De Jarvis – Chair of Governors and Co-opted Governor
I became a co-opted governor at Reedham School at the start of 2016. I have special responsibility for Early Years, Safeguarding, Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Equality.
Until my retirement in 2015 I was a primary school teacher, firstly in London, then Norfolk and for a period of four years in Singapore. During that time I taught across the age range, but specialised in Early Years. For a period of time I was Assistant Head with responsibility for Nursery, Reception and Key Stage 1 and then became Deputy Head, supporting the Headteacher in the strategic development and the day to day running of the school. With this experience I feel that I can offer support by monitoring, questioning and challenging the staff to ensure the best possible standards of education for all children attending the school.
In my spare time I enjoy travelling, theatre and cinema, gardening and getting together with friends and family.
Hayley Smith – Co-opted Governor and Vice-Chair
I am a School Governor who has special responsibility for Literacy. I am experienced in many aspects of Education having been the head teacher of a village school and nursery for 23 years. I also sit on the governing body of another local primary school. I have 3 grandchildren of primary school age.
Chris Edwards – Headteacher
‘Family’ has always been an important part of my life, both at home and at work. My mother lived her entire life in nearby Moulton St Mary so I have a real understanding of how village life works in these parts. Together with my father, they ran Canary Caravan Transport and from an early age I was helping with aspects of the business from taking calls to working out quotes for jobs, to helping deliver and siting the caravans themselves. My father had always dissuaded me from going into the family business and promoted education as a way of bettering myself. I took his advice and gained my joint honours degree in Economics and Politics. I could have gone to London to earn big money but my heart finally had a calling – teaching. I completed my PGCE at the University of East Anglia, keeping local to the area because of my passion at the time, clay pigeon shooting. Unlike most sports, I couldn’t take my sporting equipment (my shotgun) onto campus. It was a love that heralded four county titles, over 40 Norfolk caps and a second place at the English Open Skeet Championships. It also meant I could keep watching my beloved Norwich City Football Club on and off between studies.
My teaching career started off at Ormesby First School as it was back then in 2001. Four years later I needed a new challenge and took on the role of Key Stage 1 leader at Acle Primary School. While at Acle I progressed onto becoming the deputy headteacher, before I moved to Reedham to become headteacher in September 2013. I have two beautiful children, Adam and Willow and a school family to nurture too. Being a small school, that sense of everybody pulling together to be better than the sum of its parts, never rings truer. I have in place a fantastic staff who go above and beyond to give the children at our school the best possible start to their education. We may be small in size but our passion for learning is enormous. With an exciting curriculum we make sure children enjoy their time at our school, are settled, happy, curious and they leave us ready for the next challenge that awaits.
Mary Jones – Co-opted Governor
I am a retired primary school teacher, specialising in Early Years Education. I taught in the London Borough of Barnet for over 20 years. Before training as a teacher I ran an independent advice centre in Tower Hamlets, one of the poorest boroughs in the UK, dealing with benefits, housing, consumer rights employment and tax problems. I have 2 adult children and 2 grandsons. Since moving to Reedham 6 years ago I have volunteered at Reedham School as a helper. I also run a forest pre-school playgroup at Strumpshaw Fen between Easter and November. My interests include wildlife, gardening and bellringing.
Anups de Silva – Parent Governor
I am dad to two pupils at the school, and am delighted to represent our community as a Parent Governor. My girls have loved their time at Reedham Primary so far and I am keen to ensure that we are doing all we can to support the school to provide an excellent holistic educational experience to our local children. I work as a Consultant doctor at NNUH and have been an NHS doctor for nearly 30 years.
Isla McFadden – Co-opted Governor
I became a co-opted governor at Reedham School in March 2021 with a focus on Pupil Behaviour and Self Esteem. I have no experience of the schooling system (apart from attending and having two school age kids) but I feel that I can bring a different perspective and insights to the school. I currently work as a consultant, specialising in HRIT and managing global projects.
I have one son currently attending the school and wanted to become a Governor to give something back to the community and specifically the school which has transformed my son’s education. I have lived in Reedham since 2009.
Ian Catlow – Co-opted Governor
I became a co-opted governor at Reedham School at the end of 2022 because I wanted to give something to the lovely community I live in.
Prior to my retirement in 2019, I worked for HSBC in Malaysia for 5 years. Before that in the UK, I ran my own company as a business analyst and technical author where I had to quickly understand complex processes and document them. I have often had to develop procedures under the auspices of recognised governance frameworks such as the EU Procurement Rules.
I am passionate about good grammar and well written documents, essays and procedure manuals.
In my spare time I enjoy boating and have clocked up well over 2500 nautical miles as part of a yacht master course which I completed in Malaysia. I also enjoy golf and tennis. I am the treasurer at Acle Tennis Club. I also love to walk my dogs on a daily basis.
Serena Bastillo – Parent Governor
One of the most important things we will do for our children is provide them with an education. I didn’t just want to choose any school for my children but wanted a school where they would be happy and reach their full potential. When I looked round Reedham Primary, it had everything I wanted: a happy place where education was taken seriously.
I feel privileged to be a member of the governing body and to help carry on the school tradition of providing a solid education for our children.
I come from a different education system and hope that the different perspective that I bring can help in the shaping of Reedham Primary’s future success.
I am also a postgraduate student in this Country and I strongly believe in the positive “can-do-attitude”: we can be the best version of ourselves if given the right tools and opportunities.
