St. Andrew's C of E Aided Primary School

The Ethos and Advisory Committee

Committee Member
Dr. Jessica Jennison	Co-Chair. Parent	Jessica is our Vice Chair of Governors. Her strong desire to help people and enjoyment of a challenge inspired her to join our board. Jessica wants to support the school in its ambition to give all children a positive experience of learning and school life. She is married to Toby and both of their children attend the school. Jessica trained as a nurse in Oxford before studying medicine in Manchester and now works as a GP in Plymouth. She enjoys exploring this beautiful part of the country with her family and loves to run a bit to escape when she can.
Mrs. Trisha Topham	Co-Chair. Foundation	Hi, I’m Trish Topham and I have been a Foundation Governor since September 2019. My background has always been in Education. I trained as a teacher of Home Economics and taught in Secondary Schools in both Bedfordshire and Essex for over 30 years. For the last 10 years of my career I was an Assistant Head of a Secondary School on Canvey Island, where my key responsibilities were Inclusion, Safeguarding and Line Management of SEN in the School. I moved down to Devon at the end of 2017 and when an opportunity arose to join the Governing body at St Andrew’s, I felt it was meant to be…… I am passionate about children receiving an inclusive education where they can access opportunities to fulfil their potential, and it always gives me such pleasure to see them succeed in some way. My main hobbies are walking, reading, cooking, singing, and I have tentatively started to cycle as well, though not the hills yet!
Mrs. Naomi Beck	Foundation	Naomi joined the Governing Board in January 2017 initially as a staff governor. She has been a Primary Teacher for 16 years before making the decision to pursue a new career. During her time as a teacher at St Andrew’s, Naomi taught throughout Key Stage One becoming an Early Year’s Specialist and her excellence in this area is evident through the Ofsted ‘Outstanding for Early Years’ judgment. Naomi is pleased to continue to serve the school as a governor and being able to use her wealth of experience and expertise in coordinating Literacy and Assessment at St Andrew’s in the best interests of the children. She is on the Teaching and Learning Committee with the specific school focus on Assessment and the Early Years. Married to James, they have one child at St Andrew’s. As a family they enjoy walking and visiting National Trust properties. They are active members of Plymouth Christian Centre and Naomi volunteers for Christians Against Poverty. Naomi loves reading and enjoys being part of a book club.
Mr. Terry West	Foundation	Terry West has been involved within Education for some time now both as a teacher, an advisory teacher, educational admin and as a school governor. I have taught in 9-13 Middle schools in Dorset and primary schools within Devon, after a short interruption to my teaching career I became an advisory teacher for IT. My last role within education before retiring was as an Assessment and Exam Officer in a Plymouth Secondary School. Terry has had experience as a teacher governor, a secondary school governor and as a head teacher governor. I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy my role currently as a church foundation governor. Terry is married with two daughters – my wife Celia, also taught at one point in her career at St Andrews. One of my daughters currently teaches in Cornwall, my other daughter works as an employment lawyer. Terry’s interests include being a National Trust Volunteer at Buckland Abbey and Castle Drogo.
Mr. Mark Williams	Parent Committee Member
Rev. Andy Bowden	Foundation	Andy Bowden is the vicar of St Andrew’s Buckland Monachorum and the Church of The Holy Spirit, Milton Combe. I spent many years working with young people. Before Ordination I was a Youth Worker at St Andrew’s Church in Plymouth for 9 years. After that I went to Theological College in Oxford and was ordained in 2011. My curacy took me to Laleham Upon Thames in Surrey. After 4 and a half years there we returned to Plymouth, where I took on the role of Chaplain at All Saints Church of England Academy. I am married to Bethany and we have three children: Benjamin, Thomas and Verity. I am an avid armchair fan of most sports, now that my best playing days are behind me. I particularly enjoy watching rugby, following Tottenham Hotspur FC and keeping an eye on NBA basketball. Other passions include music, reading historical fiction and getting to the coast as much as possible – sometimes with a surfboard!
Steve Bone	Co-opted
Mrs. Debbie Nunn	Head Teacher