Governors

There are ten members of our Governing Body in the following categories.

 

HEADTEACHER (1)

Stuart Odell

Stuart has been headteacher here since 2009 as the dedicated Headteacher of Trowse Primary School. He is known for his approachable leadership and commitment to fostering a nurturing learning and working environment. With a passion for education and child development, Stuart champions creativity, inclusivity, and academic excellence. He values strong relationships with pupils, parents, and staff, believing that collaboration is key to success. Under his guidance, Trowse Primary thrives as a community-focused school where every child is encouraged to reach their full potential. Stuart’s vision combines traditional values with innovative teaching practices, ensuring pupils develop confidence, resilience, and a love for learning. His calm, supportive manner and strategic thinking make him a respected leader who inspires both staff and students every day.

CO-OPTED GOVERNORS (4 in total)

Rachel Blakemore (Appointed 11th September 2022)  Chair of Finance Committee
Rachel has been a co opted Governor at Trowse Primary since 2022 and is currently Chair of the Finance Committee and a member of the Appeals Committee with special interest in Year 2.  Rachel is a qualified accountant having worked at Citibank, Mercury Asset Management and as a management consultant at PwC in the UK.  In 2008 Rachel's family moved to Dubai where she worked for 13 years at one of the Middle East's leading English Curriculum schools, initially as a management accountant then Head of Administration and latterly as Head of Finance and Property.  She has significant relevant experience in education finance, administration systems in schools and property management.  Rachel is currently a part time finance officer at The Parkside School in Norwich as well as an invigilator at Notre Dame High School.  She is married with two sons.
 
Jo Hillgrove (Appointed 13th May 2024)
Jo has become a Governor to try to support her grandchild’s school.  Her working life includes thirty years as a teacher and almost ten in industry.  She has qualified as a counsellor and has been a volunteer counsellor in schools and for a bereavement charity. She values Trowse Primary as it nurtures every child. The staff provide a safe and happy environment with boundaries that allow for the pupils to respond to a stimulating and demanding curriculum. The contribution made by the parents is admirable and can be extended in the future. She looks forward to seeing the school build on its present achievements. 
 
Joe Allen-Aldus (Appointed 14th October 2024)
Joe is an Associate member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the founder of Allen-Aldus Surveying, a local residential surveying practice. Before becoming a surveyor, Joe worked as both a teacher in Chelsea and an early years practitioner, giving him a strong foundation in communication, patience, and supporting children’s development. He brings these skills into his professional life, helping clients understand their homes with clarity and confidence. Joe lives in Trowse with his wife and two young children and is committed to contributing to village life. Joe works closely with Year One, supports health and safety within the school, and contributes to future development opportunities.Vacancy

LOCAL AUTHORITY GOVERNOR (1)

Leo Murphy (Appointed 13th January 2025) Chair of Governors

Leo  has lived in Trowse for almost 25 years and previously had two boys who attended Trowse Primary School.  In his business career he successfully built four separate companies in disparate fields from a consultancy firm advising banks and insurance companies to a large contact centre based in Norwich supporting large multinational financial services firms.  Now retired, Leo comes into school as a volunteer reader with various year groups and he brings the skills he built up over a lifetime of business to Trowse Primary School.  A passionate believer in education Leo is keen for all pupils at Trowse Primary to achieve their potential as a springboard to leading varied and enriching lives.

 

STAFF GOVERNOR (1)

Sarah Woodcock (Yr 2 Teacher) (Appointed February 2023)

Sarah is a highly experienced member of the Trowse community, having taught at Trowse Primary for over 20 years. Currently a Year 2 teacher, she has taught in Early Years and Year 1 and has developed a deep expertise in how to support young children learn and flourish. Over her career, Sarah has had key leadership roles and now leads Maths and MFL, contributing to consistently strong outcomes across the school. She has also made an active contribution to several ‘Outstanding’ inspections, offering valuable insight into sustaining consistently high standards. Sarah champions the Trowse curriculum to ensure the children make significant progress and develop as confident, successful learners with a global outlook. She is passionate about creating enriching experiences for children and enthusiastically leads the school’s much-loved nativity each year. Sarah is committed to ensuring Trowse continues to provide a warm, inspiring, and high-quality learning environment for every child and actively fosters the relationship between school and parents.

 

PARENT GOVERNORS (3  in total)

Zoe Hill  (Appointed 10th July 2023) Vice Chair, Safeguarding Governor

Zoë is a parent Governor and vice chair of the Governing Board, she is also the governor responsible for safeguarding.  Zoë is Assistant Headteacher and SENCO at a local High School. She has over 10 years experience at school leadership and has held a variety of positions during this time, all of which enhance the contributions she can make in supporting the school in upholding its vision and values.  Zoë has a vested interest in ensuring all pupils are safe, happy and learn. 

 

Stephanie Summers (Appointed 14th October 2024)

Stephanie is a parent governor with two children at Trowse Primary School. Since joining the Governing Body in 2024, she has taken on the role of joint link governor for Safeguarding and Special Educational Needs. Stephanie is a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience working in the NHS, supporting children with neurodevelopmental differences and their families. She brings a wealth of expertise in child safeguarding and a strong commitment to ensuring that all pupils feel safe, included, and able to reach their potential.

 

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ASSOCIATE GOVERNOR

Jacqueline Harmer (Appointed 13th May 2024)

Jacqueline is the head of the award-winning International Curriculum (IEYC, IPC, IMYC). She has a master's degree in international education from Bath University and more than 30 years of experience in the education sector. She has worked in schools across seven countries with roles including academic head, deputy principal and curriculum coordinator. She also spent time as a materials development advisor in Bangladesh for VSO and as a PYP Curriculum Manager with the IB.

Jacqueline regularly writes about international education, various aspects of learning and assessment. She has had articles published by Edutopia and has contributed to articles for the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. She has presented at various conferences across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. 

 

CLERK TO GB

Liz Andrews (not a Governor)

 

 

For the academic year 2025/26, 2 Governors recorded a pecuniary business or financial interest on their declaration form.

The Headteacher and one teacher are Governors. 

Governors of Trowse Primary School do not receive any financial allowances for their work.

The Governing Body have a Finance committee, the chair of this for 2025-26 is Rachel Blakemore.