Governor Profiles
The Governing Board of St. Martin’s consists of the following:
- Seven Foundation Governors, who have particular responsibility for upholding the Christian ethos of the school and are appointed by the Diocese of Exeter.
- Two Staff governors, one elected by staff vote and the other the Headteacher.
- Two Parent Governors, elected by parental/carer vote.
- One Local Authority Governor, appointed by the Governing Body but approved for holding office by members of the Local Authority.
The Governing Board is also able to appoint Associate Members to join Committee on the basis of the specific skills and experience that they can bring to the role.
Steph Harvey - Headteacher
I am delighted to be the Headteacher at St Martin’s – a school which believes that emotional resilience is a key quality for success in life and which prioritises children’s wellbeing. I am passionate that children leave our school with a clear sense of their own worth – that they feel valued for the unique individual they are, and that through our nurturing approach children feel able to take risks, challenge themselves, and aim to always ‘be the best they can be’.
John Clements - Chair of Governors and Foundation Governor
I am in the fortunate position of being the Chair of the Governing Board, a huge privilege and a big responsibility. I have been a governor since my daughter started in Reception in the Autumn Term 2017 and I have been the Chair since the Summer of 2018. I joined the Governing Board to support my daughter and her school and trust I have done so. I am semi-retired and although I do not have a background in primary school education I have plenty of experience of working with people and of training adults. So far my skills and experience appear to have been helpful. Being a governor is no small commitment but I am lucky to have the support of my wife in being able to spend a lot of time at and helping the school. As a governor I seek to support the school in any way I can whilst having the responsibility to make sure the headteacher and her staff are doing a good job. It is a fine balance to achieve but so far we have been able to achieve it. As a governor I have had a fantastic insight into what happens at St Martin’s and have been able to get to know most of the staff. We will continue to work in the best interests of our children and the staff and do all we can to maintain St Martin’s being the special place that it is.
Gemma Tozer-Howe - Parent Governor
My husband and I moved to Cranbrook in 2013, we have enjoyed watching our town grow from its infancy and love living here. I’ve always been passionate about Education. Having previously qualified as a Primary Teacher, I have worked at an Ofsted Outstanding FE provision for the last 16 years. I specialised in teaching and managing programmes for students with special educational needs and most recently by delivering GCSE Maths part-time. When visiting schools in the area I was attracted to St Martin’s by the wonderful learning environment and caring holistic approach. Now that my daughter has started in reception, I feel well placed to support her and the wider community by assisting St Martin’s in their delivery of a high quality and well-rounded education for all pupils.
Brian Gravenor - Foundation Governor
My whole schooling as a child was at Church of England Schools and, while I didn’t think so at the time, it changed my outlook on life. I am keen to get involved as much as I can at St Martin’s. I enjoy school trips, including residentials.
After leaving school I went to Southampton University to study Chemistry and Mathematics and left six years later with a Bachelor’s Degree and a Doctorate. I then spent 25 years as a Hampshire Police Officer, two years as a Primary School teacher and more recently worked in the Planning Departments of a number of councils in Hampshire and Dorset.
In my spare time I enjoy walking, travelling, the outdoors, reading and music. I volunteer at Seaton Wetlands with Wild East Devon and hope one day to be a tram driver on the Seaton Tramway.
Russ Green - Staff Governor
I left education for a while after being a headteacher and worked as coordinator for Early Help services for East and Mid Devon for a number of years. Then I came to St Martin’s for a few visits and was offered the chance to return to education. I love my job at St Martin’s. It has been the happiest working environment I have ever been in. Now I am able to contribute further to the development of the school and support the team as a staff governor. I took up this post in October 2020 and hope to be able to contribute to ensure our school is always the very best it can be.
Jennifer Elliott - Foundation Governor
I feel privileged to have been appointed as a Foundation Governor at such a welcoming and friendly school as St Martins. I currently (Oct 2021) have a grandson in Reception and am a Church Steward at Sidwell Street Methodist Church, Exeter. My background is in Secondary education and more recently horticulture. I have always loved the outdoors where we can learn from and admire God’s creations, reminding us that we are the custodians of our environment. I enjoy walking, swimming and learning from my grandson. I will try my best to support the school in achieving even more than anyone thought possible.
Rev. John Holder - Foundation Governor
Profile in process
Ruth Marsh - Local Authority Governor
I moved to Cranbrook in 2013 with my boyfriend Adam. We were excited to move into our first home together and join the small but rapidly developing community. Since then, we have got married, moved within Cranbrook and had two children. We love where we live, Cranbrook is a wonderful place and the community spirit is truly remarkable. Since becoming a parent of a student at the school I decided that I would like to join the governing board of St Martins as I believe my background in education could be useful. I have been a secondary Science teacher for the past 13 years with a specialism in teaching Biology. I have worked in a variety of educational settings in Devon, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire including Middle Schools, Upper Schools, Secondary and Post 16 education provision. I am extremely passionate about the provision of the highest quality educational opportunities. As a teacher I believe that education makes children’s lives better, it can open doors and ensure they have the opportunity to achieve all that they are capable of and live happy, healthy and fulfilled lives. Continued progression and advancement of the school is vital for the development and strengthening of our Cranbrook community.