Governor Pen Portraits

Martin Garnett: Chair of Governors

I was first elected as a parent Governor in 2002, shortly after my son started at Friesland School, but have continued as a co-opted governor since he left school. I am now retired, but was formerly an Associate Professor in the School of Pharmacy at the University of Nottingham, where I taught and carried out research. My familiarity with data is of great assistance in analysing and understanding the aggregated information which is such a key part of a governor’s role today. I am proud to have seen the continuing development of Friesland school over these years and its activities in the local community.

Kerrie Broderick: Parent Governor

I am Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive of a large Trust of Schools in Derby and Nottingham. Heavily involved with the running of the Trust, I understand how important the Governing Body’s input is to its success. Prior to this I worked in secondary schools as Operations Lead, responsible for running the support side of the school. I also have strong experience in event management, organizing events all over Europe, as well as having worked in business development. I am also a Trustee for a local Preschool.

I am mum to a daughter at Friesland and a son at Firfield Primary.

Ann-Marie Ford: Parent Governor

I have four children – one at university, who attended Friesland for the full seven years; two currently at Friesland and one at Firfield Primary.

I currently work in an education setting, this along with my involvement in the Friesland PTA allows me to contribute to the continuing success of the school, to achieve the very best for our students.

Craig Patterson: Headteacher

I am the Headteacher here at Friesland School. I have been at Friesland since 2005, playing an active role with the Governing body since 2008, culminating in my current role as Head.

Jordan Redshaw

I attended Friesland School between 2005-2013 and became chairman of the Sixth Form in my final year. Since then, I have graduated in Transport & Business at Loughborough University, and have gone to work as a product manager for tech start-ups in the travel & super-app sectors.

Tom Harvey

I have been working in an education setting for most of my professional career, more recently within higher education at the University of Derby and my current role as Head of Commercial at the University of Nottingham.

I particularly enjoy driving efficiencies within the professional services that facilitate and enable professional educators to deliver the best possible learning experience to students and I hope I get the opportunity to support Friesland School in the same way.

I live in Breaston and I am a father of two girls, one of which is currently at Friesland with the younger at Firfield Primary.

Andy Halpin

I have been working across the Education Sector for over 15 years across being an IT & Audio Visual Sales Specialist and always have a passion to add value where the best is across Multi Academy Trusts, Further Education and Universities across the UK .

I previously was a Parent Governor & Chair of Governor over 9 years for a Primary Academy in Nottingham so have a great passion on providing extra resource and support from a governance perspective including Safe-guarding, Accessibility etc but supporting the education experience and look forward with contributing to providing Friesland School on achieving the best we can for all students to inspire for the future .

I have lived in Sandiacre over last 7 years and I am father for 3 children where my eldest boy has entered his last GCSE year at Friesland , my daughter has just started her GCSEs where my youngest boy attends Cloudside currently before joining Friesland in a few years time.

Julia Bonner

My name is Julia Bonner, and I am privileged to serve as the Trust Catering Manager for The Two Counties Trust. I wanted to reach out and share my vision and commitment to enriching the Life Choices and dining experiences for our learners and staff.

With several years of experience in the education sector, I have worked as a senior operations manager for various contract caterers, and I am also a qualified chef. My passion for food and service is underpinned by a strong dedication to ensuring that we consistently meet the highest food safety standards while exceeding our service level agreements. My mission is centred on promoting the well-being of all individuals in our care through the provision of well-balanced and nutritious meals, which I believe are fundamental to the overall development and success of our students.

As a newly appointed Trust Governor, I am truly excited about the opportunity to make a meaningful and positive impact within our school community. I am eager to leverage my knowledge and experience to enhance the dining experience for everyone—students and staff alike. Together, I believe we can create a dining environment that not only satisfies hunger but also nourishes the soul and fosters a sense of belonging and well-being among all.

On a more personal note, I reside in Spondon with my wonderful husband, Brian, and our two affectionate cats. My downtime often finds me cooking, entertaining, or enjoying the outdoors at our 172ft allotment, where I find immense joy and relaxation amidst nature.

Matthew Rofe

I have worked in education for 9-10 years as a teacher and currently as an Assistant Principal overseeing Inclusion. I graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Sport and Exercise Science in 2015, with a strong background in sport as an athlete having also worked within the field of junior elite sport.

I moved to the local area in recent years and felt strongly about supporting our local community in a meaningful way. This spurred me on to become a Governor to be able to share my experiences and support the school board with my knowledge and experience.

 

Kevin Lussi

I was appointed to the Board of Governors in November 2024, and I am passionate about supporting Friesland School in providing a high-quality and engaging educational experience for all our children.

As a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and a parent of two sons—one currently attending Friesland and one in primary school who will be joining soon—I have a strong, personal investment in the school’s success. The attributes I have developed throughout my career, including analytical logic and creative solution-finding, contribute well to our excellent team of Governors.

My aim is to constructively support the Head Teacher and Senior Leadership Team in their ongoing efforts to ensure our school continues to thrive within the local community. I am incredibly proud of Friesland School, of who we are today, and of the strong future we are building together.

 

Chris Middlemass

I am a former pupil of the school, having attended in the 1990s, and I have a strong ongoing connection through my family. One of my daughters left the school a few years ago, with another currently in Year 11, my grandchildren are also being brought up in the local area.

I have built my career in the service sector, working my way through the ranks across a range of industries. I am currently an Operations Director in the tech and utilities sector, bringing experience in leadership, operations, and supporting sustained success.

Living in Long Eaton with my wife, Cathryn, I am a keen football player and supporter and am passionate about supporting the school as it strives for excellence.