Meet the Governors
Sarah Coombes, Executive Headteacher
Amanda Reynolds, Head of School
Christine James, Clerk to the Governing Body
Nicola Harding, Community Governor
I have been part of the local community since our family moved to Pentyrch in 2016. With children currently in year 5 and year 3 I have seen the school develop and thrive over the years. I have been part of the Governing body for 5 years I feel extremely passionate about helping to support and enhance the local village school which is an integral part of our community and my children’s upbringing. I have worked in Marketing for over 15 years and I am a Director of our family-run garden centre’s ‘Pugh’s Garden Village’ in both Morganstown and Wenvoe, which have been a long-standing part of the local community for over 60 years since my grandparents set it up. I have been a key driver in implementing new Marketing strategies for business growth over the past 10 years and feel my experience will lend me in good stead for being a community governor and especially beneficial to the committees that I have been appointed too. Community is in my roots and I feel that there is a wonderful support network around the school, I am passionate about the wellbeing of our children and feel the school is an intrinsic part of village life and I will continuously strive to make a positive contribution to the children’s education in our community, helping Pentyrch Primary continue to thrive and grow, applying both a strategic approach alongside an independent balanced viewpoint.
Nicola Crocker, Chair of Governors
I have been connected with Pentyrch Primary School since I was 4 years old and attended as a pupil myself! My daughter joined the school in 2013 followed by my son in 2016. I was FOPSA chair from September 2014 until January 2017 and whilst I enjoyed my time in FOPSA, I wanted to be more involved in general school life. I was elected as a Parent Governor in December 2016.
I am involved in the Finance, Premises, Health & Safety, Standards and Marketing & Communications committees where we are working hard to meet the Estyn recommendations and enhance our relationship with parents, carers and the whole school.
On a day-to-day basis, I am a Property Development Executive, financing smaller developers to build homes in Wales. I want to make a positive contribution to children’s education and am not afraid to challenge and question to ensure that our children are getting the best out of the school and that they continually strive for excellence.
Jonathan Fortune, Vice Chair of Governors
Having been elected to the Governing body in 2016, I enjoy contributing to and helping improve the school to optimise the school experience for our children. I don’t have a background in education, and so some of the terminology involved in running a school does take some getting used to but having worked with the British Council and Welsh Government developing and delivering policy, I am able to bring a different perspective to be a critical friend to the work the governing body does.
We have lived in Pentyrch for almost 10 years now and love the village and especially the community that is built around the school. I have a daughter who attended Pentyrch Primary and is now in year 9 at Radyr Comprehensive School, and a son who is now coming to the end of his time at Pentyrch Primary. In the 9 years I’ve been connected to the school as a parent and Governor it’s amazing to see the transition and improvements and I’m so proud of the work of everyone connected to the school in getting us to where we are today.
As well as socialising at community events, I enjoy music, watching Cardiff City and the cricket, cooking and spending time with my family and friends.