Governor Profiles

  • Matthew Leach

    Chair

    I joined the governing body in February 2012 as a Local Authority Governor and am now a Co-opted Governor. I was Chair of the Resources Committee from 2013 to 2019 and was elected as Chair of the full governing body in September 2019. Throughout my time as a Governor, I have greatly enjoyed providing support to the school wherever I can.

    I have lived in Ely for 16 years and have two children in secondary education, both having completed primary education at Ely St John's.

    I am a civil engineer for a large engineering consultancy, working in design and construction of water and wastewater treatment works. It is a challenging and fulfilling job in which no two days are the same.

  • Jon Hudson

    Vice Chair

    I was elected as a co-opted Governor to the FGB in the 2019 Autumn Term and I also sit within the Resources committee and serve on several additional panels and committees. I was appointed as Vice Chair in December 2023.

    Two of my three sons attend our great school in years 2 and 4, we have lived in the Ely area since 2010 and we love the city and all it has to offer.

    I have considerable experience within business and the corporate world. I have led several commercial functions; I have been involved and led numerous strategic projects and I have run my own property development business. I am currently employed by the University of Cambridge and work with Executive Education, where I am focused on commercial effectiveness and lead on various programmes.

    I hope to be able to bring my experiences and knowledge to the school, to help support our excellent leadership team in maintaining our already excellent standards.

  • Lorraine Calvert

    Parent Governor

    I was elected as parent governor in November 2022 and currently sit on the Resources committee. I have been connected to Ely St John’s School for the last eight years since my daughter started and look forward to this continuing both for the next four years whilst my son is still a pupil and beyond.

    Professionally, I have held various roles including Project Manager, Health and Safety Officer and Executive Assistant. This allows me to bring a wide variety of skills and knowledge to the Governing Body. I’m also leader of 1st Ely Beavers and have been for the past five years. I enjoy finding ways to enable others to access activities they might not otherwise be able to. The look you see when a child has achieved a new skill or has done something they didn’t think they could do is amazing!

    I feel that it is very important for the school to have a strong connection between the parents, carers and local community and the role of Parent Governor is a key part of this. As part of the Governing Body, I believe we are a community of like minded volunteers who believe in empowering the next generation to achieve their dreams.

  • Richard Carr

    Parent Governor

    I was elected as a Parent Governor in November 2022, and currently sit on the Standards Committee. Although our daughter started relatively recently at Ely St John’s we’ve found it a really kind and supportive environment in which to learn. In my role as governor I look forward to supporting the school’s work in its curriculum and attainment goals. Elsewhere, having worked in politics for a while, I’m currently an Associate Professor in History and Politics at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. After writing various things on twentieth century history, I’m currently working on a book analysing Britain’s relationship with Ireland since 1922

  • Lis Every

    Authority Governor

    Lis became a Governor at Ely St Johns some six years ago and is currently serving her third term on the Governing Body.
    Lis was Mayor and Chair of the City of Ely Council for two terms (from 2014-2016). She is also an elected member and Chair of the East Cambridgeshire District Council serving on the Operations Committee, Vice Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council. serving on the Children and Young People Committee, Communications and Partnership Committee and is Chair of the Corporate Parenting Sub-Committee) and a member of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Skills Committee.
    Serving as a Governor after working for over 30 years in secondary education as a teacher of business and deputy head fulfilled her desire to work together with others to support the education of young people in Ely, which is such a fantastic place to live, work and shop.
    With an educational and a training background, Lis is also absolutely committed to supporting skill development and helping young people in the area to achieve their career potential through her work as Chair of the Learning and Skills Sector of the Chamber of Commerce. A current project is organising the business mentoring programme with the Chamber and Cathedral Business Group for our local 6th form students at Ely College. Lis is also Chair of the Academy Council of Ely College. Lis served as Chair of Governors for 3 years and is now Chair of the Standards Committee.

    Lis is married with two children and two grandchildren. Her hobbies include theatre and singing and she is a Trustee of Never Alone, VCAEC, Ely Museum and the Ely Choral Society, working on their Steering Committee for the Ely Youth Choir.
    Lis feels that working within education for the benefit of young people has been the most rewarding experience.

  • Beth Hartland

    Staff Governor

    I work as a Teaching Assistant at Ely St John’s, where I have been employed since 2015. I was an active member of the school PTFA whilst my son attended ESJ (2014-2021). My background is in historical research and I maintain this interest through voluntary work at Cambridgeshire Archives. I have been involved with 1st Ely Scout Group since 2016, leading Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, though not concurrently! My interests used to be very sporty, but motherhood, arthritis and age have slowed me down considerably. I enjoy swimming, walking, reading and gardening when time permits and I’m about to resurrect an old interest and dust off my clarinet.

