Archibald First School, Gosforth, Newcastle Upone Tyne | Having fun, learning together

Heather Banks, Associate Governor

I am an Academic Support Manager at Northumbria University and joined Archibald First School Governing Body in November 2023.  Living in Gosforth I wanted to contribute to our great community by becoming a School Governor in an Early Years setting first as my two children are pre-school age.  Having grown up on a Scottish Island, I feel very lucky that my children live near some great primary schools and recognise the excellent work that AFS does to create the best possible learning environment for children.   AFS has such an excellent reputation in our local area and I am proud to be able to get more involved in the school, as a parent and Governor, and work closely with the staff, parents and children.  I am always impressed when I visit the school! In my Governor role I hope to support the school in facing its challenges and delivering successful outcomes.  With nearly 15 years’ experience working in a University I hope to contribute to the School’s strategies and missions by bringing my management experience and perspectives from HE to ensure there are accountable and constructive plans in place to meet the expectations of stakeholders. I look forward to my time as Governor with enthusiasm! 

John Beeley, Co-opted Governor, Chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee

I am the manager of the Tees Valley Museum Group . My son William left Archibald in July 2022 to move to the middle school. William, prospered at the school. I am excited to be a part of the team of School Governors at Archibald firstly as a parent governor between 2019 and 2023, and now as a co-opted governor and look forward to helping staff, children and parents work towards achieving their goals. Archibald is already a great school and I am committed to ensuring the school continues to offer the best experience possible for our children.

Jill Branch, Local Authority Governor

I joined the Archibald First School Governing Body in September 2023. I live in the local area with my husband and two young children. I am very excited and proud to be a part of such a fabulous school in our community. 

I am a Maths teacher and lead a Maths department in a North East high school. I hope that I can use my knowledge, skills and experience to help support the staff and students at Archibald First School continue to succeed. 

I am passionate that all children should thrive socially, emotionally and academically whilst enjoying their time at school. I am committed to working with the governing body, staff, parents and children to ensure that Archibald First School continues to offer the best experience for all. 

Matt Brown, Vice Chair, Co-opted Governor

As an incredibly proud to be dad to three children, I was delighted to be appointed as a parent governor in October 2018. My youngest remains at Archibald whilst my eldest moved to the middle school in 2020 and 2022. After four years as parent governor, I am now a Co-opted Governor.

As a long-standing NHS Director, I have substantial experience in planning, performance, governance, HR, operational management, leadership of change, in addition to ensuring that we do the right things strategically in a difficult financial climate to get the best for the people we serve.  These are skills that I hope will enable us to foster outstanding education for our children in Archibald.

I feel passionately about the role of our wonderful school in helping our children to understand who they are and helping them to get the best out of themselves and those around them.

Kate Hawley, Co-opted Governor 

I joined as a governor in the summer of 2021. My family and I live a stone’s throw from the school, and my daughter Lucy has just started in the Reception class in September 2023. I am really excited to represent the local community within the family of the school!

I work for the Forestry Commission, leading on operations across the Yorkshire and North East England area, so I spend my days in the beautiful wilds of Northumberland. I have a real passion for team management, personality profiling (I am a Myers Briggs practitioner) and conservation of our natural world. I am looking forward to contributing to the further success of this wonderful school through my governor role.

Gary Larkin, Parent Governor

I am a parent governor at Archibald, having been elected in November 2022. My daughter Ruby has been at Archibald since 2020 and I also have a son, Jack, who is in pre-school. I’m a Commercial and Construction Lawyer, currently working for the Department for Education where I advise on school construction projects across the country. I have over 15 years’ experience of working with a variety of public sector organisations across the Education sector, including schools, governing bodies, academy trusts, local authorities and Central Government departments.

I’m really passionate about helping to improve education standards, which my role at the DfE allows me to do on a daily basis, and I’m really looking forward to bringing that passion to the governing body at Archibald in order to help build on the fantastic work already being undertaken by the staff, governors and children at the school.

Mark Moss, Chair, Foundation Governor, Chair of the Leadership Support Committee

I am a Foundation Governor and Chair of the Leadership Support Committee.  In September 2017, I took on the role of Chair.
Originally from Grimsby, I moved to Newcastle in 1992.  I am the Head of the Department of Psychology at Northumbria University and all three of my children have attended Archibald First School leaving in July 2013, 2015 and 2016 to venture to middle school.

