After growing up and training in London, Gemma has been working at Orford C of E 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.

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

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, and a 104 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. 

I have had a home in Chillesford with my husband, since 1996 and we have always played a part in the life of the community as well as continuing our careers in London. I continue to work as a solicitor, working for one of the largest Law Centres in the country helping people at court, to resist proceedings to possess their homes, and giving training to pro bono clinic advisers. I am a Reader in the Wilford benefice of the Church of England and lead services in our local churches which do not involve a sacrament. I have a niece working in primary education in Scotland and we have many enlightening conversations. 

 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.

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 Sue Snowdon - 2017 to 2022

Mr Mike Bradshaw - 2017 to 2022

Mrs Katie Butler - 2020 to 2022

Ms Claire Andrews - 2020 to 2022

Mrs Jill Faricy 2023-2024

Rev Giles Tulk - 202- - 2024