Our Governors

Elmridge Primary School is part of Bright Futures Educational Trust.

The Trust’s Articles of Association, Delegation Framework and other governance documents can be found on Bright Futures’ website: https://www.bright-futures.co.uk/information/governance-documents/

The Governing Body is responsible for ensuring the school is run both efficiently and effectively by the Principal and its staff, by playing the role of “critical friend”.  The Body meets in full 6 times per academic year.

The Governors take a full and active role in the monitoring of the School Development Plan.  Each Governor acts as a ‘Link Governor’ to a named member of staff and meets twice per year to focus on particular areas of the curriculum.

Each Governor is appointed or elected for a three-year term of office.

You can contact the Chair of Governors, Mr Neil Downie, either via the school or email.

Rebecca Bolton, Principal

I am delighted and honoured to serve as the Principal of Elmridge Primary School. With a strong commitment to fostering an inclusive and thriving school community, I am eager to engage with our pupils, parents, carers, and staff. Elmridge has a proud history of excellence, and I look forward to building on this legacy as we work together to support our children’s growth and success. Prior to this role, I spent five years as Vice Principal at Bridgewater Park Primary School in Runcorn, where I oversaw teaching and learning across the entire school. With 11 years of teaching experience, primarily in Year 6 and some time in Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), I am passionate about providing high-quality education that meets the diverse needs of all our pupils.

Neil Downie – (Co-opted Chair of Governors) Term of Office 01.09.24 to 31.08.28
Link Governor for Reading

Elmridge has been part of my life for a very long time; I was a pupil myself thirty something years ago, my father was a parent governor, and both of my own children were, until recently, pupils there.

For a long time I ran my own IT business providing bespoke web development solutions to health services and police forces which required security clearance to the highest level.

From there, I turned my hand to photography, a childhood love, and have been an award winning freelance professional photographer for over 10 years serving commercial business needs, providing fine art wall hangings to consumers, supplying training and leading workshops around the world.

Experience running my own businesses has allowed me to develop comprehensive skills in the areas of finance, customer service and delivery along with a set of strong communication and listening skills, all of which I believe will help me make a positive contribution in the role of School Governor.

I thoroughly enjoy being part of the school’s work, which is striving to provide outstanding education and pastoral care in a challenging and rapidly changing environment.

David Thompson-Allen (Staff Governor) Term of Office 14.10.24 to 13.10.28

I have been a teacher for 13 years and had the opportunity to work in 5 different schools across 3 boroughs in the Northwest. Since joining Elmridge, I have enjoyed being part of the school community.  Now I want to share my experience of teaching and leadership that I have accumulated along my career to a school I feel has welcomed me. I am very passionate about ensuring each child has the opportunity to grow both academically and holistically. Both of these are crucial for everyone- including staff in school too. 

In previous roles, I have had leadership positions which has given me insight into the wider life of school outside the classroom and the importance of clear communication between all stakeholders (such as Local Authority Leaders, Ofsted Inspectors, Local Universities and Local Faith leaders in the community). The knowledge and skillset I gained to this will help me contribute well to my role as Staff Governor. 

Stephanie Gill (Co-opted Governor) Term of Office appointed 09.02.23 to 08.02.26
Link Governor for Assessment & Maths

I am the Principal at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls as well as a mathematics teacher. I have taught in a variety of schools both at home and abroad. I was Head of Sixth Form and then Director of Studies at The Queen’s School in Chester, before taking up my previous role as Deputy Headteacher (Pastoral) at West Kirby Grammar School. I have had a number of years’ experience as a governor, having previously been a member of the board at Trafford Alternative Education Provision. Alongside leading my school, I am involved in school improvement work, both within the Trust and beyond, and I am an executive coach.

Layla Kelly (Parent Governor) Term of Office 03.12.24 – 02.12.28

Link Governor for SEND

As a parent of a child who has only relatively recently start his journey at Elmridge, and a parent of a younger child who I hope will follow that journey, I am passionate about the level of education, be it mentally, physically, emotionally or socially, that Elmridge Primary School can offer our children. Like many, having children in school is a relatively new experience for me, which can be both thrilling and (sometimes) daunting, and that being the case I am able to bring that new perspective into a role as governor.

