Governing Body Members 2011/12:

Mrs Judy Anscombe - Community Governor since January 2011
I have a background in training and developing retail businesses. For several years now, I have worked in Further Education in the delivery of Apprenticeships in the workplace and believe that learning is a life long experience and a great confidence builder. I have been a Lay Member for the Norfolk School Appeals Panel and am a member of the Norfolk Knowledge business mentoring network and a Consumer Champion for Trading Standards.
I serve on the Finance Committee and am Link Governor for the Communications department, which I enjoy. I hope my experiences of training young people, mentoring businesses, together with my general life experiences and local knowledge will help me to be a proactive, forward thinking governor. I am keen to ensure that the School continues to take a progressive approach to quality enhancement and school development and continues to build on its community links whilst embracing the changes in our global economy and society.

Mrs Carolyn Ash - Parent Governor since February 2009
I am a self-employed artist/designer and promote myself and my work with lots of different groups of young people and their families. I enjoy mosaic artist making, selling work, teaching mosaic in local primary schools and community projects - and recently in high schools too. I also enjoy graphic design. I was the Chair of the PTA for Castle Acre school for eight years but am now a general member. I am a member on various fundraising committees in the community. I work for charity promoting nature/conservation to children and families through creative workshops. I belong to The Artists Network, British Association for Mosaic Masters (BAMM) and the West Norfolk Artists Association.

Mr Stuart Bailey - Staff Governor since April 2009
Headteacher of Swaffham Hamond’s High School.

Mr Robert Beech (Chairman) - Parent Governor since October 2009
I have worked in the NHS for 35 years, first as a clinician, but for the last 20 years as a general manager in community health services. My main role has been managing people and budgets but I have also been responsible for working with teams to develop services within Norfolk. I have three sons, all have attended Swaffham Hamond's High School. Two have left and moved on in their careers but the youngest is still at the School and this is what prompted to me to become a governor. I am keen to see that all children in Swaffham and its wider community get the best from their years in education and attain their maximum potential while they are with us at Swaffham Hamond's High School. The School has been through a difficult period, but I believe it is now on the 'up' and, as a governor, I will do all I can to ensure that this improvement continues. In my spare time I enjoy reading, listening to music and trying to keep myself reasonably fit by cycling and keeping my garden tidy! When I get the opportunity, I also enjoy sailboarding and bodyboarding in Cornwall. 


Mr Mike Clemo - Community Governor since December 2009
Currently on third 'career', having first served for 12 years as a Navigator in the Royal Air Force, then for 21 years working in PR/Advertising and Corporate Communications before in 2003 becoming a full time Development Officer for the Scout Association, working with both Young People and Adult Volunteers to provide better scouting for more young people. I am a resident of Swaffham.








Mr Wayne Copsey - Parent Governor since October 2011
I have a mainly military background, having served as a Gunner in the RAF Regiment for 22 years. My career in the Regiment took me too many different parts of the world on Operational tours and I was also involved with the training of RAF personnel at various establishments around the UK.
Since leaving the Royal Air Force in 2006, I set up residence with my family in Sporle, just outside Swaffham.
I now have a career as a First Aid and Health and Safety trainer that takes me around many schools and workplaces around Norfolk.
I believe Swaffham Hamond`s High School has the staff and resources to give its pupils the very best start for their future careers, and for that reason I am fully committed to do my part in this development of its pupils whilst serving on the Governing Body. 



Mrs Shamaine Elms - Community Governor since September 2011
I have been a teacher for 10 years and moved to Norfolk in 2006 where I currently work in a High School in Dereham, where I am Head of Learning Support. However, I live at RAF Marham and wanted to take this opportunity to be involved in the education and welfare of young people I see every day at home. I have two young children who are 8 and 2 and who currently attend school/nursery in the cluster. As a teacher I have always wanted to inspire young people to 'reach for the stars' and fulfil their dreams. I strongly believe they should be able to do this in their local school, in the community where they live. Swaffham Hamond's High School is at an exciting stage in its development and I hope I will be able to help to continue the good work that has already taken place in order to provide an outstanding environment for children of the cluster to be happy, learn and achieve their full potential.



Mrs Lesley Greenhalgh - Parent Governor since February 2010
My career has been mostly child care based - previously working in Children’s Homes, Foster Carer, YMCA, Student Support in High Schools and Norfolk County Council Inclusion Centre. I presently work as a part time Nanny.

Mr Al MacKenzie - Parent Governor since September 2011
I was born in 1971 in a small town in Northamptonshire. After leaving school I had several different jobs to begin with, I was a life guard, a carpenter and a truck mechanic for eighteen months before joining the Royal Air Force. Throughout my time as a mechanic I was part of the Territorial Army. As a member of the TA I took part in several exercises both in the UK and in Germany. I enjoyed my time there, even though it was only at weekends and decided to seek a career in the military, which seemed the best route to take. So At the age of eighteen I decided to join the Royal Air Force. After basic military training I was posted to RAF Halton for my engineering training which took thirteen months to complete. From there I was posted to 216 Sqn at RAF Brize Norton as an Airframe Mechanic on Tristar aircraft. Tristars’ are used in the RAF as transporters and for air to air refuelling of other military aircraft. During my ten years on the squadron I was lucky enough to see a lot of the world, travelling to the US, South America, Italy, Canada, Falkland islands, Fiji and North Africa. Around 2001 I was promoted to Corporal and posted to RAF Marham onto IX(B) squadron working on Tornados. I was then an Airframe technician after attending a second engineering training course during my time on 216 Sqn. I spent three years on IX(B) Squadron completing a four month tour of the middle east during the 2003 conflict with Iraq. After serving my time on IX(B) Sqn I was posted to Engineering Records at RAF Marham for two years and was put in control of Technical Instructions for RAF Marham’s fleet of Tornados. Although a very sedentary job I liked seeing the other side of the engineering environment. In 2007 I was promoted to Sergeant and posted to RAF Wyton, and then placed on secondment to IBM in Stevenage to act as an airworthiness and safety liaison between the RAF and IBM. Although this was a different take on my job, working with computers and not spanners, I benefitted from the experience. I spent three years working alongside my civilian counterparts before the yearning to pick up a spanner drove me back to RAF Marham, where I am now in charge of the Visiting Aircraft Section and Hot Refuelling Continuous Charge Operations facility. Two very different areas each a different challenge. During my twenty one years in the RAF I have been able to take up several different hobbies and have even been lucky enough to have been training by the services to sail, rock climb, mountaineer, ski and sky dive with over 200 jumps to my name. I still enjoy taking part in these when I get the time, but at present I am renovating a house with my partner and her daughter aged eleven; which doesn’t leave much time to do any other activities!


