Governance
Further information regarding Governance in Truro & Penwith Academy Trust is available at the following link; http://www.tpacademytrust.org/governance/
The vision of the Local Governing Body for Liskeard Hillfort Primary School:
Hillfort will foster curiosity to encourage children to follow a path to develop a deep understanding of the world and our role in it. We wish to create an environment where children are stretched and challenged. This will take learners out of their comfort zone, encouraging them to push towards the outer edge of what is possible for them to achieve. And we want our colleagues to relish coming to school every day, happy to be part of our children’s journeys!
We encourage all children, whatever their strengths and needs, to be ambitious: to identify and nurture their emerging talents and develop resilience to setbacks.
We will build on childrens' backgrounds (whether Cornish or from other communities); we will teach children to be proud of their roots and to be outward looking too – towards the rest of Great Britain, and indeed our World! We encourage pride in our identities and heritage and foster awareness and respect for those of others.
We support children studying a wider curriculum – one which covers all of the National Curriculum, and beyond!
When studying that curriculum, we use an acrostic based on our philosophy:
A Aspirations and Ambitions
B Best of what has been before — we study rich texts and embrace cultural capital.
C Curriculum — Broad & Balanced that is knowledge-rich!
D We want children to learn topics in depth!
E Engaged children are enthused!
S Sequenced topics build on each other!
We place particular priority on developing children’s love for Reading, children’s ability to express themselves orally and to be an inclusive school where children with SEND and who are from disadvantaged backgrounds are supported to achieve as highly as their peers.
As a cornerstone of learning we encourage enjoyment of reading in all children, actively supporting those who face greater challenges. We want children to love coming to school!
Dr Tim Cook
Headteacher – Ex-Officio Governor
01.11.2015 – Present
Dr Cook was appointed in November 2015 and is an experienced Headteacher with a history of working with impact, especially in areas of disadvantage. Visiting Specialist at the University of Plymouth. Independent Ambassador for ‘The Thrive Approach’. Leader of Governance with experience across a range of schools, including as a Chair of Governors to a ‘Good with Outstanding features’ special school in Kent. Graduate of Ambition School Leadership (Future Leaders). Dedicated and sincere education professional with a Professional Doctorate that is focused on developing trust through outdoor pursuits within a secure environment and, perhaps most importantly, a Dad to three amazing boys – both birth and adoptive.
Mrs Jill Deacon
Co-opted Governor (Chair, SEND and Safeguarding)
01.02.2017 – 31.01.2021
Mrs Deacon has lived in Liskeard for 37 years. Her children attended Liskeard Infant and Junior school which were later combined to become Liskeard Hillfort. She played an active role on the PTA at both schools before training to become a primary teacher herself. She worked as a teacher and Deputy Head in local schools for a number of years during which time she was a staff governor for 8 years. Since leaving teaching Mrs Deacon has worked for Plymouth University, teaching and mentoring student teachers during their placements in a wide variety of schools in Cornwall, Devon, Jersey and London. Mrs Deacon became a governor to strengthen the school’s link with the University. She also felt it important to give something back to her local community by taking on a governor’s role and enjoys seeing the children develop and grow as individuals under the guidance of the dedicated staff at Liskeard Hillfort.
Mr Stuart Johnson
Co-opted Governor
One of the main reasons we moved to Liskeard in 2014 was to be part of a community that looks out for each other and creates an environment for its children to become capable, confident and caring adults. I am very proud to be Jago's dad (year 2). He's had a great start to his school life at Hillfort, under the care of Dr Cook's amazing team. I've been hugely impressed with, and grateful for, the school's resilience and good sense throughout the pandemic and economic squeeze.
A wise African proverb says it takes a village to raise a child and I think the same applies to a school. The governance team is here to bring together people from the "village" to support and challenge Dr Cook and his team to build the best school they can.
After approaching 25 years in the Civil Service, both leading delivery teams and in explicit roles challenging and steering the work of other delivery teams, I may be able to offer some relevant experience. I've got a particular interest in risk management (I know, it's a bit niche, but we all do it, every day) and I'm a huge believer in learning from both success and failure - on a personal and organisational level.
If you want to talk about the direction of Hillfort, or discuss any concerns, please feel free to catch me at the school gates, usually on a Friday. Probably not wearing a suit.
