Bridge Farm Primary School is part of the Futura Learning Partnership. Find out more about our governance structure.

Local Governance Committee (LGC)

Governors are volunteers who support and challenge the school’s leadership to ensure every child receives the best possible education and makes progress.

The LGC meets regularly throughout the year to review the school’s performance, consider key issues and make decisions that support its development. Governors review what is working well and identify areas for improvement.

What the Local Governance Committee does

The LGC works with the Headteacher and staff to provide the best possible educational opportunities for all pupils.

Governors monitor areas including:

• Financial management and staffing.
• Buildings, health, safety and wellbeing.
• Pupil progress and attainment.
• The curriculum and standards of education.

The Clerk takes the official meeting notes but does not take part in discussions or decisions.

The LGC is responsible for:

• Ensuring the curriculum is balanced and broadly based.
• Monitoring and reporting on educational standards.
• The appointment of senior staff.
• Developing and maintaining a strategic vision that reflects the school’s values.

How the Local Governance Committee works

Governors meet as a full governing body six times each academic year. Decisions are made collectively, with the LGC providing strategic oversight while the Headteacher is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school.

Governors also visit the school and take part in school life, celebrating pupils’ achievements and supporting the school community. We aim to help create a safe, happy and welcoming environment in which children can learn and play.

Becoming a Governor

• Parent Governors: Elected by parents for a four-year term. Parents are notified when vacancies arise and are provided with details of the eligibility and election process.
• Staff Governors: Elected by members of the school staff, including teaching and non-teaching staff.
• Co-opted Governors: Appointed by the LGC to represent community interests or bring specific skills and experience to the governing body.

Our Governors

Diana Allez: Community Governor and Vice Chair

Term of office: 18 September 2023 – 17 September 2027

James Anderson: Community Governor

Term of office: 20 June 2023 – 19 June 2027

As a parent of two daughters, I am passionate about ensuring all our children receive a high-quality education that enables them to flourish and reach their full potential.

My professional experience in project management and data analytics has equipped me with strong problem-solving and strategic thinking skills. I’m eager to leverage that experience in my Governor role, to contribute to Bridge Farm Primary’s continued success as a fun, stimulating, and inspiring place for young minds to learn and grow.

Emma Brooks: Community Governor

Term of office: 20 June 2023 – 19 June 2027

I live in the local community and have a daughter who attends Bridge Farm School.

As a community and safeguarding governor, I am committed to ensuring that the school provides the pupils and staff with a safe and quality place to learn, grown, and work. I believe my skills and knowledge from many years as a safety manager and then auditor with an engineering background will benefit and augment the governor team going forward by holding those in positions to deliver to account and challenging how services and improvements are delivered.

I have worked as a civil servant for over 20 years and hope that by sharing the knowledge and skills I have gained I can support the school’s senior leadership team, staff, and wider school in achieving their full potential and continually improve pupil performance and enjoyment.

Duncan Cook: Headteacher

Term of office: 1 September 2026 – Ex officio

Leanne Jones: Staff Governor

Term of office: 18 September 2022 – 17 October 2027

I have been a member of staff since 2011, working as a Learning Support Assistant, supporting various year groups.

I have a well-established relationship with the school, from being an ex-pupil myself to my children attending Bridge Farm Primary.

Shaun Mullen: Parent Governor

Term of office: 23 January 2026 – 22 January 2030

I have over eleven years’ experience in education, beginning as a sport lecturer before moving into leadership within further education. I am currently Head of School at Bath College, overseeing curriculum, quality, and the student experience. My work across FE has strengthened my belief in the importance of strong foundations in Key Stages 1 and 2.

Alongside this, I am Director of LazySports, a South Bristol community organisation promoting participation, wellbeing, and inclusive access to sport. This keeps me closely connected to the local community and reinforces my commitment to the power of education and physical activity.

As a parent with a daughter at Bridge Farm and another I hope will join soon, I am proud to support the school as a governor and contribute to its nurturing, ambitious, community‑centred ethos.

Lee Payne: Chair of Governors and Community Governor

Term of office: 20 June 2023 – 19 June 2027

I live locally and have one child who attends Bridge Farm School.

I am a community governor and firmly committed to academic excellence within the school and supporting the school’s vision and values and ensuring they are embedded in everything we do.

I am an experienced consultant and technologist and have worked across the entire spectrum of the industry. I currently work for one of the UK’s top technology companies.

I bring years of experience in analysing and solving problems to the role and work with the school leadership team in order to ensure all pupils achieve their full potential.

Katy Ruck: Staff Governor

Term of office: 13 September 2024 – 12 September 2028

I am a year six teacher and the phase leader for upper key stage two (years five and six). I am passionate about providing a high-quality education and exciting extra-curricular opportunities for all pupils at Bridge Farm.

As a staff governor, I provide a voice for the teaching staff within our school and support the communication between teachers and teaching assistants and our governing body.

John Spring: Parent Governor

Term of office: 11 October 2024 – 10 October 2028

My background is in education where I was a PE teacher and senior leader within secondary schools in the South West before joining a national Multi-Academy Trust where I was a National Director across 30 academies with responsibility for safeguarding, attendance, behaviour and personal development. I currently work for a local authority in the South West that includes over 200 schools where I have been the Virtual School Headteacher and Head of Targeted Education since April 2023.

I have two sons who both attend Bridge Farm and, having grown up in the area and attended the school myself as a child, I have a strong sense of purpose to support the school in achieving continued success.

Former Governors

With sincere thanks for their service:

Matthew Flannigan
Term of office: 5 January 2026 – 31 August 2026

Kirsty Day
Term of office: 15 October 2021 – 14 October 2025

Joy Mounter
Term of office: 1 September 2023 – 31 December 2025

Useful documents:

• Governor attendance
• Declarations of pecuniary interests

Futura Learning Partnership

• Articles of association
• Annual report and financial statement
• Gender pay gap
• Governance
• Higher paid staff
• Master funding agreement
• Scheme of delegation
• Terms of reference

To contact the LGC, please email, Clerk to the LGC, using the following address: clerktogovernors@bridgefarmschool.org.uk.