Governors

Introduction:
The Governors at Wivelsfield Primary School bring a myriad of different skills, working alongside The Senior Leadership Team and supporting teachers to provide excellent education to children. We both challenge and support the decisions made by Helen Smith and her team.
 
Together, we aim to achieve our School Vision; "to inspire our children to be the best they can be in an ever-changing and diverse world", as well as ensuring we meet the values we have set out as at the core of everything we do as a school.
 
As the statements below show, our Governors come from a diversity of backgrounds. They each bring skills and experience, which, through training and support from the most experienced  members of the Governing  Body, they use to define and implement the School's strategy. They each share a desire simply to make our village school the best it can be both for our children and for our staff. 

Mrs Susan Halliwell

Chair (LA)

I have been fortunate to live in the village for over 25 years. My son, James, went to Wivelsfield Primary when the school was located in Church Lane, and he had to walk to the Church Hall for lunch! He was fortunate to have spent his last two years at our current site and enjoyed representing his school in football and swimming.

I have been involved with the school firstly as a ‘parent helper’ member of the PTA and then as a Governor from 2008. I have enjoyed being part of the Governing Body - working with the teachers and watching the school grow in size and strength.

My background is in IT working at Heathrow, Gatwick and Scottish airports until last July. I am part of the School’s Finance and Premises committee, as well as overlooking eSafety and GDPR. You may have seen me sitting with my computer beside the sports field collecting the house points for our Sports Day!

Mr Tom Edwards

Governor (Co-opted)

I’m the owner of a local business and have picked up a good range of skills and experience over the past decade. I come from a family of teachers, so I was so happy to get the opportunity to use this experience in my role as a Co-opted Governor. I’ve lived in the village for seven years, and expect to become a Parent Governor in a few years time as our first child was born in April 2020.

Mrs Marion Whear

Governor (Co-opted)

It has been a privilege for me to be a member of the Governing Body for many years. I joined the board on my retirement from teaching, and I trust my experience and interest in education is of some value as we move forward.

Mrs Karen Hornby

Governor (Parent)

My children attend Wivelsfield Primary and, to me, it was really important that I supported this wonderful school. I became a Governor last year, just before the pandemic, so it’s still relatively new, but exciting.

I have a background in Education and have been a teacher for 16 years, specialising in Early Years education. My current role is to support RSHE and Growth Mindset. I am very passionate about finding resources and tools to support children’s mental well-being. I am looking forward to developing my role alongside a fantastic team.

Mrs Katie Wollaston

Governor (Parent)

It was as I was herding three of my children out of the school gates that the Headteacher, Helen Smith, asked whether I had considered becoming a Parent Governor. It has been an incredible experience not least because I joined the Governing Body just before the Coronavirus pandemic started.

It is heartening to be part of a team that works so hard to support the school; but also has given me an insight into the complexities that our SLT face every day.

My fourth baby will join the school in September, just months after my eldest moves on. My relationship with the school will therefore span many more years, and I hope, through this role that I can give just a little bit back to the teachers who are helping shape my childrens’ futures.

Mr Oliver Wilson

Governor (Parent)

oliverw@wivelsfield.e-sussex.sch.uk

The experience of having both my children at Wivelsfield Primary has been exceptional, and so when the opportunity came to give something back as a governor, I absolutely wanted to support the school. Equally, some of my family are current or retired teachers, so I have an appreciation of the challenges and joys of education!

It is my first governor role but one I am looking forward to, especially as the children have been so impacted since 2020. I work in the Financial Services Industry and in my spare time I enjoy playing a variety of sports and coach U6’s and U7’s football at Plumpton Athletic Football Club.

Mr Giles York

Governor (Co-opted)

Giles is delighted to bring his experience and enthusiasm to help benefit everyone involved with Wivelsfield School and support it to thrive. He has lived in Wivelsfield Green for 14 years. He finished his career in policing in 2020, having worked in Kent, South Wales and Sussex. He is a champion for promoting diversity and inclusion with a track record for supporting under-represented groups. He is now on the Board of our local NHS Community Trust and County President for St John Ambulance. He is married to Sally with 3 grown up children and 2 spaniels.

Mrs Sarah Milton

Clerk of Governors

clerk@wivelsfield.e-sussex.sch.uk

To contact any of the Governors, please email the clerk@ email address above.

 

Wivelsfield Primary School Governing Body

 

Name of governor

 Committee

 Membership

 Term of Office

Declaration of Interest

Date of Entry

Tom Edwards

Co-opted Governor

 Finance & Staffing 

23/01/23 –22/01/27

Business Owner: Electrical Security, CCTV, Fire Alarms, Access Control, Time-lapse Photography

12/10/22

 

Susan Halliwell

LA Governor appointed by the Local Authority

 

Finance & Staffing 

Performance Management

27/09/21 – 26/09/25

IT Contractor Atkins Heathrow Airport.

IT Administrator for Archer Specialist Ltd.

19/10/22

 

Karen Hornby

Parent Governor appointed by the parents of the pupils

 

14/02/20 –13/02/24

 

 

Employed as a Teacher by Sussex Learning Trust

Parent of children at the school

 

12/10/22

 

Rhodri James

Vice Chair

Co-opted Governor

Safeguarding Governor

Finance & Staffing 

Performance Management

04/03/20 –03/03/24

Self Employed Barrister

Parent of children at the school

Wife works at the school

07/12/22

 

Craig Pickup

Staff Governor

Appointed by the staff

 

03/09/20 – 02/09/24

Class Teacher

05/09/22

 

Helen Smith

Staff Governor as Head Teacher

 

Finance, Staffing and Premise

01/09/2015 - Present 

 

Head Teacher

05/09/22

Marion Whear

Co-opted Governor

 

Performance Management

21/01/23 –

20/01/27

None

07/09/22

 

Oliver Wilson
 
Parent Governor appointed by the parents of the pupils
 
04/01/22 - 
03/01/26
Parent of children at school 
 
Works in Financial Services
12/10/22 

Katie Wollaston

Parent Governor appointed by the parents of the pupils

Performance Management

14/02/20 – 13/02/24

Parent of children at school

Freelance Journalist

12/10/22

 

 

Governors Attendance at Meetings

September 2021 – August 2022
 
We are required to publish the details of Governors’ attendance at all our full board meetings. This does not include their attendance for any other matters.
 
Name of Governor  Board Meetings Attended
Helen Smith  4 of 5
Rob Milton  5 of 5
Rhodri James 4 of 5
Lesley Corbett 4 of 5
Tom Edwards 5 of 5
Susan Halliwell  3 of 5
Karen Hornby  4 of 5
Marion Whear 3 of 5
Katie Wollaston 5 of 5
Oliver Wilson 4 of 5