Kym Mullick, Associate Governor

I have been a member of the Archibald team since September 2008 after teaching at a primary school in Sunderland. I covered the role of Key Stage 2 Lead for a year before becoming Key Stage 1 lead in 2011. Since October 2021 I have been acting Deputy Head Teacher and I am very excited to be taking on the role on a permanent basis from July 2022. 

I am very proud to be a part of the Archibald family; we have amazing children, parents and staff and I can’t wait to see where the journey takes us.

Ryan Nettleship, Staff Governor

I have been a member of the Archibald team since September 2019 after moving up from Sheffield where I previously taught in a primary school. I have taught in Year 4 for the past three years and I have now moved into Year 3. During my second year at Archibald, I shared the Humanities subject leader role with another member of staff. This year, I have taken on the role of PE lead and I am very excited to get the school moving and promoting healthy lifestyles. It is a privilege to be part of this fantastic team; the staff are very supportive, friendly and welcoming and the children are all superstars! I can’t wait for what the future has in store for us.

Sarah Pope, Parent Governor

Nick Rayner, Parent Governor, Chair of the Finance and Premises Committee

I am a chartered accountant and work as an auditor with mainly public sector bodies.  My youngest child attends Archibald whilst my eldest has now moved to the middle school. I was elected to the Governing body as a parent governor and I’m looking forward to making my contribution towards helping Archibald continue to be a great school for all of its students.

Anna Steer, Foundation Governor

I am a Secondary Biology Teacher in Gateshead and work with feeder primary schools as a Science Liaison.  I have three children, all of who attended Archibald until leaving at the end of year 4.

I became a Parent Governor in October 2015. Four years later, my role changed to be a Foundation Trust Governor, and I hope to contribute to the further success of the school with enthusiasm, creative thinking and experience from my perspectives as a parent, teacher and carer.

Rebecca Thompson, Parent Governor

I was elected as a parent governor in October 2023. I am a mum of three boys, two of whom currently attend Archibald in Reception and Y2. Having lived in Gosforth most of my life, I have seen firsthand the importance that Archibald has in our community and am thrilled that my children get to be part of this. Currently I am link governor for EYFS and sit on the teaching and learning committee. 

I have taught in secondary schools for 17 years, currently working in a secondary academy in Gateshead. Teaching is my passion. Like most of us, my priority for my own children, as well as those that I teach, is to ensure they are given the best possible environment to learn and flourish in; allowing every child to reach their full potential.

As a teacher and governor, I am keen to ensure students are provided with a rich curriculum, inside and out of the classroom, ensuring young people have the best access and start in life. In this role I will draw on my experiences, perspectives, and skills to contribute and support all staff, children and parents at Archibald. 

Rebecca Turner, Headteacher

I joined Archibald in September 2007 after teaching at a primary school in Newcastle for 5 years. On joining Archibald I held the role of Key Stage 1 Team Leader until I was appointed Deputy Headteacher in October 2011 and Headteacher in January 2020.
I am immensely proud of working at Archibald First School and being part of the school team! It is a fantastic place to be; the team effort between the children, parents and staff make it the thriving school that it is.
I look forward to working with the Archibald School Family going forwards.

Angela Ward, Co-opted Governor

I have been a governor at Archibald First School for many years, initially as a parent governor and now as co-opted governor on the governing body. I teach in the Early Years’ department and work with children across the school in the Green Team. I am a member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team and I am  the Special Educational Needs Leader. As well as being a member of the full governing body, I am Chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee.

Recent Governors

Sam Walton, Vice Chair, Local Authority Governor 

Sam was elected to join the Governing Body as a Parent Governor and then became a LA Governor after his two children left Archibald. Due to Sam’s home and work commitments, Sam stood down from our Governing Body as of Summer 2023.

Gary Coates, Parent Governor

Gary joined the governing body in 2022, as a Parent Governor. Due to a change in his working role and an increase to his work commitments, Gary stepped down in July 2023.

Stewart McKenna, Co-opted Governor

Stewart was a parent governor and then co-opted governor from October 2016 until stepping down from his role (due to work commitments and family life) in January 2023.

As an Architect and part of the leadership team for an Architectural practice in Newcastle, Stewart brought with him knowledge and understanding of health and safety.