Wisborough Green Primary School Governing Body 2024-2025

The Governing Body is drawn from the staff of the school, the Local Education Authority, parents and the wider community that our school serves.

School governors work together to offer strategic guidance, rather than getting involved in the operational aspects of a school. Their core functions are:

1. ensuring there is clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
2. holding leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils and the performance management of staff
3. overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent (nga.org.uk).

If you wish to contact the Governors please email: gov@wisboroughgreenschool.org.uk

Governing Body Attendance 2024/2025:

Name	Date of Appointment	Appointment made by:	Term of Office	Attendance 23/24	Interests
Simon Butcher Collier	28/03/2022	Appointed by GB/board	4 Years	1/1	Immediate family member employed at the school.
Sam Thomson	13/07/2021	Appointed by GB/board	4 Years	1/1	None Declared
Elaine  Duarte	15/12/2020	Appointed by GB/board	4 Years	1/1	None Declared
Caroline Bennett	03/09/2020	Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher	Ex-officio governor	1/1	Immediate family member employed at the school.
Neil Martin	17/06/2022	Elected by parents	4 Years	1/1	Immediate family member PTA Treasurer Head of History and Politics, ECT Co-ordinator, Christ Hospital School
Carolyn Lee	17/05/2023	Appointed by GB/board	4 Years	1/1	None Declared
Adrian Lee	01/09/2023	Appointed by GB/board	4 Years	1/1	None Declared
Kate Alexander Shaw	01/12/2023	Elected by parents	4 Years	1/1	None Declared
Ita Moss	16/09/2024	Elected by school staff	4 Years	1/1	None Declared
Abigail Drable	06/11/2024	Elected by parents	4 Years	0/1	None Declared

Governing Body Attendance 2023/2024:

Name	Date of Appointment	Term of Office	Attendance 23/24	Interests
Simon Butcher Collier	28/03/2022	4 Years	4/4	Immediate family member employed at the school.
Sam Thomson	13/07/2021	4 Years	4/4	None Declared
Elaine Duarte	15/12/2020	4 Years	3/4	None Declared
Caroline Bennett	03/09/2020	Ex-officio governor	4/4	Immediate family member employed at the school.
Neil Martin	17/06/2022	4 Years	3/4	Immediate family member PTA Treasurer
Carolyn Lee	17/05/203	4 Years	3/4	None Declared
Adrian Lee	01/09/2023	4 Years	3/4	None Declared
Bethany Schaeffer	25/09/2023	4 Years	2/4	None Declared
Kate Alexander Shaw	01/12/2023	4 Years	2/4	None Declared
Paul North	04/10/2023	Resigned 28/02/2024	1/4	None Declared
Sada Ray	23/09/2019	Resigned 23/09/2023	0/4	None Declared
Karen Hayler	17/06/2022	Resigned 04/10/2023	1/4	Weald Secondary School, HML Ltd, Graham Plumbers merchants

Meet the Governing Body:

Mr Butcher Collier, Co-opted Governor
Chair of Governors

Simon is a father of four and has been a part of the school community for a number of years. He has been chair of the PTA and loves a school trip - even the year 6 residential, where you'll find him at the top of a high rope! Simon is keen to support the school in achieving their aims for the future.

 

Mr Thomson, Co-opted Governor

Sam is a father of two and has lived in the village for over seven years and has one child at the school and another close on their heels. He is enthusiastic about supporting the school in its ambitions to continually evolve and to help all children grow and achieve their full potential throughout their early years education. He likes to run, cycle or swim when he gets the chance and is always happy to have a chat about any questions or concerns if needed. 

Mrs Duarte, Co-opted Governor

When Elaine retired from working as Deputy Head teacher in a 2 form entry primary school in Crawley. Elaine wanted to keep some contact with the world of Education and especially with children, so becoming a school governor was what suited her best. Elaine has an MA in Education, the NPQH and experience of being a governor in other schools. 

Elaine has lives in Billingshurst and enjoys working in her small garden as well as learning about various subjects through online courses. Other pastimes include music, painting and yoga and she speaks Spanish, French and elementary Italian. Elaine's aim is to foster children's creativity in the arts as well as academic fields.

Mr Martin, Parent Governor

Neil is a teacher at a local school and has lived in West Sussex for 6 years. A father of two, Neil is keen to support this fantastic school and its community. Neil hopes to lend particular support to wellbeing, curriculum review and staff recruitment in order to afford further evolution of the school in the future. A keen runner, Neil can often be seen in and around the village sometimes accompanied by his son. 

Mrs Lee, Co-opted Governor

Carolyn has lived in the village for over 30 years and both her children attended the primary school and The Weald. Thus, she recognises the value and opportunities that schools in the local community provide  - offering education in the widest and best sense of the word. Now with more time on her hands Carolyn is happy to help out and support the school and be part of the governing team.

Experience she can bring to the role includes being an Assistant Headteacher and a Director of SEN, as well a Safeguarding Officer. She holds an MA in Education and has had many many hours of teaching fun in secondary schools! Pupil well-being and supporting those children who may find school difficult (for whatever reason) is her particular interest.

Carolyn enjoys Art, walks, gardening and the countryside and seaside and a few chosen easy sports!

Mr Lee, Co-opted Governor

Adrian has a grandchild at the school and another who will be there in a few years. He works locally in Billingshurst for a local developer. He strongly believes in the value of participating in the local community to help improve things for all. He has previous experience as a school governor when his own children were primary school age and now wants to contribute to his grandchildren’s school in a similar way.

When he’s not working, he is usually enjoying cinema, a decent restaurant or, if it’s early in the morning, going for a swim. Adrian really wants to support the school in any way that he can and to contribute to the overall school community.

Mrs Alexander Shaw, Parent Governor

Kate is a mum of two girls at the school, having moved to Wisborough Green in 2022. She has previously been a school governor at a primary in South East London, and is keen to get involved with supporting WGPS as it builds on its recent good Ofsted report. She works as a political scientist at a university, and comes from a family of teachers, giving her a lifelong passion for education. In her free time she can mostly be found walking laps of the village with Welly the beagle.

Mrs Drabble, Parent Governor

Abi Drabble is mum of three girls, two are at Wisborough Green Primary School and one is at Climbing Bears. The family moved to West Sussex in 2021 from London where Abi still works in healthcare advocacy. 

Abi has lots of experience in stakeholder collaborations and hopes to support the school with growing its community connections. She is also an experienced fitness enthusiast who has represented England and GB, and worked as a trainer for Adidas and Lululemon.