Governors and School Governance

As the headteacher, I am automatically a member of the Governing Body. Before I became a headteacher I was a staff governor. I was also a parent governor at Suffolk One when my daughter was in the 6th Form.  I value the challenge and support that the Governing Body offers the school. Our governors bring a wide range of experience to the school and can bring a new perspective to our work.

• Business Interests to declare: Employee of Active Learning Trust.

Mr Tim O'Keefe

• Acting Chair of Governors with effect from January 2020.
• Appointed November 2016 as Parent Governor.  Term of office ends October 2020. 
• Business Interests to declare: None declared.

I joined the school in 2001 and before becoming Deputy Headteacher, was a class teacher in Years 1, 3 and 5.  I have been an Associate Governor since 2011, helping to shape and facilitate the future direction of the school.  Whilst I am proud of the breadth and quality of learning opportunities that the school offers our pupils, I understand that the work of the Governors to build upon, improve and sustain this, remains a constant challenge. I am pleased to contribute to this process.

• Staff Representative.  Business Interests to declare:  Employee of ALT.

I am a chemistry teacher at Northgate High School, where I am also responsible for teacher training and professional development across the school. I have been a governor at Northgate since 2008 and I sit on the Finance Committee of the governing body.  I am passionate about teaching and working with teachers to support them as they work with young people. I am excited about being a part of Sidegate’s local governing body and I hope that I will be able to make a valuable contribution to the life of the school.

• Appointed by ALT September 2018 as Trust Governor.   Term of office ends July 2022.  
• Business Interests to declare:  Northgate High School Employee.

Having spent 10 years working as a Primary Teacher in various roles in the North West I joined the Sidegate in September 2013 and took on the role of staff governor later the same year. I am the school's lead for music and performing arts and hold a middle leader post with responsibility for the school's foundation curriculum. My teaching and leadership role means that my work in the school is varied and spans across the whole school, giving me a unique perspective as a governor. I believe a good primary school equips young people with the skills to be life long learners, it gives children learning experiences that they will remember forever and is a place where aspiration and expectation is high so that the best standards of achievement for all pupils can be reached. For me, in my role as a school leader and governor I am delighted to have the opportunity to be able to shape and influence the school's improvement strategy. I enjoy my work as a governor and see my role as a valuable conduit for bringing policy to practice. I am immensely proud of the improvements that Sidegate has made.  I am committed to the continued improvement of the school and excited about working with the Active Learning Trust in building the schools' capacity to improve in the future.

• Staff Representative. 
• Business Interests to declare:  Employee of ALT.

Ipswich is my home town and Sidegate was our first choice school when deciding on where to educate our daughter. I have a financial background, qualifying as an accountant in 2006, in which I currently present information to senior management. My wife is a teacher at a high school near Ipswich, which gives me an understanding of the demands placed on teachers. Outside of work I seem to have fallen into DIY. Our previous house the only item that was not improved were the windows, with our current house being a project too.

• Appointed February 2019 as Parent Governor.  Term of office ends February 2023.
• Business Interests to declare:  None declared.

• Appointed December 2018 as Parent Governor and converted to Trust Governor by ALT February 2019.  Term of office ends February 2023.
• Business Interests to declare:  None declared.

• Staff Representative since April 2017.
• Business Interests to declare:  Employee of ALT.

I originally worked as a journalist before moving into public relations, and currently work as a communications professional for a bank in London. Having grown up as the son of two teachers, and having married one myself, I maintain a strong interest in education issues and am appreciative of the challenges facing schools.  I have lived in Ipswich since 2017 when my family and I moved here from London, and I was appointed a Trust Governor in September 2018. I have one child at Sidegate and one of pre-school age, and am committed to helping Sidegate build on its many strengths. Outside of work I enjoy exploring new places with my family, as well as sport, writing and playing the guitar badly.

• Appointed by ALT September 2018 as Trust Governor.  Term of office ends July 2022. 
• Business Interests to declare:  None declared.

• Staff Representative since September 2017. 
• Business Interests to declare:  Employee of ALT.

Mrs Karen Wesley

I have lived and worked in Suffolk for most of my life and I am currently employed as a School Financial Business Manager at two Suffolk Local Authority schools.  Prior to this I worked in the School Finance Team of Suffolk County Council (Schools Choice) and provided financial support and advice to a number of schools and academies in Suffolk.  I believe that every child should be given the opportunities to reach their full potential and I am proud to be part of the school team as we continue to build on the positive progress made over the last three years.

• Appointed by ALT September 2018 as Trust Governor, Child Protection Governor and Safer Employment Champion.  Term of office ends July 2022. 
• Business Interests to declare: Suffolk County Council Employee.