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Watlington Primary School

Watlington Primary School

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Meet the Governors

Welcome to our Governors’ section.
 

The Governors can be contacted via the school office, or via the office email address: office.2459@watlington.oxon.sch.uk

Finbar McGaughey

Chair & Parent Governor

I currently work in the UK education, health and social care sectors for a major consultancy business delivering programmes of work, often to some of the most vulnerable in society. I have a solid understanding of some of the challenges and pressures in the current UK education system as a result of the work we do with national and local government in this space. I also believe strongly that schools have never had a more important role in society than they will have in the coming years as we begin to understand the long term effects the pandemic has had on the wellbeing of our children. I understand that whilst policies are often set nationally that is the job of the school and the staff to successfully adapt and implement these to enable the best outcome for children and families.

 

As a parent of two young boys with additional needs who attend the school I can see and appreciate the effect that strong, positive role models and interventions have on their development. I am delighted to be a parent governor so I can help contribute to the continued success of the school and the role it has in the wider community.

 

Nick Acaster

Parent Governor

I have lived in Watlington for the last 9 years with my wife and we now have two children at the school.

 

I have been involved with many community activities in Watlington, and currently chair the Beacon Festival which is run by volunteers and gives its surplus funds raised back to the local community.

 

I now run my own business in Watlington to complete the dream which enables me to spend time with family and to be fully involved in the local community.

 

Peter Robinson

Community Governor

My family and I moved to the area when we returned from Boston, MA, USA. We enjoyed 2 years in Boston and prior to this we lived in Monmouth, Wales, UK for ~15 years. My daughter Elan enjoyed her time in Watlington Primary School and now Elan and my son Tom are both at local secondary schools.

 

My mother was a teacher, spending the last 15 years before retirement focused on education for children needing specialist support. I spent much of my youth hearing about how to create an environment that builds engagement and allows children from whatever starting point to make great progress. 

 

I have worked with General Electric (GE) for 21 years, most recently leading Human Resources for our Life Sciences Global Commercial teams. My experience includes managing large scale business integrations, creating global leadership development programs, diversity improvement projects and UK union and employee relations. A significant part of my role is to coach 1:1 our executive leaders and mentor our next generation of leadership talent.  I now lead the Commercial activities to improve the way we work with our largest strategic accounts that are global pharmaceutical companies.

 

Gemma Sterjo

Headteacher - Ex officio

 

With 'Bright Futures' and our school values at the heart of our school, I am extremely proud to be Headteacher of Watlington Primary.  I am very fortunate to lead a vibrant, motivated and driven school community, with dedicated staff, supportive parents and enthusiastic pupils. 

 

As a Designated Safeguarding Lead, I work closely with the safeguarding team in school, to ensure our children are safe and happy.  A true advocate for providing the best early years experiences for our children, I am also an Early Years SLE (specialist leader of education). 

 

I see my role as Governor as an opportunity to strengthen links between parents, the community and our thriving school.  Our strong Governing body is challenging, as well as supportive to drive school improvement and raise standards.   

 

Amanda Flynn

Staff Governor

 

I have been a teacher at Watlington Primary School for the past 10 years, working across both Key Stages. I am so proud of what the staff, children and community have achieved over this time. I currently teach in Owls Class (Year 2). It really has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with such a hard-working and dedicated staff team. I am passionate about education and I am looking forward to the opportunity to become involved as a staff governor, ensuring communication is two way between the team and the Governing body.

 

Helen Smith

Community Governor

Having worked within Local Authority and charities as a qualified children and families social worker for 13 years I have seen first hand the impact that good quality education and pastoral support for children can have on their lives and outcomes and the challenges that children and families can face in their relationship with education. I consider myself a very child focussed practitioner and have high aspirations for all children and young people.  


Having moved into the lovely town of Watlington in summer 2022  I was keen to contribute to the community. My role of community governor will enable me to widen my portfolio outside of safeguarding and use my skills and experience in working with children and families to support our local community and Watlington Primary School. 

