Who are your Governors?
The Governing Board of Arun Villages Federation, comprising Amberley CE Primary School and St. James CE Primary School, Coldwaltham, is shared over the two schools. The Governing Board is organised into five key areas: Educational Performance; Strategy; Finance; Operations and Safeguarding. Within the table below, it is indicated which area of responsibility each governor is involved with.
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Governor |
Category |
Responsibilities |
Attendance at meetings from 01/09/2024 to 31/12/2024 |
Appointment Dates |
| Richard Charman |
Chair of Governors |
Finance |
1 of 3 | 05.09.2023 to 04.09.2027 |
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Mel Edge |
Foundation Governor | Safeguarding | 1 of 3 | 07.09.2021 to 31.07.2025 |
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Sarah Fish |
Co-opted Governor | Educational Performance, Head Teacher's Performance Management | 0 of 3 | 06.06.2023 to 05.06.2027 |
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Victoria Gradden |
Parent Governor | TBC | 1 of 3 | 14.05.24 to 13.05.2028 |
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Richard Hearn |
Co-opted Governor | Strategy, Operations | 1 of 3 | 05.10.2021 to 31.07.2025 |
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Nicky Kirby |
Staff Governor | Finance, Strategy and Operations | 1 of 3 | 04.11.2021 to 31.07.2025 |
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Lizzie Martin |
Executive Head Teacher | All areas | 1 of 3 | 01.07.2019 |
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Sheila Ross-Hulme |
Co-opted Governor | Educational Performance, Head Teacher's Performance Management | 1 of 3 | 05.09.2023 to 04.09.2027 |
Governor Profiles
Mrs. Lizzie Martin-Executive Headteacher
I started life at St. James as the Year 5/6 class teacher in April 2019, having previously worked in East Sussex. I became Head of School in 2020 whilst retaining my class teacher role. In September 2021, I became Executive Headteacher across both schools in the Arun Villages Federation (Amberley CE Primary School and St. James' CE Primary School, Coldwaltham) and am thoroughly enjoying being able to lead the staff teams across both schools.
I am passionate about the education of children; for every child, I would like to see them make progress and achieve highly both academically and emotionally. By the time they leave primary school, it is my aim to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and understanding they need for secondary school…and to cope with everyday life!
I have three boys of my own, aged 24, 23 and 178. My middle son has severe autism and learning disabilities which has given me a huge insight into the experience of families living with special needs. I love spending time with my boys, reading, listening to music, cooking (and eating!) and visiting places of interest.
Mr. Richard Charman
Chair of Governors: appointed 5th September 2023 to 4th September 2027
I was elected Chair of Governors in December 2023 having served as Vice Chair of Governors since 2020, leader of the Finance Committee and a Parent Governor from 2019. I am proud to work with the children, staff, parents and a range of stakeholders to help both schools achieve their aims and give children the brilliant start in life that a great primary education provides. Our mission is simple and unites the school team – enabling every child to thrive and succeed. I am a director of a major UK business and bring transferable skills, together with my passion for education and the insight I get as a parent, to lead a governing board which supports and constructively challenges the school team to be their best.
Mrs. Nicky Kirby-AVF Operations Director
Staff Governor
I started at St James in 2015 as Business Manager and I am now fortunate to work across the federation as Operations Director. As part of a Senior Leadership Team, I believe in enhancing effectiveness to achieve high standards of learning and attainment and that the federation creates a welcoming, safe and stimulating environment. I enjoy seeing children becoming confident and happy as well as developing a passion and commitment to lifelong learning.
In my spare time I like to spend time with my husband, two grown up children and our dogs - Barkley and Noffee - and take pleasure from going on many walks in the beautiful local countryside.
Victoria Gradden OBE
Parent Governor
I became a Parent Governor in Spring 2024, joining a hugely welcoming and supportive group of people who really want to make a difference, and I have three children who attend St James’s. I am keen to ensure that parents are well represented via the Board, and I hope that my skills and experience, covering more than 20 years working in communications and engagement, both in the charity sector and the civil service, will help both schools maximise their ambitions.
My husband is an active member of the St James’s PTA, and I support as many events as I can, whether running a stand, making wreaths for the Christmas fair, or helping set up and pack away. As a family, we spend a lot of time outside, exploring, gardening, playing and supporting football and cricket matches, as well as looking after our dog, cats, chickens and fish.
Mr. Richard Hearn
Co-opted Governor
I am delighted to be part of the team at Arun Villages Federation, working alongside fantastic teaching staff and a dedicated group of Governors. I run a business consultancy and help the boards of large and small companies in the financial services sector improve or bring about change, so being part of Arun Villages Federation also gives me the opportunity to help the schools towards their vision, ambitions and goals.
My wife Maria and I live in West Chiltington, our children are grown up. Work keeps me busy but any spare time is given over to hobbies such as going to the theatre, being a bit of petrol head, flying under my own licence, travelling and more latterly Latin dancing.
Melanie Edge:
Co-opted governor
I grew up in Surrey but my parents were both very much Sussex folk and this is where I feel most at home.
After a career in the Ministry of Defence in London, with weekends spent in Amberley, I returned to live full time in Amberley in 2016. I have been a churchwarden at St Michael’s church for about five years. As churchwarden my focus has been on strengthening links between the church and the local community, of which the school is of course an integral part. I look forward to building on these links as school governor.
I have two daughters and five grandchildren so school issues are are very much part of family conversations!
Sarah Fish:
Co-opted governor
I moved to Amberley in February 2021 from Kingswood in Surrey. Having visited Amberley and its sister villages over preceding years, I was familiar with the area and am delighted to find myself amidst an established, strong, and welcoming community.
I am a qualified nurse and spent many years of my career as Operations Director of a large care group specialising in elderly and dementia care. As with the school sector, the care sector is highly regulated and the importance of meeting and exceeding regulatory standards was a key area of my focus. I will endeavour to bring this experience and knowledge to my governor role and contribute to maintaining the high standards that have been achieved to date.
Since I stood down from full – time employment a number of years ago, I have become involved in the voluntary sector and have taken an active role at the Royal Automobile Club where I am a member of the House Committee. I chair the Choir having previously led the Sub Aqua Section.
My interests include singing with the Arundel Choral Society, regular visits to Chichester Theatre, weekly bridge in the village and golf at Ham Manor, Angmering. You will also spot me exercising my black lab around the village or up on the wild brooks.
I have a grown-up family and 3 grandchildren in pre-school or primary years so education is very much to the fore in our family.
Having visited the Arun Villages Federation schools, I’m hoping to find a way of contributing to the schools' development and supporting the staff on their journey to help the children in their care to flourish.
Sheila Ross-Hulme:
Co-opted governor
I am a retired primary school teacher with training and experience in teaching children with special educational needs. I lived and taught in west London for forty years before moving to Amberley three years ago.
Having been brought up in the highlands of Scotland, I love the hilly terrain of the South Downs with its far-reaching views. As well as walking my dog and reading crime novels and poetry, I am involved with a charitable organisation offering support to refugees, and I volunteer with a local museum and the National Trust.
I very much look forward to working in partnership with the Head and staff at Amberley School and St James in order to support and pursue the school’s ethos and values of academic excellence.
Resignations in past 12 months
Ray Jackson December 2023
Reverend Gerry Burgess February 2024
Gilli Bush-Bailey March 2024
James Peddar May 2024
Paul Armitage July 2024
