Who’s Who
The Governors of Manor Park School work with the Headteacher and the senior leadership team to provide the strategic direction for the school. Our role is to ensure that the children receive the very best education that we can provide, by helping to ensure that everyone knows what they need to do and have the necessary resources.
Governors both support and challenge the Headteacher and senior staff to ensure that the school performs as well as it should and that all pupils have the very best opportunity to learn & grow.
Below are all the current Governors of the school.
If you would like to contact the Chair of Governors or the Clerk then please email the school office on office@manorpark.dorset.sch.uk
Patrick Myers – Community Governor
Chair of Governors
Lead Governor for Pupil Premium, Safeguarding and GDPR
Patrick joined the Governing Body when his son was a learner in the school and remains committed to supporting the school in his role of Chair of Governors. Patrick has been working in Children’s Services for 25 years, in the NHS, University sector and local government workplaces . Most recently working on the Government programme to Reducing Parental Conflict and now the Partnership and Programme lead for a charity called Thrive at Five.
Steven Murphy – Community Governor
Vice Chair of Governors
Lead Governor for English and E-Safety
Melanie Pallister – Head Teacher
I have been Head Teacher at Manor Park CE First School since September 2011. I am really proud to be the Head Teacher of this happy, exciting and developing the school. The staff here are very dedicated and work incredibly hard to achieve the best possible outcomes for our amazing pupils. The parents and Governors also provide a lovely community to work with and everyone has the best interest of the children at heart. All of my teaching career has been around the local area, and my husband, our 3 children and I love to spend time along the coastline enjoying walks in the countryside or taking advantage of the beach and the sea.
Revd. Cora Yarrien – Ex Officio Governor
Lead Governor for RE, Collective Worship, PSHE and Wellbeing
I am an Ex-officio Governor at Manor Park School and also the vicar of St George’s Church, Fordington and St Andrew’s Church, West Stafford. Since starting as vicar in Dorchester in January 2021 I have been pleased to refresh the community connection between St George’s Church and Manor Park School. Within the governing board I have responsibility and oversight for RE curriculum. I also take a part of school life when I lead Collective Worships and a School services like Christmas, Easter and the Leavers Service. In my leisure time, I like to walk my dogs through the beautiful Dorset Countryside. I am also a fan of crafting and creating so enjoy creative projects that involve knitting, sewing and soap making . I am glad to be volunteering as part of the Governors team and hope to do my part to encouraging Christian distinctiveness, supporting the Staff team, helping children to achieve their potential and inspiring all to learn and grow.
Anna Jackson – Foundation Governor
Lead Governor for EYFS, History and Geography
I am a Foundation Governor and have been since July 2018. My faith is at the core of everything I do, so I have enjoyed working with the school to ensure we continue to show how Christian values are at the centre of school life. I have 3 children, two of whom have been all the way through Manor Park – one is now at St Osmund’s and the other at The Thomas Hardye School, and my youngest is here at Manor Park in Year 1. My background is in teaching and I worked at two local schools before having my own children, and I am currently work in early years as a childminder. Before the preschool amalgamated with the school, I was the Chair of their committee, so I really enjoy working with the early years team and have been able to see how the whole of the early years foundation stage is changing and developing now the pre-school is part of the school and with the newly implemented EYFS.
Mark Branson – Community Governor
Lead Governor for Health & Safety and Art/DT
I was a parent governor for 4 years in my children’s previous primary school and have now been a governor at Manor Park since 2017. My daughter attended the school and has now moved on to her next school.
I currently work in the Engineering & Scientific sector and lead teams and projects and hope to bring some of my experience into the Governing body.
I enjoy the outdoors and have two children, both at local middle and upper schools. I really like the people and town of Dorchester and want to ensure the school engage with the local community and events. I am passionate that all children have a good start to their education and enjoy school life at the same time as making solid progress. I believe this school has high expectations, a clear vision for continuous improvement and provides all children with a great and happy education.
Peter Farrington – Local Authority Governor
Lead Governor for SEN
I joined the governing body in May 2022 as a Local Authority governor. I have been involved in education all my working life as a primary school teacher in London and Dorset, with 25 years as a headteacher. Since retirement I have continued my involvement by working as an independent educational consultant supporting and challenging school leaders. I also provide training for governing bodies. I have extensive experience in special and additional needs and I have taken on the role at Manor Park of link governor for SEND and Equality. I am proud of my links with schools in the Dorchester Area Schools Partnership.
Eve Summers – Parent Governor
Clair Bolland – Staff Governor
My name is Clair Bolland and I began working at Manor Park as a 1:1 Teaching Assistant over eight years ago. During my first year here, I completed an NVQ level 3 in Specialist Support Teaching and Learning.
A year later I was lucky enough to be asked to train with the Dorset Educational Psychology Team as an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant, which enables me to support children with their social and emotional skills which then became my full time role.
As our school inspires everyone to learn and grow, my journey with understanding positive mental health continued and I became a Licensed Thrive Practitioner. Thrive uses the latest research into child development, attachment theory, neuroscience and creativity to further support our children.
I completed training as a Designated Safeguarding Lead in 2020 and am now one of the deputy DSL’s at Manor Park. Having had training from the NSPCC to deliver the Pantosaurus resources, I deliver the PANTS message to our KS1 and Early Years children and along with a colleague, make Therapeutic stories available to all classes.
I have been part of the Governing body since 2016 as an Associate Governor and now am privileged to be Staff Governor, a new role to me this year. During covid, my role expanded to include Staff wellbeing and Mindfulness which I feel enables me to be an effective voice for staff.
My desire to provide emotional support continues to grow and alongside my full time work at Manor Park and with the support and encouragement from the senior leaders, I began to train as a Counsellor. Gaining a Level 2 Diploma in Counselling Skills (2017) and a Level 3 Diploma in Counselling studies (2018), with the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body. I am now a registered member of the BACP as I am in my final year of qualification. By July 2021 I will have completed the Level ⅘ in Integrative Counselling with Ironmill College and my focus is on the modalities of Person Centered and Gestalt Therapy. I currently volunteer as a Counsellor for the charity Reach Across which is based in Arbroath, Scotland. The charity supports those who experience suicide ideation and those who are bereaved by the loss of a loved one.
My passion is promoting the understanding and managing of emotional intelligence to support healthy choices for children and their families. I am proud to be part of a school which holds this in such high regard and hope I can bring to the Governing Body a perspective which supports our schools emotional wellbeing.
Claire Warne – Clerk to the Governors
I am the Clerk to the Governors and have been Manor Park’s clerk since January 2015, I previously clerked for another First School and a Multi Academy Trust. I am also the Business Manager at Manor Park First School and thoroughly enjoy the role which utilises my skills in Finance. I hold the Accreditation with Merit for clerking a Governing Body alongside the Certificate in schools Business Management.I am passionate about my role and attend regular training to ensure our Governing Body is kept up to date on all matters relating to Governance.
In my free time I enjoy walking and cooking, I also enjoy crafting and am constantly trying out new crafts with a particular interest in sewing and paper crafts.
I am proud to be part of a Governing board that is so passionate about the children in its care.
Sophia Horwood – Associate Governor
I am a busy mum of 3 who loves spending time with my family and friends, walking my 2 crazy dogs and seeing any and all of the latest Marvel movies!