Please scroll down to meet our governors.
Governors work with the Headteacher to manage the school budget and premises, appoint staff, help the school to set strategic priorities, and to review admissions, attendance and exclusions. The Governing Body plays an important role in monitoring the school’s progress and helping to set targets to ensure the school provides an excellent learning environment for all the children. Governors also play an important role in ensuring the school has robust policies and practices in place for safeguarding children, and that the school is a safe place to work, learn and play.
The Governing Body includes parents (nominated and elected by parents of the school), teachers and school staff representatives, governors appointed by the local education authority and community governors (co-opted because they have links, skills or expertise that will benefit the school).
The Governing Body of Pontprennau Primary School brings together individuals with a diverse range of skills and experiences to support the School in achieving its aims and objectives. The Governing Body shares a common goal to see the School achieve excellence; providing the children with the very best school life along with a first class facility for the community of Pontprennau.
Once a year, the Governing Body will send a formal written report to parents.
Our team consists of:
Joanne Nicholas (Chair of Governors and Local Authority governor)
I have been a governor at Pontprennau Primary School since the school opened. Initially as a parent governor and then latterly as a local authority governor and Chair of Governors. In this time, I've been fortunate to see the school grow and develop. I'm really proud of what the school has come to be and we are all committed for the school to be a beacon of excellence, and a place that unites the entire community.
I’ve lived in Pontprennau for many years and am delighted to be able to support the school. I have a love of sport and enjoy spending family time outdoors and being active. In my day job I am an Assistant Director at a public sector organisation. I bring leadership and governance experience, and was formerly Head of Corporate Governance for another public sector organisation. I hope I am able to use these skills to lead the School's Governing Body as strong governance is the foundation of high performing organisation.
This is an exciting, and vitally important, time for our children and for the community of Pontprennau. As well as providing our children with the very best education and opportunities I'm confident that the School will become the common uniting factor that will give a real sense of community for the area.
Martin Cocks (Community governor)
I am a resident of Pontprennau and have a child in the school. I therefore care passionately that the school and the community facilities are successful.
Professionally, I project manage complex construction projects where I am wholly accountable for health and safety and their financial success. I am pleased to be able to use this experience to chair the Finance committee and sit on the Buildings and Health and Safety committee.
Maddi Fiera (Teacher Governor)
I thoroughly enjoy my role as a teacher Governor. I love teaching at Pontprennau Primary and live within the community, so I feel very passionate about supporting pupils, staff, parents, and the community as a whole.
I have worked at the school for a number of years and I'm involved in many different aspects of the school's day-to-day running. Among these aspects, I am currently part of the Rights Respecting School team and Language, Literacy and Communication team.
Teaching is a true passion and I always strive to deliver meaningful, authentic learning experiences in fun and engaging ways.
Self-improvement is also another passion and so, I am currently undertaking a Masters in Education and Additional Learning Needs.
I am devoted to supporting Pontprennau Primary in everything we do and look forward to the future as part of this team.
Denver Davies (Parent Governor)
I’m a parent governor and have been on the governing body since 2019. I have worked in the education sector throughout my career, mostly in qualifications awarding and regulation. I currently work for the qualifications regulator in Wales and am responsible for monitoring and compliance activities including dealing with complaints from learners and schools and responding to incidents that happen during the exam series. I enjoy working with the school staff and governors to help Pontprennau Primary School continue to grow and develop. I Chair the Curriculum and Standards sub-committee.
I’m a parent governor and have been on the governing body since 2019. I have worked in the education sector throughout my career, mostly in qualifications awarding and regulation. I currently work for the qualifications regulator in Wales and am responsible for monitoring and compliance activities including dealing with complaints from learners and schools and responding to incidents that happen during the exam series. I enjoy working with the school staff and governors to help Pontprennau Primary School continue to grow and develop. I Chair the Curriculum and Standards sub-committee.
Kirsty O'Brien (Staff governor)
I'm very excited to be appointed as staff governor as I feel being part of the inclusion team at Pontprennau and working with the children everyday, I really care about the opportunities that are offered to the children at Pontprennau to give them the best start in life. I feel that being part of the governing body will allow me to speak on behalf of the children and say what I feel is best for them.
