Emma Armitage

Originally from Skipton, I settled in Lancaster (crossing the border, much to my Grandad’s dismay) after completing my PhD in Psychology at Lancaster University. My daughter is currently in year 1 at Bowerham. Our positive experience as parents, coupled with my career in educational assessment, is what motivated me to become a parent governor.
For the past ten years I have worked in Manchester for a national exam board. I began my career as a researcher before moving into assessment design and then into product management, where I am responsible for the design and delivery of GCSEs and A-levels. As a result I understand the vital importance of early education for opening doors to children, as well as the complexities of designing fair and accessible assessments of learning. As a governor I hope to use my knowledge and experience to help Bowerham go from strength to strength.

Jane Shepherd

As a parent at Bowerham Primary with a Year 2 child, I bring diverse educational experience. Initially a primary music teacher, specializing in Early Years and KS1, I've recently pivoted to working for Blackpool Virtual School as an Education Officer. Here, I focus on supporting looked-after children. I'm deeply committed to advocating for disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals. As a parent governor, I'm excited to use my expertise to contribute to Bowerham Primary, supporting the staff and community in providing outstanding education for all pupils. It's an honor to be part of this team.

John Marsh

I joined the Board of Governors early in 2026 as a LEA appointed governor.
My professional background is in higher education governance. I’m currently employed in the Governance Office at the University of Manchester, and prior to that worked in a similar role at Durham University. Earlier still in my career I worked in various corporate strategy and policy roles in local government in Lancashire and Cumbria.

I look forward to using the experiences and skills I have acquired during my career to contribute to the future success of Bowerham School.

Katy Dickinson

I have four children very happy at Bowerham: three in school and one at nursery. Since becoming a Parent Governor, I have valued the opportunity to better understand how the school runs behind the gates. I spent 23 years as an Army Officer, specialising in logistics and HR. The later part of my career focused on planning and assurance. I sit on the Resources Committee where I hope to use this prior experience. I am committed to supporting the school to deliver the best primary education experience they can for all children at Bowerham, navigating emergent difficulties and celebrating success.

Dr Pete Thomas

As a governor at Bowerham for over 20 years, starting as a parent and now a co-opted member, I bring valuable experience from my role at Lancaster University's Management School. Specializing in Human Resource Management and Organisation Studies, my expertise aids in understanding school operations and effective resource utilization. My current research focuses on organisational wellbeing, including studies on teacher workload within the school, contributing significantly to Bowerham's educational environment.

Geraldine Pollock

I have been a member of staff for over 28 years. During this time, I have also served as a Staff Governor and, more recently, as a Co-opted Governor. I am the Head of ICT and also the Volunteer Coordinator. These roles sit alongside my main responsibility of supporting teaching and learning in the classroom.
I am proud of my role as a long-serving governor and of the contribution I have made to the school's growth and development. I bring extensive experience in retail management, which has provided valuable skills in leadership, organisation and strategic planning. My commitment to Bowerham Primary & Nursery School is unwavering, and I am dedicated to continuing to support the school, its staff, pupils and wider community.

Joanne Banks

In my fifteenth year as headteacher at Bowerham Primary and Nursery School, I've brought extensive leadership experience from a 30-year teaching career in Lancashire. Serving as a Governor has been insightful, significantly influencing my leadership approach. Interacting with governors from diverse backgrounds is invigorating, as they bring varied experiences to the table. This diversity is crucial for our school, as the governing body's challenges and perspectives drive our reflection, improvement, and growth, aligning perfectly with our school's aims and ethos. Being a part of this process is a key aspect of my role and commitment to providing the best education for our pupils.

Vicky Booth

My daughter is in Year 2. I am so pleased we chose Bowerham, as I really value the staff’s relational approach to supporting children’s wellbeing and learning, and also the emphasis on learning through play, being outside, and being creative. After graduating, I trained as a teacher at St Martin’s (now the University of Cumbria), and taught for seven years before completing further training to become an Educational and Child Psychologist. I’ve now worked for the same local authority Educational Psychology Service for 18 years. Both in my work, and in my local home community here in Lancaster, I am passionate about enabling connection and belonging, listening and understanding other people’s perspectives, and doing what I can to actively make a positive difference in terms of community spirit and wellbeing (for example play streets and smartphone free childhood). As recently elected parent governor, I’m looking forward to giving something back to our excellent school, and supporting its hardworking staff.

Co-opted Governor vacancy

Eve Elliott

I consider myself a champion in education for children affected by trauma. Leading an independent school, I aim to create safe, nurturing spaces where each child feels valued, supported and equipped to thrive. I have a commitment to reengaging young minds using innovative programs tailored to individual needs. I am an advocate for inclusive environments that prioritise emotional well-being alongside academic success. With two children at Bowerham School, my dedication is personal, fuelling a mission to ensure every child receives the highest quality education. I aim to provide unwavering compassion and a relational perspective that celebrates diversity and unlocks the potential within each child.

Mr Huzaifah Patel

As one of the newly appointed Governors, I'm excited to bring a fresh perspective into a fantastic School which is close to my heart. As someone who has lived, studied and worked in Lancaster my entire life, with family roots in the area dating back to the 1960s, I have a deep and longstanding connection to this community. My father attended Bowerham, I attended Bowerham and now my son is beginning his own journey in the school’s nursery. My career has been rooted primarily in the Public Sector, spanning Local Authority and the NHS. I have extensive experience in entrepreneurship within SME's which has allowed me to nurture strong stakeholder relationships, coordinate teams and events and guide organisational strategy. Bowerham has an exceptional reputation for community outreach- I'm keen to foster an even greater relationship with Bowerham and the wider voluntary, community and faith sectors.

Helen Belbin

I'm Helen Belbin, a Co-opted Governor since March 2025. My background is as a local primary school headteacher, senior school improvement adviser and early years lead for Lancashire County Council. Since leaving a job I was lucky enough to love, I have embraced other opportunities to support children to achieve and thrive, especially the most vulnerable. I am delighted to be a trustee for the local children's mental health charity, Achieve Change and Engagement (A.C.E.) and to support children and families at the St. John's Hospice Forget Me Not Centre. I remain dedicated to school governance; having supported school leadership for so many years, it has been a privilege to now serve on local governing boards. Having once been Bowerham's local authority adviser, I am proud to be on the board. I hope to serve the school family well, bringing together my background in education together with my "best life" as a totally smitten grandparent, community member and arts enthusiast!