Meet Our Governors
Ross Phillips - Chair of Governors/Parent Governor
Elected as Chair 14/09/23 - I am a parent governor having joined the board in December 2021. I have a daughter in Holly class and a son currently in Busy Kids. We moved into the village in 2020 having previously lived in Chippenham. I feel we have settled well into village life and already made a number of friends, mainly through having children at the school and nursery. My wife and I both grew up in villages in the South West and so wanted the same for our children.
I am a family law solicitor and partner at a local firm where I have worked for 10 years. It is a challenging job at times but I still enjoy it. Training and developing more junior colleagues and also guiding clients through the emotional rollercoaster are my favourite aspects of the role.
I am new to governing and all that it entails (a lot of hard work) but I hope to support the school improve in any way that I can, for my children and future generations.
Peter Wallis - Vice Chair of Governors/LA Governor
Elected as Vice Chair 14/09/23
I have been a governor at St Nics for 12 years, 10 years of which was as Chair prior to David taking over. In that time, I have had the pleasure of working with 4 head teachers!
I started out as a parent governor, with both my boys attending the school as we wanted them to benefit from a village school environment even through we live in Calne. My sons left a long time ago but I carried on a governor largely because I wanted to offer a level of continuity to the school in its long term strategy - a role I am still involved in as we balance the increasingly tight budget against the overriding ambition to offer the children at St Nics the best possible education we can.
Most of my remaining spare time is spent on my 2 other roles as secretary/treasurer and coach of 2 teams at Bromham Football Club and as Child Welfare Officer for Mid Wilts Youth and Minor Football League.
Mike Wey - Co-opted Governor
I moved to Bromham with my two young daughters in 1992. I now have a granddaughter at St Nicholas and a grandson joining her in a couple of years. My career years were spent as an accountant in the public and private sectors. When I retired, I wanted to support the local community and looked for some voluntary work. I started as a volunteer teaching assistant for maths in Thorn class in 2018 and, a year later, was asked to join the governing body where I take specific interest in the school finances and policies/procedures. I very much enjoy working with the other governors and the school staff, to ensure we deliver a wide range of learning opportunities for all the children at St Nicholas.
David Sibun - Co-opted Governor
My name is David Sibun and I have lived happily in Bromham with my wife Muriel for over thirty years. Before I retired in 2006 I was a primary school headteacher for twenty five years at schools in Lyneham and Devizes. I am now a keen golfer and play regularly at Whitley Golf Club near Melksham. I also enjoy reading and playing short mat bowls in the village Social Centre. We both enjoy travelling and since retiring we have visited many different countries worldwide.
David is Governor for Safeguarding.
Gillian Moffat - Co-Opted Governor
My name is Gillian, I am a parent Governor at St Nicholas School. My grandmother, mother, sisters, myself and now my daughter have all been to school here! I am very passionate about our school and want to do my best to make it grow and to be here for many years to come. I work in banking and as well as a committee member, I am on the Finance and Staffing committees. I also enjoy volunteering within school as a buddy reader. Gill Moffat.
Jenny Blackman - Foundation Governor
I have lived in the village for nearly forty years. I have always believe that a school is the heart of a village and this one certainly is.
I am a recently co-opted governor, my own children attended this school in the 80's. It was a good school to be a part of then with lots of learning opportunities, today there are even more.
I currently take part in the English learning walks and enjoy talking to the children about their learning and activities.
I am a key member of the Methodist Chapel and fully support the Christian ethos of the school and their participation in the village. It is a privilege to be part of St Nicholas School.
Carole Myer - Foundation Governor
As a Foundation Governor I am particularly interested in the Spiritual aspects of the school.
I am a member of the Open the Book team and a buddy reader , I have a particular interest in child development and the way that children learn. I have an Honours degree in Psychology and an Honours degree in the Arts. My hobbies include flower arranging and videoing.
Paul Mortimer - Parent Governor
I was born and brought up in Bromham and have lived in the village or near the village all of my life. I have 2 grown up daughters and 3 children currently attending St Nicholas, one in each of the three classes. I am currently the sales director for Grist Environmental, a local waste management & recycling company, based in Devizes, and have worked there for the last 21 years. I have been chairman of the local self build scheme, building 12 homes for local people in Breach Close and have also been a parish councillor for the village. I have previously been a governor at Rowde village school for over 6 years and am currently a governor at St Nicholas School, Bromham and have been for over 5 years.
I am thrilled and honoured to be part of this outstanding and successful school, with unrivalled teaching, positivity and a caring Christian ethos. I know that my children and therefore everyone's children are in very safe hands. My children enjoy every day in school and often comment on how much they miss it during their school holidays. There is no greater testament to a school than an unsolicited testimonial from a pupil.
I am a co-opted governor and I am a Mum of 3 children; twin boys in Holly Class in year 1 and an older daughter who left St Nics last year and moved on to Abbeyfield School.
I am also a school governor at Abbeyfield School having taken on the role there of Safeguarding Governor.
I work as a social work manager in Children's Services for Wiltshire Council, which is a job that I love and am very proud to do.
We live in the village and love the wonderful little community that we have here, which the school is a central part of.
I am very passionate about the school and ensuring that it goes from strength to strength not only for my own children and their peers but for all of the children and families in the village.
I am very approachable and happy to chat so if you would like to discuss anything with me please do feel free!
Carolyn is Governor for Special Educational Needs
Kim Nilsson - Parent Governor
I am delighted again to be a Parent Governor. I have been lucky enough in the past to be a Governor when my eldest daughter (who is now at university) was a pupil at St Nics and for a while before my son was old enough to attend.
As you can see I am a person of a certain age!! So hopefully my skill set from my varied career in the financial sector will be useful and I can add value in my role. If not then I will learn a new skill set, in order to deliver what is needed for the school as a Governor.
It is a privilege to be here. I promise to serve to the school and its community to the best of my ability, supporting St Nic’s to continue to deliver the best educational experience and outcomes for each individual pupil.
Joanne Lewis - Headteacher, Ex-Officio
Joanne Lewis as Headteacher is automatically a member of the Governing body as Ex-Officio by virtue of office.
Clare Kitts - Staff Governor
Michelle Salen - Staff Governor