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 Foxes and a daughter in Bats. 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. 

Hazel Kellett

Community Governor

I moved into Watlington in May 2023 and am keen to help the local community in some way, hopefully making use of some of the varied experiences that I've had in life. I see my role as governor as a chance to encourage, support and extend the wonderful work that already happens in our village Primary School.

I am recently retired. Prior to this I was based near Fareham on the south coast where I have had various roles including being a parent, teacher, headmistress and Scout leader.

I am the proud mother of three adult boys and now also enjoy looking after my first granddaughter.

Margaret Noon

Community Governor

“Never let it rest until your good is better and your better best” was my school motto which continued to underpin my subsequent career in education.

In my roles as Headteacher, Her Majesty’s Inspector of Education and International Education Consultant I had the privilege of working with staff, education leaders and with young people of all ages and abilities in a range of educational settings and countries. With four grandchildren in local schools I have been pleased to follow changes in education during my retirement.

As an effective school Watlington Primary School builds strong community links. Being a local Community Governor provides me with the opportunity to support these activities and to contribute to other aspects of the continuous improvement of the school. This involves providing the right balance of support and challenge. My particular interests are in the area

 of curriculum development and progress towards the school’s aims and targets.