On behalf of all Governors, welcome to the Duke of Norfolk Primary School!

As school Governors, we have an important role in monitoring the safety, welfare and education of all our children. To do this, we work as a team with staff, parents/carers and children in an open and caring atmosphere where everyone feels valued.

We are justifiably proud of the achievements of our children across the curriculum, and of the high standards maintained in both learning and behaviour. We, as a governing body, take our role very seriously and will always put the needs of the children first – after all, it is why we are all here !!

In terms of our role, governors have responsibility in ensuring that school planning is ambitious yet realistic, and that the school operates in an environment conducive to learning. We support and encourage the headteacher, and all staff, to ensure each pupil has the best opportunity to learn and progress. Whilst we are involved with a variety of issues, such as monitoring finance, developing policies, building/grounds maintenance and assisting with staff appointments, our most important role is to ensure the welfare and promote the education of our pupils.

The Duke of Norfolk School’s vision and ethos is at the heart of the School Development Plan. It details our aims and objectives for the ongoing development of the school. Our priorities focus on the following four areas:

• Quality of teaching – continuous development of teachers to deliver more outstanding lessons
• Pupil achievement and progress – enabling excellent progress for pupils by providing challenge at all levels
• Behaviour and safety of pupils – developing the role of the School Council and citizenship
• Leadership and management – developing our senior leadership team, subject leaders and the governing body

Please take the time to browse our school website, where you will find more information about the school and us as a Governing Body.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all parents/carers and staff for the support and encouragement they give to both the “Dukes” children and the school. For children, this support nurtures key social and creative skills, especially in these early years, and helps build confidence and self-esteem. Parent interest and support in promoting the school is invaluable, and ensures Dukes has a strong partnership with the local community.

It is our aim to be a governing body that is both visible and approachable, and so I am happy to speak with any parent, carer or visitor to discuss any matter relating to the school; and I am always pleased to receive positive feedback. Together we can help the Duke of Norfolk maintain high standards and prosper for current children and future generations.

Best regards,

Tom Plant
Chair of Governors

Our Governing Body Structure 

Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each governor. All of our current governors have voting rights. The clerk of governors is not a governor, but is there to co-ordinate the meetings.

 Governor Attendance

Meet our Governors

Esther Bland

Hello. My name is Esther Bland and I am lucky enough to be the Head teacher at Duke of Norfolk C E Primary. I have worked in education now for 35 year and next year will have been a Head teacher for 20 years, I love my job!

I am also a mum to Ben (22 yrs) and Joe (18 yrs). They are both over 6 feet tall but are still my little boys and I worry about them every day, I understand being a parent. Our children are our most precious gift and I am honoured you are trusting me and our Dukes family to look after yours every day.

Out of school I enjoy travelling to warmer climes and reading a good book.

Cilla Hollman

I have been a Governor at this school since 1999, first as a Parent Governor, then a Local Authority Governor, Community Governor and now a Co-opted Governor.  In this time, I have carried out a wide range of roles as link governor for different areas, and I was Chair of Governors for several years.  I am also a governor at Hadfield Infant School and an active member of Derbyshire School Governors' Association. In addition to my governance roles, I volunteer to hear reading and to help develop mental maths.  I am a firm believer in the importance of collaboration between school and community, because those wide-eyed, small people who come in at such a young age will one day be our community’s leaders and supporters, and it is our responsibility to give them a strong vision and ethos that will enable them to fulfil their roles as adults.

Roger Wilkinson

Revd Dr David Mundy

As Priest-in-Charge of Glossop Parish Church of All Saints, the parish church for ‘Dukes’, I am the ex-officio Foundation Governor. It is my role to help the school maintain its distinctive Christian ethos as a Voluntary Controlled Church of England School in a way that is respectful of the diversity of beliefs represented within the school community – pupils, parents / carers, staff, governors. I have over ten years’ experience of serving as a governor at two schools, including as Chair of Governors. Before ordination I worked for more than 20 years in international development, providing support to national and international NGOs and to governments. I am married to Lesley, a registered childminder, and we have two grown-up children, Andrew and Sarah.

Kellie Wilson

Victoria Friess

The Duke of Norfolk school  has been a big part of my life as I attended here myself over 20 years ago, and now my two children are part of the Dukes family too. Since they started in September 2019, I have seen them both develop a love of learning and it makes me proud to now be bringing them to the school that I feel is responsible for shaping my own career. I loved so many aspects of my time at school that I wanted to do nothing else but become a teacher myself and continue to enjoy education - from a different perspective. I have over 10 years of teaching experience specialising in Early Years and Special Educational Needs and I currently teach children with complex medical, developmental and behavioural needs. I am passionate about ensuring that all children having an education that they enjoy and thrive in, by whichever path is right for them. I enjoy being a part of the Duke of Norfolk Governors so that I can help contribute to keeping the school the best it can be for our children.

