Our Governors

I have been a secondary school teacher for the last 11 years, teaching History across all key stages at a highly selective grammar school.

This has given me a great insight into the demands of education. I am now a parent to two young boys, one in nursery and the other in reception. I hope this perspective will help me to ensure the school is providing the best environment for our children.

I work as a specialist mental health pharmacist within the NHS where I have been since 2012. I mainly work across the Community Mental Health Teams covering the city of Exeter as well at supporting the Perinatal Mental Health Teams across the whole of Devon. I work alongside a Multi-Disciplinary Team of psychiatrists, nurses and other professions to support those of mental health difficulties to use their medication safety and effectively. I have two children at Ladysmith and have lived in the Heavitree area for the last nine years.

I am a corporate finance director at Francis Clark in Exeter and focus on utility scale renewable energy advisory, I am a chartered accountant with a background in energy, real estate and audit. I have 2 children at Ladysmith and live in very close proximity to the school and enjoy being part of the close-knit community. We really value the education and care that Ladysmith has been giving and will be giving our children and wanted to contribute to the school. Hopefully, I can use my financial and advisory background to lend some support and ideas to the team.

I have worked as a facilities/maintenance manager for many years in a variety of environments including government contracts. I have built a strong understanding of all aspects of building maintenance including statutory compliance which I intend to bring to my role on the governing board at Ladysmith. I have one son who started in reception this year.

Adam Brown: Staff Governor/Year 6 Teacher

Nicole Pouncey: Deputy Safeguarding Governor

Hollie Edmonds: SEND, Equality & Children in Care Governor

I am the Managing Director of a statistical consulting company and a Chartered Statistician. I hope to use my data skills to help understand and track pupil outcomes and other educational data. As a maths and science graduate, I am also committed to advocating STEM subjects to all pupils. I have been a member of the local community since 2009 and have a child at both the infant and junior schools.

I work for a national charity, leading on staff and volunteer experience. I look to ensure that our people are able to carry out their work to the best of their ability and have a great experience working or volunteering with us. I also have experience working for an education charity. I live in Heavitree and I have one son at Ladysmith, with another hopefully joining him in a few years’ time. We love the Ladysmith community and I’m really glad to be joining the governing board.

Sam Stephenson: Parent Governor

I joined St Christopher’s Multi Academy Trust in 2022 and now clerk for four local schools, providing administrative support to their Local Governing Bodies. Previously, I have taught IB and A Level German, and worked as a junior school Teaching Assistant, as well as in translation proofreading.

I find the clerking role interesting, rewarding and enjoyable, particularly because it is varied and draws on my organisational and written communication skills, and gives me opportunities for continuous professional development and for building relationships with others.

I always come away from Local Governing Body meetings feeling inspired by how deeply our governors and school leaders care about achieving the best possible outcomes for our children. I feel privileged to serve our school community in my role as clerk.