Governors

Liz Simpkin

Chair of West Village Partnership Governor Body

Liz combined motherhood with a fulfilling career as a teacher, headteacher and local authority adviser.  She has taught all ages from 3-11. As an intervention adviser, Liz worked with schools where rapid improvement was needed. Recently, she led the team of advisers responsible for quality improvement in Early Years, in schools, children's centres and settings across Hertfordshire. Liz is determined that every child should succeed. She lives with her husband in Offord and her grandchildren attend the school there. In February 2019 Liz became Chair of Offord Primary School's Local Governing Body and as Chair of The West Village Partnership she continues to value the opportunity to contribute to the life and work of the school. 

Kate Ruddock

Headteacher, Ex-Officio Governor

Kate became the Headteacher at Offord Primary School in September 2019. She previously worked as a Deputy-Head in another school that is part of The Cam Academy Trust. 

Helen Young

Trust Appointed Governor

Helen has worked in HR for over 20 years in a number of large organisations including Nokia UK, Eversheds LLP and the BBC.  She is currently the Operations Manager for an HR Consultancy managing business operations including client liaison and finance.  Helen has been a governor at Offord Primary School since 2016. Both her daughters have attended Offord Primary School. Helen is committed to the school and willing to continue as a Trust governor to see the school flourish. 

Rita Rose

Trust Appointed Governor

Rita has three children and has been a governor at Offord since 2016. She has always had an interest in education and welfare and as a governor leads on safeguarding.  Following her degree in Zoology from Royal Holloway, University of London Rita studied to become a veterinary surgeon at University of Cambridge. In her current role as Director of Animal Welfare and Comparative Medicine, Rita is responsible for upholding welfare legislation for animal care, teaching other staff and presenting work publicly, as well as managing a department of veterinary surgeons.

Nikki Mitchell

Parent Governor

Nikki is a parent governor and has three children attending Offord Primary school.. Her passion is travel; after completing her degree, she was employed by TUI and travelled extensively throughout Australia and New Zealand. Upon moving to Cambridgeshire, she used her knowledge to become a course leader and programme tutor at a further education college in Cambridge. Before her children started school, Nikki ran Offord Tots, a village based group for under fives, for a number of years.

Rebecca Washington

Parent Governor

Rebecca is a mother of two children, one of which currently attends Offord Primary School and was elected as a parent governor in November 2021. She previously held the role of Charity Trustee and Secretary for Applepips Preschool and Out of School Club when it was a charity and committee-led. Rebecca has worked as a Business Administrator and as an Office Manager within both public and private sectors and will use those management and administration skills whilst supporting the school as a parent governor.

Sarah Brown

Staff Governor

Sarah has worked in childcare since 2006 in a variety of roles, including pre-school manager, teaching assistant and children's nanny. She started working in the office at Offord Primary School in January 2020 and is now the Senior Administrator for the school.