Meet our Academy Council
Miss Anne Vernon Chair of the Academy Council
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.
Ex-Officio Priest in Charge and Vice-Chair of the Academy Council
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 (Co-opted)
I have previously served on the board as staff academy councillor at St George’s Academy and have worked here for around twelve years as a member of support staff, originally joining the school as part of a college course, then as a classroom assistant and now as a HLTA. As part of my role I am a staff voice on the Academy Council and was elected by vote in 2020 and then co-opted in 2024. I have experience in an organisational role as the Squadron Training Officer at the local air cadet squadron and in my spare time enjoy living history and studying for my BA in Primary Education.
Councillor Colin Pease (Co-opted)
I originally hail from Irlam, Manchester, until leaving school and joining the RAF as an Apprentice Electronics Technician. I served for 34 years in various regions of the UK including Northern Ireland, Belize, the Falklands, Bosnia and Cyprus. I was commissioned in 1993 and left the service in 2005 in the rank of Squadron Leader when I was head hunted by Cobham Aviation Services at Teesside Airport, where I worked as Operations Manager until retiring in 2014.
In retirement, I have occupied my time with voluntary work, primarily Age UK, and still run a weekly Veterans club. I have also served as Chairman of the Parish Council, before being elected as a Ward Councillor for Sadberge and Middleton St George.
My wife, Helen, and I have lived in Middleton St George since 2008. We have 4 grown up children and 3 grandchildren between us.
Mrs Sarah Cox (Staff Member)
Hello, my name is Sarah Cox and I am a year 6 teacher and KS2 SENDCo at St George's CE Academy. I am also a member of the Safeguarding Team. I have worked at St George's for fifteen years and have always been passionate about ensuring all children can flourish and achieve their full potential. I am an active member of staff who wants to make a difference to the continuing progression and progress for our children at St George's academically, socially, culturally and spiritually . Like other Staff Academy Council members, I represent a voice for staff. Because of my roles, I liaise with all staff members in a supportive way to ensure that St George's can have the positive impact to ensure all children thrive.
Mrs Rachel Denham (Foundation)
I'm delighted to join the Academy Council by way of nomination via the Parochial Church Council. Being able to explore what it means to practice faith as part of a church school is a wonderful opportunity for children, which can bring support and strength throughout childhood and beyond for those who choose it.
I'm a financial planner and business owner, having previously held roles in project management and administration in my earlier years. Education has been a large part of my life, throughout all of my life and continues to be so. As a parent of two adult sons, I know from experience how important it is for children to be well supported in their learning and for there to be variety in how that learning takes place.
I'm very happy to be able to support this through the Academy Council.
Mrs Pauline Weighell (Foundation)
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.
Mrs J Brown (Parent)
I have two children at St George's, my son is currently in reception and my daughter has just started in the nursery class. We live, along with my husband, in the village after moving to Middleton St George in 2021 and I am fairly new to the Darlington area, as I am originally from Norton. In our spare time we like to get outdoors as much as possible, having trips out or going for walks with our dog, Ivy. I have always worked with children in various roles and have worked as a social worker for 9 years, working directly with children in care and more recently, supporting foster carers. I am incredibly passionate about supporting all children's emotional wellbeing and have knowledge and experience specifically relating to supporting children who have experienced trauma. I am very excited to be joining St George's Governor's team as a new parent governor!
Mrs H Almond (Parent)
My name is Helen and I currently have two children at the school - Charlotte and Eleanor. My eldest, Matthew, started at the school nursery in 2017 and since joining the school I have been so impressed with the quality of teaching, care and support that my children have received. I have worked in education as a secondary school teacher for 16 years, mostly in Middlesbrough schools. Working in education is so very rewarding, however, it also helps me to appreciate the challenges that schools can face. In my spare time I enjoy exploring the local area with my family. I also work with the PFA to help organise discos and fairs to help raise funds to purchase equipment for the students of St George's.
Mr Simon Gerner (Foundation)
I have lived in the village for 26 years. For most of my career I worked in the Insurance industry, mostly as a loss adjuster or a claims department manager, in the UK & Ireland. Latterly, I specialised in Agriculture & Estates and in my various roles have developed a wide-ranging skillset. I retired in 2022 and now have a broad range of interests, mostly countryside pursuits. I am the second member nominated by the Parochial Church Council and hope to espouse Christian principles. I want to help in making the children’s time at school the happiest and most content days of their lives, enabling them to leave with a firm foundation for their future education and life ahead, supporting the teaching staff and school management wherever possible.
