Governance

You can contact our governors via the academy: [email protected]

Mrs Tina Ellis Chair of Governors, Safeguarding & Community Governor 

Tina has had extensive senior leadership within the civil service and particularly skills development. She is a Governor at East Coast College including being its link governor for safeguarding: A member of the Lowestoft and Waveney Chamber of Commerce Executive and its Suffolk wide People and Skills Group. 

This passion for skills includes supporting employers with their future skills needs and ensuring every young person is helped to make successful future career choices. 

She believes in consistent partnership working with all our stakeholders particularly parents/ carers and grandparents. 

When not providing support to the community, Mrs Ellis enjoys reading, walking and gardening.

Mrs Carole Davies, Vice Chair of Governors

Mrs Kate Williams, Principal 

Kate has wide ranging leadership experience over the last decade, both as a principal and also as a part of a senior leadership team that took a school in challenging circumstances to outstanding over just three years. Her experiences of leading on learning and teaching and then on improving student outcomes resulted in significant improvements across more than one school. She has been a leader in coastal, urban and rural schools and brings a wealth of experience to Ormiston Denes Academy. 

Kate is passionate about ensuring that every child is happy, safe and successful and that each child is an individual whose talents should be discovered and nurtured and whose needs cannot be allowed to be a barrier to learning. She believes that developing quality leaders is key to sustainable progress and that quality first teaching is key to ensuring that no child is left behind. 

Ms Cath Craig, SEND (Pastoral) & Community Governor

Cath joined the academy as a Community Governor in October 2022.  

 Mr Steve Keeble, SEND (Curriculum) & Community Governor

After working in dental technology, Steve did an Open University science degree followed by teacher training. 

He has worked full time in Education from 1997, as a Teacher of Science, Head of a Science Department and as an Assistant Principal in two local schools. 

Steve’s interest and passion for learning has also involved him being a Voluntary Community Education worker, working for the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust as a Lead Practitioner and as an action researcher with University of Cambridge. 

His main interests are in curriculum, science, SEND, and vocational options. 

He retired from working in education in 2020 and now enjoys being a grandad to two grandsons, playing guitar, cooking, hill walking and kayaking. 

Mr Duncan Kilford, Support Staff Governor

I have worked at Ormiston Denes Academy for over 20 years, supporting the Computing and ICT Services. I have also supported feeder schools in the local area and other Ormiston Academies within the Trust. 

With over 25 years’ experience of ICT within the Education sector I have installed, implemented and supported a huge variety of software and hardware within this ever-changing landscape. I look forward to the exciting challenges and benefits this progress and change brings, and I enjoy working on new strategies and technologies for the benefit of the academy community. 

I am passionate about Online Safety. I am a member of the ODA Online Safety Team, working to make our online systems a safe space, accessible and useful to all. The team guided the academy to achieve the coveted 360Safe Online Safety Mark in 2019 and again in 2022. 

In my spare time I volunteer in Motorsport Safety as a Track Marshal. I have worked at various UK circuits and many different racing categories from club level juniors and karts to the Formula 1 British Grand Prix, Formula E and Le Mans Prototypes. 

Mrs Caitlin Dobson, Teaching Staff Governor

Mrs Victoria Parsons, Parent Governor  

I am delighted to be joining the Ormiston Denes Academy community as a Parent Governor. I am currently gaining experience and skills within a governing role with REAch2 Academy and I am looking forward to transferring the skills I am learning to the ODA community.  

Becoming a governor has shown me the level of involvement we have within our academy. We have the privilege and responsibility of ensuring that every student that comes to ODA receives the best education and care relevant to each individual. Helping them to develop and grow to their full potential.  

I have a passion for learning and understanding how our academy provides support and care for all our students.  

I have a keen interest in SEN, I have completed courses in understanding autism, understanding challenging behaviour and also understanding mental health in children and young people and continue to do more. By taking these courses it helps me to have more of an understanding with how individuals see and cope within our education today.  

I look forward to being able to support the team, staff, parents and students to continually develop the academy and strive for excellence. Focusing on creating an adaptive and supportive environment for our students, staff and also parents.  

