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We look to the stars…

Telephone: 0117 903 0077

Email: airballoonhillp@bristol-schools.uk

Headteacher: Tim Browse

Governors

Meet the Governors

Parents are most welcome to attend Governors meetings as observers and copies of previous minutes are available on request from the school office

Contact: clerk@abhps.com

Nikki Jackson

Co-opted Governor and Chair of Governors

Although originally a parent at the school, I have always been elected as a Co-opted Governor. I joined the governing body of the then Infants school over 20 years ago when my eldest daughter was a pupil and went on to hold the role of Chair of Governors there, before the schools amalgamated. I was elected Chair of governors at ABHPS in April 2022 and  serve on the finance and Head teachers performance committees, as well as being the Link governor for Health and Safety.

I have recently retired from one of the local Hospital Trusts as an Associate General Manager in Emergency care, where I lead on governance arrangements and bring a variety of transferable skills from that role. I am proud over the years to have been involved in building the strong reputation Air Balloon Primary School has locally and further afield, and the positive start it offers to children starting out on their journey in formal education.

I am committed to ensuring that, within the resources available, the school provides a safe, happy and positive learning environment for the local community, where both pupils and staff are supported to achieve their optimum potential.

Martin Seasman

Co-opted Governor and Vice Chair of Governors

I joined the school as a co-opted governor in June 2018. I have three children: one is in Year 2, and my eldest has now moved on to secondary school. Both have thrived at Air Balloon Hill Primary School, and I want to ensure the school continues to offer the same great education and environment to other children. I felt that joining the governing body was the best way I can contribute to this.

I am currently a consultant, with a long previous career as a civil servant. In both roles I have had plenty of experience in financial management, and I currently sit on the Finance Committee, which makes good use of this experience.

 

 

 

Charlotte Cox

Co-Opted Governor & Chair of Finance Committee

I joined as a Co-Opted Governor in 2022.  I have links with Air Balloon Hill Primary School as both my children have attended the school, and as a local Cub Scout Leader for children who also attend the school.  With prior career experience as a Business and IT Change Project Manager in the financial services sector, and my current role as School Business Manager as part of the leadership team in a large secondary school, I was keen to put these skills to use for the benefit of the students and staff at Air Balloon Hill.

Tim Browse

Headteacher

 

 

Tara Conolly Hill

Parent Governor

I joined the board of governors in March 2023 as a parent governor and have two children currently attending the school, in reception and year one. I am passionate about enabling children and their families to make the most of the educational opportunities available, and believe I can bring an invaluable skill set that I have gained over my career of 10+ years as an analyst at Google to the role of Parent Governor to help further the aims of the school and aid in fostering the positive learning environment and strong community links already evident in the school.

Kayley Prior

Co-Opted Governor

​Having joined as a Co-Opted governor in 2021, I am looking forward to supporting the school to further thrive over the coming years. My eldest daughter has just left the school, and with my youngest looking to join in 2024, I have a vested interest in ensuring that ABHPS continues on it’s path to being excellent, inclusive and supportive for all students.

A business engagement and communications manager by day, I am naturally drawn to focus on wellbeing, inclusion and development, and look to share these skills and insights as take on my governor role.

Eleanor Taylor

Co-Opted Governor

​I became a co-opted Governor in 2023 because it means a lot to me to be able to help the local community.

By day, I am a Trainee Solicitor and I also have a Chemistry degree, both of which bring a variety of transferable skills to the table. My work requires me to be comfortable communicating with a diverse range of people, to holistically consider the needs of others and to digest complex documents. I was fortunate enough to thoroughly enjoy my time at school and I hope to be able to support others to feel the same

Jack Barker

Staff Governor

Matt Jago

Co-Opted Governor

I joined the board of governors as a co-opted governor in May 2023. I have spent the last fifteen years working in Civil Service education sector analytical roles, primarily in financial and funding analysis. As such I have a range and depth of transferable knowledge and skills that I want to share for the benefit of the school and our wider community. It’s hugely important to me that we provide every child with the environment and support required to thrive and with school providing such a vital part of this I endeavour to support ABHPS to fulfil that responsibility through this governor role. I have one child at the school and another set to join in the near future.

 

 

Philippa Cooke

Co-Opted Governor

I was delighted to be appointed as a co-opted governor in May 2023. A former teacher who retrained in the law, I am now a civil servant with extensive experience in analysis, investigation and drafting communications. I have one child in the school with another on their way and look forward to bringing my skills to support Air Balloon Hill. I have seen first-hand the hugely positive impact the school can have on its pupils and community and am proud to be a part of ensuring that continues.

