Our Governing Board
Aim of the Governing Body
School governing bodies are one of the largest volunteer groups in the country and their main responsibilities are to help set the policies and targets for achieving the schools aims and objectives and to monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achieving these. All governors attend the full governing body meetings that take place at least twice per term and also sit on a number of committees that focus on specific areas of the school such as “Finance and Staffing” or “Buildings, Health and Safety”. Each governor also has a link role which means they take a lead on understanding a particular area of the school improvement plan to ensure it is progressing as expected.
Beth Ketland
I am the Chair of Governors and I want to help Nook Lane continue thriving as a nurturing and inclusive place for our children to learn and grow.
Working at the Department for Education gives me a solid understanding of the education sector. This gives me the ability to view school governance from two angles; a parent who cares about my child’s education and someone who is familiar with educational policy and practice.
I’m keen to represent parents’ views and be a critical friend to the school. I would focus on communication within the school community so our diverse views are represented and parents feel informed and involved.
I’ve had two other children go through Nook Lane, each on their own unique journey. These experiences have given me an appreciation for the school’s values and ethos. Having seen the positive impact Nook Lane had on my children, I’m eager to give back to the school.
Combining my professional knowledge and personal experiences, I will invest my skills, time, and energy to help give every child the opportunity to thrive and enjoy their time at Nook Lane.
Ian Gilbert
I live in Stannington with my wife and 2 children, who have both progressed through Nook Lane Junior School.
I am an Associate Manager at a national law firm where I have a diverse role involving me regularly attending court to represent seriously injured clients, working with solicitors. I develop case plans and budgets so as to best support our clients, as well as delivering training sessions nationally and developing my own teams.
I jumped at the chance to become a parent governor when the opportunity arose so as to try and help maintain the high standards set by the school and to support what I consider to be a really important part of the community.
Louise Bullen
I began my teaching career in 2004 at Oakwood Junior School in Derby, before joining Nook Lane in 2006 as a Year 6 teacher. Since then, I have had the privilege of serving in a range of roles including Maths Leader, Upper Key Stage 2 Leader, Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and Head of School. Each of these roles has helped shape the leader I am today, and it is now a deep honour to serve as Headteacher of a school that means so much to me both professionally and personally.
Nook Lane holds a very special place in my heart. I feel incredibly fortunate to lead a dedicated team of staff, work alongside our wonderful families, and, most importantly, serve the incredible children at the heart of our community. I am passionate about making a real difference to the lives of our pupils, ensuring they feel safe, valued and inspired to reach their full potential.
Our school vision and core values guide everything we do. We are committed to nurturing kind, resilient and curious learners who are well-prepared for secondary school and beyond. I am proud to lead a school where every child is known, supported and celebrated for who they are.
Bob Cuff
I’ve always been humbled by the educational provision delivered, so passionately, by the staff at Nook Lane. They say it takes a village to raise a child and my children – all of whom attended Nook Lane - were nurtured; supported; challenged and championed by the amazing teachers and leaders. I have always felt that Nook Lane is an extended family member of Stannington helping raise our children. We’re forever indebted. As such, I wanted to return the ‘thanks’ and be part of the team that nurtures; supports; challenges and champions our community’s children. We are truly lucky in this area of S6 to have the breadth and depth of talent in your children also. These amazing pupils are our succession. As they take their steps into an unknown world, I’m confident that they’re in the best place possible to build their foundations in order to achieve their hopes and dreams. If I can help be a part of a team to ensure this continues over the years to come, that’d be a privilege.
Diane Shaw
I was elected parent governor at Nook Lane in 2008 and I am now a co-opted governor. I live in Stannington with my husband and 2 children. My children both attended Nook Lane and are now in secondary education and beyond. I have worked in professional and managerial roles in IT in both the public and private sector for over 20 years. I am currently a Business Analysis Manager at a Sheffield-based telecommunications company.
Andy Kerr
My name is Andy Kerr. I have been a governor at Nook Lane for approximately over 10 years both as a parent governor and now as a link governor.
All three of our children have been pupils at the school.
I have previously worked for the local authority within the education department with particular focus on school attendance and attainment monitoring and due to this experience I am currently volunteering as the link governor for attendance and attainment data.
Simon Hamilton
I am the Managing Director of a regeneration company, based in the centre of Sheffield, helping steel communities across the UK. I have been part of the Nook Lane family since 2014, as part of the team that helps deliver the Dragons’ Den project in Y6. I’m passionate about making education fun and representative of the real world and doing so in a caring and nurturing environment. Nook Lane is an inspiring school, and the teaching staff do a brilliant job of bringing out the best in all students and making sure they receive a rounded experience that is so much more than just about academic results.
I’m delighted to be able to put something back into the school in my role as a governor and look forward to the challenges this brings.
Jonathan Cooper
I am a Chartered Surveyor working within the Civil Service. Alongside my professional career, I have a passion for languages and am fluent in Spanish, which I have enjoyed teaching on a voluntary basis at both Nook Lane and Stannington Infants. I am also a parent, with one daughter currently at Nook Lane and another at Stannington Infants, which gives me a strong personal connection to both schools. Outside of work, I love cycling in the hills around S6 and following good-quality football.
Diane Wilkinson
I began my teaching almost 35 years ago (the numbers are beginning to look scary!), in a large, diverse primary school in London. I worked across the age ranges, becoming a Special Needs Co-ordinator in 1994 when the first Special Educational Needs Code of Practice arrived, so I guess special needs was in my DNA from the start. I believed then, as I do now, that all children have the right to a full curriculum of opportunity and growth, no matter what their starting point or barrier to learning. Academic success is part of the equation, but a child’s social and emotional wellbeing, being the most significant aspect of a child’s experience of school. After being a SENDCo all this time, in London and at Nook Lane, never have these values been so important.
I have been a lead SENDCo in our locality and was invited by the Department for Education, to be part of an expert advisory group in developing the Special Educational Needs co-ordinator’s (SENCo) national professional qualification.
During my time at Nook Lane, I have worked across all year groups. I have held the roles of SEAL Co-ordinator (Social, Emotional Aspects of Learning), RSHE Co-ordinator (Relationships, Sex, Health Education) and have trained to be the school’s Senior Mental Health Lead. I am a trauma informed practitioner, enabling me to support the wellbeing of children and families at Nook Lane. I am also the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead and I have been a governor at Nook Lane for over 10 years.
It is, and has been, an absolute privilege to serve both Nook Lane and its community over the last 25 years, being part of such a wonderful team who work hard to ensure all of our children thrive and grow.
John Thornton
I am currently teaching in Year 5 and have had experience working across different year groups during my time at the school. I am now entering my eighteenth year of teaching and still love it. I love the creativity and imagination children bring and seeing them progress throughout their time at school.
In addition to my teaching role, I am the school's P.E. and Online Safety Lead. These roles allow me to support the physical health, wellbeing, and digital safety of children across the school.
I am pleased to serve as Staff Governor at Nook Lane Junior. During this time, I have seen the school grow and adapt while remaining a supportive, inclusive, and engaging place for children to learn and develop.
My long-standing role within the teaching team has given me a strong understanding of the school’s day-to-day life, the challenges staff face, and the evolving needs of the children. As Staff Governor, I aim to bring a classroom-based perspective to the Governing Body in order to improve the quality of education, and ensure that staff voices are represented in decision-making. I am proud to support Nook Lane’s values and vision and look forward to continuing to play a part in its ongoing development.