Katherine Semar Junior School
Academy converter primary school in Saffron Walden (Essex).
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
It is my absolute pleasure to welcome you to Katherine Semar Infant and Junior School a nurturing school of exceptional quality . As a two-form entry school, we have up to 60 children in each year group, allowing us to foster a close-knit, supportive environment while delivering a broad and ambitious curriculum.
We are immensely proud of our bespoke INSPIRE curriculum, carefully designed to engage, challenge, and excite our pupils, nurturing a lifelong love of learning. Alongside high-quality teaching, we offer exceptional facilities, including a well-stocked library, a multi-surface sports pitch, three dedicated music rooms, and an art room complete with its own kiln.
Our school minibus enables us to extend learning beyond the classroom, enriching pupils experiences with trips, sports events and activities. To support our families, we also provide wraparound care , including a breakfast club , after-school club , and holiday club, ensuring children feel happy, secure and engaged throughout the day.
At Katherine Semar, we believe that education extends far beyond the classroom. Our Pupil Charter guarantees that every child enjoys a variety of enriching experiences and trips , helping them develop confidence, curiosity and a strong sense of community.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
8 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Band
- Computing
- Cricket
- Football
- Music
- Netball
- Swimming
- Philosophy for Children (P4C)
Awards
3 awardsiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Healthy SchoolsHealth and wellbeing
- Music MarkMusic
- Nurturing Schools AwardRecognised award
Key facts
- URN
- 141572
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 7 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Does not have a sixth form
- Nursery
- No Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- Essex
- Constituency
- North West Essex
- Setting
- Urban: Further from a major town or city
- Opened
- 2014
Governing body (13 current, 2 former)
iAcademy trust: local governing body and trust board.2 governors are linked to a profile (1 confirmed, 1 (likely)).
Governors marked “Confirmed same person” have exactly the same forename and surname as the only officer of that name at the school’s own academy trust company on the Companies House register, so we treat them as the same person. The governance record itself comes from DfE.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr David O'Brien | Chair of Local Governing Body | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Joanne Foote | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Bernie Gilbert | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Miss Emily Forster | Local Governor | Elected by parents | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mr Sean Dodsworth | Local Governor | Elected by parents | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mr Oliver Pottrill-Holland | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Caroline Dolby | Local Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2019 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr Nick Osborne (likely) | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2018 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
| Mrs Amy Kennedy | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2018 · until 2030 |
| Mr Matthew Rowlands | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2018 · until 2030 |
| Mrs Polly Lankester | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2017 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Peta Torrance | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2016 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Julie Puxley Confirmed same person | Local Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2015 |
| Miss Pam Lochhead Former | Local Governor | Elected by parents | since 2021 · term ended 2025 |
| Mrs Claire Sleep Former | Local Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2018 · term ended 2026 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record