Chairs Message

Governance at Alburgh with Denton C of E Primary Academy

Alburgh with Denton C of E Primary Academy is part of the Diocese of Norwich St Benet’s Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). The Trust has overall responsibility for the strategic direction of all the academies within it, through its Board of Trustees. St Benet’s Trust believes strongly in working closely with local school communities. For this reason, each academy has its own Local Governance Committee (LGC), which supports the school and ensures that the values and needs of the local community remain central to its work. Each LGC operates within a Scheme of Delegation set by the Trust.
 
Who we are
Our LGC  is made up of Trust-appointed governors, parent governors, a staff governor and the Headteacher. All governors are volunteers who give their time, skills and experience to support the school. We share a common commitment to ensuring that every child at Alburgh with Denton C of E Primary Academy receives the very best education and opportunities to flourish.
 
What we do
The governors work closely with the school leadership team to support and challenge the academy so that it continues to thrive.
 
Our responsibilities include:
  • Promoting and upholding the academy’s Christian vision and values, helping both pupils and adults to flourish
  • Monitoring spiritual development and the provision of Religious Education
  • Supporting and promoting the academy within the wider community
While academic standards are important, we are also interested in the wider experiences that help children grow and develop. This includes the opportunities the school provides through activities such as breakfast club, sport, extra-curricular clubs and the many experiences that enrich school life. One of the most rewarding parts of being a governor is visiting the school to see learning in action, speaking with pupils about their experiences and hearing their ideas. We also value opportunities to meet parents and carers at school events and parents’ evenings, as your feedback helps us better understand the life of the school and how we can continue to support it.
Together with staff, families and the wider community, we are proud to support Alburgh with Denton C of E Primary Academy and the children who learn here.
 

LGC Attendance Records 2024-2025

For up-to-date details of the St Benet's MAT governance arrangements, please go to - https://stbenets.org/about-us/trust-structure-and-governance/ 

The Governing Body

LEIGH GOODHEW (HEADTEACHER)

Terms of Office - From 15th December 2014.

Business Interests - Nothing to declare.

Relationships - None.

BETH BARRETT (CHAIR)

Terms of Office - 1st June 2022 - 31st May 2026.

Business Interests - Nothing to declare.

Relationships - None.

I am delighted to be the Chair of such a dedicated group of governors. I have always had a passion for education, believing it to be vital in inspiring young people to unlock their true potential. Having taught History in secondary schools for over 14 years, several of which as Head of Year, I have witnessed the transformative impact that excellent teaching and pastoral care can have. Whilst living in Surrey I took on the role of Chair of the local pre-school and when we returned to the Norfolk family home in 2017 I was keen to get involved in the village community. Both my children, Abigail and Oliver, attend the school and I became a Parent Governor in 2018. I truly believe that our school is a special and welcoming place, where both children and adults can flourish in all aspects of their development. I am more than happy to chat with parents/carers either about my role as a Governor, or any queries that you may have about the school. You can either see me at drop off/pick up, or email me on - chair@alburgh-denton.stbenets.org

ADAM LASCELLES (VICE CHAIR: TRUST-APPOINTED)

Terms of Office - 1st June 2022 - 31st May 2026.

Business Interests - Nothing to declare.

Relationships - None.

Hello! I'm Adam Lascelles, thrilled to serve as a governor. With a tech and operations background, I value quality education for shaping young minds. As a parent of three children attending or soon to be attending the school, I was keen to support our school's development. My focus is on creating a nurturing, inclusive environment for academic, social, and emotional growth. I aim to enhance the overall educational experience by supporting innovative teaching, extracurricular activities, and effective communication. In addition to my role as governor I like to keep active and play hockey at a local club as well as helping raise money for local causes through Harleston Roundtable.

SOPHIE HICKS (STAFF)

Terms of Office - 3rd November 2022 - 2nd November 2026.

Business Interests - Nothing to declare.

Relationships - None.

Hello, my name is Sophie Hicks. I have worked at this wonderful school since September 2020. I am the school Deputy Headteacher, KS1 teacher and staff governor, these different roles keep me very busy. I have been a teacher for over 15 years and feel very fortunate that I get to work at such a nurturing and supportive school. I am passionate about providing our children with the best possible education so that each individual flourishes in all areas of their development. I hope that I can offer the governing body a real insight to what life is like at our school and work with them to continue to ensure that we offer our pupils a rich and inspiring curriculum.

BEN WITCHELL (TRUST-APPOINTED)

Terms of Office - 1st June 2022 - 31st May 2026.

Business Interests - Nothing to declare.

Relationships - None.

Hi - I'm Ben and I'm the owner and Winemaker at Flint Vineyard in Earsham. I have two girls at Alburgh with Denton and have always loved the nurturing feel of the school. I wanted to help as a governor primarily to support the school but also to offer any business experience that might lighten the load of the incredibly busy and hard working teachers. I feel lucky that my children are part of such a special school and look forward to contributing however I can to maintain this.

REV CHRIS HUTTON (EX-OFFICIO)

Terms of Office - From 23rd June 2022.

Business Interests - Associate Governor and member of Ethos Committee for Kingfisher Partnership (part of DNEAT). Governor and member of Ethos Committee for Harleston Sancroft Academy

Relationships - None.

Hello, My name is the Rev’d Chris Hutton and I am the Rector for the Earsham Benefice which means I look after the churches in the villages east of Harleston including Alburgh, Denton and Earsham. I have two children at the High School in Harleston and one in Earsham Primary School. I enjoy taking an active role in the local schools including as part of the Collective Worship rota in 6 local schools which include Alburgh with Denton school. Having grown up in Norfolk, I spent several years away before returning in 2013 to become Rector of the Earsham Benefice where I feel incredibly at home.

ANDREW STEWART (TRUST-APPOINTED)

Terms of Office - 8th February 2024 - 7th February 2028.

Business Interests - Nothing to declare.

Relationships - None.

Hello, my name is Andrew Stewart. I am delighted to have been appointed as a Governor at Alburgh and Denton Primary Academy. Having spent nearly 30 years in the Royal Air Force travelling to and living in many parts of the globe, my wife and I decided to settle in Norfolk. I was able to bring my military experience into Norfolk County Council where I then spent 5 years as the Director of Insights and Analytics. Since retiring in the summer of 2023, I have travelled a great deal and have undertaken a number of challenging bike tours in the UK and Europe. However, I also wanted to use some of my wider experiences in the role of a Governor at this fantastic school, helping where I can to ensure that delivers the best education.

PAUL COCHRANE (TRUST-APPOINTED)

Terms of Office - 17th June 2025 - 16th June 2029.

Business Interests - Nothing to declare.

Relationships - None.

Hello, my name is Paul Cochrane. I am delighted to have been appointed as a Governor at Alburgh and Denton Primary School. Having spent over forty years within the teaching profession, I am now in the fortunate position of being able to give something back. From a very early age I always wanted to be a school teacher and initially trained at Borough Road College (Brunel University) as a Physical Education Specialist combined with Geography and History qualifications. I have taught in a number of schools in the Midlands, Hertfordshire and eventually Norfolk, gaining vast experience as well as taking on management responsibilities in many different areas. The final twenty one years of my career being spent in Headships within a number of schools. I have always believed that education should be totally child-centred and that happy children of whatever ability, make progress if they are set achievable and positive goals within all aspects of education. Positive education is very much like a golden triangle- pupils, parents and teachers need to be proactive together in order to help our children reach their potential. I hope that in some small way my passion for education can enhance the experience for the children at the school. I consider it a privilege to be involved at this vital stage of the pupils’ education.

Governance

Governance Documents

Policies