Holmfirth High School Governing Body
Michael Bell
Co-opted Governor
Dianne Frost
Chair of Governors – Co-opted Governor
Rob Jessop
Parent Governor
Dughall McCormick
Co-opted Governor
Gary Mitchell
Staff Governor
Veronica Mullins
Co-opted Governor
Ben Stitchman
Headteacher
Stuart Taberner
Co-opted Governor
Andrew Waldron
Co-opted Governor
Sally Watts
Local Authority Governor
Previous School Governors
Janet Blissett
Date of resignation: 27.10.20
Lucy Oldroyd
Date of resignation: 15.09.21
Michael Bell
Date of appointment: 17/09/19
Term of office: 4 years to 16/09/23
Appointing body: Appointed by Governing Body
I am a Chartered Accountant and I have run an accountancy practice in the Holme Valley for over 30 years, and recently handed over to my successor. Two of our sons attended Holmfirth High School and our grandson hopes to join in a few years, so I feel a strong connection to the school and to the Holme Valley.
I joined the committee as a co-opted Governor in September 2019 to bring some financial and business expertise, although from my observations to date, the School already has a strong financial team.
I believe that the School is at the centre of our community and helps set the standards and values of our young people to carry them to a successful future, and give any support that I can in my role as a Governor.
Relevant business interests: N/A
Diane Frost
Date of appointment: 23/05/20
Term of office: 4 years to 01/06/24
Appointing body: Governing Body
I live locally and one of my two children still attends school. I was initially elected as a parent governor in early 2018 and I was appointed as Chair of the Governing Body in the September of that year. I am now a co-opted Governor.
Our school aims to support and encourage all our pupils to be the best they can be and to become young people who the community can be proud of. We want all our pupils to enjoy school and achieve. I am absolutely committed to those aims.
Since becoming Chair, I have worked with my governor colleagues to ensure that the school has effective governance in place to support our school aims. That work continues as we strive to continually improve.
Professionally I am a Human Resources Director, currently working for an organisation in Kirklees where I am responsible for all workforce matters and organisational development.
Relevant business interests: N/A
Rob Jessop
Date of appointment: 25/05/20
Term of office: 4 years to 01/06/24
Appointing body: Appointed by Governing Body
I am married with two children; my eldest is currently at the school and is the third generation of my family to attend Holmfirth High. My younger son currently attends Scholes Junior School and will, hopefully, be transitioning to the high school in September.
I’ve been impressed with the school environment and progress my son has made since he joined Holmfirth High school. I have seen the changes made over the last couple of years as positive steps and feel I could help support future change using skills developed across my career.
I have worked for Lloyds Banking Group for 26 years; my current role is Senior Data Manager responsible for leading a team of specialists managing the banks data, data quality and governance. Prior to this, I ran a complaints team and have a back group in IT, risk and project management.
I hold a Degree in Business Studies from Huddersfield University as well as industry recognised qualification in technology and data. I am an accredited Mental Health First Aider and a highly experience leader having lead teams of varying sizes across both single and multiple locations. I am extremely analytic with an ability to identify simple solutions from complexity.
Relevant business interests: N/A
Lucy Oldroyd
Date of appointment: 25/05/20
Term of office: 4 years to 01/06/24
Appointing body: Appointed by Governing Body
I am a qualified secondary school teacher who has worked in education for 10 years; prior to this I worked in the media sector, producing and managing websites. I left education five years ago to support my husband with his rapidly expanding engineering consultancy and to improve our family’s work life balance.
I have two children currently at the school, both of whom have had a very positive experience at school to date. I have enjoyed being actively involved in school life both as a teacher and also as the Chair of the PTA at primary school.
My experience in teaching has given me an insight into the rewards and challenges involved in delivering education. I believe I can offer as a parent governor my skills in communication and a dedication to the continuing improvement of the school.
I strongly believe that all children should be treated as individuals and be supported both in their academic life and also on a social and emotional level. I feel it is important not to focus solely on the delivery of the curriculum but also on the wider aspects of the school community.
