John O’Leary – Headteacher

My name is John O'Leary and I am the Headteacher at Asterdale Primary School 

I am excited to work alongside the Senior Leadership Team and Governing Body to further improve Asterdale through fostering our shared 'Together we can' vision and supporting all stakeholders to uphold excellence in all that we do.

I have experience in curriculum development, assessment analysis and an interest in using recent research to further improve teaching and learning strategies including metacognition in the classroom so that all learners achieve their absolute best.

My teaching passions including reading for pleasure, being active and outdoor learning to enrich experiences wherever possible.

I have taught across all year groups and believe that all children can achieve personal and academic success in a welcoming and supportive environment. Asterdale's ethos and vision for education matches my own beliefs that all learners can strive for success.

I look forward to working in partnership to bring further successes to Asterdale in the future.

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Gabrielle Hulse – Co-Chair of Governors

My name is Gabrielle, I am a Parent Governor at Asterdale Primary School. I work as a hair stylist and have been in the profession for over 15 years in numerous roles including Salon Management and mentor to apprentices, now successfully running my own small business.

Since my two children began attending Asterdale, I have become an active member and now treasurer to the PTFA, having a large part in organising events and fundraising for the school. It’s a role I thoroughly enjoy and find the impact that it has on the school and the children very rewarding.

Being on the Governing Board I hope to help our children and staff excel and succeed throughout their journey here at Asterdale by helping and supporting them to achieve their goals, and by being an approachable member of our school community.

 

Cari Burgess - Co-Chair of Governors

My name is Cari Burgess and I am both proud and excited to be a Governor at Asterdale Primary school.

I have worked in primary education for over 30 years including 15 years as a Headteacher.

Currently I work part time as a School Improvement Advisor alongside being a school Governor in two schools.

I am really passionate about supporting the achievement of ALL children as well as children having an exciting and experienced filled educational journey.

In my spare time I love reading (a habit I gained at primary school) ; being outside especially at the beach , walking our three labradors , trying new things as well as trying to keep fit through the gym and yoga.

 

Paul Appleton - Governor

I bring significant experience as a headteacher within the trust, giving me a deep understanding of education and leadership. Having moved from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in 1999, I trained to teach at the University of Derby and have spent my career working in Derby. I am deeply connected to the local community and passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and their families.

Education has always been central to my life, not just professionally but personally as well. My daughter is a teacher, and my wife is a teaching assistant, so as a family, we share a strong commitment to inspiring and supporting young minds. 

I also have a deep passion for learning, particularly in fostering a love of books and the joy of reading among children. I believe that early reading is fundamental to a child’s development, unlocking imagination, building literacy skills, and opening the door to lifelong learning.

Outside my professional role, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, often walking with our dog. I go to watch Derby County play and I love the thrill of attending live music concerts with friends.

As Chair of Governors, I am committed to helping the school reach its full potential. I aim to work closely with children, staff, and parents to create an environment where everyone can achieve their best and where the value of learning (especially through reading!) is celebrated.

 

Chi Fox - Governor

I am a Chartered Engineer with extensive experience across engineering, data, and technology leadership. I began my career at Rolls-Royce, working in highly regulated, safety-critical environments and developing a strong foundation in systems thinking and continuous improvement.

After this, I later moved into data, digital systems, and artificial intelligence, and now work as Head of Data and Systems at Moat Homes, leading technology and data initiatives that improve services for communities across the UK.

As a school governor, I am passionate about giving back to the Asterdale community and I am particularly interested in how strong leadership, inclusive practices, and the effective use of data can help every child succeed.

 

Karen Bilsby - Parent Governor

As a parent of an Asterdale child, I am proud and delighted to have recently joined the Board of Governors.

Originally from the North West, I settled in Derby over 20 years ago.  My working background is in the world of charities, having worked in fundraising for Cancer Research UK and 3 hospices during a career spanning over 20 years. In my last role in this sector, I was responsible for managing a chain of hospice shops across the East Midlands – a role as complex as it was rewarding. 3 years ago I made the move across to the NHS where I now work in one of the country’s largest NHS trusts. 

When I am not at work, you will usually find me with my head in a book, singing along to country music, or trying my best not to lose at board games.

I know I am joining Asterdale’s Governing board at an exciting time, when the school is on a journey of improvement and helping all our children reach their full potential – not just educationally, but as individuals with unique talents and attributes.  I look forward to joining my fellow parent governor in bringing the voice of our children, their parents, carers & families to the board. 

 

Maxine Bull - Governor

I am proud to be a governor at Asterdale that has a vison for ‘Everyday Excellence’ and high expectations for all. I strongly believe in the right for all children to access high quality education in a setting where they can thrive and develop a passion for lifelong learning

I bring extensive experience working in education for more than 45 years. I have worked across a wide age range from early years to secondary within Derby schools and Local Authority and beyond. Examples of roles have included SENCo, executive headteacher, school improvement adviser and lead, governor and as a National Leader of Education. I am currently an independent Education Consultant working with both maintained schools and academies.

I have a variety of specialisms and interests to include the development of early reading and writing, English as an additional language, early years foundation stage, SEND and dance. I value the importance of research based led practice and projects, working collaboratively with other professionals locally and abroad. I have maintained links with a small nursery school in a fishing village in Sri Lanka for 20 years and with Creative Artists explored Early Years settings in Italy. I am learning Spanish in my spare time and love dance shows and musicals.