Governors

Governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in all St Christopher’s Multi Academy Trust schools however the ultimately responsibility for the school lies with the Board of Directors with much of the work delegated to the Local Governing Body (LGB).

The LGB has three core functions:

• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
• Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction

Governors set the aims and objectives for the school and set the targets/policies for achieving those aims and objectives. They monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making and act as a source of challenge and support to the headteacher. 

Governors bring a wide range of skills and expertise from their professional lives to the governing board and schools benefit greatly from working with skilled volunteers. 

Contact details for governors: asps.clerk@stcmat.org

Governor Details

Governor Vacancies

There are currently three vacancies on the Local Governing Body. If you are interested in becoming a governor, please email asps.clerk@stcmat.org for further information.

Governors who have left within the past 12 months

Governor Attendance 2022/23

Governor Attendance 2021/22

Meet Your Governors

Andrea Sedgewick - Foundation Governor (Ex-Oficio)

For over 38 years Andrea has worked with children from 3 -13 in schools as a teacher and Deputy Headteacher in East Anglia, and as an advisor working in school improvement with Local Authorities in West Berkshire and North Yorkshire before moving to Devon 4 years ago. Andrea is particularly interested in early years and have also worked in the Surestart Strategy to create support services for young children and their families in Children’s centres.

She has been a Governor for two schools previously and was thrilled to be asked to represent the Church on the Governing Body as her husband is the Rector of the Axe Valley Mission Community. She sees being a governor as an important way to support the staff in school to give their very best for every child and family and to help to ensure that future plans are carefully made.

Andrea has recently been asked to act as Chair of Governors and to work with other Governors and the St Christopher’s Trust to continue the journey of All Saints School in its service to the children of the community.

During the past 4 years, you may have met Andrea at one of the community breakfasts, a quiz, concert, or a village show, and she is hoping to meet many families at these events, and the school events in the future as circumstances allow.  Please do say hello, introduce yourselves and share your thoughts and ideas with her. She looks forward to meeting you.

Karen Chape - Foundation Governor

Karen has been a parent at All Saints School since 2017 and has one daughter who attends the school.  She lives in Axminster and is an active member of the local Baptist Church, where she has been involved in leading many different areas of the children’s’ and youth work over the last eight years. 

Karen has been a Secondary School Teacher for nearly twenty years, specialising in Religious Studies.  She is currently teaching RS part time at a Secondary School in Somerset. 

Karen is keen to use her experience in both the education and voluntary setting to contribute to the governing body at All Saints.

Interests:  Karen enjoys gardening and you will often see her out walking her dog in the local area.

Catherine Lodge - Parent Governor

Catherine lives in Smallridge and her daughter has attended All Saints since 2017.  She has worked for over 20 years in the payments industry and currently leads a team responsible for developing new technology.  Catherine is excited to have this opportunity to contribute to and support the school and she hopes to be able to bring some of her professional experience to her role as Governor.  In her spare time, she enjoys travelling to far flung places, pitching a tent in the beautiful Devon and Cornwall countryside and swimming and walking along the stunning Jurassic coastline.

Vicky Mills - Foundation Governor

Vicky lives in Colyford where she has been Chapel Warden at St Michael’s Chapel of Ease in the parish of St Andrew’s Church, Colyton since 2013.

She is a retired teacher having enjoyed a career in six different primary and middle schools from 1971 – 1979 and then from 1987 – 2008. At the start of her teaching career she spent 8 years as a Scale 1 teacher and then moved to Scale 2 before leaving teaching to have her family of three children.

After her children were all at school she returned as a Scale 1 then Scale 2 teacher before moving on to a Deputy Headship in a Church School.

Vicky then worked as Head of two different schools before finishing with 9 months as Acting Head in a school which was in difficulties following the loss of their Headteacher.

Vicky retired in 2008 in order to be free to spend time looking after her grandchildren and as her husband had also retired by then.

After a while she was invited to take on the role of Clerk to Governors at a local school and she held this post for five years before retiring from working in schools in order to take up other interests and help with care of grandchildren who had increased in number by then.

Charlotte Searle - Parent Governor

Charlotte lives in Axminster and her daughter Sophia has attended All Saints School since September 2021. Her younger son is at Wise Owls Preschool on the school site and will also follow in his sister’s footsteps.

Charlotte works at Wise Owls and has worked with children for ten years, she holds a degree in childcare and is passionate about equal opportunities for all children both professionally and personally. She is also the leader of the 1st Axminster Rainbows group.

Charlotte enjoys beach walks with her family and new addition Mabel the Cockapoo, baking, calligraphy and knitting! She’s looking forward to being a part of the school that will be such a huge part of her family for many years to come!

Sarah Shepley - Foundation Governor

Sarah lives in All Saints and recently retired after a thirty year international career in science and business. 

She is a Trustee and Volunteer at Axminster Health and Wellbeing Centre and Axminster Food Bank, a Core Team Volunteer for StoplIne Way Junior parkrun and Seaton parkrun, and a Trustee of the Lute Society of Great Britain.

Saah is married with two stepchildren and 4 granddaughters. She enjoys wildlife gardening, running, reading, learning languages, and playing music. 

Having benefited from inspiring state schools, teachers and university lecturers, Sarah wants to help the children, staff and community of All Saints School to thrive and lead happy and fulfilling lives.

Jo Matthews - Foundation Governor

Jo has 36 years working in the education sector, as a teacher, senior executive and executive coach. She specialises in Leadership and Governance, and Corporate Responsibility. She recently moved to Churchill  and is passionate about investing in young people, supporting them to flourish and grow. An experienced Non Executive Director and governor in education, she is keen to share her skills with her new community. She is also a keen gardener, having taken on a landscape garden which takes up most of her spare time.

Bec Davey - Clerk to Governors

As well as being the Clerk to Governors for All Saints Primary School, Bec is also Clerk to Governors for Beer Primary School (Another school within the St Christopher's Trust), Clerk to Governors for West Hill Primary School, Clerk & Co-Ordinator for NCOGS and Clerk to Hele's Eduational Trust.
Bec lives with her husband and two dogs. She enjoys walking, running and reading. She is a member of the Grizzly Committee and part of the Core Team for Seaton Parkrun.

Local Governing Board Minutes 2022/23

Local Governing Boards Minutes 2021/22

Scheme of Delegation

All Saints LGB Standing Orders

Governor Role Description