Relevant business interests: N/A
Dughall Mccormick
Date of appointment: 04/12/16
Term of office: 4 years to 03/12/20
Appointing body: Appointed by Governing Body
For much of my adult career I worked as a primary school teacher. More recently I have worked for Kirklees as an educational consultant with a specialism in technology for learning and school governance. I have many years’ experience as a school governor and chaired the governing bodies of a number of schools. I am also a National Leader of Governance. Away from school life, I enjoy walking, reading and watching sport, particularly football.
Relevant business interests:
Employed by Kirklees Learning Service. This involves providing training services to schools relating to school improvement.
Gary Mitchell
Date of appointment: 07/12/20
Term of office: 4 years to 06/12/24
Appointing body: Appointed by School Staff
I have worked at Holmfirth High School for a number of years as an English teacher. During my time in school, I have worked in various positions both within the English department and as part of the pastoral team and helped introduce and implement the House system within school. I had originally served as the associate staff governor before moving into the role of full staff governor. Outside of school I am a voracious reader, enjoying the work of Edgar Rice Burroughs, H.P Lovecraft and Fritz Leiber in particular.
Relevant business interests: N/A
Veronica Mullins
Date of appointment: 07/12/20
Term of office: 4 years to 06/12/24
Appointing body: Appointed by Governing Body
Originally from Wakefield, I have been resident in the Holme Valley since 2015. I am married with two young children, the eldest of whom attends Hinchliffe Mill Junior and Infant School.
Professionally, I am a solicitor and Partner here in Holmfirth specialising in Wills, Trusts and Estate Administration. I am a court appointed Panel Deputy and Guardian supporting and managing the affairs of those who do not have the capacity to do so; working to guide and empower the vulnerable in all types of financial decision making.
When time permits, I am a part time ‘jazz hander’ and have been associated with Wakefield West Riding Theatre Company since 1995 and was Honorary Secretary for over 10 years.
Relevant business interests: N/A
Stuart Taberner
Date of appointment: 07/12/20
Term of office: 4 years to 06/12/24
Appointing body: Appointed by Governing Body
Stuart has lived in Holmfirth since 2007. He has a son already at Holmfirth High School, and his daughter is very much looking forward to moving up in a couple of years. Stuart is a former Chair of Governors at Holmfirth Junior, Infants and Nursery School around three years ago and is pleased to have joined the Governing Body at the High School in 2020.
Stuart is Dean for Interdisciplinary Research at the University of Leeds and is also Professor of German. He works closely with government, major international bodies such as the UN, and with charities and NGOs, especially on global development. In the past, he has advised the UK government on secondary education, for example working with the Department for Education on reforming the A Level curriculum in Modern Languages.
Stuart is passionate about education, including his own interests in languages and cultures but also the sciences and social sciences. In his spare time, he plays badminton and has just taken up road biking. As a Governor, he brings skills and experience from Higher Education, management, policy, and financial planning.
Relevant business interests: N/A
Ben Stitchman
Date of appointment: 01/09/2018
Appointing body: Appointed by Governing Body
Relevant business interests: N/A
Andrew Waldron
Date of appointment: 13/02/19
Term of office: 4 years to 12/02/23
Appointing body: Appointed by Governing Body
I am married with three children and my family and I are enjoying life immensely since moving to the area in 2014. In my professional life I have two roles. I am the Managing Director of a national recruitment and training business. In the field of education I am the CEO of a multi academy educational trust which comprises 12 primary schools across Rotherham, Sheffield and Doncaster. Prior to these roles I operated at HR Director level within two major food companies.
Relevant business interests: N/A
Sally Watts
Date of appointment: 26/05/20
Term of office: 4 years to 01/06/24
Appointing body: Appointed by LA
I live in the local community and my eldest child attends Holmfirth High, I wanted to be part of the governing body as I want to give something back to and support the community in which I live. In the past I have been a governor at a primary school and really enjoyed contributing and ensuring effective governance was in place to ensure the school thrived.
In my professional role I am a Director at a housing association, responsible for all services which support vulnerable people to gain and sustain independence and wellbeing, this includes tenancy support, homelessness, community investment and safeguarding.
Outside of work I enjoy spending time outdoors, making the most of the environment in which we live, walking and running and spending time with my family.
Relevant Business Interests: N/A