Meet the Governors

Mrs Gillian Slocombe CBE (Chair)

I am passionate about helping to improve the lives and wellbeing of children and young people and have worked professionally and volunteered to this end throughout my adult life.  Most recently I was Chair of the national board of trustees of Girlguiding and their Chief Guide.  I am delighted to be putting my experiences to use as a governor.  I feel it’s a great privilege to be part of North Curry School which holds a very special place at the heart of the village community.  I am the safeguarding governor.

Mrs Sharon Colwell (Vice Chair)

I am delighted to have been appointed as a governor of North Curry School and want to use my wide experience in education to support the wonderful staff and children wherever I can. I was a teacher for over twenty years and have taught in primary, secondary and specialist schools. I am passionate about children’s development – socially, emotionally and academically, so that every child can grow to be the best that they can be. I enjoy anything to do with words – reading, writing and word games. I have specialised in teaching reading and writing throughout my career. I am the link governor for writing. My previous volunteering roles include being chair of a preschool and a leader in Girlguiding, where I led a Brownie unit for many years. 

Mrs Jacqui Atherley 

Being new to the village of North Curry and the County, I am continuing a 25 year commitment to volunteering; starting when my own children were little in the National Childbirth Trust as a Treasurer then on to school PTA Treasurer,  lastly all things swimming as a coach and swim meet administrator.  I am Head of Operations for an IT consultancy and hope to bring both my knowledge of IT and Finance to support the school.

Mr Martin Stepney

I am pleased to have taken on the role of parent governor, and I am deeply invested in the success and growth of our school community. With over 14 years of experience in the education field, I bring a wealth of knowledge as a teacher, having served as a subject leader and a member of senior leadership teams in various school settings across Somerset and Dorset. My journey in education has been complemented by a diverse background, including prior roles in finance and customer service. This multifaceted experience equips me with a unique perspective that I am eager to contribute to the governance of our school. I look forward to collaborating with fellow governors, teachers, and parents to support the school’s mission and create an environment where every child can thrive academically and personally.

Reverend Simon Bale

I am Revd Simon Bale and I am the vicar of The Athelney Benefice, which includes the parish of North Curry. I have been here since February 2021 and before that was in Bridgwater and also Highbridge. I am originally from Bristol, where I was a school governor in various settings for fifteen years. I am a governor at North Curry because of my role as vicar, but I am also committed to education for the opportunities it gives our children to flourish throughout their whole lives. I regularly visit the school to lead collective worship. Meeting and chatting to the children at North Curry is always a delight. The children (and staff!) are an enthusiastic community: it is a joy to be in the school, and to be part of the wider community.

Miss Abbie Bown

As staff governor, I feel very lucky to have been teaching at North Curry since 2016. My roles and responsibilities provide invaluable opportunities to see children at the school flourish. I have a particular interest in Computing and Online Safety, leading the school to achieve 360safe accreditation in July 2022. A passionate educator, I am proud to be involved in the governance of the school. I feel enormously grateful to form part of the school community, seeing all involved collaborating with unfailing enthusiasm and commitment to provide the very best experiences for all.

Mrs Amy Hardwick

I am proud to have been invited to join the team as a Foundation Governor, representing the local diocese. I teach at The SPACE and Heathfield, and co-run the North Curry Toddler group. My family moved to Somerset almost a decade ago, saturating themselves in the community, Church and Arts scene. My focuses are inclusivity, spirituality and community.

I am delighted to have been appointed as a Foundation Governor and to be able to make a contribution to our wonderful village school. I am inspired by the determination of the staff and fellow governors to put the children at the heart of all we do. I want every child to have the best possible experience and for their time with us to fire a lifelong curiosity and love of learning. I moved to Somerset from Suffolk in 1995 and have lived in the village since 1998. I have worked in public and private sector regulation for 25 years and I bring a focus on good governance, standards and improvement. I currently work at the Care Quality Commission where I am the Director  of Adult Social Care.