The Governance structure includes a Local Governing Body in each school consisting of parents and staff governors.  In Elmlea Schools’ Trust, the two Local Governing Bodies work together as a joint local governing body and are responsible for detailed oversight of academic performance and pastoral care of the pupils including safeguarding.  They also act as a link between the trust and parents and the community. 

The joint local governing body is chaired by a Trustee to ensure two-way communication between the local governing body and the Board of Trustees.

Our Governors are selected for their skills and each brings a professional expertise to the work of the Board. They are either elected by parents as indicated or appointed by the Board of Trustees

LOCAL GOVERNING BODY (JOINT COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF ELMLEA INFANT AND ELMLEA JUNIOR SCHOOL GOVERNORS):

Chair: Gareth Beynon (Trustee)

Vice-Chair: Andrea Paraskeva

Hannah Petherick

Junior School
SEND and Mental Health & Wellbeing Governor (Infant School)
Term of Office 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2025
Hannah has two daughters at Elmlea. Her day job is as a family lawyer at Burges Salmon with ten years experience. In her spare time she enjoys walking or running, and cooking.

Dr Ting Ting Yuan

Junior School
Governor
Term of Office 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2025
Tingting has a son and a daughter who are both at Elmlea. She has been teaching and researching education at universities for the past 10 years. She teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students, and supervises doctoral students in Education Studies, especially in Comparative and International Education. Her educational research includes global education policies, foreign aid in education and teacher development in the Global South. In her spare time Tingting enjoys swimming and travelling with kids.

Andrea Paraskeva

Infant School
Governor and Vice Chair of the Joint Local Governing Body
Term of Office 14 July 2022 to 13 July 2026
Andrea has two sons at Elmlea. She has worked as a teacher in secondary schools since leaving University in 2010, and is currently teaching psychology and sociology at Redland Green School. Andrea has a real passion for inclusive education which celebrates diversity. In her spare time, she enjoys singing in a local choir and playing netball.

Sarah Wilson

Junior School
Staff Governor (Junior School)
Term of Office 14 July 2022 to 13 July 2026

Lauren Windybank

Infant School
Staff Governor (retired)
Term of Office 14 July 2022 to 21 July 2023
Lauren retired as the Elmlea Junior School Staff Governor in July 2023

Jayne Storey

Junior School
Governance Professional
Jayne joined the Elmlea Trust as to provide governance support in April 2023 after she decided to resign from her career in higher education management to work more flexibly and pursue consultancy opportunities. When not clerking or acting as a trustee and governor at another local primary school, Jayne loves the arts, food and wild swimming.

Verity Cook

Infant School
Appointed Governor
1 September 2023 to 31 August 2027
Verity has a son and a daughter at Elmlea. She is a scientist providing Scientific Advice to the Department for Education. She advises on a range of topics ranging from monitoring infectious diseases that affect children and young people, measures to improve schools to provide healthier learning environments, to how schools need to adapt to reach net zero targets and mitigate for climate change. In her spare time, she enjoys travel and spending time outdoors as much as possible.

Thomas Worsnop

Infant School
Appointed Governor
Term of Office 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2027
Tom lives in Westbury-on-Trym with his family and has twin sons who attend Elmlea Infants. Tom is a civil engineer working across various infrastructure and defence sectors with over 15 years’ experience. He holds professional membership with numerous institutions including as a Chartered Surveyor and member of the RICS.

Ria Burridge

Infant School
Safeguarding Governor
Term of Office 12 Dec 2018 to 11 Dec 2026
Ria has served as parent governor since December 2018 and is now on her second term of office. She has two children at Elmlea. She is a qualified accountant with over 20 years’ experience and is a partner at a south west accountancy firm. She brings financial, operational and management experience to the Joint Local Governing Body. In her free time Ria enjoys sport, reading and generally being outdoors!

James Domone

Infant School
Website Compliance Governor
Term of Office 20 May 2020 to 19 May 2024
James has one daughter at the school with another younger daughter yet to start. James is an engineer working across different sectors but predominantly in aerospace. He used to spend a lot of time playing football and cricket before injury curtailed his ambitions. He holds coaching qualifications in a variety of sports and used these coaching children at weekends and during the summer for a local council in London when he was growing up.

Sarah Rosenburg

Infant School
Looked After Children and Pupil Premium Governor
Term of Office 23 October 2020 to 22 October 2024
Sarah is on her second term of office as a Governor. A mum of two, she spent 13 years teaching science at a North Somerset Secondary school. Sarah enjoys bringing her experience and understanding of the teaching profession to support the needs of the staff, students and parents at Elmlea.

Katherine Jackson

Junior School
EISA/EJS PTA Link Governor
Term of Office 20 May 2020 to 19 May 2024
Katherine has two sons at the Elmlea and has previously been co-Treasurer for EISA. Katherine is a Project Manager with 18 years experience and currently works on a multibillion pound defence project. Prior to this, she managed the education construction programme for a local authority in London and she brings this knowledge and experience to the Governing Body. In her spare time, Katherine likes running and cycling, and volunteers with This Mum Runs.

Arthur Lanham

Junior School
Health & Safety Governor
Term of Office 4 December 2019 to 3 December 2023
Arthur lives in Westbury-on-Trym with his wife and twins who attend Elmlea. Having grown up on a farm in the North Pennines, Arthur has lived and worked in Bristol for the past 14 years. He works as a Senior Health, Safety and Environmental Advisor for a national construction company and supports the work of the Health and Safety Committee as Vice Chair. In his free time, Arthur enjoys cycling, snowboarding and playing football.

Liz Rees

Junior School
SEND and Mental Health & Wellbeing Governor (Junior School)
Term of Office 20 May 2020 to 19 May 2024
Liz qualified as a Clinical Psychologist 18 years ago and specialises in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. In recent years she has begun to work more with health and education systems, driven by a real interest in collaboration and how this can ensure the best outcomes for children. Liz currently works part time in a specialist school for young people on the Autistic Spectrum. Liz has two children at Elmlea. In her 'spare' time she loves to garden, walk the family dog and eat out.

Kevin Williamson

Junior School
Local Governor (retired)
Term of Office 20 May 2020 to 7 September 2023
Kevin was the Sport and PE Governor. He retired from the Local Governing Body in September 2023.