Jude Watkins

Parent Governor

I was elected to the board as a parent governor in October 2023. I currently have a child in year one, and a younger one I hope will join the school in a few years time.
I’m an Occupational Therapist by background, and in my day to day role I work across Inner City and East Bristol in a role centred around promoting wellbeing, preventive health, and reducing healthcare inequalities within our locality. I believe that I have developed a range of transferable skills within this role that will relate to effectively championing and helping to shape the wellbeing and learning experiences of our children within this school. Having had a positive experience of education growing up myself, I am keen to play a part in ensuring that our children have every opportunity to succeed and reach their potential at Air Balloon. 
Lloyd Khan

Co-opted Governor

Alice Wills

Co-Opted Governor

I joined ABHPS as a co-opted governor in February 2024. I am a secondary school teacher in Bristol with extensive experience in safeguarding and pastoral care. I have a particular interest and understanding of youth offending through my voluntary role as a community panel member for the Bristol Youth Justice Service, which I have done for 7 years. 

I look forward to utilising my skills and experience in this role, as I firmly believe that a good primary education provides the vital foundational skills to allow a child to go on to prosper and achieve their full potential.

 

 

Miss J Liley

Associate Member

 

 

Christopher Hills

Clerk to Governors

clerk@abhps.com

Welcome from the Chair of Governors

Dear Parents, Carers and Friends of Air Balloon Hill Primary School,

Welcome to the Air Balloon governing board! 

I have been a governor at the school since its inception in 2009, on the amalgamation of the previous infants and junior schools. I am a parent of the former infant and junior schools and previous Chair of Governors of Air Balloon Hill Infants school. I was appointed to the role of Chair of Governors at ABHPS in April 2022 on my recent retirement from a long nursing and managerial career in one of the local Acute hospital trusts.  I am supported by a very experienced member of the board Martin Seasman, who is my vice-chair.

As Chair, I am responsible for ensuring the board functions effectively.  This means: 

  • ensuring that the board fulfils its statutory responsibilities
  • providing clear leadership and direction to the board, keeping if focused on its core functions
  • ensuring governors work as part of an effective team
  • ensuring all governors are actively contributing and optimising their relevant skills and experience to the benefit of the school; 
  • ensuring every governor knows what is expected of them and undertakes appropriate training.  

The governing board is made up of various groups of people who represent our school and local community, including parents, staff, co-opted and local authority members. I am delighted to be a long serving co-opted governor at ABHPS and to be working with a very talented group of people, who give their time and energy voluntarily to support Mr Browse and the school. 

As a governing board we have 3 core functions:

To ensure clarity of vision, ethos and the strategic direction of the school.  We do this by reviewing the School Development Plan, asking questions as a ‘critical friend’ to make sure that the plan in place will lead to Air Balloon being a place where everyone can achieve, everyone can learn and everyone belongs.  As governors we are not charged with making operational decisions on the running of the school – we work with the school to set the vision and appoint Mr Browse and the Senior Leadership Team to decide how this will be achieved, and have mechanisms in place to question operational decisions if these do not seem to be delivering the desired outcome or align with the school vision.  

Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.  We do this in part through the Headteacher’s annual performance review, managed by a small committee and led by the Chair.  Additionally, all governors have the chance to ask questions about the Head’s Report which is brought to each Full Governing Board meeting.  The main focus of this is achieved through the governor Education Committee who regularly reviews educational performance across the school, and look at the performance of specific groups of pupils and those who may need additional support, to make sure that time, resources and money are being well-managed to meet the needs of all pupils.  

Overseeing the financial performance of the school and make sure its money is well spent.  The finance committee works in partnership with Mr Browse and Mrs Bowyer – School Business Manager, to set and oversee the school budget and bring critical decisions and outturns to the full board for questions and approval.  

Governors also have a remit to make sure all stakeholders are being involved in the life of the school.  One of this schools’ strengths is the diversity of backgrounds represented in the school population.  Therefore, we are continuing to work closely with the School Leadership Team to further develop the sense that ‘everyone belongs’ by bringing the parent voice into the school’s work on Equalities.  

Please do remember that parents are welcome to join governors’ meetings as observers, or to send questions if you’d like to hear more about our work via our clerk- clerk@abhps.com.

If you think you might be interested in joining the governing board, you can find out more information about becoming a school governor here and please look out for vacancies advertised in the school newsletter, or contact the clerk to express an interest.   

Kindest regards,

Nikki Jackson

© 2012-2024 Air Balloon Hill Primary School, Hillside Road, St George, Bristol, BS5 7PB
Telephone: 0117 903 0077 Email: airballoonhillp@bristol-schools.uk