14th August 2024 - 14th August 2028

Appointed by LGB

Jo Luxford is Hub Principal of four tiny schools in rural North Devon. Jo also leads on the
Early Years Foundation Stage across the 14 primary schools in her trust.  Jo has been a parent governor at her children’s primary school and a staff governor at two schools.

Jo has been teaching for over 20 years, mostly in and around Devon, and has taught in schools of all sizes but has developed a real passion for championing the relevance of small schools both in terms of their roles in village and rural communities and terms of in their place in the educational landscape of the UK.

Jo enjoys anything to do with history, spending time with her family, walking, reading and growing vegetables.

13th October 2020 - 3rd October 2028

Re-elected on 3rd October 2024

Appointed by LGB

Katharine was born and educated up until Degree level in Jersey. She attended Seale Hayne part of the University of Plymouth and completed a BSc Hons in Food Quality with Management including an industry placement year. Katharine worked for 13 years in the Chilled Food Industry where she held management positions covering food safety and systems. She has 13 years of internal audit experience and running of an internal audit system. Katharine has three boys who are in Year 2 and Year 6 at Altarnun Primary and Year 8 at Launceston College.

4th September 2019 - N/A

Appointed by Ex officio by virtue

Mrs Medland is Principal at Altarnun Primary School. She gained a Bachelor of Education (1st Class with Hons) from the University of St Mark and St John in 2006 and is about to begin a National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). Prior to her teaching career, Mrs Medland worked as a Personal Assistant for the director of a Launceston based agricultural merchant before moving into the Early Years Sector as manager and playleader, during which time she worked within the Early Years Forum and led the Bude Early Years Forum.

She has worked in Cornwall throughout her teaching career, having experience of both small and large school settings and mixed aged teaching, working across all age ranges. She served on the Senior Leadership Team in a large primary as Mathematics lead and Key Stage 1 coordinator. She also led the Newly Qualified Teacher Programme. She joined Altarnun Primary in 2017 with responsibility for EYFS, KS1 and English Subject Lead and became Senior Teacher in 2020.

With a passion for early reading, Mrs Medland is Phonics Champion for Altarnun Primary and works with the Senior Leadership Team in supporting phonics in reading and writing. She has worked with the local authority in supporting teachers to use English and Mathematics in role play. She is passionate about children’s oracy and is keen to develop greater confidence in speaking and thus raising their understanding of oracy to speak like a specialist in different areas of the curriculum. As well as leading Key Stage 1 English within Altarnun Primary she is also responsible for History across the Primary Athena Trust. She is a member of the Historical Association and Key Stage History Association.

27th June 2022 - 27th June 2026

Appointed by Staff

Mrs Branch has worked in childcare for nine years. She began her childcare career with Tiny Tots Nursery leading the Pre-School room and later joined St Catherine’s Nursery where she has benefitted from learning new skills of how the early years team work together as part of a school.

Mrs Branch is incredibly passionate about the environment children learn in and she is keen to pass on her passion for loose part play as well as real life resources.

23rd April 2023 - 23rd April 2027

Appointed by LGB

Emily is a Chartered Building Surveyor who has worked within the property industry in Devon and Cornwall for over 14 years, delivering a range of construction projects from housing to an award winning museum. She has lived locally all her life and started her own surveying business based in Launceston in 2022. Emily is passionate about children receiving an enriching and stimulating education, with a personal passion for reading and encouraging a love of books from an early age. 

1st January 2024 - N/A

Appointed by - Ex officio by virtue

Born in Devon, Lynsey studied at Royal Holloway, University of London, achieving a first class honours in Environmental Biology. She completed her teaching qualification in 2004, and went on to successfully gain a Masters in Education in 2013.

Lynsey has taught science at a variety of schools within the Trust, holding a range of positions from Head of Year to Deputy Principal at Launceston College and the founding Principal of Atlantic Academy.

Lynsey's vision for our Primary Cluster is to create safe, caring and supportive learning environments that allows children to develop and grow.  

As Nelson Mandela stated, 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world', Lynsey believes that all pupils should have the opportunities and support to become the best that they can be.

1st January 2024 - N/A

Appointed by - Ex officio by virtue

Bio to follow.

