Meet the Committee Members

Carly Ellis (Head of School)

I began my career as a Nursery Nurse and was a Teaching Assistant before attending university.  My dream, since the age of 5, was to become a teacher, and after a lot of challenges, I finally achieved it!  The only encouragement I had, to follow my dream and persevere, was from my family, not my educators.  Therefore, it is really important to me that children are supported and guided to reach their full potential.  

I started teaching at Redstart Primary School in Chard in 2006 and became a Maths Lead.  I trained and completed The Primary Mathematics Specialist Teacher Programme (MaST), became a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) in Maths and completed a master’s degree in Primary Education with a focus on mathematics.  With a maths focus, I visited Shanghai and welcomed Chinese teachers to Redstart to support and promote the implementation of mastery.   

In 2016, I taught in Minerva Primary School as a maths lead developing the maths curriculum and supporting teachers.  The following year I was appointed as Assistant Head and then as Acting Head of School.  I left this post to have my daughter in 2018 and returned from maternity leave as Head of School at Priorswood Primary School.  I have since had a son - I have been busy!  

The Priorswood team have recently celebrated the success of moving the school from an Ofsted judgement of inadequate to good. 

Daniel Sumner

I’m a parent of 6 children, the youngest being 14 and my eldest being 26.  All of which attended Priorswood Primary School.  I have also worked at the school for around 5 years where I did various roles from mainly being a lunchtime supervisor, to helping out in classes and fetes and other fundraising events.

I am a grandparent of two, aged 13 months and 3 years with which I now look after so their parents can go to work. As a family we enjoy swimming and visiting different beaches and going on walks around the countryside.

I have always loved the school and my children were always happy here, so when I was asked to join the Teaching and Learning Committee I was happy and honoured to join.  I have now been a member for a number of years.  I am passionate about seeing and helping the school progress and provide a happy and safe place to learn and educate young minds.