SCHOOL GOVERNOR PEN PORTRAITS
CATHERINE HALL
I am the chair of governors, I joined the governing body in 2016 as the local authority governor which means that I offered my help to any school in the borough, and they linked me up with Batley Parish. I have really enjoyed getting to know the school, seeing the commitment of the staff and pupils in a caring and supportive community and working with governance colleagues on strategic priorities to progress learning.
I have lived and worked in this area for over 30 years and have a grown-up son. In 2016 I took early retirement from a career as a senior manager working mostly in museums. I still work for the University of Leicester and also for Arts Council England. I am a volunteer for Kirklees Museums so you might also spot me at Bagshaw Museum.
RICHARD MARTIN
I have employment history of 45 years as a teacher in secondary education. My four children were pupils at Batley Parish School and presently so are my grandchildren. I have been a Governor since the early 1980s and Chair of Governors for a considerable part of that time. It is a privilege to support the school ethos in this way. I am a worshipping member of Batley Parish Church and on my second stint as Churchwarden as well as singing in the choir. I am also involved in several community groups in Batley.
PHIL SUNTER
I qualified in 1997 and have worked as a teacher in London, Kirklees and Bradford. I have rich leadership experience, including Mathematics, Assessment, Information Technology and several foundation subjects. I have also been a senior leader in four schools as key stage leader, Assistant Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher. I have substantial experience of governance as both a school leader and teacher governor.
IAN STEWARD
COLIN CRANMER
My passions are music and education which I combined in a 42 year career in teaching. Moving to Huddersfield for university (then it was a Polytechnic) education I discovered a third passion – for W Yorks, its geography, history, culture and cricket! My work took me to a wide variety of primary and secondary schools throughout Hull and the East Riding dealing with a large number of management teams. After obtaining a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from the University of Hull I became involved in operational and governance roles for Local Authority services and a national education association. I served for ten years as a National Executive member overseeing governance and continue to be a trustee for a national education charity. I relocated to Batley in 2019 and immediately began worship at St Thomas’ and All Saints churches who recently nominated me as a PCC governor. My passion for improving educational outcomes for all children remains undiminished and I look forward to supporting the pupils and staff at Batley Parish School.
ANNABEL POLSON
I was born in Dewsbury and have lived in Batley for most of my life. I am a member of Batley Parish Church Council, and I am also a Sunday school leader at the church. My daughter currently attends the school.
Following my degree in medical microbiology I have spent almost 20 years working for a large pharmaceutical company. My current role is senior specialist account manager, and I am also colleague chair of the company colleague forum. I have developed a wide range of skills in these roles which I am looking forward to using for the benefit of the school.
In my spare time I enjoy running and volunteering at Dewsbury Parkrun and you might also see me riding my horse around the streets of Upper Batley.
FR JONATHAN BISH
I am priest in charge of four Church of England parishes in Batley, including Batley Parish Church. I was brought up in the United States, and after a degree in law from the University of Oxford, I trained as a priest in Cambridge. I have been in ministry for ten years in different parts of West Yorkshire, and arrived in Batley in January 2023. I have served as a governor at two other schools, including three years as chair of governors. I have particular interests in history, music and theology, and recently completed a Masters which explored the relationship between medieval understandings of creation and contemporary theologies of disability. In my free time I sing with Wakefield Cathedral choir and also enjoy walking and going to concerts. You may spot me on my bicycle, as I mostly get around Batley on two wheels!
