Our Governors

The role of the governor is an important aspect of any school.  A Governing Body’s role is to act as a critical friend to the school, challenging and supporting its strategic work in relation to its school improvement priorities.

Our Governing Body is committed to continual improvement and the development an maintenance of high standard and quality in all aspects of school life.  The full Governing Body meets each half term in school and the committees meet once a term. All our Governing Body have successfully completed the DBS and section 128 checks.

Chair of Governors: Andrea Wright

Chair of Resources Committee: Ellen Wood

Chair of Standards Committee: Jane Sinclair

Information about our Governors: 

Joanne Vickers (Headteacher)

Joanne is our headteacher and has worked in education for the past 28 years and  a senior leader for ten years.  With a deep commitment to supporting young people and fostering a positive learning environment, Joanne believes that working collaboratively with parents and teachers will promote academic excellence and personal growth for all students.  Joanne and the leadership team work closely with the school Governors to ensure continued school improvement is at the forefront of every agenda to provide the nest possible outcomes for all pupils.  Outside of school, Joanne enjoys travelling, eating out with family and reading for pleasure when she gets the time.

Andrea Wright (Chair and Parent Governor)

My name is Andrea Wright. I have a child at Altofts Juniors in Year 4 and my eldest son finished Year 6 recently. After qualifying as a teacher, I worked in a residential special school prior to moving into other roles in safeguarding and social care. I currently manage a residential home for children with disabilities. I have previously held the role of Chair of Governors at another local infant school. I live in Altofts with my husband and two children and our cocker spaniel. As a family we enjoy holidays and days out and I like reading and crafting when I get chance. I look forward to working with the school to ensure all the children attending reach their maximum potential.

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Jane Sinclair (LA Governor)

Jane Sinclair has been a governor at Altofts for over ten years and is the Local Authority governor. Before retirement, Jane worked in secondary schools for over 31 years. She started work in Wakefield and then moved to the East Riding of Yorkshire where she was a Pastoral Deputy Head with responsibility for Special Needs Education, Child Protection, PSHCE and teacher training. She was also an Acting Head Teacher for a period of time. Jane also worked for the Open University for 7 years as a tutor on it's MA course for educationalists, dealing with small scale research projects in a wide variety educational settings. After retirement, Jane has maintained her interest in Education by serving on Admission Appeals panels and by being a governor. During her time as a governor she has undertaken training run by the LA and the school and has served as Chair. She is currently the SEN governor. Jane lives in Wakefield.

Liam Petitt (Co-opted Governor)

Liam Petitt is our Maths Governor . Liam joined in the summer of 2021 and sits on the Standards committee as well as the general governing body. Liam has been teaching for 14 years and has been staff governor at a previous school. He currently works for Trinity MAT with West Yorkshire Maths Hub and White Rose Maths. Over lockdown you have heard Liam’s voice as he wrote and recorded the Year 2 Home Learning material. Liam wears many different hats in the educational community, he is an SLE, Professional Development Lead and KS1 Moderator. Determined to bring fun and a deep level of understanding to maths for local children Liam lives in Altofts with his wife and two young children. The family spend their free time walking, cycling, swimming and playing board games.

Mark Chester (Co-opted Governor & Vice-Chair)

Mark is National Account Manager for AQA. Mark has worked for AQA for 9 years, working across the largest secondary schools across Yorkshire, Hull and East Riding. He worked as a secondary PE teacher for 5 years, and is also a former professional rugby union player, which saw him travel to New Zealand, Italy, Canada and Scotland, before returning to England in 2012. 

Ann-Marie Sheard (Staff Governor)

Ann-Marie is our Assistant Headteacher with a responsibility for SEND, pastoral needs and senior Designated Safeguard Lead.  Prior to joining Altofts Junior School, she owned a children's nursery, after school and holiday club.  Outside of school she is a governor in a neighbouring special education school and Chair of Trustees for Wakefield and District Down's Syndrome Support Group.  She enjoys spending time with her children, baking, reading and is an avid Leeds United fan!

Kirsten Lyons (Parent Governor)

Kirsten is a parent governor from Altofts, who joined us in October 2024.  Kirsten has a wealth of experience in education and working with children.  She is currently a lecturer at Leeds Beckett University, teaching on both the undergraduate and postgraduate initial teaching training courses, with her specialism being the foundation subjects.  Prior to this role, Kirsten was a primary school teacher for 13 years teaching across EYFS, KS1 and KS2.  Kirsten has a MA in Education and is currently studying for her PhD.  Being brought up and living in Altofts herself has given Kirsten the motivation to use her skills in education to help improve opportunities for the children of the school.

Rob Earl (Co-opted)

Robert is a coopted Governor for the School and a technology executive with over 20-years experience in the design, delivery, and operation of Global IT Services. Robert is a Director and Principal Security Engineer for Microsoft UK having also previously held Director and Senior level roles in Aviva, Barclays, and IBM amongst others. Robert is passionate about education and is a registered S.T.E.M Ambassador for National STEM Learning. Robert is also a volunteer for several Charities including the Princes Trust where he provides mentoring to young people embarking on running their own Business.

Ellen Wood (Co-opted)

Ellen is one of our co-opted Governors, who joined the Governing Board in July 2023. She lives in Altofts and is the Practice Director of Newport Land and Law, a solicitors firm based in Wakefield. She has a wealth of experience and skills from the education sector, having worked for a number of educational charities in her early working life.

In more recent years, since having her two children and then seeking a better work-life balance, Ellen has worked in Local Governance, for the Registration Service (as both Senior Registrar and Ceremonies Manger) as well as School and Academy Governance Services (as a clerk to Governors, as well as offering training to new Governors within a multi-academy trust).  She became a Practice Director in 2018.

Living in the local community, she is eager to be a part of improving the educational opportunities for children in Altofts and hopes to work hard in her role as a Governor to do this. Ellen is the pupil premium link Governor and chairs the Resources Committee. 

Constitution and declaration of interests.2022-2023