Andrew Gardner – Chair of Governors
Andrew has been a Parent Governor at Mill Water since September 2014. He has a son in the senior half of the school. Andrew has demonstrated his commitment to improving outcomes for all pupils over his time as a Governor. Having originally studied engineering, he is now involved in business; developing, marketing and selling medical products worldwide.
Andrew has a smallholding that he runs, helped by his son in the school, breeding sheep and keeping chickens.
Martin Callaghan
Martin has been a school governor for over 20 years. He was a parent governor and subsequently chair of an outstanding primary school in north London, which became an early converter to academy status. In recognition of his work Martin was designated a National Leader of Governance in 2013.
Martin works as a company director and business advisor and lives near Tiverton. Martin first came to us as a Local Authority Governor but has chosen to stay as a Co-Opted Governor. He moved to Devon in 2011 and likes to spend as much time as possible in his garden.
Kayleigh Price
Kayleigh joined the governing body in September 2017. She has been teaching at Mill Water since 2007 when she first came as a university student on placement. She has worked as a TA, a class teacher and is now part of the extended leadership team. Kayleigh has been a part of the school on the Ofsted journey of getting to good and would very much like to play a role in continuing to make progress as we move forward.
Kayleigh loves to run and keep fit. When she was younger she trained as national squad swimmer.
Andrew Canning OBE
Andrew joined the governing body in September 2017. His background is as a Royal Marines Officer with 33 years service. He has been involved in operations worldwide including the delivery of humanitarian aid overseas. Andrew is experienced in emergency planning and crisis response. After leaving the Royal Marines he spent 4 years in Afghanistan managing training and mentoring programmes for the Afghan Police and Army. He now works as an independent consultant but continues to mentor young officers based at Lympstone.
Andrew has lived in East Budleigh since 2001, follows the Exeter Chiefs and enjoys many sports, gardening, boating and has cycled across Australia twice for charity.
Maggie Carter - Vice Chair of Governors
Maggie is a Local Authority Governor who serves as the Chair of the Governing Body. She currently works for Scomis, part of Devon County Council that deals with IT services for schools, but previously worked for Children’s and Young People’s services in Plymouth. She has many years of experience working with and for young people. She started her career as a special needs teacher.
Maggie enjoys Pilates – exercising lying down! She also likes cooking and eating with friends.
Julie Cornwell
Julie is a Senior Social Worker and Safeguarding Professional with over 30 years of experience. She is the Safeguarding Lead for the Governors, where she is able to apply her professional knowledge for the benefit of our pupils. As well as working closely with the schools Designated Safeguarding Lead, Julie has also provided bespoke developmental training for the full governing body.
Julie likes to read and travel. She is also the chair of Devon Link-Up a charity that works with adults with a learning disability.
Sarah Pickering
Sarah is our Head Teacher and also sits on the Governing Body. She is committed to continuing our school improvement and to seeing the school provide the best possible outcomes for pupils.
Away from school Sarah enjoys spending time with her family. She is an experienced musician, who loves to watch a show and has been known to get up on stage herself.
Charles Abram
Charles has many years of experience as a teacher. He was the Headteacher for 21 years at St Peter’s Preparatory School, Lympstone and went on to become Chairman of SPL Education Ltd until 2013. His eldest child, Fleur, was a pupil at Ellen Tinkham School in Exeter and Dame Hannah Rogers School when it was located in Ivybridge. Living in the locality, with a background in education and a learning-disabled wheelchair bound daughter he is very happy to support the Leadership of Mill Water School.
Charles has lived in East Budleigh since 2004, where he helps with the Church (Friends of All Saints) and is on the Committee of the East Budleigh Community Shop. With a background in Art he is now learning to paint watercolours, supports Exeter Chiefs and walks his labrador retriever, Possum.
Living in Sidmouth and having been introduced to the work of Mill Water school by one of his daughters, he can think of no better cause.
He loves to travel, is interested in the arts and books - he’s a member of a local book group- practices yoga, enjoys walking and golf.