Meet the Governing Body

Catherine Patel – Co-opted Governor
Responsibilities – Chair of Governors, Contact for Governor Training, Governor for the Arts
Background – Parent with a child at Upperthong and a child now at Holmfirth High School. Primary & Adult Education and Training, with specialisms in Art, Psychology and Wellbeing. Governor since 2009. Current term of office 01.04.15 –31.03.19
Carolyn Littlewood – Head Teacher/Staff Governor
Responsibilities:Member of Resources Committee & Standards and Effectiveness Committee
Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Background – See Staff section. Governor since 2008.
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Tom Branston - Staff Governor
Responsibilities: Member of Resources Committee
Background – Teacher in Y3. Responsibility for PE as the Primary Link Teacher with the Pennine Sports Partnership based at Holmfirth High School. Member of the PPSHE curriculum team. (Physical, Personal, Social and Health Education)

Alan Roe – Co-Opted Governor
Responsibilities-Enterprise Governor,Member of Resources Committee
Background – Parent a child at Upperthong and one at Holmfirth High School. Higher/Further Education Lecturer in Employee Relations, Trade Union Education. Governor since 2012. Parent Governor Oct 2012-Oct 2016 . Co-opted Governor November 2016-November 2020
Sarah Smith – Co-opted Governor
Responsibilities - Vice-Chair of Governors, Governor for Safeguarding,Child Protection & PREVENT, Looked After Children Governor. Governor for Humanities
Member of Resources Committee and Appraisal Committee
Background – Career within HR and in-house recruitment, Governor since 2013. Current term of office ends March 2019.


Steph Tully - Parent Governor
Responsibilities - Member of Resources Committee, Complaints committee and Pupil Premium Governor.
Background - Parent of 1 child at Upperthong. Solicitor in the area of safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. Enjoy reading and spending time with my family.
Term of Office - Mar 2020 - Mar 2024
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Kate Nussey - Associate Member
Background – Deputy Head Teacher, Year 6 Teacher, Deputy Safeguarding Lead. See Staff page.
Responsibilties: Member of Standards and Effectiveness Committee
Governor since 2014.
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Steph Parker – Co-Opted
Responsibilities - Member of Standards & Effectiveness Committee and Appraisal committee, Health & Safety Governor, Governor with Responsibility for English, Language & Communication. Background - Director of marketing consultancy, enjoys outdoor time with Family. Term of office 27.10.19 - 28.10.23
Responsibilities - Member of The Standards and Effectiveness Committee.
Background - Parent of 2 children at Upperthong. Owner of a local training and media production company. Enjoys family time, the outdoors and getting stuck into a project
Governor term of office 2020 - 2024.


Hannah Eastwood - Parent Governor
Responsibilities - Chair of Resources Committee, Early Years Governor, eco schools award, English, Communication and language.
Background - Parent of 2 children at Upperthong. Osteopath and practice owner in Holmfirth. Enjoys running, reading and spending time with my family.
Term of Office - Nov 2018-Nov 2022
Sarah Durdin
Sarah Durdin - Parent Governor
Responsibilities - Member of Resources Committee and SEND Governor.
Background - Parent of 2 children at Upperthong. Manager in local government. Enjoys time with family, exercising, being creative either sewing or cooking.
Governor term of office 2019 - 2023.

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Julie Harris-Co-opted Governor
Responsibilities: Chair of Standards and Effectiveness Committee
Background: Parent of a child at Upperthong. Clinical Safety Consultant who enjoys family time, beekeeping and singing. Term of Office: from 16/11/2020

Danni Baldwin-Co-Opted Governor
Term of Office- 29/5/18-28/5/22