Meet our Academy Council
Chair of the Academy Council
Mrs Gemma Herring-Sykes JP
As a mother of three children, two of which attend St George’s CE Academy, I was pleased to accept the role as Parent Governor in October 2020. I was elected Chair of Governors in September 2021.
My interest in becoming Governor was driven by my desire to make a contribution to the school and local community, whilst gaining a greater understanding of the education system.
I have a legal educational background, LLB (Hons), PgDip in Law and LLM Masters in Law.
I have also been a magistrate for 15 years and I have been a Presiding Justice since 2017.
I am committed to making a positive difference to the lives of others and being of service to the local community.
Vice-Chair of the Academy Council
Mrs Chloe Tubelskis
Hi I’m Chloe Tubelskis. I trained professionally in musical theatre and worked in film and television for many years but my real passion is teaching and bringing a level of professional performance to the children of our community. I'm a wife, a Mummy and I live in MSG. As a type 1 diabetic, I understand what it feels like to be underestimated and I joined St George’s Academy Council to make a change and support children of all abilities reach their full potential.
Ex-Officio Priest in Charge
Anthony Smith
My name is Anthony Smith, and I moved to Middleton St George in the summer of 2023 to be the vicar of the 'Riverside' parishes (Middleton St George, Hurworth, Girsby and Dinsdale). As vicar, I was offered a place on the Academy Council, and I was delighted to accept. I'm excited about supporting the school in its identity as a church school, as well as being a supportive presence to children and staff alike. The parish church in Middleton St George worships on Sundays in the school building, so I'm especially keen to ensure that there is a strong relationship between the church and the school. I trained for ministry in Durham and then spent four years in Spennymoor before moving to Middleton St George. I have also been an organist, an astronomer and a software developer.
Ex-Officio Headteacher
Mrs Judith Skirving
I am very proud to be Headteacher at St George's CE Academy and I absolutely love my job working with our amazing children and dedicated staff. Since my appointment in September 2022, we have worked so hard to create Team St George and have built strong relationships with our families and the local community. I have a wealth of experience having worked in a wide range of schools around the country including Scotland, London, Cambridgeshire and Lincoln due to my husband's previous occupation as a Squadron Leader in the RAF. We relocated back to Teesside with our two children in 2006 and I worked as Deputy Head at St Aidan's CE Memorial Primary in Hartlepool for 10 years before moving to become Headteacher at Bishopton Redmarshall CE Primary School. In my spare time, I play Principal Clarinet in Teesside Symphony and play percussion for Silverwood Wind Band.
Mr Ben Dobson
I am the staff academy councillor at St George’s Academy and have worked here for around ten years. As part of my role I am the staff’s voice on the Academy Council and was elected by vote in 2020. In my spare time I take part in historical living history events which aids me in running the after-school history club. Most recently I have been appointed as an adult instructor in the Royal Air Force Air Cadets and am keen to encourage more cadets to experience the thrills of flying high with the RAFAC.
Miss Anne Vernon
Hello my name is Anne Vernon and I am an Assistant Director of Education for the Church of England Durham and Newcastle Diocesan Joint Education team. I have been in education for all of my working life and still absolutely love supporting and being with children, staff and parents. My first teaching appointment was in Wallsend quite some time ago and since then I have been a subject lead, senior leader, headteacher and worked in school improvement for a local authority.
My passion is working to ensure that all children receive the very best education possible, enjoy their learning and are prepared for their future lives.
In my spare time I love reading, gardening, doing lots of different crafts and trying to keep fit!
I feel very privileged to be able to join the St George’s family.
Mrs Pauline Weighell
My first career was in Accountancy and then I went back to University to become a Social Worker. I worked for three different Local Authorities, which has enabled me to enhance my career from preventative interventions, therapeutic work with individuals and families and Looked After children. I am now in the third stage of my life -retirement, but still very enthusiastic of spending time in a positive way. I have helped as a volunteer in a centre for adults with drug and alcohol addiction and I am currently involved with a Campaigning Group for Pensioners and take a lead role at conferences. The most important role I have in life is being a parent to five children and am also now blessed with fourteen grandchildren.
Education is for life and I want our children to have the very best experience learning, enjoying a happy and safe time during school life.
Mr Rodger Sansom
There is a great quote “Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” That is why I volunteered to be a School Councillor. I believe that I have a strong commitment to making sure there are high aspirations for all children in our school and a commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for all the pupils. For children to be naturally inquisitive and have the ability to question and analyse, a willingness to learn and good inter-personal skills in a safe environment.
If we are putting hope for the future of our planet in our young people, then they must have the tools and feel empowered to take on the world’s greatest challenges .Before I retired I worked for 26 years for the Church of England as a Resource and Development Advisor, working in all kinds of communities from deprived rural and inner city areas to very affluent neighbourhoods. I have been Chair of Governors in two church primary schools and governor of a high school all in Norfolk, all with different needs and aspirations. This has called for me to develop strategies for changing people’s thinking. I believe that children’s and parent’s voices should be heard to enable the school to work in harmony.
