Kathy Garnett – Chair of Governors
Local Authority Governor
Appointed: 15th July 2023
Term of Office: 4 years
Committees: Resources Committee and Chair of the Children’s Group
Other responsibilities: Headteacher Performance Management and Hearings and Pupil Discipline.
Register of Interests: No interests declared
I retired at the end of 2021 after 38 years working in primary education as a teacher, leader and an adviser for the local authority. My teaching experience has mostly been in Suffolk, apart from the three years working in a Service Children’s Education Authority (SCEA) school in Germany. After retiring, I knew that I wanted to continue to be involved in education. I hope that my experience of supporting school improvement, monitoring and reviewing progress against strategic goals, holding leaders to account for pupil progress (by asking the right questions) is of value. I visited Sandlings, in the past, in my role as a Local Authority Adviser, so I already knew about the strengths of the Sandlings Team, the great site and enthusiastic pupils.
Amy Bond – Vice Chair
Co-opted Governor
Appointed: 29th March 2023
Term of Office: 4 years
Committees:
Other Responsibilities: Named Governor for Safeguarding and SEND
Register of interest: No interests declared
I have been working in education since 2016 as a class teacher at a variety of schools. I wanted to be a governor at Sandlings to support my local community. As a military spouse who lives on the barracks I feel it is important to give back to the community. My experiences at a range of schools could be helpful to the governors and I could give a different perspective to topics. As a practitioner I would also love to learn about the role of a governor, I feel this will support my professional development.
Dr Judith Rose
Co-opted Governor
Appointed: 17th October 2024
Term of Office: 4 years
Committees:
Other responsibilities:
Register of Interest: No Interests declared
My professional career has been in adult, further and higher education After teaching and management posts in London and Suffolk my final position was at University of Suffolk as Head of Student Support (2007-9). I worked in adult literacy education starting as a volunteer in the 1970s and ultimately participated as a teacher trainer in the national Skills for Life programme (2001-9). My doctorate (2024) focused on the historical relationship beween adult literacy education and education for people with learning difficulties.
As a volunteer I have particular experience in mental health and in domestic abuse. I was a Trustee and Chair of Suffolk Mind (2001-8) and then a Trustee of Lighthouse Women’s Aid (2009-24). I also trained and acted as a volunteer for Suffolk Rape Crisis Centre (2009-11) and supported the literacy and numeracy programme at Hollesley Bay Prison (2010-15).
Miss Patricia Toal
Headteacher
Mrs Nadine Parkin
Staff Governor
Appointed: 12th December 2025
Term of Office: 4 years
Committees:
Other responsibilities:
Register of Interest: No interests declared
Nadine is the Deputy Headteacher, SENCO, English Lead, KS1 and Early Years coordinator, and a full time teacher.
Mr Matthew Gowen
Co-opted Governor
Appointed: 13th February 2024
Term of Office: 4 years
Committees:
Other responsibilities: Named governor for Health and Safety
Register of Interest: No interests declared
Matthew lives with his family on the Suffolk coast. He is a regulatory lawyer, who works as a partner in a large UK law firm, where he heads a Regulatory and Corporate Defence Team. Prior to joining the governing body at Sandlings, he was a governor of another local primary school, serving as the Chair for several years
Ms Vicki Paterson
Co-opted Governor
Appointed: 21st March 2024
Term of Office: 4 years
Committees:
Other responsibilities:
Register of interest: No interests declared
Vicki is a very experienced Headteacher and Executive Headteacher working in south London schools for 40 years and providing support for national and local School Improvement strategies. She was awarded a Damehood (DBE) for Services to Education in 2013. She has lived in Suffolk since 2020.
Ms Helena Hamlyn
Co-opted Governor
Appointed: 13th February 2025
Term of Office: 4 years
Committees:
Other responsibilities:
Register of interest: No interests declared
Helena has worked as a teacher in a variety of primary schools since 2018, including roles as Head of Year and Head of Assessment. Prior to teaching, she worked in PR which included working in the press office of The Royal British Legion. She is interested to learn more about the governance side within education. With family on the Suffolk coast, Helena has always felt a strong connection to the area.
Ms Megan Hallet
Parent Governor
Appointed: 13th February 2025
Term of Office: 4 years
Committees:
Other responsibilities:
Register of interest: No interests declared
I am very excited to be a parent governor for Sandling’s this year. Having my son at this fabulous school, I’m pleased to be able to contribute something back.
I currently work for the NHS in the local community and have enjoyed doing this for this past 7 years. In our spare time, you will often find us in the local forest or beach with our 3 dogs or at a football pitch with my football mad young son.
Governor Leavers in the last 12 months
Rob Worthington (Parent Governor)
Appointed: 13 Dec 2021 (left Dec 2025)
Term of Office: 4 years
Committees: Resources
Other responsibilities: Vice Chair and Chair of Resources Committee