Our Governors (see 'Meet the Governor' further below)

Welcome to the Governors section of the website

The governors at Bellfield Primary School play an integral part in the running of the school.

The governing board is made up of a variety of individuals from different backgrounds including local authority governors and parents. All the governors are volunteers who are committed to offering their time, expertise and support to the school.

Governor meetings are held regularly, roughly 6-8 times a year, although governors regularly make informal visits to the school to view and monitor progress with the curriculum, environment and ethos of the school. The school governors also undergo regular training to keep them up to date with the latest issues concerning the school.

The Governors act as a critical friend to the school and are responsible for monitoring the schools performance. They work with the school to raise standards and maintain high standards of behaviour and attendance. The governors also have a responsibility to decide how the school budget is spent and to set targets for the school to continue to improve. They are committed to working with parents and the wider community.

It can be a very challenging but a very rewarding experience. The governors all believe that the children at Bellfield Primary School deserve the very best, supporting the very best education for the local community.

"We all bring our own skills and experiences to the role and are committed to giving our time and energy to support and move the school forward. We are proud of our school and we have the greatest confidence in recommending it to you for your child or children"

Chair of Governors	Helen Harper
Safeguarding Governors	Leon Allen & Owen O'Brien
Local Authority Governor	Deborah Foster
Vice Chair of Governors	Eddie Currall
SEND Governors	John Ryder & Andy Hopkins
Clerk to the Governor	Mrs Nolan

Attendance of Infant School Governors 25-26	Click here
Attendance of Junior School Governors 25-26	Click here

Code of Conduct for Governors - please click here

MEET OUR GOVERNORS:

Helen Harper - Chair of Governors	Eddie Currall - Vice Chair of Governors	Deb Foster - LA Governor
I’m Helen, I’m one of the co-opted governors and also the Chair. I was previously the chair of governors at the junior school and also a governor at the infant school so I have been involved with the school for nearly ten years. Both of my children have previously attended the school and thoroughly enjoyed it. Both are now at secondary school and continuing to build on the foundations provided by Bellfield. I currently work for BCC in the private rented property licensing department. Prior to this I worked as an Environmental Health Officer for nearly twenty years. When I’m not being a taxi to my children I enjoy going to the gym, swimming, baking and supporting my daughters artistic swimming team. I also volunteer with the NSPCC carrying out workshops with children.	Hello. I am currently the Vice chair of the school. I have been a governor of Bellfield for over 3 years. I have enjoyed working with and supporting all the teaching staff and children ensuring we can provide the best education we can. I have had different positions and roles within education for over 35 years. I currently work for Birmingham City council covering the whole southside of the city and have a 19-year-old daughter who is in her final year of studying at Northampton University. For the last 14 years I have lived in the Quinton and Harborne areas. I am also the vice chair of the West Midlands Police Information, Advice & Guidance Panel.
Owen O'Brien - Co-opted Governor	Leon Allen - Parent Governor	Michael Olijade - Parent Governor
Hi, my name is Owen and I’m a co-opted governor. I previously served for 4 years as a parent governor at the Juniors. Northfield is my home and I think this community has many strengths, of which Bellfield Primary is one! I work part time for Northfield Community Partnership on the Neighbourhood Network Scheme, helping to strengthen local community groups who support adults with disabilities, and carers. I also do Christian faith-based community work in the local area through the United Reformed Church, running various initiatives including events with local churches on the high street, forest church in Ley Hill Park, and a social club for young autistic adults. I have previously worked as a church pastor, debt counselling centre manager and HR professional in the public sector. My passions are music, seeing people thrive and going on a long bike ride on a sunny day.	Hello! Having attended Bellfield Infants and Juniors as a child along with my own children now attending, I wanted to be more involved in supporting the school through the delivery of its vision and values. I bring strong skills of partnership working, stakeholder engagement, wellbeing and professional development through my work in the public sector. My passions are safeguarding and SEND having supported myself and my children through the SEN process.	I am a proud parent of four children, three of whom have attended Bellfield Primary School, with my youngest currently a pupil. Having seen first-hand the positive impact the school has had on my children’s learning and development, I am passionate about giving back to the school community as a Parent Governor. Professionally, I work within the Youth Justice Service in Birmingham, supporting young people and their families to achieve positive outcomes. My background in criminology, combined with my experience working alongside children, families, and community services, has given me valuable insight into the factors that help young people thrive. As a Parent Governor, I am committed to helping ensure that Bellfield remains a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where every child can reach their full potential Outside of work, I enjoy reading, keeping up with current affairs and social issues, and spending time with my children. I am also a long-suffering Manchester United supporter who remains hopeful that the good times will return.
Andy Hopkins - Co-Opted Governor	Jim Pitchforth - Co-Opted Governor	John Ryder - Co-Opted Governor
	My name is Jim Pitchforth, I’ve been a co-opted Governor of the Junior school since September 2024 and am delighted to continue as one for Bellfield Primary. Originally from West Yorkshire, I have lived in a small village in South Worcestershire for 30 years, am married and have grown up twin girls, who live in Manchester and London. I am now retired, but worked for Commercial insurance companies and insurance brokers for my whole career, so Risk Management and Health & Safety around the school are topics with which I still have an affinity. In my free time, I love trips away in our camper van and spending time in the local countryside. A couple of other facts I'm very proud of are that many years ago we appeared on BBC's Bargain Hunt and we won! OK, so we won by only losing £1, but you do get to keep the fleeces. Secondly, each month I attend my local Blood Donor Centre and donate my platelets and plasma. It's such a wonderful feeling to know each painless donation can help so many people suffering from cancer. I've given around 450 donations so far and will continue for as long as I'm able to do so. I look forward to meeting you at a school event some time soon...	I am retired now but used to work in mental health services and learning disability services. Before that I was an accountant. I got involved last year with Bellfield to coincide with two of my four grandchildren starting school this year. I thought they might bamboozle me less if I knew something about what they were doing each day. I find the Governors role at Bellfield constantly interesting though a lot more full-on than I expected.In my spare time I help out at the school with reading once a week and act as a volunteer at Birmingham Magistrates Court. I also have an allotment and try to keep fit.
Nigel Attwood - Headteacher	Kate Yarnold - Staff Governor	Claire duToit - Associate Governor
Hello! I joined Bellfield Juniors as the Deputy Head in 2012 and became as Headteacher in 2016. In 2024, I also became Head of the Infants and supported the transition to Primary school. It is a school I love supporting and being part of the community and staff. I was born in Kent, lived near Manchester as a young child, before moving to Bristol for three years - before meeting my Birmingham based wife 22 years ago! I have been married 20 years, have 7 children and 4 grandchildren - so am always busy! I came into teaching late after time out from work to support my SEND child and realising I was in the wrong career! Nearly 30 years later, my biggest pride is Bellfield and the community associated with the school, and am an active member in BCC supporting safeguarding and wellbeing.	I joined Bellfield in January 2026 as Lead Teacher in the Resource Base and feel very fortunate to work in such a warm, welcoming and inclusive school community. Prior to joining Bellfield, I taught in a range of educational settings, including Birmingham Children's Hospital, mainstream schools and specialist provisions, gaining valuable experience supporting children with diverse needs.I feel privileged to have joined the school as it enters the exciting new phase as Bellfield Primary School and look forward to supporting the school as it continues to grow and I develop in the role of staff governor.Outside of school, I am actively involved in Scouting and enjoy spending time with my husband and our two young children, exploring new places and going on family adventures together. I am also a keen swimmer and have participated in The Great North Swim on several occasions.
Louise Campbell-Kelly - Associate Governor