Governors
The School's 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
Mr Matthew Head - Headteacher
Mr Head joined us in September 2024 as our head teacher.
Mrs Andrea Berry - Senior Teacher
Mrs Berry joined the Orford C of E team in April 2025.
Rev Mandy Reynolds
Rev Mandy joined us in September 2025. She is the Team Rector of the Wilford Benefice
Mr Richard Murley - Governor Finance Committee
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.
Mr Scott Backhouse - Member since 2026
To be added
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, 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.
Janet Bishop - Chair - Member since June 2018. Finance Committee
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.
Mrs Fiona Morgan -
To be added.
Governor Leavers in the past 12 months
Mr Chris Gill
Mrs Jill Broome