27th June 2022 - 27th June 2026

Appointed by GB/Board

Mrs Wakely has worked in Childcare settings for 26 years. For 13 years she was the Manager of Altarnun Pre-School and was there from the very beginning when they opened in 2005.

Her current role is Forest School Leader at Tiny Tots Nursery, where she run Forest school sessions throughout the nursery and for their Holiday Club.

She is looking forward to sharing her knowledge and love for the great outdoors to the new children starting at the school and for the children who will be part of the school in the future. Making memories and teaching the children new skills are what excites Mrs Wakely the most.

2nd May 2024 - 2nd May 2028

Appointed by LGB

Pete is a Chartered Financial Planner and grew up in Launceston and attended Launceston College. He has been in financial services since 2026 and in 2018 he started his own company, Dart Wealth Management Ltd specialising in Lifestyle Financial Planning, Pensions and Investment Planning.

His wife is a teacher and senior leader at a local primary school within another trust. His eldest child attends Launceston Primary School and his youngest is currently at Tiny Tots nursery.

In his spare time Pete and his family enjoy exploring the Cornish coast and paddleboarding.

8th May 2024 - 8th May 2028

Appointed by LGB

Veronica Walters, affectionately known as Vron, is an accomplished educator and passionate community member with a wealth of experience in early childhood education. After qualifying as a teacher in 1995, she dedicated many years to primary schools before embracing the joys of motherhood. Vron transitioned to working at a local nursery and leading an out-of-school club, where she discovered her true calling in nurturing young minds.

In 2008, driven by her passion for early learning, she opened Smiley Happy People Nursery, which has since flourished into three thriving locations in the area. Vron's commitment to inclusive education is evidenced by her role as a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) and her training in the Forest School approach, fostering a love for the outdoors in her young learners.

As a proud mother of three, Vron's two daughters have successfully pursued careers in the local community, while her son attends Launceston College and the local football team. Alongside her husband, she owns a record store and café, reinforcing her deep ties to the local economy and culture. Vron is also an active member of the Launceston Chamber of Commerce, advocating for local businesses and community development.

In her spare time, Vron immerses herself in creative projects, from glass and fabric work to woodworking and gardening, embodying her belief in the importance of hands-on learning and creativity. 

Vron is eager to bring her diverse experience and passion for education and community service to the role of governor, where she aims to influence positive growth and development in educational settings, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.

13th October 2020 - 13th October 2024

Appointed by LGB

End of Term: 8th January 2024

Caroline is a Careers professional with over 20 years’ experience of working with both adults and young people to provide careers advice and guidance to support their journey into work or education. Currently she is an Enterprise Coordinator supporting schools across Plymouth and South Hams to meet the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance and specialises within this role to support Special Educational Needs schools as well as mainstream education settings. In her previous role she managed the National Careers Service contract across Devon and Cornwall and prior to that the Work Programme Contract supporting long term unemployed adults.

13th October 2020 - 13th October 2024

Appointed by LGB

End of Term: 18th January 2024

Lucy is an Early Years Teacher with particular interest in children's social and emotional wellbeing in the Early Years. She has worked in various roles within the Early Years sector for over 15 years at Cornwall Council, the Early Years Alliance, Action for Children and Early Years settings. Lucy is now Director and Early Years Teacher at The Long Garden Early Years Centre situated within the grounds of Launceston College.

1st September 2018 - 1st September 2022

Term has been extended to August 31st 2024

Appointed by Trustees

End of Term: 31st August 2024

Carla is a ‘Lanson’ local having been brought up in and around Launceston all of her life, including attending Launceston College up to and including taking her A levels. Since leaving school she has enjoyed a varied career, mainly in the housing and finance industries within various customer facing and management roles. Following the birth of her daughter in 2007, Carla changed career path and joined a family firm to work in a part time accounting/office role but progressed, invested in and is now a Company Director of, a successful Materials Handling Company based in Launceston. Carla lives with her family at Yeolmbridge, she has two children that attend Egloskerry Primary School and Launceston College and she is proud to be Chair of the Primary Cluster Local Governing Body for our three existing primaries. Carla has been a Governor since 2017 and she is passionate about ensuring our children receive the best well-rounded, broad and balanced education available.