Governors

Melody Hunter Evans

Head of Governor's appointed 8.12.22

Staff, Pupils & wellbeing and Quality of Education

Melody is keen to support parental voice within her governor role. She brings a wealth of experience from her previous job roles in Play work, Youthwork, Teaching and Children and Young People’s Participation. She has a real interest in children and young people mental health and in a previous role supported schools across Devon to implement an early help mental health project for all ages. Her current role as the Children and Young People’s project officer with Frome Town Council gives her an insight into the Frome Community. She has also sat on governing boards for her children’s previous schools and nurseries as well as being Parent Representative for one of the MATS they were part of.

Gary Smart

SEND link/Co-opted Governor- appointed pre 2000

Staff, Pupils and Wellbeing & Finance Committee

Gary is a member of the Pupil, Staff and Wellbeing and Finance Committees and enjoys all the challenges being a trustee brings. He has been in business for 30 years and owns two garages in Bath. He joined Oakfield as a parent governor in late 1998, initially to ask about and challenge parts of his eldest son’s education. He soon became aware how difficult it is to be a teacher/TA/administrator/cleaner/supervisor in a school. Gary enjoys being involved in the committees and taking an active part in decision-making. Now he has a granddaughter at Oakfield and still feels as passionate about the need to provide a safe and welcoming school where all children, no matter their ability or background, get an equal opportunity to succeed.

Christopher Salmon

Parent Governor appointed - 18.12.2020

Parent

With a background in the media, Chris hopes to use his experience to help Oakfield Academy build closer relationships with parents. These are tough times for schools, but he aims to be a passionate and committed supporter of Oakfield, and one who works hard to make a difference.

Emma Wilkes

Headteacher - appointed 1.1.2014

Staff, Pupils and Wellbeing, Finance Committee & Quality of Education Committee

Emma Wilkes was appointed as Headteacher of Oakfield Academy in January 2014. She has previously been the Acting Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and Assistant Headteacher at King Arthur's School in Wincanton, responsible for the whole school curriculum, timetables, staffing, options, examinations and results in particular. Prior to that she held the position of Head of Maths at Kingdown School in Warminster and Head of Year at Hengrove School in Bristol. She lives in the centre of Frome with her son Alex.

Neil Corcoran

Parent Governor appointed - 18.12.2020

Staff, Pupils and Wellbeing committee

As a parent of Oakfield children and a volunteer in the education sector Neil understands the need for help and support from the community and as a Parent Trustee he intends to assist with the continuing development and improvement of standards within a school close to his heart. In his career as an R&D scientist he has gained valuable skills in project and personnel management as well as problem solving and safety/risk assessment. He plans to use his time to help towards the continued effective running of the school.

Kathy Pinches

Staff Governor Appointed 26.4.21

Staff

Kathy has been a member of staff at Oakfield since 2013. This followed a significant career change after many years in Finance (she is a Chartered Accountant) – a change she is very pleased to have made. She is committed to Oakfield’s aim to enable EVERY pupil at the Academy to achieve their full potential and to encourage a lifelong love of learning. As a staff trustee, Kathy hopes to use her skills in both education and finance to support the Academy in achieving these aims in whatever way she can. On a personal note, Kathy enjoys music of all genres. She sings in a community choir and her Covid lockdown project has been to learn the oboe – lifelong learning in action!

Stephanie Stevens

Co-opted Governor appointed 16.3.2023

Stephanie is a retired teacher and lecturer of biology and psychology with over fifteen years of UK experience as a trustee and chairman of several charities. She has also been a governor in two schools in the past (an outstanding Academy and a school for the profoundly disabled) and a town councillor. She holds the Oxford University’s Business School Certificate of Executive Leadership and has strengths in research, analysis, strategy, finance, and audit and risk. Stephanie puts children’s education at the forefront, having four grandsons, three-step granddaughters and a step-grandson, whose welfare is dear to her heart in this post-COVID landscape. Her motto is Ghandi‘s “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Tamsyn Davel

Staff Governor Appointed 14 July 24.

With 14 years of experience in the field of education, Tamsyn Davel brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her role at Oakfield Academy, where she has been a dedicated member of the team for the past three years. Tamsyn’s educational philosophy centers around the belief that children should be at the heart of their learning journey. She is deeply committed to the idea that education is the key to unlocking every child's potential and shaping their future. Tamsyn completed her Bachelor of Education degree in South Africa and has had the privilege of teaching in both South Africa and England. This diverse experience allows her to offer a fresh and unique perspective on education, blending different approaches to create an enriching learning environment for her students.

Kate Hellard

Chair/ SEND Link Governor appointed 11.9.18 - member appointed.

Resigned 19 June 24

Kate Hellard comes into her governing role with over 20 years’ experience of working with children and young people; in schools, for a local authority as a development worker for disabled children and their families, and with national and local charities. She has worked across B&NES, Somerset and Dorset with disabled children and young people, travellers and more recently ran a large play organisation delivering play ranger sessions and other play services. Kate now works for Frome Town Council, where she is a Community Project Officer; supporting local organisations to become resilient to changes in funding and meet the challenges of rising demand for their services. She is also building participative projects across the town together with local organisations and residents. She is passionate about inclusion and participation and believes that experience is the key to enable children and adults to making informed choices; enabling everyone to affect positive change in their immediate and wider communities. Kate has four children at various stages of their education journey in Frome and has been a parent at Oakfield for 10 years with many more to come.