Hollywell Primary School
'At Hollywell Everyone Matters'
The Governing Board
Gary Cook - Chair of the Governing Board of Hollywell
I have a long association with Hollywell, initially as a parent, and later as a governor, serving as a governor for over 15 years now. Prior to being elected as a Community Governor, I was a Parent Governor, and I am proud to be able to continue to support the school which gave my daughters such a great introduction to learning and education.
Hollywell has always been a welcoming, caring and inclusive school which gives its pupils a wide range of opportunities to develop their full potential, and I am committed to doing whatever I can as a governor to help the school and its leadership team provide the best possible education, environment, and experiences for its pupils. I live locally and work as a Senior Design Engineering Consultant for Rolls-Royce, for whom I have worked for my entire career. From my work experience, I bring project management and financial planning skills, alongside regulatory, risk assessment and stakeholder management skills to support the governing body fulfil its duties. I am proud to support Hollywell as a governor and committed to the school's future success, and to continue providing a friendly, inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone, and providing its pupils with the best possible educational experience.
Will Sibley – Vice Chair of the Governing Board of Hollywell
I am a dedicated Further Education professional with a strong focus on improving educational quality and integrating innovative digital solutions. With a broad range of experience across higher and further education, I am committed to enhancing teaching practice and supporting the professional development of educators.
My expertise includes curriculum design, quality assurance and the effective use of educational technologies to create meaningful and impactful learning experiences. As Vice Chair of the Local Governing Body at Hollywell Primary School, I use this experience to support and challenge the school strategically, always with the best interests of pupils at the centre of decision-making.
Brian Brewster - Community Governor
I have a long association with Hollywell Primary School as a member of the governing body. Prior to my current role, I served as Chair of Governors for an extended period. I am now retired, having worked as an accountant throughout my career.
During the final 20 years of my 42-year career in the public sector, I held executive director roles within large NHS organisations across the East Midlands. As a governor, I aim to use this experience to support the school in continually improving standards and ensuring strong, effective governance.
Hollywell has a strong reputation within the community, built on the sound academic achievement and personal development of its pupils, alongside the valued support of parents and carers. This is underpinned by the excellent leadership of the headteacher and the commitment of teachers and support staff. As governors, our role is to provide strategic direction, hold the headteacher to account and ensure the school operates within its resources. I am proud to continue contributing actively to this work.
Stephen Bain -Community Governor
I joined the Governing Body of Hollywell Primary School in January 2023, having previously supported the school for over two years as the East Midlands Education Trust’s Senior HR Business Partner. Upon leaving the Trust, I was pleased to be able to continue supporting Hollywell as a community Governor. With over 15 years of HR experience in both the public and private sectors, I am able to offer expertise in matters including staffing, recruitment, appraisal, training and safeguarding.
Frankie Freeman - Community Governor
I began my role on the governing body as a parent governor and have since moved into the position of community governor. I am a parent to two children, both of whom attend Hollywell Primary School.
I currently work within the Children and Families Department at Nottinghamshire County Council. As a governor, I bring a parent’s perspective to board discussions, helping to ensure that decisions reflect the needs and experiences of families. One of the main reasons I was drawn to Hollywell was the wide range of enriching experiences the school provides, both within and beyond the curriculum. I am particularly interested in how the school can continue to offer these opportunities in the current educational climate. Outside of work and my governor role, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family.
Sophie Saunders - Parent Governor
I am a parent of 3 children who are or will be attending Hollywell, so I have an invested interest in this school for the long term. I am thrilled to spend my time supporting the school which means so much to my children and us as a family. I also volunteer at the school when I can, on school trips or in day-to-day learning. This is something I love to do and gives me the opportunity to see what a wonderful environment the school is.
In my day job, I work part-part as a Talent Acquisition Specialist for an energy company. My experience in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and policy adherence aligns well with the governance role’s demands. My commitment to diversity and inclusion initiatives is an asset for fostering an inclusive school environment. With 3 young children, a lot of my time is spent with my family, enjoying the busy and ever-changing demands of parenthood. Watching them grow up is a joy and a pleasure I do not take for granted. As a Parent Governor, my primary goal is to ensure that Hollywell continues to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment for our children.
Keith Oliver - Community Governor
I have volunteered at Hollywell since 2023, mainly helping children with their reading and maths in a number of different year groups. Now, as a Community Governor, I aim to bring my experience from working in the public sector to support the school in a different way.
Having personally received the benefits of a good education, I believe that we have a duty to provide the best possible education to children, starting from day one in primary school. The better the education we can provide, the more life choices children will have in the future. I am pleased to be associated with Hollywell, which I believe is an excellent school offering local children a well-balanced primary education. My grandson attends Hollywell and I have seen first-hand how the school has contributed to his development.
I am now retired, but spent 36 years as a senior manager in healthcare, including the final 20 years of my career in Nottingham’s acute hospitals. I aim to bring my experience in finance, planning, performance management and human resources to the governing body for the benefit of both the school and its students.
