon after became a school governor. I had originally worked as a secondary school biology teacher after my degree and I have since worked on our farm, done primary level supply teaching and private tutoring, and done further qualifications and worked as a counsellor. My time at Great Tey has reinforced my strong belief in the value of a village primary school and I am delighted that my grandson now attends the school. I will continue to support the work of the school in providing a high standards in both the academic and wider aspects of education, while also striving to ensure it is a good and enjoyable working environment for all. 

Co-Opted Governor - Mr Kelvin Blanchard - Vice Chair of Governors

I have been a Governor at the school since 2013. I am at present Vice Chairman with a responsibility of monitoring the teaching of Mathematics and Science at the school as well as managing the Headteacher’s Performance Management.  I also monitor the learning and progress made by Pupil Premium children.  I lived in the village of Great Tey between 1991 and 2015. Both my children attended the village Primary School and during their time had a very happy and fantastic learning experience which enabled them to be very successful in their later schooling and beyond. I fully retired last year after 47 years as a secondary school teacher. I was Head of a Science Faculty in a large comprehensive school in Colchester for over twenty of these years and during this time was involved in delivering many major changes in the curriculum and methods of assessment as well as leading and managing a team of staff in the implementation of new methods of teaching and learning.  I strongly believe in the ethos of small village schools and with the additional time I now have will strive to maintain the high standards of learning and behaviour at the school, as well as the extremely supportive nature the children have.

 Co-opted Governor - Mr Ugo Simonelli 

I have lived in the village for 18 years, though I am originally from Naples. Two of my three daughters have attended the school, and my youngest is currently in her final year here. My career has always been in the hospitality industry, starting as a chef and now as a Food and Beverage Director at a spa hotel. In this role I oversee health and safety, and I bring this experience to my work as a school governor, helping to ensure the school provides a safe environment for all its pupils.

Co-Opted Governor - Mrs Margaret Jones

Having recently retired and moved to the village; I would like to contribute to the running of the school. My background in health research governance has given me an understanding of the need for policies and procedures including accessibility and transparency, compliance to national frameworks and legislation. Additionally, working in employment services has improved my awareness of the many varied challenges that are faced by individuals. I would hope that this combination of work focussed skills together with being actively involved with my 5 young grandchildren will be a firm basis to support the continued development of the school.

Co-Opted Governor - Mr Ben Wheeler

I have been a governor at the school since 2021. I have 2 children in the school and take a special interest in the school budget and raising funds for school through grants and partnerships. My responsibilities as a governor include the yearly financial submission to the Department for Education, a member of the staff pay and conditions committee and subject monitoring responsibility for History, Geography and IT.

Co-Opted Governor - Vacancy

Parent Governor - Ms Briony Waller

Parent Governor - Mrs Sarah Frost

Staff Governor - Ms Martha Lambert

I am a passionate early years teacher with 15 years experience. The early years of children’s lives are so formative and it is a privilege to be able to play a part in sharing and contributing to those early experiences. I love the flexibility that working in the Early Years Foundation Stage offers, being able to respond to children’s questions, interests and needs, often taking learning in unexpected but equally valuable directions.   

I came to Great Tey in 2017 and it is the best place I have worked. I have enjoyed representing the staff as a Governor over the last few years.

  Headteacher -  Mrs Lucy Overton

I joined Great Tey as Head teacher in September 2015 having spent the previous 14 years as the Deputy Head of two schools in Clacton.  I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the school and the village over the last two years -.  I now know the school to be one which is greatly loved, valued and supported both by parents and by the local community, and I hugely appreciate that support.  I feel passionately that, when it comes to the important decision of which school their child should attend, parents should have a wide choice of good schools available locally so that they can ensure their child attends a school in which they have full confidence.   I  see my time at Great Tey as a time in which I can help to build on the positive, nurturing environment that exists for all of our pupils, taking the school from strength to strength and working with parents, staff and the community to ensure the school is the best it can possibly be.

All our governors can be contacted through the school.

Please address your correspondence to the name of the governor at:

Great Tey Primary School

Chrismund Way

Great Tey

Colchester

Essex

CO6 1AZ

Governor who left in July 2017: Mrs Susan Wakeling

Governor who left in July 2018:  Mrs Helen Dow

Governor who left in 2020: Rev. John Richardson

Governors who left in 2021: Mr Matt Halls and Mrs Helen Langthorne

Governors who left in 2022: Mrs Carol Almond, Mrs Rachael Stone, Mrs Becca Frances and Mrs Carly Canning

Governors who left in 2023: Mr Chris Percival, Mr Trevor Pearce, Mrs Georgina King

Governors who left in 2024: Rev. Ian Scott-Thompson, Mr Graham Hodgkins

Governors who left in 2025: Mr Gavin Copeman