  • Joseph Henry

    Parent Governor

    I have now lived in Ely for 16 years, and have 2 daughters who have gone through Ely St John's.
    I became a Parent Governor for Ely St Johns in November 2017 and since then have sat on the Resources Committee. I am currently the Chair of the Resources Committee.
    I am a solicitor for a local firm and I try to use the experience gained through my work to assist and support the school with a wide range of issues.
    When time allows I enjoy baking (mainly cakes), though I have to spend as much time trying to off set the fruits of my baking. I'm also involved with some local charities.

  • John Henson

    Headteacher

    As Deputy Headteacher, I was co-opted onto the Governing Body in September 2018, when I joined Ely St John's. Working in school allows me to support the Governing Body with monitoring and school development alongside strategic planning for the future. It is fantastic to be part of a such a great team of governors here at ESJ!

    I am also a governor at the school my children attend in Huntingdon and am involved in several school and youth football organisations that promote opportunities for all young people to take up the game. Alongside taking part in lots of sporting activities, I can often be found buidling lego creations with my family or trying to improve my gardening skills!

  • Vickie Jameson

    Parent Governor

    I am a parent to two children; one here at Ely St John’s and the other now at Secondary School having attended Ely St John's. I joined as a Parent Governor in October 2021.
    I have lived in the area for 10 years, with family connections going back far longer. Professionally I am an experienced Senior HR Manager with over 20 years’ service in Local Government and am a Member of the Chartered Institute for Personnel Development. In my voluntary life I am a Trustee of Ely Museum and the Vice President for the Ely City Women’s Institute.
    I have learnt within my professional capacity there is a need for encouragement, growth and support of individuals, a philosophy that undoubtedly applies even more fittingly within education.
    I bring an honest and hard-working approach to my work and will bring this same ethos to the important role of parent governor. Education is the best foundation that any child can receive in their lifetime, and I am an advocate for supporting engagement between home and school.
    The future of my children is of the upmost importance to me, and Ely St John’s is a great school. I am passionate about learning, growth and enrichment and as a parent governor I am delighted to play a proactive part in the school community for our children and staff; and for the future.

  • Jonathan Layfield

    Co-Opted Governor

    I've recently joined the governing body of Ely St John's as a co-opted governor. Our family has lived in Ely since 2011, after moving back from overseas as I work for the Foreign Office and have spent much of my career in the Middle East and Central Asia.
    My wife is a primary school teacher and we have two grown up sons. I hope to be able to bring all my previous experience to Ely St John's, which is also our local school.

  • Andy Turpin

    Co-opted Governor

    I joined the Governing body of Ely St John's in May 2016 as Co-opted Governor.

    I have lived in Ely since 2006 with a son and daughter who both currently enjoy attending Ely St John's. I qualified as an accountant (ACCA) back in 2003, and between 2006 and 2016 worked in Ely as Financial Controller in two separate industry roles. For the last few years, I have been in the role as Director of VFO (Virtual Finance Office), back in accounts practice with PEM in Cambridge.

    Putting good use to my finance background, I currently chair the Resources committee, supporting the school to ensure optimum use of the school's resources, in promoting the best educational outcomes for children.

    When not chasing around after my children, I try to stay fit though cycling, football and running. I have recently taken part in a triathlon, a 100-mile cycle ride, and the Cambridge half marathon. I plan to do more events in the future, time and fitness permitting!

  • Mary Wade

    Co-Opted Governor

    Mary Wade was elected as a Parent Governor in January 2019 and to on the role of Vice Chair in September 2021 which she relinquished in December 2023,

    I am currently a project manager at the University of Bedfordshire, leading a project to implement a digital examinations environment for all summative assessment.

    I have worked in the education sector for over 25 years. We moved to Ely in 2014 and I am grateful to have this opportunity to support the school.

    I am passionate about children’s learning and development and am also a trustee of a local charity (Homestart Cambridgeshire) that supports parents of pre-school children.

  • Elizabeth Weaving

    Co-Opted Governor

    I joined the governing board in November 2022 as a co-opted governor and currently sit on the Standards Committee. I have lived in the area since 1999 and have 5 children who have attended 3 local primaries and 2 secondary schools. I have worked in primary, secondary and sixth form education and previously served as a Staff governor in a primary school and as a Parent governor in a secondary school. I have a particular interest in SEND and feel very strongly that all children deserve equal opportunities. My personal interests include musical theatre, walking and gardening.