 

Mat VAN de PETTE

Parent Governor

I currently have a son in Owls and a daughter in Hedgehogs. I work for the UK Health Security Agency, which is based at the Harwell Campus in South Oxfordshire, developing stem cell based models of developmental and reproductive toxicology. Since becoming a father, I have taken great interest in the enormous scope by which we as parents, their education/educators and society as a whole, can influence the development and trajectory of our children. I hope that as a governor, I can help to shape the early-stage education of children, that will enable them all to develop their own trajectory as they develop and support the strengthening of ties between the PTA and the Board of Governors.

 

Amber Bryant

Parent Governor

Just like every parent, I like to be involved in my child’s education. I work in a school myself and so I feel that I would bring a unique perspective to the school’s governors.  I am a BCBA, behaviour analyst and have deep knowledge of behaviour and behaviour management systems and when the school put out their survey for school wide behaviour systems in summer 2022, I gave a lot of opinions and suggestions.  Because I also work in a school, am a parent and have also worked in homes I feel I can understand all interested parties in the school and help bring a balanced view. Being new to the area and UK I would like the chance to learn even more about the education system in the UK.   I would like to be able to have more of a say in the school and my child’s education and I think I would make a good governor for Watlington Primary.  I share the same goals of education and high standards for education and I want to help all the pupils at Watlington Primary have the best success and achieve high goals. I would like to be considered for the role of parent governor. 

Register of Governors September 2023

 

 

Current governors

Governor category

Appointing body

Term of office (Start / End)

Committee membership

Position of responsibility

Declared pecuniary or material interests

Other educational establishments governed, or charity trusteeships

Voting rights

Finbar McGaughey

Parent

Parent body

01/04/2021

01/04/2025

Quality of Education committee

Chair of Governing Body Safeguarding governor

None

None

Yes

         

Nick Acaster

Parent

Parent body

16/04/2022

15/04/2026

Finance and Facilities

Pay committee

Chair of Finance and Facilities Committee

None

Chair of Beacon Festival, not-for-profit event

Yes

Peter Robinson

Community governor

Governing body

13/03/2021

13/03/2025

Pay committee

Chair of Quality of Education Committee

Health and safety governor

None

None

Yes

Amanda Flynn

Staff

Staff body

01/09/2021

01/09/2025

None

None

None

None

Yes

Gemma Sterjo

Headteacher - Ex officio

Ex officio

01/09/2021

31/08/2022

Quality of Education committee

Headteacher

None

None

Yes

Helen Smith

Community

Governing body

03/11/2022

02/11/2026

Quality of Education committeeNone

None

None

Yes

Mat VAN de PETTE

ParentParent body

07/06/2023

06/06/2027

NoneNoneNoneNoneYes
Amber BryantParentParent body

07/06/2023

06/06/2027

NoneNoneNoneNoneYes

 

         

 

 

Governors who have resigned since September 2022

 

Governor

Governor category

Appointing body

End of office

Committee membership

Position of responsibility

Declared pecuniary or material interests

Other educational establishments governed, or charity trusteeships

Voting rights

Michael Hall

Parent governor

Parent body

Resigned September 2021

Finance and Facilities

None

None

NoneYes
Mathew Van de Pette

Parent governor

Parent body

Resigned May 2022

Data and Curriculum

None

None

NoneYes

David Marcou

Community governor

Local Authority and Governing body

Resigned July 2022

Data and Curriculum

 

 

 

None

None

Chair of governors, Icknield Community College

ACER Trust

Watlington Education Foundation

OYAP Trust

Yes

Sarah Wood

Community governor

Governing body

Resigned July 2022

 

Finance and Facilities

Pay Committee

 

 

 

None

None

None

Yes

Jonathan Gale

Deputy Headteacher

Staff Body

01/09/2021 to 31/08/2022

Data and Curriculum

Finance and Facilities 

Pay Committee

 

 

 

Deputy Headteacher

None

Watlington Education Foundation

Yes

Claire Cointre

Parent governor

Parent body

Resigned March 2023

 

Finance and Facilities

 

 

 

 

None

None

None

Yes

Mike Speight

Parent Governor

Parent body

Resigned July 2023

Finance and Facilities 

 

 

 

 

None

None

None

Yes

Governing Body Attendance 2022 - 2023

 

Governors Minutes 

For paper or email copies of governor meeting minutes, please contact the school office:

 

Tel: 01491 612474

Email: office.2459@watlington.oxon.sch.uk 

Welcome to our wonderful school!
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