Welcome to the Academy Committee for Great Bedwyn Church of England School. The Academy Committee have key responsibilities that help and support the Principal and her team and enable the Excalibur Trust Board to understand in more detail what is happening in their school.
- We help to shape the culture, vision and ethos of the school
- We discuss personal development, welfare and safeguarding of students and staff welfare
- We look at the impact of behaviour and attendance in supporting good learning, wellbeing and inclusion
- We look at extra-curricular provision and ensure it is inclusive, appropriate and of good quality
- We provide links between the community and the school and help to find skills within our community to support school initiatives
Each Academy Committee works differently but most meet formally 4 times a year, and then spend additional time in school talking to pupils and staff. The Committee is made up of Community, Foundation (Church), Parent and Staff Governors who bring experience from different career paths. The Academy Committee sets a different scheme of work for each year based on the priorities of the school.
On our visits, Governors also look at areas of equality, inclusion and diversity within our school and we review certain policies including Behaviour, School uniform and Relationships and Sex Education during the year. Some Governors have specific areas of responsibility which ensure compliance with statutory procedures and include Safeguarding, Education, SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), and Finance & Health and Safety.
In 2022/23 the Academy Committee work gave special focus to Communication, Wellbeing of all, Christian Vision & Values and ‘The journey of the child through Great Bedwyn school’.
From September 2023 we are going to continue exploring ‘The life of the child’ but by looking more closely at Personal development, our After school Red Kite club and extra curricular activities, the wellbeing of our staff and our school’s relationship with the community in which we are located.
As Governors the wellbeing of our pupils and staff is our single and most important goal. We volunteer our time to ensure our school helps our children succeed, and have a fulfilling, happy and healthy journey through Great Bedwyn.
The governors of Great Bedwyn CofE School are:-
Richard Barker – Chair of Governors & Foundation Governor
Born in Liverpool, after my degree I joined the RAF as a pilot in 1987, where I served for 17 years. Based in Saudi Arabia during the spring of 1991 I flew during the first Gulf War and thereafter on operations in the former Yugoslavia. I then served as a flying instructor and as a test pilot based locally at Boscombe Down. In 2005 I joined British Airways where I continue to serve as a long haul pilot. In many of those roles I’ve been involved in training, mentoring, and I love helping young people to realise their ambitions.
I’m married with a grown up daughter and, living in the community for nearly 20 years, I’ve helped locally at school, church and in scouting. I always loved helping as a dad at school and I’ve been a governor since 2019. As a foundation governor I help foster the strong links between church and school and assist the staff to maintain the Christian values which help to make Great Bedwyn CE School so special. As Chair of Governors, I lead the Academy Committee to support the Principal and collaborate with Excalibur Academy Trust.
Rachael Williamson – Community Governor
I am a community governor and have lived in Marlborough and the surrounding area since 2013. I am the governor responsible for safeguarding which means I work closely with the designated safeguarding team at the school supporting the safety and wellbeing of all pupils.
I’ve worked in Human Resources for the last 17 years and am passionate about using my skills and expertise to support the local community as part of the school’s academy committee.
I bring support, challenge and collaboration to the role and enjoy working with the rest of the academy committee to support the school in giving all pupils the roots to grow and wings to fly.
Fran Winn – Parent Governor
I’ve lived in Great Bedwyn since 2012 and have two children currently at the school. As both a parent and a member of the community, I care deeply about the future of the school and want to help it continue to thrive.
I’m the governor responsible for SEND and inclusion, which means I’m especially focused on making sure every child—whatever their background or needs—feels supported and has the chance to do their best.
Professionally, my background is in advertising and communications. My husband and I now run a strategic communications consultancy in London, supporting businesses in navigating complex messaging challenges.
I hope to bring a thoughtful, collaborative approach to the role—and to support the school in being a happy, inclusive place where all children can flourish.
Shereen Cottle – Parent Governor
After obtaining an undergraduate degree in Law and master’s degree in International Intellectual Property at University, I moved over to working for the NHS where I did a further degree to qualify as a Registered Mental Health Nurse. After working clinically for five years, I began working in the Patient Safety Team as the Trust’s Inquest Manager. I am now the Trust Patient Safety Lead and have been in this role for several years.
As a parent governor I hope to bring my professional skills and experience to the role to support the school to continue providing exceptional education to our children.
Alicia Campbell-Hill – Parent Governor
I have lived in Little Bedwyn since 2021. My eldest son attends Great Bedwyn School and I have two younger children who are hoping to follow in his footsteps. As a parent and member of the local community, I care deeply about the school and the role it plays in helping children thrive.
I am a Managing Director at a management consultancy firm, supporting organisations to navigate complex challenges, balance priorities and make well-informed decisions. I work closely with leadership teams to shape and deliver organisational strategy.
As a parent governor, I hope to support the school’s long-term development, working with staff and fellow governors to help ensure the best possible outcomes for each and every child.
James Eadie – Parent Governor
After university I joined the British Army and served for 15 years as an officer in the Royal Engineers, leading construction and infrastructure projects in the UK and overseas. Since leaving the Army I have worked in major project delivery across the public and private sectors and now run Emerald Tide, a consultancy that helps organisations plan and deliver sustainable, community-focused developments. Throughout my career I have trained and mentored young engineers and apprentices, and I care deeply about helping young people discover their strengths and ambitions.
I live in Hungerford with my wife and our three daughters. As a parent governor I act as the parents’ voice and oversee health and safety and risk management. I support the Headteacher and staff with a practical, problem-solving approach and a particular interest in STEM, outdoor learning, safeguarding and sustainability. I value the school’s Christian ethos and inclusive culture, and I am committed to fostering strong links between the school, parents and the wider community. I work with the Academy Committee to support the Principal and collaborate with Excalibur Academies Trust so that every child can thrive.
Lucy Hanham – Community Governor
I’ve lived in the local area for nearly a decade, and it brings me great joy to contribute to the community by sharing my skills and experience.
As the Governor for Academic Performance, I work closely with school staff to uphold high standards and expectations. A key part of my role is to support the school in achieving its improvement targets, as set by the principal and senior teaching team.
Professionally, I’ve spent 16 years working across a range of educational settings—including primary, secondary, and early years—and have held leadership roles such as Deputy Head Teacher. More recently, I completed doctoral training to become an Educational Psychologist and now work for a nearby local authority. I’m passionate about using this knowledge to help Great Bedwyn Primary School deliver the highest quality education for our local children and families.
I look forward to serving Great Bedwyn School staff, pupils and parents over the coming years.
Alan McArtney – Staff Governor
It is my pleasure to represent our fantastic staff team in my first year as teacher governor at Great Bedwyn. I am enjoying my thirteenth year as a primary school teacher having obtained my bachelor’s degree in primary education at University of Aberdeen in 2013.
Mrs. McArtney and I moved to Wiltshire in 2023 after meeting in Doha, Qatar, and the arrival of our first child in August 2025 has been a true blessing.