Within the STAR Multi Academy Trust, each school has a Local Governing Board (LGB) that supports the work of the Trust and the school. It has certain delegated authority to oversee the running of the school under the Scheme of Delegation as defined by the Trust Board of the STAR Multi-Academy Trust. The Register of Business Interests is available via the Trust Board website click here

Minutes of the LGB for each school are available on request from the School Office or clerktogovs@starmat.uk

Our LGB reports into the STAR MAT's board of trustees. Full details of the STAR MAT's governance structure can be found here.

About our Local Governing Body (LGB)

Our governors are all volunteers. They work to support and challenge the school's leadership team.

All governors are equal voting members regardless of the category of governor or the manner of their appointment.

Our chair of governors can be contacted via the school office in the first instance. Email admin@sm.starmat.uk and mark for the attention of Mr Dan Murphy or write to him

c/o South Milford Primary School, Sand Lane, South Milford LS25 5AU.

If you are interested in joining our governing body please contact the chair of governors via the school office in the same way.

What do governors do?

Our governing board provides strategic leadership and accountability in school. It has three key functions:

• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent
• Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils
• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction

Meet the Governors

Chair of Governors
Dan Murphy
I'm a relative newcomer to the village, having moved to South Milford in 2006, but my family has set down its roots here. My daughter is in Year 6 and my younger son is in Year 1. The reason I volunteered to join the governing body is because I strongly believe that everyone has a part to play if they want to make South Milford an even better place to live.
Specifically, my motivation is to make a positive contribution to the school – which I consider to be the most important institution in the village.
By day, I am the director of a publishing business based in Leeds and a journalist by trade. My specialist subject is golf.

Vice-chair of Governors
Adrienne Burrow
I have lived in South Milford for over 40 years, moving here after I got married. We happily settled into village life and made new friends, many of whom had children at South Milford Primary School.
These children developed into well-rounded, confident young people and this is a tribute to a village school which I can see is continuing to nurture and educate its pupils.
Having worked in the book trade for 45 years I recently retired and now have the time to read more books. I am passionate about literacy and believe that reading is a key to learning, having been inspired by a brilliant teacher many years ago.
The opportunity to become a governor for me means I can contribute to an essential part of village life.

Trust-appointed Governor
Amy Beadnell-Bevan

I have been a teacher for 11 years. During my career I have worked in two of the other schools within the STAR MAT, one of which is linked very closely to South Milford. As well as working as a Year 2 teacher, I also work as a Literacy Specialist for the Jerry Clay English supporting schools in their phonics and early reading journeys. I have a real passion for helping children to achieve and to be the best learner they can be.

When I am not at work, I love to spend time with my family; my husband and my young son. We love going on holidays and having fun days out as a family.

Trust-appointed Governor
Helen Bryan
I have lived in the village for 20 years and both my sons attended South Milford Primary School. I have had many roles in the school as a parent; PTA member and member of the teaching staff and so understand the importance of the school within the community. I now work at another local North Yorkshire primary school in the Early Years Unit which I thoroughly enjoy but still feel a strong association with South Milford. I am delighted to now have the role as a governor where I can use my experience and skills to support the school and ensure all our children shine.
The school has an exciting future as the village continues to grow. I look forward to the journey and challenges ahead and the contribution I can make as a member of the Governing Body.

Trust-appointed governor
Pete Cook

South Milford became my home in the summer of 2017. My partner and I settled here and have been enjoying life in the village ever since. I’ve noticed a great sense of spirit from the village and like to use my spare time and skills to support the school and its community.
As Head of Learning & Organisational Development for an NHS Trust in East Yorkshire, I have a passion for learning and strong leadership.

I’m a qualified Executive Coach and Mentor as well as a licensed Guide Runner for visually impaired runners.  

When I’m not working, you’ll find me pottering in the garden or walking my dog Reggie.

Staff Governor
Natalie Carter

I have lived in Sherburn-in-Elmet and the surrounding area for most of my life. I completed my Master’s Degree in Environmental Geography at the University of York before moving to London to work in higher education at University College London. My work in the widening participation team developed my interest in supporting young people to achieve their goals of continuing their education at university. However, I felt that my true passion lay in working with primary-aged children, to give them the best start in their educational journey. I therefore decided to move back home and completed my PGCE through the STAR Teaching School Alliance and the University of Hull. My very first teaching placement was at South Milford and I’ve never left! I’ve been the Year 5 Class Teacher for the last four years and have taken on other responsibilities in that time, from Computing and Maths lead to ECT mentor. I have now taken on the role of Staff Governor as I understand the importance of maintaining the high-quality teaching and learning provision within our school and I want to support the school in developing and continuing to improve our wonderful school environment.

Executive Head Teacher
Melanie Lawrence
After qualifying from Kingston-upon-Thames University in 1998, I started my teaching career in Richmond-upon-Thames. In total I spent seven years living, studying and teaching just outside London before I returned home to Yorkshire and my hometown of Snaith to marry my husband.
On my return ‘up north’, I accepted a teaching position in a large primary school in Goole where I stayed for 11 years progressing from class teacher to phase leader and eventually Deputy Head Teacher. I loved my time at the school, but after three years of being Deputy, I felt ready to take on the challenge of my own school. I realised this ambition when I became the Head Teacher of a small rural primary school just outside Goole in 2012. These varied roles and settings have provided an invaluable breadth of causes to celebrate and challenges which have informed my educational vision and aspirations.
I have two children of my own, one of whom still attends our local primary school, and their experiences inspire and motivate me to be the best head teacher I can be!

My boys have always been excited to share the experiences they have had. I hope to be able to provide a similarly enthusing experience for children in our school.My aim is to work with the children, staff and governors in order to make South Milford Primary School an “Outstanding School” and one that staff, children and parents can be so proud to call their own.

Parent Governor
Matthew Roe

I have been a resident in South Milford for 10 years and love the village and its residents. Both my children are currently attending SMPS and enjoy the school and its community. The reason I joined the governing board was to give some of my near 20 years of educational experience back and help to support the school to be a beacon within the area.

Parent Governor
Andy Sloan

Originally from south Manchester, I moved to Sherburn in 2010 and to South Milford in 2012.  My wife, Sally, and her family have lived here for over 30 years. I have two boys: Seth in Year 6 and Luca in Year 3. My parents were always involved with my primary school and helped where they could and looking back I can see the importance of their input. It is part of the reason I put myself forwards for the role. It can be said there is little point standing on the sidelines but rather to make a difference to be involved and this is again a reason to take on such an important role. I wish to contribute towards the school's success to deliver well-educated and rounded individuals who will be to the benefit of the school and the wider community.  I want my children to enjoy their schooling experience and the school to thrive in delivering its objectives.

By day I am a catastrophic personal injury solicitor dealing mainly with brain injury, fatal or amputation actions, representing the injured party against the insurance industry.  Outside of work I am a qualified running coach and welfare officer for Tadcaster Harriers and a long-suffering Stockport County fan. 

Associate Governor
Sammi Wadsworth

I have lived in North Yorkshire all my life. I grew up in a little village near Harrogate, very similar to South Milford. I loved the community spirit of my village and the connection my school had across the community, so when my husband and I found a house in South Milford we knew it was a village we wanted to grow our family in. I am currently on maternity with my first child, however when I am not on maternity, I am a primary school teacher and senior leader at a school in Garforth, I have seven years' experience teaching from Nursery, all the way to Year 6. My passions are SEN, Early Years, Thrive and Phonics.