Peak Tor Federation

Stanton in Peak C. of E. Primary School Governors

A big welcome from the governors here at Stanton in Peak C. of E. Primary School. Our school is federated with Rowsley C of E Primary School. This means that the two schools have a shared Headteacher and Governing Body which operates in the best interest of each school both jointly and individually. This brings many benefits to each school on a management level and allows the Governors to work as a larger team.

Peak Tor Federation Governing Body has 12 members varying from teachers, support staff, parents and members of the local community. We work as a team with the Executive Head Teacher for the benefit of all the pupils and staff at Stanton in Peak C. of E. Primary School.

All governors are volunteers and have a diverse background, from education to health, business management to the Church of England. We're here to give the school a strategic direction and to act as 'a critical friend' – helping to guide the school and to improve the standard of education for all our children.

We ensure that local and national government legislation and targets are met, that we spend our school budget wisely, that the safety of everyone is paramount, and that the curriculum is delivered to benefit all children.

Governors take an active role in the school, not only attending meetings, but also school functions, undertaking visits to classrooms and helping out with school visits.

If you want to contact us, then we'd be happy to hear from you; please contact Claire Mead, Clerk to Governing Body, at school or via e-mail c.mead@peaktorfederation.co.uk

The Peak Tor Federation Governors are:

Chair of Governors

Adrian Thornhill

Vice Chair

Marianne Quick

Chair of the Resource Management Sub-Committee

Rachel Allen-Ashcroft

Chair of the Curriculum and Learning Sub-Committee

Amanda Ibrahim

Executive Headteacher

Alexia Wyer

Co-opted Governors

Johnathon Figg

Mike Lilley

Samantha Pawley

Lee Webb

Claire Hewitt

Matt Isherwood

Clerk to Governors

Claire Mead

Governors that have stood down within the last year

Richard Steventon

Richard Brook

Sarah Charker

Meet Our Governors 

Mr Adrian Thornhill – Chair of Governors

Stanton School has played an important part in my life.  My own education began there in the 1970’s and for the past ten years I have served initially as a Foundation Governor and subsequently as a Community Governor.  Having supported the federation between Stanton and Rowsley I was delighted to have been elected Chair of Peak Tor Federation in September 2018.

One of my most important roles as Chair is to help both schools, each with similar characteristics but distinct identities, to learn from and build on each other’s considerable strengths.  I am confident that the experience I have acquired from building and running my own business combined with the specialist knowledge possessed by my fellow governors, many of whom work within the education industry, will help me to achieve this.

I have always believed in the vital importance of primary education.  Not only does it lay the foundations for the skills that are so critical to enable children, ultimately, to lead independent and fulfilling lives but it should also foster a lifelong love of learning for its own sake. I am looking forward to working with the governing body in providing whatever support we can to the Head and her teaching staff in continuing to achieve both of these goals.

I am the Executive Headteacher at Rowsley Church of England Primary School and Stanton in Peak Church of England Primary school – just up the hill. I grew up in Manchester, where I attended my local primary school and then grammar school before completing a Biomedical Sciences degree at Keele University. After my undergraduate degree I moved to Derbyshire to complete a PGCE at Nottingham Trent University and took up my first post in a very large inner city school in Nottingham. I then moved to a large Primary school in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire and then taught for nine years at a middle sized school in Heanor, Derbyshire. This is my first headship where I have taken over for a two-year secondment. 

I am committed to ensure that every single child succeeds and flourishes, not only academically but also socially and spiritually. I believe every pupil should leave primary school a well-rounded individual with all the skills and values needed to contribute to society and live a happy, successful life. I am committed to uphold the ethos and values of church schools where there is a strong emphasis on the development of the whole child: personal, social, moral and academic.

Mrs Marianne Quick

(Resources & Finance Committee)

Mrs Marianne Quick         Parent Governor

Term of office:              03/09/18 - 02/09/22

Roles & responsibilities:      

Resources & Finance Committee

Equalities Lead Governor

Attendance: 2015            N/A

Attendance: 2016            N/A

Attendance: 2017            75%

Attendance: 2018            100%

I have been a parent governor at Peak Tor Federation for the past five years since my son began reception class at Rowsley school. My youngest daughter is currently in the Infant class and my eldest daughter has now successfully navigated higher education qualifying as a barrister. I am Vice-Chair of the governing board and lead Governor for Equality & Diversity including mental health and well-being. 

I have previously served as a Local-Authority governor in North-East Derbyshire and work as a full-time national official in the post-16 education sector. Prior to my current role I was a university senior lecturer in Psychology. I have extensive experience of employment legislation and education policy and I’m particularly passionate about the provision of quality, fun and accessible learning at all stages of life regardless of background.

 I have a long-term investment in the school as both a parent, governor and a local resident. I am also a member of the Rowsley Village Hall management committee having successfully secured funding for a community cinema.

Alongside my fellow governors, I am committed to supporting the staff and pupils of both schools, so that they can continue to be vibrant and happy places to work and learn at the heart of their local communities.

