After growing up and training in London, Gemma has been working at Orford CEVA Primary since she was a newly qualified teacher. She became Senior Leader in 2016, went on a short secondment to a large community school in 2019, then was appointed Acting Headteacher here in October 2022, before becoming substantive in November 2023. Gemma has a specialism in Mathematics education and has taught in all year groups. In her spare time she is a keen sportsperson and particularly enjoys competitive swimming.

Richard is married to Penny, a retired hospital doctor, and has three grown up children.  He spent the bulk of his career working in the City of London.  More recently he has chaired one of the big London Teaching Hospitals and is now Chair of Macmillan Cancer Support.  He also chairs the Friends of St Bartholomew’s Church, Orford.  He was previously Treasurer and a Governor of St Michael’s School, Highgate in North London, another CEVA primary school.  An Orford resident, Richard is a keen gardener and cook and also a part-time sailor.

Committee membership

Finance and Property Committee

Standards Committee

I have lived in Orford with my husband Simon for the past 3 years and came here from Hertfordshire via Framlingham. We have two sons. My first career was in UK and international marketing in the pharmaceutical industry. More recently I have served on the boards of a hospital Trust and a Christian charity, supporting people of all ages with complex disabilities. Whilst living in Framlingham I was a Foundation Governor at Sir Robert Hitchams CEVA Primary School. Here in Orford, I have recently started listening to readers in school and I look forward to extending my involvement as a Foundation Governor. In my spare time I enjoy outdoor pursuits including sailing, walking and open water swimming

Committee membership

HR Committee

Ethos Committee

I am currently the design partner of a development company that designs, builds and manages student housing. I began my career in television. I was the founding editor of BBC TV’s Newsround and the first woman news editor in BBC TV News. I went on to produce multiple series for both children and adults. My husband and I have 5 children and 8 grandchildren so children’s wellbeing and development are a continuous thread in my life. It is therefor a pleasure to contribute to supporting children as a governor at Orford CEVA School.

I am Team Rector for the 18 churches of the Wilford Benefice.  Before becoming a priest, I was a Director in the HR consultancy practice of a major international business consultancy firm.  I live in Orford with my wife Sara and Reggie our dog.  My main hobby is hiking, having walked the coast-to-coast walk, the Three Peaks challenge walk three times and the St Francis pilgrimage walk to Assisi in Italy.  I am a life long Leyton Orient fan (sorry any Ipswich Town supporters!).   

I consider it to be a privilege to be Chair of Governors of Orford Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School. 

 

Committee membership

Standards Committee

Finance and Property Committee

Ethos committee

Appeals Committee

I am a farmer's daughter and have lived all my life in Suffolk apart from the years at The Froebel Institute, London, where I trained. I taught in Church Schools and latterly in the independent sector. My husband Robert and elder son run a family water and engineering business. We have a daughter who lives in London and a younger son, twin granddaughters with whom it is a joy to play a part in childcare, an a 103 year old mother who requires much love and attention at the moment.

Rob and I enjoy sailing and we immerse ourselves in village life. Within the Orford Sailing Club I help with the Child Welfare duties linked to the RYA courses held there. I enjoy doing flowers in the church and am involved with the Suffolk School Gardens Competition  at Trinity Park each year.

In Orford School, I feel privileged to work on more practical and creative tasks with the staff and children and enjoy encouraging them in their sporting activities. 

Committee membership

Children's committee

 

 Janet is a Lay Reader in the parish. She joined the Governing Body in June 2018.

Committee membership

Ethos Committee

Finance Committee

Children's committee

Standards committee

  .

I attended Orford School as a child and now have two children of my own, one who has benefited from the unique experience that the school has to offer and is now at high school, and one who is currently in class 2.

My background is in recruitment and learning & development and I am currently the Strategic Resourcing Lead for a Local Authority in London. Employee and customer experience is a passion of mine and I hope as parent governor to bring my skills and experience to the board as well as promoting the parental perspective.

Committee membership

Standards Committe

HR Committee

Appeals Committee

:I have been retired for over 10 years. I have been involved with some local committees and was Commodore of Orford Sailing club for 3 years.

Initially I studied construction before joining my family building business in Norwich. Having left that I took up a franchise in Estate Agency and went on to study for a Building Surveying degree. 

As hobbies I have been sailing and enjoying music all my life, I was chairman of the Great Yarmouth Choral Society for 10 years and I currently sing with the church choir and the Aldeburgh Music Club.

 

Committee membership

Finance committee

I have been teaching at Orford School part-time since 2017. 

Mrs Sue Snowdon - 2017 to 2022

Mr Mike Bradshaw - 2017 to 2022

Mrs Katie Butler - 2020 to 2022

Ms Claire Andrews - 2020 to 2022