School Governors
Our school is proud to be part of the Crofty Multi Academy Trust, the running of which is overseen by the board of trustees – chaired by Mr Mike Hosking.
The Trust Board is made up of volunteers, mainly people who have been school governors in the past but also including people with specific business or educational skills. They set the strategic direction for the Trust, hold the Trust to account for its outcomes for students and oversee the work of the Executive Officers.
Each school has a Local Governing Body (LGB) who have delegated responsibility for standards and outcomes in that school, its safeguarding and its relationships with external stakeholders, especially parents. The Chairs of LGBs are held to account by the Board for outcomes in those areas.
The LGB will use its detailed knowledge and engagement with stakeholders to ensure that their school is being well served by the executive leadership, and has direct access to the board if there are concerns.
The Local Governing Body of Pencoys School are all volunteers who give up their time to represent the community and to help shape the direction and aims of the School.
Pencoys Local Governance Committee – Membership, Conflicts of Interest, Attendance Updated: July 2024
| GOVERNOR’S NAME | POSITION | GOVERNOR
CATEGORY |
TERM OF OFFICE
From/To |
CONFLICTS of INTEREST | ATTENDANCE
2022/2023 |
|
Caroline Sommerville |
Chair
15/06/23 14/05/25 |
Parent | 15/06/23
14/06/27 |
Parent Carnkie Village Hall Cornwall Adult Health & Social Care Learning Partnership (CAHSC) |
6/6 |
| Craig Walker | Vice Chair | Parent | 13/10/23
12/10/27 |
Enyas Odyssey Charity | 0/0 |
| Robert Tristan Bowden | Parent | 01/03/23
28/02/27 |
Parent Little Hearts Nursery |
3/3 | |
| Eugene Clemence | Community | 09/09/21
08/09/25 |
Employee of Redruth School Freemason Mount Hawke Skate Park |
2/6 | |
| Chloe Smith |
|
Parent | 13/02/24
12/02/28 |
Parent Employee of Redruth School |
0/0 |
| Jess Thomas |
|
Staff | 09/09/21
08/09/25 |
Trust Employee Parent |
5/6 |
| Frances Thurston |
|
Parent | 26/09/24
25/09/28 |
Trust Employee Parent |
5/6 |
| Previous members (last 12 months) | |||||
| Debbie Lynn Richards |
Vice Chair | Parent | 02/10/19
30/08/23 |
None | 6/6 |
| Caroline Sommerville | Parent | 18/07/19
17/07/23 |
Parent Carnkie Village Hall Cornwall Adult Health & Social Care Learning Partnership (CAHSC) |
6/6 | |
| Fran Thurston | Parent | 02/10/19
01/10/23 |
Parent St Andrews Church, Redruth |
5/6 |
Click the logo below for further information regarding the structure of the Crofty Education Trust, including details of trustees and members.
Meet Our Governors
Please contact the school secretary for contact details of the Chair of Governors.
Caroline Sommerville
Chair of Governors
Hi, my name is Caroline Sommerville, and I joined the board of Governors in 2019.
I live locally in Carnkie and my son is in Year 3 at Pencoys.
In my working life, I am the Operations Director of a homecare company based in Truro and I have worked in the health and social care sector for over 20 years.
I like meeting new people and helping them get the most out of life. I work hard to ensure that I always provide the best service possible.
I am actively involved in our local community; I am the Chair of Carnkie Village Hall and my husband and I run a social club in Portreath for adults with learning disabilities. I am also the trustee of a charity that supports learning and development for health and social care within Cornwall.
Spending quality time with my family is important and we love to travel so I’m always looking at where we can go next, the list just keeps getting longer!
I am committed to doing my best for Pencoys and am looking forward to the challenges that the new school year brings.
I can be contacted via the school: Pencoys Primary School, Loscombe Rd, Four Lanes, TR16 6RB
Frances Thurston
Parent Governor
Hi I’m Fran and I have been a parent at the school since September 2014 and a Governor since 2019. I have 2 children, my daughter, who has just moved up to secondary school from Pencoys and my son who is still here.
I enjoy being a part of the community and helping others. I run a weekly toddler group at St Andrews Church in Redruth, where I am also part of both the church council and the team who produces the Churches Festival of Arts each year.
In my spare time I am usually found curled up with a good book or movie, out with my family and friends exploring somewhere, or singing, dancing and laughing with one of the singing groups I am part of.
I am a positive person who likes to make things better for families living in our local area. I am looking forward to another year of governing at Pencoys.
Jess Thomas
Staff Governor
Hello, my name is Jess Thomas, and joined the governing body in September 2021 as the teacher governor.
I started working at Pencoys as a trainee teacher, in Year 4 with Mrs Johns, in 2010. I was only meant to be at the school on a placement for 10 weeks but over 11 years later, I am still here! I knew from day 1 that Pencoys was a very special school and I am very proud to work here alongside such dedicated staff.
I feel incredibly fortunate to live in Cornwall and, in my spare time, I can often be found exploring the outdoors with my young family. We love heading to the beach, woods or parks.
I am committed to supporting the children, families and staff of Pencoys as we continue to navigate through these uncertain times.
Eugene Clemence
Parent Governor
Robert Bowden
Parent Governor
Hi, I’m Rob, I have two children at Pencoys and have been a Governor since 2023. I was born in Redruth, and live in Redruth today, but have lived in other further away places in between, like Texas and Penzance.
I was a Teacher (Maths/Science) for ten years but left the career to move into IT. I’ve now been working in IT for eleven years and currently an Engineering Manager for a US based company, working in Software security.
I love being able to live and work in Cornwall and have my family grow up here. We can often be found walking and cycling around the area making the most of it rain or shine!
I am extremely fortunate to be able to be a Governor for Pencoys, representing Parents and Children in Governor Meetings, working together for the benefit of everyone.
Chloe Smith
Parent Governor
Hello, my name is Chloe Smith and I have joined Pencoys’ team of Governors in 2024. My son attends the school and my youngest is in the pre-school. I am soon to be Head of Design Technology (including Food and Nutrition which I teach predominantly) at Redruth School and am I really excited to join the team at Pencoys. To be able to see how differently things work with the lower key stages really enthuses me.
When not teaching I am an avid sports fan. I currently play as much tennis as I can at Redruth Tennis Club and have previously been a competitive netballer and heptathlete too. I try my best to inspire my children but also to motivate them to want to join in too, it’s safe to say we’ve tried nearly every sports club in the south west already!
I am thoughtful and reflective person who wants to always do my best for my family and I, but also for the whole community. I look forward to this journey with Pencoys and am excited to see what changes we can make for the better.