Governors Welcome

There are various types of Governors drawn from different areas of the community including, parents, staff, Local Authority, community and other groups. Governors are volunteers who attend meetings and work to further the school’s development.

Our Clerk to Governors can be contacted by email at clerk@bettridge.gloucs.sch.uk regarding anything connected with the Governing Body including requesting minutes of meetings

How do Governors help schools and children?

School Governors are people who wish to make a positive contribution to children’s education. Together with the Headteacher they set the future direction of the school and decide how the school’s budget should be spent. Governing bodies make decisions collectively on matters such as school policies and the school’s development plan.

The official role of a Governor is to:

Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
Hold the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and it’s pupils.
Oversee the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Categories of Governors

Parent Governor – Elected by parents and carers of children at the school.
Staff Governor – Selected by election from staff employed by the school.
Local Authority Governor – Appointed by the Local Authority.
Co-opted Governor – Appointed by the Governing Body

If you wish to discover more information about what Governors do or learn how to become one please visit the Gloucestershire County Council’s website.

Meet The Governors

Jo Bleasdale

Head Teacher

Hi, I am the Headteacher to Bettridge School and moved to Gloucestershire. I previously worked for 10 years in a special school in Kent for children with physical disabilities and complex medical needs. Prior to that I taught for 5 years in a residential special school for young people with autism. I have also been a mainstream junior school teacher. I have many passions within education, amongst which are creative learning opportunities, staff motivation and performance and working with families. Each day is different at Bettridge School, with opportunities to really make a difference.

Becky Martin

Chair

Hello, I’m Becky Martin and currently the chair of Governors. I have carried out pretty much every role during over 10 years on the Governing body, and have two fab complex sons who are nearing the end of many years at Bettridge too, so I like to think I have encountered most things at our wonderful school. I try to use this knowledge to help the pupils, families and staff have the best possible experience during their time at Bettridge. I have a background in training and recruitment, and now volunteer around Cheltenham in various disability & education guises. I also have two younger children in main stream schools.

Vacancy

Co-Opted Governor

Tina Clark

Co - Vice Chair

I am a Finance & Premises governor at Bettridge. I spent my whole teaching career working in special education of one sort or another, teaching both children and adults. For many years, I was an OFSTED Inspector, inspecting special schools all over England. I am particularly interested in how leadership and management in schools supports pupils’ learning and social development.

Sarah Provan

Co-Opted Governor

Hello, I’m Sarah Provan and I am the chair of the curriculum committee. My background is in educational publishing then teaching, in both mainstream and special schools. I hope to use this experience to improve the experience of pupils, families and staff at Bettridge School. I have adult children who went to local schools.

Jeannette Lawrence

Co-Opted Governor

Hello, I’m Jeannette Lawrence, currently chair of Finance. I am a Senior TA at Bettridge and have been on the Governing Body for several years, originally as the staff Governor and now as a co-opted Governor. I was previously a Governor at my daughter’s Junior school where I was on the Finance committee and I was also involved in recruiting a new Head Teacher. I started volunteering at Betrridge in 2003 before being employed as a TA in 2005. I therefore have a great deal of knowledge about Bettridge and I am very proud to be both a staff member and governor of this wonderful school. Prior to working at Bettridge my background was customer service and then Finance Analyst in Sales and Marketing for a large national company.

Caroline Osicki

Co-Opted Governor

Hello, I’m Caroline Osicki and I am local to this area. I have previously worked for many years as an editor in educational publishing. I have also taught English as a Foreign Language and trained to teach Modern Languages at secondary school. I cared for my mother for 17 years whilst she was suffering from dementia. Currently I run a family rental business. My 3 sons have grown up and moved away. I am looking forward to furthering my interest in education and I hope that I will be able to help and support the Bettridge School community.

Emma Manning

Parent Governor

Hi, my name is Emma Manning and I am a parent Governor on the Finance & Premises Committee. My daughter is in Key Stage 2 on the Yellow pathway. My background is in project management and purchasing. Now I am a full-time carer to my daughter.

Vacancy

Staff Governor

Andy Williams

Parent Governor

Hi, I’m Andy Williams and I am a parent Governor. My daughter is in Post 16 at Bettridge and I have another daughter at The Milestone School, both with additional needs. I have a background in hospitality and marketing, and now a full-time carer for my daughters

Vacancy

Co-Opted Governor

Vacancy

Parent Governor

Wendy Yeates

Co - Vice Chair

My name is Wendy Yeates and I am the Safeguarding Governor. As a Teaching Assistant at Bettridge for 35 very happy years I found retiring left a huge gap in my life, so I was very pleased to be asked last year to return as a governor. I am enjoying using my knowledge and experience to help achieve the best possible outcomes for all who come through our doors; staff, parents, carers and most importantly the pupils.