In my professional career I am a senior solicitor in a City Centre law firm with almost 13 years’ experience, working within dispute resolution. I am therefore adept at quickly getting to grips with new concepts, scrutinising decision making and offering guidance or (where appropriate) critical feedback. This also means that I have a real understanding of the needs of busy working parents in ensuring the welfare of their children at school and the challenges such parents (and often their children) can face as a consequence.

Through the role of governor I hope to offer a positive contribution to a school that has made such a positive contribution to my child.

Angeline Sands (Co-opted Vice Chair of Governors) Term of Office appointed 05.02.24 to 05.02.27

Link Governor for Safeguarding & Attendance

I am a parent of two children at Elmridge Primary School. I became motivated to become a parent governor in November 2019 as I wanted to make a positive contribution to my son’s primary school lives, which I feel I am able to do within the role of parent governor.

Professionally, I work as a Safeguarding Consultant within a local Multi Academy Trust. I am a former child protection lawyer and have worked to safeguard the best interests of children, whether in a legal or educational setting, for the last twelve years. I am the Safeguarding link governor at Elmridge and I am passionate about achieving effective safeguarding throughout the school. I challenge where necessary and I will work alongside Mrs Bolton to ensure that children at Elmridge are consistently provided with safe and effective care as well as being given equal access to the best learning.

Sheu Hirst (Co-Opted Governor) Term of Office appointed 05.06.23 to 04.06.26

Link Governor for Writing

I have recently graduated with a Masters in Politics from the University of Manchester, and have an extensive background in social research and public policy. Having worked in the Civil Service, I have experience in implementing government policy and delivering public services. My mother was a teacher and sat on the governing body of my former school, and it was through her that the extremely important role of teachers, governors and wider school staff was demonstrated to me. Therefore, I am pleased to be a member of the governing body, and grateful for the opportunity to support the school in delivering excellent education for our community’s children. 

Niels van Manen (Parent Governor) Term of Office

Link Governor for the Curriculum

Both my children have been attending Elmridge Primary School since our move from The Netherlands in 2022. Having witnessed how well they have transitioned at Elmridge, I am motivated to help the school continue to provide excellent care and education to children in our community. Professionally, I have worked as university lecturer and curriculum coordinator for 15 years in both the UK and The Netherlands. I was Parent Governor at my children’s previous school in Amsterdam and chaired the Governing Board. I thus know what is required from an educator team to create the right environment for young learners to be safe and thrive. Through the role of governor, I hope to challenge and support the school in achieving the best possible environment for all children at Elmridge.

Attendance at Local Governing Body Meeting 2025/2026

	Local Board 13.10.25	Local Board 08.12.25	Local Board 02.02.26	Local Board 30.03.26	Local Board 18.05.26	Local Board 13.07.26
Neil Downie	Present
Rebecca Bolton	Present
David Thompson-Allen	Present
Angeline Sands	Present
Sheu Hirst	Present
Stephanie Gill	Present
Layla Kelly	Present
Niels Van Manen	Present
Rishabh Kalra	Present
Observers	Andy Needham (Finance)

Attendance at Local Governing Body Meeting 2024/2025

	Local Board 14.10.24	Local Board 09.12.24	Local Board 03.02.25	Local Board 24.03.25	Local Board 12.05.25	Local Board 07.07.25
Neil Downie	Present	Apologies	Present	Present	Apologies	Present
Rebecca Bolton	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
David Thompson-Allen	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
Angeline Sands	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
Sheu Hirst	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
Stephanie Gill	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
Layla Kelly	Present	–	Present	Present	Present	Apologies
Niels Van Manen	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present	Present
Rishabh Kalra	–	Apologies	Present	Present	Apologies	Present
Observers		Layla Kelly	Laura Aspinwall (Math Lead) & Jenny Ewart (Finance)		Jenny Ewart (Finance)

Attendance at Local Governing Body Meeting 2023/2024