The school is part of Broad Horizons
Education Trust and the main registered office is Sewell Park Academy,
St Clements Hill, Norwich, NR3 4BX.
Details of the Trust’s Funding
Agreements, Articles of Association, Scheme of Delegation, Financial
Information and other detailed governance arrangements can be found on the trust's website.
Register of Interests
The Local Governance Committee (LGC) acts as the eyes and ears of the
Board of Trustees at a school level. It plays a vital role in gathering
and interpreting stakeholder perspectives to provide informed assurance
that the Trust’s strategy is being effectively implemented locally
The
LGC operates in an advisory capacity only and holds no delegated
decision-making powers. Its primary responsibilities are rooted in the
Four S’s:
- Stakeholders – Engagement with and representation of the voices of pupils, parents, staff, and the community.
- Safeguarding – Monitoring culture and compliance through stakeholder insight.
- SEND – Understanding and championing the lived experience of pupils with SEND and their families.
- Standards – Reviewing the quality of education and school improvement with a stakeholder lens.
If you are interested in becoming a governor or need more details, please visit our vacancy page at
https://www.bhetrust.co.uk/vacancies
Chair
Appointed: 31 March 2024 - 30 March 2028
Jenny Wood has moved to Norfolk after being an Assistant Headteacher of a large London secondary school for 14 years and a Governor at a primary school. She is committed to a long relationship with Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth Form as the eldest of her four children has started at the school. She has a life-long passion for ensuring that young people have an excellent education that shows them the possibilities and then allows them to reach their goals, achieving ‘success for all’.
Staff Governor
Appointed: 1 September 2020 - 31 August 2024
Ian Arnold is a Physical Education and History graduate from the University of Liverpool. He has taught at Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth Form since 2002, having previously taught in inner city London and Wymondham schools. He was previously Head of PE and Assistant Director of Specialisms on the Leadership Team before becoming part time so he could spend more time with his two young children. He is looking forward to the challenges of serving as a Governor and helping play his part with the continuing success of this school.
Principal
Appointed: Ex-officio
Penny Bignell is a qualified teacher and joined as Principal at Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth Form in April 2020. This follows 9 years as a Head Teacher and Executive Head Teacher in Norfolk Schools and Trusts. This included headship of a school in challenging circumstances where significant improvements were made. Penny is committed to ongoing school improvement and developing staff. Penny has completed a MA in education leadership NPQH and recently completed NPQEL.
Trust Appointed Governor
Appointed: 1 July 2022 - 25 July 2025
Fred Corbett has been a Governor for over 20 years and at Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth Form since September 2012. He has over 50 years experience in education as a teacher, lecturer in higher education, Ofsted Inspector, Education Adviser and Deputy Director of Children’s Services until 2012. Fred is an adviser to the Catholic Diocesan Education Board, Member of the St John's and Our Lady of Walsingham Multi Academy Trusts and Chairs the Diocese of Norwich St. Benet's Multi Academy Trust. His three children were educated at Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth Form and are employed in public services or large national charities. Fred’s interests include school improvement, mathematics and environmental education. He is a Trustee of The Norfolk and Norwich Festival and keen on promoting the Arts for young people. He is an enthusiastic family and local historian and is currently undertaking research for a PhD in History at the University of East Anglia. He gains stress and great joy as a Norwich City season ticket holder.
Trust Appointed Governor
Appointed: 1 July 2022 - 25 July 2025
Geoff Lawton has been a Governor since September 2011. He is a retired pastor of Norwich Vineyard which is now part of Gateway Vineyard, Norwich. He has an educational background. He was a member of staff for a short time at the then Thorpe Secondary Modern School and has lived in Thorpe St Andrew since 1992. He leads the Chaplaincy Team in school and conducts assemblies throughout the school and in all but one of the Educational Partnership schools which includes some Trust schools. Geoff is married to Annie and they have four children (all educated at Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth Form) and twelve grandchildren. He is involved with the events team for the Thorpe St Andrew Town Council. His interests include cinema, travel to sunny places, walking, a bit of gardening, a good book and keeping up stress levels by being in the Lower Barclay watching Norwich City.
Trust Appointed Governor
Appointed: 1 July 2022 - 31 August 2024
Martin Leist has been a Governor at the school since 2005. He was previously also a Governor at Hillside Avenue Primary and Nursery School. With his wife, daughter and himself all having attended Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth Form, he is very keen to see the school continue to provide an excellent education for students of all capabilities. Having graduated from Brunel University in Computer Science, he has worked in Information Technology (IT) for his entire career, with over twenty years spent working in various IT management roles for Norfolk County Council, including Web Development, IT Security and Data Compliance.
Trust Appointed Governor
Appointed: 31 March 2024 - 30 March 2028
I am the local Rector here in Thorpe St Andrew (known as 'Fr James') and am delighted to be involved with Thorpe St Andrew School & Sixth Form in a number of ways. I originally qualified and practised as a Family Lawyer in the west of county but trained for the ordained ministry 10 years ago and, after other posts, came to Thorpe in 2016 where I joined as a Governor in 2024. I grew up in Thorpe so it is a privilege to give something back to this lovely community. My hope, as a Governor, is to ensure high standards of teaching and learning and that the children and staff experience joy each and every day.
Community Governor
Appointed: 22 July 2024 - 21 July 2028
I worked with John Lewis for 35 years after briefly teaching Secondary Maths in Chipping Norton. Moving to Norfolk in 1986, I have been involved in Governance since then, initially in my local area and from 2014 as a Governor at Sewell Park Academy, one of our Trust secondary schools. Having completed 10 years there, I transferred to Thorpe St Andrew School and Sixth Form and I am relishing the challenge of getting up to speed with this great school.