Linda Ebdon

Co-Opted Governor

Hello, I am Linda Ebdon and a co-opted Governor on the Staffing and Safeguarding Committee. I have always lived in Cheltenham and have two adult children who attended schools locally. Prior to retiring, I was employed by the NHS as a Registered Nurse and enjoyed the opportunity of being the School Nurse based at Bettridge School for 24 years, followed by 3 years as a Supply Teaching Assistant. My commitment for both pupils and staff at Bettridge will continue very much in my new role as a Governor

Governor Committees 2025 - 2026

Curriculum Committee

Sarah Provan (Chair)

Becky Martin

Sophie Collier-Hall

Hannah Mills (to advise)

Staffing & Safeguarding Committee

Wendy Yeates (Chair)

Andy Williams

Caroline Osicki

Linda Ebdon

Finance & Premises Committee

Jeannette Lawrence (Chair)

Tina Clark

Emma Manning

Andrea Causon (to advise)

Pupil Premium Link Governor

Sarah Provan

Safeguarding Link Governor

Wendy Yeates

SEN Link Governor

Andy Williams

LAC/CIC Governor

Andy Williams

Mental Health & Wellbeing Link Governor

Wendy Yeates/Caroline Osicki

Careers Governor

Becky Martin

Nursing & Medical Needs Link Governor

Linda Ebdon

Governor Training

Chair/Clerk to Governors

Governor Panels 2025 – 2026

Complaints, Disciplinary & Staffing Panel

Wendy Yeates

Andy Williams

Linda Ebdon

Caroline Osicki

Complaints, Disciplinary & Staffing Appeals Panel

Sarah Provan

Emma Manning

Tina Clark

Headteacher Appraisal Panel

Becky Martin

Tina Clark

Teacher Appraisal Panel

Tina Clark

Wendy Yeates

Sarah Provan

Health & Safety Working Group

Jeannette Lawrence

Andy Williams

Emma Manning

Bettridge Governors over the past 12 months

Name of Governor

Appointment

Date of Appointment

Term of Office

Jo Bleasdale

Headteacher

01/09/2020

N/A

Becky Martin (Chair)

Co-opted

01/03/2023

4 Years

Tina Clark (Co-Vice Chair)

Co-opted

10/06/2022

4 Years

Wendy Yeates (Co-Vice Chair)

Co-opted

13/09/2023

4 Years

Sarah Proven

Co-opted

13/09/2023

4 Years

Jeannette Lawrence

Co-opted

01/03/2023

4 Years

Caroline Osicki

Co-opted

08/11/2023

4 Years

Linda Ebdon

Co-opted

17/01/2024

4 Years

Andrew Williams

Parent

22/11/2022

4 Years

Emma Manning

Parent

10/05/2024

4 Years

Sophie Collier-Hall

Staff

22/09/2025

4 Years

Simon Ackroyd

Co-opted

11/03/2015

4 Years
(stepped down 15/12/2021)

Andrew Swan

Co-opted

13/07/2016

4 Years
(stepped down 24/05/2022)

Philip Knight

Staff

27/01/2020

4 Years
(stepped down 10/12/2021)

Sioban Brickwell-Williams

Parent

01/10/2017

4 Years
(stepped down 11/09/2022)

Marta Garcia de la Vega

Parent

11/10/2021

4 Years
(stepped down 23/09/2022)

Ashleigh Stephens

Co-opted

06/07/2022

4 Years
(stepped down 10/01/2023)

Sonia Carey

Parent

11/03/2015

4 Years
(stepped down 13/09/2023)

Oliver Stockford

Co-opted

02/03/2022

4 Years
(stepped down 18/06/2024)

Cathy Shilling

Co-opted

07/07/2021

4 Years
(stepped down 25/10/2024)

Emily Meloscia

Staff

10/12/2021

4 Years
(stepped down 29/04/2025)

Karen Thatcher

Parent

22/11/2022

4 Years
(stepped down 16/06/2025)

All governors are appointed by the full governing board.

Declaration Of Interest 2025 - 2026

Name of Governor

Type of Governor

Relevant Business Interest

Links to other educational establishments

Personal relationships with school pupils, staff or governors

Date interest declared

Becky Martin

Co-Opted

None

Parent to a pupil at Bettridge. 2 staff members provide respite care for two of BM’s children. BM's daughter is currently completing workplacement at Bettridge one-day-a-week.

17/09/2025