I've always been interested in working with children and completed my studies at university to go on to working in private day nurseries and schools. I've been a teaching assistant in every class within a primary school setting, have covered classes and have managed a nursery class for a year, so I feel I have a wide variety of experiences with children and feel I know what could help them progress in life throughout primary school.
I'm looking forward to contributing to the governing body of Pontprennau as there's nothing more I'd like to see than this school, community and these children succeeding.
John Morley (LA Governor)
I am in my second term as one of the Local Authority Governors for Pontprennau Primary School. I have three grandchildren at Pontprennau School, and this has spurred me on as a governor to ensure the children get the maximum they can out of our school. Our children are our future, and everyone should be working to ensure that the education they receive is first class.
I have an old MSc in Computer Science (19960 and this helps me as one of the link governors looking at the Information Technology aspects of the school and the new curriculum.
I chair the schools Health and Safety committee and also the pupil and staff Wellbeing committee and am more than willing to discuss any aspects of these and the school parents.
My ambition is to make Pontprennau School the best in the authority and ensure that the next generation achieve all they can in a safe and happy school environment. I will work with the other Governors and of course the School Staff to ensure that this happens.
Suzannah Edmondson (LA Governor)
I am thrilled to have been appointed as a Local Authority Representative on the Board of Governors at Pontprennau Primary School.
I currently work as an Assistant Headteacher in a new all-through school, with the responsibility of Years 5 to Year 8. I have previously spent three years as a community representative on the Board of Governors at Tonyrefail Primary School, gaining an understanding across all sectors of education.
I am keen to support Pontprennau Primary school to continue its journey and raise standards, providing support and challenge where necessary.
Ceri Thomas (Parent Governor)
I have been on the Governing body since 2019 and I am so proud of how much the school has grown and developed over the last few years. I consider it an absolute privilege to be able to witness, and be part of, so much of the ‘behind the scenes’ work which goes towards making Pontprennau the beacon of excellence it is striving to be.
I have 4 children and I have been a teacher at another Cardiff primary school for 15 years. During this time I have gained experience in governance, safeguarding, wellbeing, additional learning needs and mentoring.
Children’s experiences in early education are exceptionally important and I am delighted to be able to support the school in providing the very best education where every child is given opportunities to succeed at every level.
Fola Lewis (LA Governor)
I joined Pontprennau Primary School in 2021 as a local authority governor. I live in the Cyncoed, Cardiff, a stone’s throw away and was excited to take on the governor role to support the school. I have 2 children of preschool and primary and worked in IT as a consultant and have varied roles including project management, business analysis and agile coaching.
I believe that primary years education is a critical and phase of child development as it helps to develop a passion for learning, exposing children to new and unique experiences they would not otherwise experience in different settings, whilst also being fun and engaging. It is important to me to work alongside the management of the school in any way that helps them to provide the highest standard of education to the children.
Charlotte Morgan (Parent Governor)
I have been living in Pontprennau for nearly 15 years and currently have two children at the school (in Year 2 and Year 6). I consider it to be an honour to be a Parent Governor at Pontprennau Primary School and to be a part of helping the school fulfil their vision of becoming a beacon of excellence. I have been teaching in secondary schools for over 15 years and have experience of leading and developing literacy across the curriculum.
Currently, I teach English across all year groups at in a large secondary school in Cardiff. In particular, this has allowed me to support the development of literacy in the school since joining the Governing Body. My background in education has helped give me knowledge and experience to help support school improvement and it is vitally important to me that the school achieves excellence in order offer all our children the opportunity to succeed.
Ellie Campbell (Staff governor)
During my time working at Pontprennau Primary school, I have become keen to work with and be as involved as possible with the wider community. My role as a teacher Governor has given me the opportunity to do this. I thoroughly enjoy working at Pontprennau and am profoundly dedicated to supporting pupils, staff and parents within our community.
I have worked at the school for a couple of years, across different year groups and I have had the pleasure to get to know most children within our school well. I am involved with various aspects of school life, including the Expressive Arts Team, leading the ‘Well-being Warriors’ pupil group and Taekwondo after-school club.
I love being a part of whole school events, as well as organising whole school competitions which the children have been completely enthused by. I am passionate about providing children with purposeful, authentic and motivating learning experiences that will help to instill passion and pride in themselves.
I am looking forward to continuing my teaching journey in Pontprennau Primary and being a part of this amazing team!