Longtown Community Primary and Pre-School

Governors

Longtown Community Primary School is fortunate in having an experienced and enthusiastic governing body, who each bring their own specific skills and experience. Together, they are able to use these abilities collectively in order to provide the school with the support and equally, the challenge it needs to thrive.

The governing body has a structure of full governing body meetings and two committees dealing with the areas of Education and Business.

The Chair of Governors may be contacted via the following address:  Mrs Vicki Stinchcombe, C/O Longtown Community Primary School, Longtown, Herefordshire, HR2 0LE

The Clerk to the Governors is Emma Stafford who can be contacted via the school office.

The Governing Body pay allowances or reimbursement of costs incurred by governors in accordance with the procedure laid out in the school's Finance Policy.

GOVERNOR’S ANNUAL REPORT for September 2025 to July 2026

Over the academic year Governors have attended 3 Education and or Business committee meetings, 3 full GB meetings and 1 extraordinary GB meeting.
The budget has been monitored termly by the Business committee and full GB.
Staff have given presentations to members of the Education committee on Writing and Science.
Curriculum areas observed by Governors include use of computers, history, geography, and French.
Governors have attended several courses on OFSTED, Safer Recruitment, role of Governors and Safeguarding.
All Governors were involved in the full process of recruiting, interviewing and successfully appointing the new Headteacher for September 2026.
The current membership of the GB demonstrates a wide breadth of skills required for a governing body.
It has been agreed that the role of Vice Chair will change termly as part of professional development and succession planning.
Governors have enjoyed visiting the school for special events such as assemblies and the opening of The Kite
Vicki Stinchcombe has retired from the role of Chair of Governors and remains on the GB and we thank her for all her work during that time.

Kym Wilcocks, Chair of Governors

The Current Governing Body Comprises:

Kym Wilcocks - Chair of Governors - 4 year term - Education and Business Committee

Retired Primary School Headteacher - two consecutive Headships held in Portsmouth at inner city schools. Involved in several key Government initiatives focussed on inner city schools. Moved to Hereford and Lower Maescoed in 2005. Became a member of the Diocesan Board of Education and a Governor of Longtown Community Primary School. At the school I have been involved in several OFSTED inspections and in the appointment of Headteachers and Staff as well as holding the role of Chair of Governors. I retired from the school when my late husband was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer in 2022.
Currently my voluntary work includes being a welcomer at the Cathedral to visitors as well as being a churchwarden of St. Michael’s church in Ewyas Harold and also as a voluntary reader at school.
Longtown Community Primary School has been an important part of my life since 2005 and having returned to being a Governor I feel very privileged to once again become the Chair of Governors.

Sally Bigley - Vice Chair of Governors- Co-opted Governor - 4 year term - Business Committee

My name is Sally Bigley and I have been a parent at Longtown Primary School for over twelve years and I currently have a daughter in year 6. During my time I have been a PTA Chair, pre-school committee member and I have volunteered to present practical teaching sessions in the classroom. I was instrumental in the 'Kindness and Anti-bullying campaign' at Longtown in 2018 of which the Friendship Swing still remains today. I work in the property industry which has heightened my skills of diplomacy, discretion, negotiation and decision making. I live on our family farm which is home to our breeding horse stud and as a family we are keen competitors in the horse showing world.

Vicki Stinchcombe  - 4 year term - Education Committee

Vicki began her career in a large primary school in Bristol, where as a class 5/6 teacher she had responsibility for literacy and PE. She became a Deputy Head, where her expertise was in behaviour management, emotional intelligence and literacy, and then moved on to take up a research position at the University of Bristol. As part of this she completed a Master’s in Education that focused on the transition between KS2 and 3. More recently she has been working as an educational consultant for Creative Partnerships, working with schools in the Midlands to develop creative approaches to learning and the curriculum. Passionate about improving children's educational experiences she was also a visiting lecturer for UWE, working alongside and mentoring student teachers. She moved to the area in 2013 and is currently supporting the development of the School’s Council. She has two granddaughters at Longtown School. 

Jeanette Pryce - Parent Governor - 4 year term - Education Committee

From east Herefordshire, I moved to Longtown in 2014. I now have two boys at Longtown School. Prior to its change in governance I was very involved with Longtown Pre-School and was Chair of the charity responsible for its running. I’ve continue to be involved in the school’s PTA and also run an after school Art Club.
I work locally as the Design & Style Librarian for a London based design house. This represents a change in career after having our boys - previously I worked in town planning as a Planner and Planning Enforcement Officer. After gaining a degree in Geography from the University of Birmingham, I travelled extensively for a number of years before returning to Herefordshire broke, not leaving again as planned but eventually migrating west to the hills! I enjoy running with other local mums, especially on those hills, travel and plenty of adventure!

Jane Barnes - Headteacher Governor - Education/Business Committees

Jackie Reynolds - Staff Governor - 4 year term - Education Committee

Jackie was brought up in Greater Manchester before moving to the Midlands to study Politics at the University of Warwick. She started her career in commercial consumer research working for Bulmers, Golden Wonder and finally Kraft Foods on marketing and brand development for well-known drinks and snacking brands both in the UK and internationally. In 2012, she embarked on a career change to fulfil a long-held desire to become a teacher and undertook a PGCS at the University of Worcester. She worked locally at several primary schools across the whole of Key Stage 2 before joining Longtown teaching staff in 2014. In her current role, Jackie is the class teacher for Year 5/6 and also the Literacy Coordinator across the school which enabled her to follow her passion for reading and encourage and support a reading for pleasure culture. Jackie lives in Hereford with her husband and secondary-aged son. She enjoys playing netball in the local league , mountain biking and is an inspiring (although often struggling!) runner, taking part in the Park Run 5km most weekends.

Jake Townley - Parent Governor - 4 year term - Business Committee Chair

My working background is as a Chef and I completed my apprenticeship with The Royal Academy Of Culinary Arts in 2013. I spent my early career working in Michelin starred restaurants in London and overseas however having grown up in the Black Mountains I couldn't resist the call of the countryside for long. I returned 10 years ago with my wife to set up a food and farming business. Over the past 10 years of running the business I have developed a broad range of skills from strategy, marketing, finance and leadership. I love problem solving and getting stuck into the nitty gritty. My goal is to see this area thrive and I am excited for the opportunity to have input into the future of the school, at which my two children are currently enrolled. I love the outdoors and on the rare occasions that I'm not working I can normally be found fly fishing on the river or running up on the hills.

Fiona Flint - Co-opted Governor - 4 year term - Business Committee

The Governing Body

The Governing Body holds full governing body meetings each term. In addition, it has two committees which also meet termly. The Education Committee has responsibility for Curriculum & Standards, Safeguarding, SEND, Specific Groups and Community. The Business Committee has responsibility for Finance, Premises, Health and Safety, Personnel, GDPR and Equalities.

Register of Interests

The following information indicates any relevant business interest of governors and details of any other educational establishments they govern.

List of Governors who have resigned in the last 12 months

Mike Fawcett

Ron Brierly

Emma Stafford

Kym Wilcocks