Cllr Lori Reid
Co-opted Governor
05.09.2022 – Present
Mrs Reid moved to Cornwall after graduating with a degree in Languages and Literature and took a teaching post at a girl’s grammar school in Plymouth. For several years she also taught English as a foreign language to schools of visiting students from abroad. Her career branched out into consultancy, broadcasting and journalism whilst also writing books specialising in a wide range of MBS subjects. Later, she joined the Town Council and served two terms as Deputy Mayor. She has lived with her family in the same house in Liskeard for so long that she feels almost part of the fabric of the town. When her children attended Liskeard Infants School she was glad to help the staff by taking the youngsters for extra reading lessons. While she admits computers and technology are now an indispensable part of our lives, her love for the print media is unshakeable. Whether it’s a book, newspaper, magazine or comic: nothing, she says, beats the magic of physically turning over a page to find out what’s written on the other side. She felt this same sense of wonder permeating through Hillfort Primary School the first time she stepped through the door, and feels honoured to be part of the team.
Mr Bob Skillicorn
Co-opted Governor
01.09.2021 - 31.08.2025
Bob was born and raised on Merseyside. After leaving university with a BSC (hons) in Applied Biology he worked for several multi - national companies (including three years based in Truro). From 1995 he worked as a CEO for a large Japanese company travelling extensively, including time spent living in Japan. In 2013 he set up a management consultancy business. In 2018 he bought the Bookshop in Liskeard alongside wife Jackie. Bob was previously a governor and chair of governors in a primary school for 8 years and also spent many years coaching football and cricket at youth level. Ensuring that children have the opportunities to achieve their goals and ambitions matters greatly to Bob. Sport has always been a big part of Bob’s life both playing and watching, and he also enjoys walking, reading and history. Married to Jackie and a father to two “children” and a small dog!
Mrs Sheena Cotterill
Staff Governor
29.11.2021 - 28.11.2025
My name is Sheena Cotterill and I have been a parent of four children who have all attended Liskeard Hillfort Primary School. I have been a member of staff at Hillfort School for 18 years. I have had many roles within the school; this has given me a unique and privileged insight to the needs of our children here in our school. I have many different qualifications in therapeutic care, which is my passion. These include, bereavement training, art therapy, person centred counselling, identification of eating disorders and addictions amongst others. I am currently in the role of Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA). I am a warm and caring person who wants to help your child feel happy in school and reach their potential educationally. My aim is to remove the barriers to learning and to have happy children in school and at home.
Mrs Naomi Best
Teaching Staff Governor
30.11.2020 - 29.11.2024
Mrs Best has been a teacher for 21 years serving the community of Liskeard throughout that time. After training as a teacher and spending time teaching in Kenya, she has spent her career first teaching at the former Liskeard Infant School before being part of the amalgamation to become Liskeard Hillfort Primary School. Being a long serving member of staff this has enabled Mrs Best to build relationships with many families. her passion for working with families has led to Mrs Best recently qualifying as a Special Needs Coordinator. Currently she is the lead SENDCo at Liskeard Hillfort.
James grew up in Teignmouth then relocated to Liskeard for work in 1996 following graduation from the University of Plymouth, here he began a near 20 year career buying for retail, which included multiple categories along with international sourcing. Following which he moved to procurement within food manufacturing sector, sourcing for a high street brand. More recently after desiring his work contributions to be more meaningful he has joined the Cornwall Council procurement team as a Strategic Sourcing Specialist working on high value strategic projects.
He has a grown-up son and daughter that have already flown the nest and a young daughter attending Hillfort and is looking forward to positively contributing wherever possible in his role as a parent governor.
Mr Robin Brown
Parent Governor
23.12.2020 - 22.12.2024
Mr Brown has lived in Liskeard for 34 years since the age of 2. He attended Liskeard Infant School, before going onto Liskeard Junior School at Varley Lane, before being the first year 6 to move into phase one, of what is now Hillfort School. He continued his education at Liskeard Secondary School, through to the 6th form. On completion of A-Levels, he started a modern apprenticeship in engineering with British Gas, and 3 years ago moved onto become the Regional Customer Delivery Manager for the South West within the private and social housing sector. His mother was an active member of the PTA at Varley lane, and part of the MOSS group that aided the move and combination of the infant and junior schools in Liskeard onto the one main site. Outside of work, he has been heavily involved with the town's sports sides, representing Liskeard in football, rugby and cricket over the years. Including the coaching and development of the youth sides. His eldest son has just started at Hillfort, and his youngest starting in September 2021, which has prompted him to become a governor as he has both a historical and now current interest in the progression of the school.