Welcome to our Governors’ section.
Please find below details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.
The key role of the Governors is to support the school as critical friends, providing a strategic overview and ensuring accountability. They are unpaid volunteers who represent the community the school serves. As a Voluntary Controlled C of E School 3 of the governors are Foundation governors.
If you wish to contact the governors all communication should be addressed to Ms Sharon Page, the clerk, via the school office.
The governing body is made up of 12 governors as shown below:
Mr Harvie Palmer
My name is Harvie and I currently work in IT for the Local Authority. I have extensive experience of working in schools and am also a governor for another local primary school.
I have previously worked at St Nicholas so know the school & staff well.
I feel my IT knowledge and previous experience as a Finance Governor enables me to give advice & recommendations to the school governing body with regards to IT and communication systems, ensuring the school is as up to date as it can be where the budget allows.
Children are at the forefront of all we do in education and being able to assist in ensuring they have a learning environment equipped to prepare them for the future is one of the main reasons I decided to apply to be a governor at St Nicholas!
Mrs Lisa Shaw
I was in the Police for 12 years specialising as a detective within child protection which is a role I loved and found very rewarding, alongside this I also worked as Family Liaison Officer supporting families who had experienced bereavement.
I am married with 3 children, they all attend the school.
I am also the Chair of the PTFA, I love being involved in organising the events for the children and seeing their enjoyment while also raising much needed money for the school and am sure that these two roles will compliment each other and benefit the school.
I wanted to be a parent governor to be more involved with the school and how it works as well as having a keen personal interest in child welfare, development and education.
In my role as a parent governor no matter what decisions I am involved in I will always have the best interests of the children at heart.
Rev Michael Darkins
I’m one of the curates (apprentice vicars) for the Wantsum Benefice – that’s the Church of England churches in St Nicholas-at-Wade, Minster, Monkton, and Chislet. I was ordained and moved to the area in 2019 to serve all of the people in these communities.
I have some experience as a governor, and so I can’t wait to support the whole school: students, staff, parents, and governors; in whatever way I can. I particularly enjoy leading and taking part in Collective Worship as it’s the gathering of the school community for worship using different biblical stories, songs and worship styles – an experience totally unique to Church Schools.
St Nicholas is a wonderful school because it enables students and staff to grow and be strengthened in a loving community, with the teachings of Jesus Christ at it’s heart.
Mrs Poppy Montgomery
Having lived in the Parish of St Nicholas–at–Wade and attended the Church for the last 43 years I am delighted to have joined the Governing body of the school.
I initially qualified as a primary school teacher and moved to Thanet following my marriage. I have spent the last 42 years running a farm/holiday letting business locally.
As a Grandmother of four I realise the importance of these formative years in instilling and developing the values and skills in young people that will serve them well throughout their lives.
Mr Peter Troke
I am a retired microbiologist and I have lived in Thanet for nearly 40 years. During much of this time I have been a Governor or Chair of Governors at various primary and secondary schools in East Kent. Currently, I am a Governor at Palm Bay Primary School in Thanet, Chair of Governors at the East Kent College Campus in Broadstairs, a Member of the Governing Board of the East Kent College Group and a Trustee of East Kent College Academy Trust Group. I also sit on appeal panels dealing with the inclusion and exclusion of pupils in Kent schools, as organised by Kent County Council. I very much enjoy being a Governor at St Nicholas and will do whatever I can to assist the school in providing the best education for all of its pupils.
Mr Glenn Pugh
Glenn is one of our co-opted Governors. He has a background in Finance before starting his career in Estate Agency. Glenn opened up his own Estate Agents in 2001, recently rebranding to Glenn & Co.
Mr Ashley White
I am a Senior Electronics Engineer working in a local design and manufacturing factory, I have lived in Thanet for over 20 years.
I am new to the role Parent Governor, with twin daughters in the school. I have always tried to encourage them to embrace the learning experience, and I hope, in my own small way, to help the school extend that encouragement to all pupils.
Mrs Yvonne Barnes
Appointed: December 2021
Resigned within the previous 12 months:
Ms Loraine Bant
Appointed: November 2020
Resigned: April 2022