Governors
The governing body
School governors fulfil a vital role in improving our school. Working closely with the headteacher, they:
- ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- hold the headteacher to account for the performance of school and pupils and
- oversee school finances, ensuring best value.
Orford's governing body consists of seven foundation governors, chosen by the local church, a Link governor who acts as the main contact between the governing body and the local authorities, a staff governor, two parent governors and the headteacher. The term of office for each governor is four years from the date of appointment.
The attendance of Governors at meetings can be found here
Miss Gemma Cannon - Headteacher
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.
Mr Richard Murley - LEA Governor
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
Ms Paula Kerr - Foundation Governor Nov 2022- Nov 2026. Link Governor for Safeguarding
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
MS Jill Broome - Member since December 2020
Reverend Giles Tulk - Vice-Chair - Member since April 2020
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
Linda Orford- Foundation Governor since June 2019. Link Governor for EYFS and SEND
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 Bishop - Chair - Member since June 2018.
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
Lucy Robinson - Parent Governor since June 2022. Link Governor for Website and Communications
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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
Mr Christopher Gill - Foundation Governor Nov 2022 to Nov 2026.
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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
Mrs Liz Reeve - Staff Governor since November 2022
I have been teaching at Orford School part-time since 2017.
Mrs Jill Fullerton-Smith
Governor Leavers in the past 12 months
Mrs Sue Snowdon - 2017 to 2022
Mr Mike Bradshaw - 2017 to 2022
Mrs Katie Butler - 2020 to 2022
Ms Claire Andrews - 2020 to 2022