School Governing Body

Welcome to our Governors’ section.

Governors at St Barnabas play a vital role in strengthening the connection between our school, its community and EQUA Mead Learning Trust. As a Local Governing Body (LGB), governors act as representatives, advocates and ambassadors for the school, helping ensure that the lived experience of our children, families and staff is clearly understood at Trust level.

Our governors do not hold statutory responsibilities - these sit with the EQUA Mead Trust Board - but they make an essential contribution through local knowledge, community insight and thoughtful challenge. You can find out more about the structure of governance within EQUA Mead here: https://www.equamead.org/Governance/

What governors do at St Barnabas:

Governors work is organised around the 4 Cs of the Trust: Communication, Celebration, Community and Christian Ethos.

Governors:

understand and champion the school community, bringing the voice of parents, carers and the wider village into governance.
provide support and challenge through local insight, acting as a critical friend to the Headteacher and helping leaders understand emerging issues, opportunities and risks
gather school and community insight, spending time in school (Term 2) and listening to parents, staff and community (Term 4 and 6)
celebrate what makes St Barnabas distinctive, recognising pupil success, staff contribution and the strengths of our Christian ethos and identity
strengthen community connections, supporting partnerships, visibility and engagement across the villages we serve
uphold and promote our Christian character as a Church of England school, ensuring the Christian ethos is lived out and understood by all within the community

What governors are not responsible for:

safeguarding oversight
SEND monitoring
performance management of staff
setting or approving the school budget
operational day-to-day management

These responsibilities sit with the Trust Board and the Executive Team.

Our governors:

Name	Role
Ben Bannister	Chair
Ben Bannister	Foundation
Antoinette Fish	Safeguarding
Hannah Becket	Parent
Abbie Dellar	Staff (Headteacher)
Aisling Hunt	Parent
Lynn Copley	Governance Clerk

Learn a little more about us:

Ben Bannister - Foundation:

Ben Bannister lives in Market Lavington and serves as a Foundation Governor at St Barnabaas School. He is a Church Warden at St Mary's Market Lavington and also serves on St Mary's PCC. In addition to his work for the church, Ben also serves on the management committee of St Arbuck's community cafe in Market Lavington and is Chair of Trustees for the Tuesday Club.

Hannah Beckett - Parent:

I’ve lived locally for several years and both of my children attend St Barnabas school, so I feel very invested in its community and future.

I previously worked as a clerk to governors for several local schools, which gave me a solid understanding of governance and a real appreciation for the difference a supportive governing body can make. It’s a pleasure to now be on “the other side” as a governor myself, especially at a school I care about so much. Before clerking, I worked in the advertising industry. That experience has helped me support the school’s visibility and communication within the wider community, something I’m keen to keep developing as we strengthen our links with local groups, families, and organisations so the school feels firmly at the heart of village life.

I’m particularly passionate about the school’s outdoor spaces and the role they play in children’s wellbeing, learning, and connection with nature. I believe outdoor learning is increasingly important for children’s mental health, creativity, and resilience, and I’m enthusiastic about helping develop these opportunities across the school. Outside of school life, I’m usually found gardening, exploring the countryside with my family, or getting absorbed in a creative project. Overall, I hope to bring a calm, practical perspective to the governing body and to play a small part in helping the school continue to thrive.

Antoinette Fish - Safeguarding:

I live in Market Lavington, I'm married and have two grown up children who both attended St Barnabas primary. By day I'm a self employed first aid and mental health trainer. By night I'm an avid reader, love going to the cinema and theatre and my guilty pleasure is "strictly come Dancing"!

Aisling Hunt

I have lived in Market Lavington for many years, and both of my children currently attend St Barnabas. Throughout my career, I have worked within local charities across the county, including roles as an Education Officer for the Wildlife Trust and supporting families through Home Start. I now work for a local disability organisation. These experiences have given me a strong understanding of education, family support, and the challenges faced by schools today. They have also shaped my passion for helping to make St Barnabas the best possible experience for our whole community.

In my spare time, I enjoy exploring the great outdoors with my family, often taking long walks together. I am an avid reader and love sharing books with my children. As a governor, I hope to bring practical, empathetic skills to the role and contribute to ensuring our school is the best it can be for all children

To learn more about governance within Equa Mead Learning Trust school please click here.

Attendance 2025/26

governor attendance 25 26 st b.pdf