Mrs Debbie Barnes, Community Governor  

I have had a varied career over the past 40 plus years. The first 20 years working in finance for a local bank dealing in both Commercial and Personal banking. Managing busy offices and assisting with all aspects of finance.  

Whilst bringing up a young family I decided to have a career change and became self-employed. I adapted our family home to become an Ofsted registered Childminding setting. Over the many years of childminding, I welcomed over 250 different children and their families into our home to help them with their childcare needs.  

I was awarded Outstanding by Ofsted in their inspections thus highlighting my hard work and dedication. Voluntary training alongside caring for the children in many areas such as Health & Safety, Risk Assessment, Safeguarding, Prevent and SEND helped to ensure the needs of children were always priority.  

My last inspection confirmed how passionate I am about helping children and young people to excel and achieve to the best of their ability. It stated “the knowledge and skills support and extend children’s learning offering exemplary support and guidance to parents thus helping their children make the best possible progress in learning and development” I offered one to one support for children that required extra help; identifying where needs could be met and signposting families to assist them to achieve the best outcome. 

During my own children’s time in Primary education, I took the role of Parent Governor for 8 years and led the PFA with other parents, raising funds and organising extra-curricular activities. 

My leisure activities include enjoying the theatre and any live performances. I am also involved in our local Amateur Dramatics group, working with ages from 8 to 80 and have been part of Village life for 35 years. 

Rob joined the academy as a Community Governor in December 2022.  

Mrs Maria Hogg, Community Governor  

Maria joined the academy as a Community Governor in October 2022.  

Mrs Charlotte Reeve, SEN Governor Link and Parent Governor 

I’m Charlotte, I am thrilled to join the Ormiston Denes Academy community as a Parent Governor. With my ongoing experience as a SEND and Inclusion Governor at a REAch2 academy. 

I bring a strong commitment to supporting the diverse needs of all students. My passion lies in advocating for an inclusive and supportive environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed. 

 As a Parent Governor at Ormiston Denes, I am eager to collaborate with the leadership team, staff, and parents to ensure we are continually striving for excellence in all aspects of school life. I look forward to contributing to the ongoing development of the academy, focusing on creating a nurturing environment that aligns with our shared values and aspirations for our children’s futures. 

Mrs Hazel Packer, Community Governor  

I am experienced school leader working in the independent sector. Having worked as Director of Sixth Form at Norwich High School for over ten years, I am responsible for the curriculum, attendance, welfare, behaviour and outcomes of the Sixth Form; essentially all things pertaining to the running of the Sixth Form are my responsibility. I also work along with the SLT on strategic and operational whole-school matters, and I lead on Staff Development, having introduced WalkThrus at the start of this academic year.  

I know the power of education for social justice and am proud to have increased the Sixth Form bursary intake under my leadership. I am interested in supporting Ormiston Denes, the young people in your care and the important role you play in the wider community. 

Outside of work, I am a Mum of three sporty children aged 7, 9 and 10 who keep me incredibly busy. I also enjoy the outdoors and sport and still play football myself, albeit at a somewhat slower pace and for a 7’s team. 

Mrs Marion Gibbons, Community Governor 

Marion joined our Governing Body in Summer 2024, although Marion has been a regular in the academy for many years prior to this working alongside our students to ensure the future of our students after their time here.  Marion is from Beacon East who are an education business partnership and careers guidance provider working across the eastern region. Their mission is to develop ‘meaningful relationships between education and business and industry,’ and they also provide high quality careers guidance services to meet the latest statutory requirements and most importantly, help guide students correctly to the next stage of their ‘life path.’ Marion, who holds the required Level 6 qualification in Careers Guidance works in our school one day a week offering support to students.  

Mrs Kerry Payne, Community Governor 

Kerry joined our Governing Body in September 2024.  Kerry has worked for East Coast College since 2005. She has years of experience in curriculum development in post-compulsory education and has excellent understanding and implementation of quality processes and report writing. She also has experience with direct management of curriculum areas with responsibility for detailed self-assessment and review procedures.