Tom Plant

My family and I have moved to Glossop in 2015, after relocating from Central Manchester, and my eldest daughter joined Dukes in 2019.  

I became a parent governor in June 2021 and I am looking forward to playing an active role in supporting the school's development.  In addition to being a Parent Governor, I am also the Link Governor for Reading and on the Headteacher Performance Committee.

I am committed to making a difference so that all children at the school achieve the best possible outcomes whilst also developing as well rounded and confident individuals.  I have over 20 years’ experience working in the public and voluntary sector.  Currently, I am a Performance and Strategy Manager at Stockport Council where my role involves working with service users and partners to understand issues, identify solutions and deliver service redesign.  More recently, I am involved in shaping the Council’s approach to addressing poverty through building financial resilience.

Outside of work, I enjoy fell running, hiking, wild swimming, watching Stoke City, supporting Howard Town Brewery and trips in the caravan with my family.

Dermot Foster

I'm a retired Further Education teacher. I moved from Oldham to Glossop in 2017 to be closer to family. I belong to the worship community of All Saints Parish Church and I'm active in our work for Human Rights and Eco-Church.

I taught mainly Social and Life Skills, Basic Skills and Literacy in college settings, but also in community centres, a mental-health day centre and HMP Manchester. I was Curriculum Manager for Equal Opportunities which involved policy monitoring, curriculum and staff development. I have had experience of managing a full-time Entry (pre-Foundation) Level vocational sampling programme for students with a wide variety of learning difficulties, disabilities and personal issues.

Olivia Cousens

I am a class teacher at Dukes in year 1/2 and I am also the computing co-ordinator.  I enjoy all of my roles in school and find that being a governor gives me an extra insight into the 'behind the scenes' of how the school works. I love being in the classroom and teaching children important information but also key life skills. In my classroom we think it is important to smile a lot, show good behaviour and allow other people to learn. At home, I enjoy watching Manchester City, walking my labradoodle and relaxing on the sofa watching TV.

Bryn Adams

I am a parent governor. My wife and I move to Glossop in 2018 after living in in London for the best part of a decade. My daughter started at Dukes in 2021 and I expect my son to join her in 2023. Glossop is a wonderful place to bring up children. It is the best of both worlds: the Peak District is on our doorstep but we are close to a big city. My first impression of Dukes was that it is a friendly school, set in a lovely wooded location with a dedicated teaching and support staff. I became a governor to help ensure that the school’s many positive attributes and the hard work of its staff translate into the best possible outcomes for its pupils.I work as a barrister specialising in property, public, housing and local government law. My chambers is in Manchester but I spend most of my time working in Glossop. I am the secretary of Glossop’s cycle club, Glossop Kinder Velo, and enjoy a bike ride in the hills whenever I can. 

Graham Oakley

I was appointed Deputy Head of the Dukes in 1981 and I retired from the post 28 years later! For much of that time I was a staff governor. My oldest two children attended the school way back in the Eighties. At various times I was coordinator for science, geography and history. I encouraged and coached school teams in a range of sports, and took the Y6 pupils on residential trips to exciting places like Whitby and Conwy. I stayed at the school for so long because I loved the place. I think it's a unique school with a unique history and I am so pleased to have the opportunity to support the school as a governor.

Daniel Paterson

I'm a parent governor and the link governor for science. Since 2020, I've taught GCSE and A Level Physics along the road at Glossopdale School and Sixth Form. Having been impressed by the care and warmth provided by the Dukes staff towards their pupils, I enjoy supporting the long-term functioning and development of the school as a governor. After studying for a Masters in Engineering, I managed large manufacturing teams and then spent a fairytale decade in several developing countries working in technical roles in social enterprises. My step into teaching came after a career break teaching Bikeability in over fifty primary schools. In my spare time, I ride around on a bike with tiny wheels and attempt to renovate my old leaky house.

Ian Corke

I became a parent governor in November 2023. My wife and I move to Glossop in 2018 and has loved the change in surroundings, it’s a lovely place to bring up out two children, our son started at Dukes in 2022 and our daughter is a couple of years away from becoming part of the Dukes family. I became a governor to assist the school in their very positive approach to achieving the best possible outcomes for the pupils and their families. I work as a Business Manager in the Chemical sector and when not travelling with that role, we enjoy as a family spending time on our allotment at Dinting, or I enjoy trying to play golf which is something I will never master but will keep being an eager learner!!

We have also provided a Register of Governor Interests and an Annual Statement of Issues for your information.