Mrs Wendy Ainsworth

Principal

Tenure: 01-09-19 

Wendy Ainsworth has worked in education for 19 years and has been in a leadership post for the last 7 years. She is committed to students and teachers being involved in dynamic interactions in the classroom which foster confidence, creativity, curiosity and resilience. She has relocated from Northamptonshire and is enjoying getting to know the local community and strengthening the school's links with it. 

Declarations of business/pecuniary interest:  None.

Mr Thomas Godwin

Chair 

Co-Opted Governor 

Tenure: 23-03-18 to 22-03-22

Member of WeST Trust Board

Tom Godwin is an experienced marketing and communications professional with a history of working in the performing arts, education, politics, music, and entertainment industries.   He is lead Governor for GDPR and Careers Link.  Since taking on the Chair role at Callington, Tom has also taken up a Trustee role at Westcountry Schools Trust, part of our Multi Academy Trust.

Tom grew up in Cornwall and Devon and is keen to bring his skill sets and experience to support the College at every level.

Declarations of business/pecuniary interest: Plymouth CAB, Plymouth University, Governors for Schools.

Mr Charles Pitman

Parent Governor

Tenure: 15-12-16 to 14-12-20

Member of WeST Educational Standards Committee

Charlie Pitman is a highly experienced and successful Police Officer with over 30 years of experience across a variety of roles and responsibilities. His particular area of expertise is in safeguarding. Charlie recently retired from the police and has taken on a safeguarding role for the Church of England. Outside of his professional work he is an experienced school Governor in the primary sector in Cornwall, and is our Deputy Safeguarding Governor.   Charlie has a child at Callington Community College.

Declarations of business/pecuniary interests - Parent  

 Mr Christiaan Stirling

Parent Governor

Tenure: 15-12-16 to 14-12-20

Designated responsibility: Parent & Community Engagement.

Chris Stirling has worked in primary education since 1995 and has experience as a Headteacher and Governor in several schools. He currently works for the Emotional Logic Centre training school staff, students and families to deal with change and the difficult emotions that accompany this. He also works for Plymouth City Council’s Fostering Panel and teaches in a local primary school.

Chris served on the former Governing Board prior to his appointment to the LGB.

Chris is married with children, who attend the college.

Declarations of business/pecuniary interest: Parent, employee of Emotional Logic Centre. Wife - social worker.

Dr Jonathan Tilbury

Vice Chair

Co-Opted Governor 

Tenure: 15-12-16 to 14-12-20

Designated responsibility: Safeguarding and Children in Care.

Jon Tilbury is a GP by background, having worked in Callington and Gunnislake for 30 years. He was instrumental in setting up TIC-TAC, the health related drop in service for students at the College. His interests are adolescent medicine and safeguarding children and young people and he lectures on these issues at Exeter Medical School.

Jon served on the former Governing Board prior to his appointment to the LGB. Jon continues in his role as the designated Safeguarding Governor, and is keen to continue providing support and challenge in this area.   He is also our named Governor for children in care.  Jon’s four children all attended the College and he was a Parent governor in the 1990s.

Declarations of business/pecuniary interest: none

Dr Steve Squires

Co-Opted Governor

Tenure: 23-03-18 to 22-03-22

Designated Responsibility: Finance and Health & Safety

Member of WeST Audit Committee and WeST Finance Committee

Steve Squires is a retired hospital doctor having had a career in both the Royal Navy and the NHS. 

Before he retired he was a secondary school governor for 16 years in Sussex and having moved to West Devon four years ago,  found that he missed being involved in education.  Since joining Callington, Steve has taken on the lead Governor role for Finance and Health & Safety and is enjoying attending training and getting to know the roles better.  He is looking forward to helping shape the strategic direction for the school.

Declarations of business/pecuniary interest: none

Mrs Avril Walker

Staff Governor

Tenure: 15-12-16 to 14-12-20

Avril Walker is the Catering Manager at Callington Community College and has worked at the College since 2001. During this time, she has been in charge of catering at 6 Primary schools as well as Callington Community College, managing as many as up to 34 members of staff.

Avril served on the former Governing Board prior to this appointment to the LGB.

Avril has lived near Callington for most of her life. Both of her children attended Callington Community College and she is very passionate about its future.

Declarations of business/pecuniary interest: staff member

Ms Emma Cox-Symonds

Co-opted Governor

Tenure 6-12-18 - 5-12-22

I feel that I would be a valuable member of the Callington Board as my previous, current employment and voluntary experience all bring several skills that could support the continued growth and development of Callington Community College.

Having been a teacher in and around Plymouth and gaining my PGCE at Marjons, I can bring a good understanding of the Education sector; challenges schools and teachers face, and my own professional standards developed through my years as a teacher.

Working in management, I gained valuable knowledge, skills and understanding of running a business, HR and customer service. 

In my current role at Citizens Advice, I have been fortunate in playing a key part in our change management process,  and implemented new performance management and behaviours frameworks to develop and improve the culture in which our staff and volunteers work.

Within my role as Advice Services Manager I am at the forefront of Safeguarding, Social Service responsibility and constraints, and have a very good understanding of cultural and social change.

Mrs Bernie Guthrie

Bernie Guthrie is an experienced Administrator, Teaching Assistant and Governing Board clerk who has recently stepped down from clerking Wembury Primary School in Devon and Callington Community College.  She missed being involved in governance and felt her seven years' of education experience, could be put to good use by becoming a Governor.  She was delighted to be co-opted onto the Callington Community College Local Governing Board in November 2020.

Her background is in banking and finance in Central London.  A family move to Devon 11 years ago, allowed her to take on her husband's old childhood home and renovate it.  

Along with another Governor, she has taken on the role of Wellbeing for staff and students.