Mrs Shirley Matthews - Authority Governor since January 2003
I am a retired retail shopkeeper and have worked in the community as a Councillor since 1986.

Mrs Rosemarie Morgan - Staff Governor since September 2010
Originally from Hampshire, I moved to Norfolk in 2003. I started work as Teaching Assistant at Swaffham Hamond's High School in September 2005. Before having children, I was an Executive Officer in the Civil Service.

Miss Natalie Moulton - Authority Governor since January 2012














Mr Keith Potter (Vice-Chair) - Parent Governor since November 2005
I have spent most of my life in Norfolk and received my secondary education from Framingham Earl High School. I am married and have three children who are or have been educated in Swaffham. Both of my daughters completed their A levels at Swaffham Sixth Form and my oldest daughter has successfully completed a Biology degree obtaining a 2:1. My other daughter is in her last year at University and my son is in Year 9 at Swaffham Hamond’s High School. I am serving in the Royal Air Force at the local base as a Flight Sergeant on a squadron, managing 87 engineers. I have served 27 years in the RAF and 4 years in the Royal Navy, carrying out many, varied jobs, giving me a wide range of experience. This includes Quality Auditing, Continual Improvement, Health and Safety and Design and Development on top of normal leadership and management skills. Other areas of experience include being the involved in the Diabetic Youth Group of Norfolk where I was Chair for three years, running a vehicle hire service for personnel serving at a RAF base and being a mountain leader leading groups of people on expeditions. I was a Parent Governor at Swaffham First School for eight years, assisting the school in the recruitment of a new Head and assisted in the PFI bid. I have been a Parent Governor at Swaffham Hamond’s since 2005, sitting on various committees ranging from Building Committee (throughout the schools rebuild), Chair of the finance committee, Health and Safety, Disciplinary committee, and many others. I was elected Vice Chair of Governors in September 2010 where I have supported Rob, our Chair, in every way possible. I bring a range of experience to the Governing Body and strive to support the school in its drive to provide a safe exciting educational environment for learning with a highly motivated team of quality teachers and staff. The school has been through a great deal in the past few years and is now moving towards even greater things. I see the school developing new links and ever improving its communication and teamwork to be a shining example, providing a fantastic learning facility for our children and future generations.

Miss Cindy Russell - Staff Governor since May 2008
I have been teaching for fifteen years at three schools within Norfolk and have been at Swaffham Hamond's High School since 2004. I started teaching as a Music teacher and then progressed to Head of Expressive Arts, before taking on the role as Head of Vocational and teaching Health and Social Care, CoPe and the Society, Health and Development Diploma.

Mr Roy Sargeant - Parent Governor since February 2009
I am a serving member of the Royal Air Force, currently based at RAF Marham. I joined the Governing body when my son started at the school. I am proud to be involved as a governor at Swaffham Hamond's High School as I fully believe that this is a school that actively encourages and supports its students, both educationally and socially, whilst empowering them to reach their fullest potential. As a member of the Governing Body I sit on the Curriculum committee and am a link Governor for the Science department.
I have been a parent governor continuously since 2002 at three different primary schools in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire before joining Swaffham Hamond's High School.

Mr Peter Smith - Authority Governor since October 2011
I graduated in English at Durham University, worked in a variety of jobs, including catering in France and teaching in Italy, before undertaking postgraduate social sciences studies at York University.  This led to me establishing and managing an Inner London community centre. I moved to Norfolk in 1977, completed my P.G.C.E., and then worked at Framingham Earl High School.  From 1982 until 2004 I worked at the Hewett School in Norwich where, after a spell of teaching English, I became Head of Drama and Performance Studies as well as Manager of the Walter Roy Theatre.  I have subsequently worked at City of Ely Community College, The Leys School and Long Road Sixth Form College.  For the last 18 years I have been a Visiting Moderator in 'A' Level Theatre Studies.  This has taken me into schools and colleges throughout the Eastern Region.  Throughout my teaching career I have been an NASUWT workplace representative and latterly an Accredited Caseworker.  I have three grown-up daughters and a stepson, all of whom were educated in Norwich Comprehensive Schools.  I live in Downham Market.  Apart from my interests in theatre and music - I have written a number of plays and directed over sixty, many of which have toured in Europe - I play squash, cycle, travel and enjoy mountain walking.  I speak and read Italian and French.  I am wholly committed to comprehensive education and to enabling all children to have the widest possible educational experience, leading to enriched and fulfilling lives.



Mr Alan Sparrow - Community Governor since February 2011
I am a qualified accountant (CPFA and FMAAT), now retired - formerly working in the NHS as Financial Controller in a NHS Trust.

Mrs Ann Steward - Authority Governor since November 2009