Chair of Governors
Alex Johnson - Parent Governor
Date of Appointment: 05.11.2024
Appointed by: Parent Election
End of Term: 04.11.2028 (Four years)
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 4/4
Attendance at Meetings 2025/26: N/A
Link: Stakeholder Engagement
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Parent of children at Poppleton Ousebank Primary School
Bio:
Alex is a parent of three children all of whom have attended or are still in attendance at Poppleton Ousebank Primary School. She was elected as parent governor in November 2020 and was later elected Chair of the Local Governing Committee. Alex is passionate about supporting the school leadership team to make Poppleton Ousebank the best school it can be to encourage all our children to thrive. Alex originally trained as a lawyer and worked in both law and investment banking before moving to work in communications and investor relations for a number of companies including Lonmin PLC, SEGRO plc and Intercontinental Hotels Group. After having her first daughter, Alex took a career break for eight years and during this time was a committee member and Chair of Poppleton Under Fives, the village playgroup. Alex now works for the Cabinet Office in Communications.
Contact: chair@pop.hlt.academy
Address: Poppleton Ousebank Primary School, Main Street, Upper Poppleton, York, YO26 6JT
Our Governors
James Browne - Trust-appointed Governor
Date of Appointment: 03.11.2021
Appointed by: Trust
End of Term: 02.11.2025 (Four years)
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 3/4
Attendance at Meetings 2025/26: N/A
Link: Behaviour and Attendance, Personal Development
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: ReachOut UK (Mentoring Charity) – 2019
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Alan Park (Vice Chair) - Trust-appointed Governor
Date of Appointment: 18.11.2021
Appointed by: Trust
End of Term: 17.11.2025 (Four years)
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 3/4
Attendance at Meetings 2025/26: N/A
Link: SEND and Pupil Premium, Whistleblowing
Declared Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Confirmed no interests to declare
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Tom Craven - Trust-appointed Governor
Date of Appointment: 22.09.2025
Appointed by: Trust
End of Term: 21.09.2029 (Four years)
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: N/A
Attendance at Meetings 2025/26: N/A
Link:
Declared Business and/or Pecuniary Interest:
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Richard Smith - Staff Governor
Date of Appointment: 01.04.2023
Appointed by: Staff Election
End of Term: 31.03.2027 (Four years)
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 3/4
Attendance at Meetings 2025/26: N/A
Link: No link role assigned
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Teacher at Poppleton Ousebank Primary School
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Dave Card - Parent Governor
Date of Appointment: 01.04.2023
Appointed by: Parent Election
End of Term: 31.03.2027 (Four Years)
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 4/4
Attendance at Meetings 2025/26: N/A
Link: Safeguarding and Standards
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Ebor Academy Trust Employee (Headteacher at Camblesforth Primary School)
Spouse is a Heartwood Learning Trust Employee
Parent of a child at Poppleton Ousebank Primary School
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Linda Collier - In Attendance
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 4/4
Attendance at Meetings 2025/26: N/A
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Principal at Poppleton Ousebank Primary School
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Vicky Mitchinson - In Attendance
Attendance at Meetings 2024/25: 4/4
Attendance at Meetings 2025/26: N/A
Business and/or Pecuniary Interest: Vice Principal at Poppleton Ousebank Primary School
Additional Information
Monday 29th September 2025, 5.30pm
Tuesday 9th December 2025, 5.30pm
Monday 16th March 2026, 5.30pm
Monday 22nd June 2026, 5.30pm
Governor attendances are updated once a term
Clerk / Trust Governance Support – Georgina.Holman@york.gov.uk
To become a Governor, please contact the school – hello@pop.hlt.academy
Governors do not need specific skills, but many of the tasks they are required to undertake can benefit from general business knowledge such as understanding management systems, budget planning and HR functions. Local authorities are required to ensure that training for governors is available and most governing bodies buy into their local authority training packages (which may include online learning) to ensure that governors are properly inducted to their role and trained for specific tasks such as appointing a Headteacher and then carrying out the Headteacher’s performance review.
For further information, including Governance documents, please visit our Trust website