Welcome to the governors section of the Tuxford School web site. We aim to tell you a little bit about ourselves and perhaps remove some of the distance that has traditionally existed between us and everyone else involved in a school.

As governors we form the top level of management of Tuxford School – this does not mean that you can see us in the classroom (although you might on the odd occasion); our function is to ensure that Chris and his team run the school in the way that we have all agreed. In management speak ours is a strategic role within specific statutory boundaries.

We each have specific areas of responsibility (portfolios) within school and work closely with the school’s senior leaders.

If there is anything you wish to raise with any of us please do not hesitate to contact us through Mrs Pearson at school.

John Rolph

I live in Laxton and am married to my wife Tessa. We have three children who have all attended Tuxford School in the past.

I am a maths graduate and I am a Chartered Accountant. Most of my career has been as finance director of building and property companies and I now offer business advice and assistant to local enterprises and new ventures.

I have served four years as a Co-opted Governor at another secondary school and was elected as Parent Governor at Tuxford about three years ago. I hope that my financial experience, together with my experience of human resources management, will prove of benefit in helping Tuxford School to meet the challenges ahead. I have just taken on the role of Chair of Governors in January 2008.

I am an accomplished bridge player and an occasion, but fairly useless, golfer.

Elizabeth Bradshaw

I have lived locally all my life and attended Tuxford Primary School, Lorne House School, Retford Girls High School. I trained to be a teacher at Leeds Polytechnic specialist subject Food – Home Economics.

I taught for 24 years at Tuxford. Headed the Food department – changes from Domestic Science to Home Economics to Food Technology. I retired in 1998 due to mobility problems. This is my second term as a Governor – obvious links with school re: Site and Buildings, Health and Safety, Staffing etc.

I am now involved in running the family farms interest is environmental factors.

Other involvements:

Member of Bassetlaw Primary Care Trust Modernisation Board.

Member of NHS Lives Committee.

Other interests:

Volunteer at the National Railway Museum.

Joint Publicity Officer for Notts National Vintage Tractor and Engine Club

Hobbies:

Flower arranging/gardening, music, history – especially Royalty, pets – 1 collie dog (with ASBO tendencies).

Mandy Hall

I live in East Markham with my two daughters - Katie and Abby both of whom are pupils at school. I have been a governor for several years now starting off as a governor at East Markham Primary School where I also used to run an after school drama group for children at the school. I now work at the Dukeries School having spent some time working at Tuxford as a volunteer.

Syd Papacoullas

Husband of a teaching assistant (Milly) and father of 3 boys – Andreas, Dino and George and a beautiful baby daughter Leonie. I am the owner of the Papa’s chain of fish and chip shops. I am involved in the Greek Orthodox Church in Mansfield having been treasurer for many years.

Chris Pickering

As Headteacher I have a choice as whether or not to serve as a full Governor which, of course, I opt to do. I have now been Headteacher at Tuxford since 1996 having been a Head in Sheffield for three years. I am looking forward to leading the school for the foreseeable future until we are fully established within out new buildings. There will be many challenges to meet over the next five to ten years and my job will be to ensure that the challenges are met.