Health and Safety Link Governor
Gus is retired and enjoying life back in the Cotswolds with his wife and two dogs. He is a very proud parent of two sons and grandfather to five grandchildren. A passionate follower of sport, his durability is illustrated by being a Bath Rugby season ticket holder for 50 years. Gus became a Trustee in 2018 after spending five very enlightening years ‘farming’ and running a tourist business in North Devon.
The majority of his working life was as a teacher and then Headteacher in schools in Bath, South Gloucestershire and Bristol. During his 30 years of Headship experience, he was fortunate to be part of a Building Schools for the Future scheme, a mini Education Action Zone, the BEON project (a scheme to introduce IT and the intranet into the classroom) and a School of Creativity. Gus was also privileged to be seconded to work at the local authority on developing federations and trusts to encourage and promote partnership working and executive leadership across schools. His school was one of the first in Britain to host a breakfast club, a forest school and a Children’s University (extended activities on a Saturday).
Gus has the leadership experience of being involved in four new builds and as a founding member of a free school. Throughout his career, Gus believed in parental engagement and partnership working and the value of education in regenerating communities.
Jo is a qualified Health and Safety practitioner and a member of IOSH . She has over 30+ years’ experience in Health and Safety, both in the private and public sectors. Previous to joining the public sector Jo was an area Health and Safety manager for a large food retailer, her geographical area of work was as far reaching as Kent/ London and Cornwall.
Jo then joined the public sector and was Head of Health and Safety for North Somerset Council. When the Local Authority was unable to offer schools the support services they required/needed, Jo set up Priory Community Schools Enterprises, (a trading arm of Priory Community School), offering Health and Safety support services to approx. 100 schools, academies and academy trusts in the Southwest of England.
Jo’s portfolio of supporting schools in Health and Safety has also covered international clients, the Falkland Islands being the furthest.
Through Jo’s Health and Safety career, whilst varied, has amounted to 25 years working and supporting in education, including alternative provision with SEMH schools being a passion of Jo’s, and having the opportunity to shape and improve the life chances for all student.
I am currently an Assistant Principal for Pastoral at The Sky Academy. After initially training as a primary teacher, I have spent my professional career working within the special educational sector, both within schools and with external agencies. I have a passion for ensuring all children are given equal opportunity and voice no matter their circumstances.
