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Our Local Governing Body

Christine Townsend Chair and Governor with responsibility for Safeguarding
Vacancy Trustee with responsibility for safeguarding 
Aileen Morrison Headteacher 
Phil Serle Support staff representative 
Karen Darnton Teaching staff representative 
Vacancy Governor with responsibility for Special Educational Needs
Kerisha Stephenson Governor with responsibility for Children in Care and Young Carers 
Emma Gundry

Governor with responsibility for Pupil Premium 

Governor with responsibility for Finance 

Vacancy Vice Chair
Vacancy Governor

Contact Information 

For more information on local governing boards, please visit the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnerhsip website: 

https://www.midsomernortonschoolspartnership.com/governance/local-governing-bodies.htm

To contact the Clerk to the Governing Body, Elizabeth Jahn please email 

ejahn@msnpartnership.com 

 

MEET THE GOVERNING BODY

 

Aileen Morrison, Headteacher

Aileen has worked at St Matthias since 2006 and been Headteacher since 2014. A qualified English Teacher and SENDCo, Aileen also completed a Masters Degree in Raising Achievement in City Schools. She has led St Matthias as it moved from Local Authority Maintained status to becoming an Academy and in 2016 worked to open a second base in the North of the City at Brentry. She has previously been seconded into Leadership positions at BFA and Rush Hill and collaborated with Easton Primary on a KS2 Early Intervention Base. She has now overseen the transition of Rush Hill becoming the third base of St Matthias Academy.

 

 

Phil Serle

Support Staff Representative

Elected by Staff from 01 November 2023 - 31 October 2026

Bio to be uploaded soon

 

Karen Darnton

Teaching Staff Representative

Elected by Staff from 01 November 2023 - 31 October 2026

Bio to be uploaded soon

 

Kerisha Stephenson 

Academy Councillor

Appointed from 08 June 2021 - 07 June 2024

Kerisha is the Administration Assistant at Soundwell Academy, handling HR and new student transitions.

Kerisha is originally from Jamaica, having moved to England at the age of 10 years old for the chance of better educational resources and support.  It led to her being the first person in her family to go to university, gaining a degree in Film and Screen Studies with Media Communications from Bath Spa University, working in film and television production shortly after graduating.

Kerisha is passionate about the creative arts, different social justice causes, having grown up as a member of Bristol's BAME (Unity) and Green Capital Youth Forums.

Before starting her current role, Kerisha worked as a PR, Marketing and Business Administrator for a local adult social care provider, specialising in health and wellbeing for both staff and service users.  This has led to her being a volunteer with Coproduce Care, campaigning for and supporting parity with the NHS for the social care sector.  Working in Social Care has been the driving force to joining the special educational needs sector.  She aims to have a positive impact on the lives of students across the MAT.

Kerisha has launched mental health podcast and blog around health and wellbeing resources (helping anyone who gets in touch with research or finding support available in their local area, but lack of knowledge or resource to it themselves).

Emma Gundry

Academy Councillor

Appointed from 22 November 2021 - 21 November 2024

Emma has worked in education for over 20 years and started her teaching career in Downend School.

For the last 13 years Emma been based in Weston Super Mare and is now Principal of the Voyage Leaning Campus, the North Somerset pupil referral unit. 

As a Fishponds resident, she is  pleased to be part of the academy council and supporting staff in their work with the young people of Bristol.


Christine Townsend

Chair

Appointed from 20 June 2022 - 19 June 2025

Christine qualified as a secondary school teacher over 25 years ago and has gained teaching and management experience in both mainstream and specialist settings in London, Coventry and her home city of Bristol. 
Christine is an experienced governor and was until recently the chair of Bristol statutory School Forum. Christine was elected as a local ward councillor for Southville in May 2021 and is now the shadow cabinet member for Education and Children’s Services. She is the vice-chair of the council’s People Scrutiny board that oversees the implementation of the administrations work in these areas and a member of the Corporate Parenting Board that oversees services for children in care as part of the Corporate parenting responsibilities. She is a member of the local SCARE board that focusses on the RE curriculum and workforce development across all schools within the city and represents Bristol as part of Adoption West, whose work is focused on the adoption from care processes, when children are in need of finding forever homes following a period of local authority care.
Christine has extensive knowledge and experience of the new SEND system and how this is structured in Bristol. She is an expert in the areas of school admission arrangements and the legal responsibilities held by schools in relation to student admissions and parental rights.