Introducing the Governors

The Local Governing Body is made up of a group of people who voluntarily give their time and have an interest in the School and the education provided. They work closely with the Headteacher, (who is also a Governor) and Senior Leadership Team, set the strategic direction for the School and make decisions which ensure that the children get the best possible education. The Governors meet regularly to discuss all matters relating to School. They are kept fully informed, with each member having a specific area of responsibility (each area is listed below for your information). Governors also monitor and evaluate the School’s provision and progress, for example by visiting lessons and looking at SATS results.

The Governors holds Full Governing Body meetings 6 times a year. They discuss school business and matters relating to the Connect Academy Trust, feeding back information to the Trust board through the Clerk. The meetings follow a set agenda that each of the five Academy schools follow; ensuring that the Connect Academy Trust is working together. The five schools making up the Academy are Eggbuckland Vale, Leigham, Widey Court, Thornbury and Manadon Vale.

You will see the Governors around School regularly, including Parent Evenings, "Welcome to" events, the School Fairs and other events through the year. Please see below to meet the members of Manadon Vale's Governing Body.

 Tom Lavis - Chair of Governors

Hi everyone, my name is Tom Lavis and it gives me great pleasure to be the Chair of Manadon Vale Primary School. In my day job I'm the CEO of YMCA Plymouth and Discovery College. I've been the Lead Safeguarding Officer there for the past 12 years, working collaboratively with the Local Authority and the Plymouth Safeguarding Children's Board, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all the young people we encounter. My commitment to supporting the local community has resulted in winning many grants and tenders over the years, improving both the academic and community provision in our local area. This includes establishing Discovery College in 2010, a sustainable Post-16 academic model which supports vulnerable young people in our city, demonstrating a track record of community investment and social impact.

Alongside my day job, I'm a Director of the Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, as well as a member of the Plymouth Area Business Council (PABC). This enables me to support the educational and business needs of Manadon Vale, ensuring best practice at all times, all whilst striving for the best possible outcomes for our children.

I've served on Manadon Vale Local Governing Body for 11 years (4 years a Vice-Chair) prior to joining the CONNECT Multi-Academy Trust Board. However, it gave me great pleasure to re-join the LGB recently as the Chair.

My main role's within the LGB is to act as a critical friend to the Headteacher, as well as oversee SEND and the Health and Wellbeing of staff.

Please don't be a stranger, if you see me in the playground, feel free to come and say hello.

Sarah Tawse

Sara Orchard

I have been a Governor at Manadon Vale for over 15 years; firstly as a Parent Governor, then as a Co-opted Governor and now as a Staff Governor.  My involvement with the school goes back quite a while as I am also a former pupil.  It feels as if I have come full circle and I'm now be able to help the school that helped me. 

Sam Bateman

I joined the Governing Body as a parent Governor in September 2020 and have a child in year 6 and year 2.  I am really passionate about Manadon Vale and how it shapes my children's future so was keen to be involved in some of the decision making that contributes to that. Although I work as an Executive Assistant in the private sector, I did work within Further Education for 8 years which inspired my interest in the education system. I have experience of Safeguarding and my strengths are in Literacy and the Arts and I feel I can bring this to my role and into the lives of the children at the school.

Lisa Hayward

Hello, my name is Lisa Hayward and I have 3 daughters: twins in Year 5 and one who has recently left for DHSG. We are a military family and moved here in 2014. As a family, MVPS is our third school and definitely the greatest for so many reasons. We are so thankful to all the staff for the engaging lessons and the wide ranging extra curriculum activities available.

Since our first daughter began at MVPS, I wanted to be a school governor and now the opportunity has arisen. It is an extremely exciting time to get involved in all aspects of school life, with my own focus being to concentrate on progress data. Every child has the potential to make a real difference to the world and I look forward to learning about  the progress all MVPS pupils make. I am a secondary school teacher myself and although specialise in geography I have spent most of my teaching career working with pupils with additional needs and covering the core curriculum subjects of English, maths and science. I am therefore looking forward to the challenge of learning more about behind the scenes in a primary school.

Jody Gerry

I am a community governor, joining in Sept 2020, I am also a Manadon parent with children in Year 3 and Year 5. I was keen to be involved in the future development of the school in terms of education, physical and mental health of the children and Manadon team. I work for the NHS at the REI Derriford as a specialist optometrist as well as within the community. I promote the importance of vision, and work with the school screening team for the foundation years with the aim of providing excellent eyesight for education. My specialist areas are science and maths as well as promoting STEM.

 Vanessa Chidgey

Tom Moore

Hi, my name is Tom Moore, I am a co-opted Governor since Spring 2022. I have three daughters, two currently at Manadon Vale in years 1 and 3, and my youngest who's due to start in 2024. My reason for wanting to become a governor was out of interest on how the school is run and how decisions are made, as well as wanting to help support in any way which I can. I hope that I can be a positive influence for the school, it's pupils and its staff. Supporting not only my own children through their education, but others as well.

 Moira Wakeham

Hello, my name is Moira Wakeham and I am a co-opted Governor. My son is a pupil at the school and I am a former pupil. Manadon Vale is an important part of my history so when the opportunity to apply for a Governors position arose, I jumped at the chance. I work in HM Land Registry but have a keen interest in education and am fully dedicated to supporting Manadon Vale, its staff, children and all those associated with it.

If you would like to contact any of the Governors of Manadon Vale Primary School please send a letter marked for the attention of the particular Governor via Nick Rich, Clerk to Governors, Manadon Vale Primary School or email admin@mvps.org.uk