Sarah Charker

(Resources & Finance Committee)

Sarah Charker               Foundation Governor

Term of office:              03/09/18 - 02/09/22

Roles & responsibilities:      

Resources & Finance Committee

Attendance: 2015                  N/A

Attendance: 2016                  N/A

Attendance: 2017                  100%

Attendance: 2018                  100%

Sarah has a background in outdoor education, she trained at the Christian Mountain Centre in North Wales but 10 years ago relocated to Derbyshire. She has worked for the Local Authority in their outdoor education department, and also freelanced for other outdoor education providers. Although no longer working in outdoor education Sarah is keen to see the continued growth of outdoor learning at Rowsley School. As a Foundation Governor Sarah is especially keen to see the Christian character and ethos of the school upheld; a school where every individual is valued.

Sarah is married with two children, who both attend Rowsley school. Sarah is committed to seeing Rowsley School continue to improve and grow in the coming years.

Dr Claire Mead – Clerk to Governors

Claire is the Clerk to the Governors and is employed by Derbyshire County Council to support the governors, by documenting meetings and key decisions made, and providing advice on procedures and legislation. The Clerk to Governors is the only paid member of the governing team. Claire has been Clerk to Governors at Rowsley since 2014, and now to the Governing Body of the Peak Tor Federation starting in 2018. She originally qualified as a Conservation Biologist in 2008. She is now a full time parent and lives in Rowsley with her family and four house bunnies. Her daughter attends Rowsley C. of E. Primary School.

Mrs Rachel Allen-Ashcroft  

(Chair for the Finance and Resource sub committee & Safeguarding)

Rachel Allen-Ashcroft           Parent & Safeguarding Governor

Term of office:               01/12/21 

Roles & responsibilities:      Safeguarding, Chair for the Finance and Resource sub committee

Attendance: 2020/2021        %

Attendance: 2019/2020        N/A

I have been part of the Governing body at Peak Tor Federation since Dec 2020. My motivation to join the governing body was to share my knowledge, skills and expertise to contribute towards the values, ethos and strategy to support and facilitate the ongoing development and progression of the Federation’s vision and long-term aims. I am currently  the Designated Safeguarding Governor supporting the Executive Head and Designated Safeguarding Leads to ensure we keep children safe, and help them to learn to be safe. My additional roles also include being the nominated Chair for the Finance and Resource sub committee for the Peak Tor Federation,

My son has attended Rowsley School since 2015, and as such, I have been part of the school community within my capacity as a parent. I have been an active volunteer at Rowsley school, volunteering time to support the school with lessons such as gardening, working with the teachers to support their curriculum planning, and engaging with the children to inspire and promote a sense of connection to nature. I have also lobbied local businesses for donations and engaged with fundraising initiatives for the Christmas school Fayres, garden equipment, and donations to support the lost resources in the floods.

My professional background is as an Intensive Care Nurse qualifying in 2004. I have undertaken many roles within a variety of large National Health Service (NHS) Trust organisations moving from Band 5-Band 8A Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Intensive Care Medicine, holding posts as an Advanced Clinical practitioner, nurse, manager, and strategic educational lead. I have also been involved in the teaching delivery within 3 Higher Education Institutions since 2006. I moved into a full time academic post in 2016 at Sheffield Hallam University where I was involved in the teaching delivery for both undergraduate and postgraduate education. I then moved to London South Bank University in 2019 to further my academic Career within Advanced Practice Education.

My current full-time position is as Associate Director for Partnerships & International within the Institute of Health and Social Care at London South Bank University. I am the  Institute's link/ coordinator for all of Health's Post-graduate provision and chair of the CPPD management group. My other wider roles within the University also include being a senior lecturer and module lead for a work-based Learning module and also teaching across advanced practice provision and wider postgraduate module delivery. I am also a local fitness to practice manager.

I can bring all my skills to supporting the children, staff, and fellow governors to uphold and support the Executive Headteacher to achieve high standards of education and opportunities  for all.

Thomas Hurford

(Curriculum & Learning Committee)

Thomas Hurford            Co-opted Governor        Term of office:              01/12/20 - 02/12/24

Roles & responsibilities:      

Curriculum & Learning Committee

Attendance: 2020/2021       80%

Attendance: 2019/2020       N/A

Having moved to Warren Carr in 1985 aged two, and now living in Stanton-In-
Peak with my wife and two sons, I consider myself a lifelong resident of the
parish with only university accounting for any significant time away. I have
been a co-opted governor since December 2020 and have a particular
interest in teaching and learning and creativity. My eldest son is currently a
pupil at Stanton-in-Peak.

After training in Furniture and Product Design and working in related
industries, I accepted my first role in education as an Art and Design
technician at Chesterfield College. A natural progression onto a PGCE in
Engineering followed and lead to four years of teaching in secondary schools
across Sheffield and Derbyshire. As a keen advocate of life-long learning, a
period of employment on the Haddon Estate as a carpenter/joiner afforded me
the time to complete a part time MST in the History of Design at the
Department for Continuing Education, Kellogg College, University of Oxford.
Presently my working week is occupied by lecturing at Nottingham Trent
University and working for myself on a range of design and construction
projects. Away from work I enjoy family walks, bike rides, and my latest
hobby, gardening!

High quality education is as defining for the individual as it is for the society
they will contribute to. I am bright and passionate about robust teaching and
learning and very much look forward to supporting the school staff, my
governing colleagues and the wider school community in achieving our
shared goals.