Welcome to the Governors' section of our school website

Our Governing Body are proud to hold strategic responsibility for our school. The DfE define the Governors' Core Roles as:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Holding the Headteacher to account for the educational performance of its pupils and the performance management of staff
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

Our Governing Body meet each half term and in addition, two committees meet to fulfil specific duties. We hope you will find the attached documents useful and would welcome your feedback at any time. Governors can be contacted via the School Office.

In fulfilling their financial responsibilities, governors make reference to the government's financial benchmarking service which can be found via this link - benchmarking website

Current Governor Profiles

Dave Merefield

Dave Merefield joined the Governing Body in December 2016 and his term ends in 2024. He is a co-opted Governor who serves on the Pupil Outcomes Committee, with responsibility for curriculum. Dave is currently the Chair of our Governing Body.

Dave is employed by a major food retailer as the Head of Carbon, Utilities and Engineering where he has accountability for reducing carbon emissions and managing energy and water use throughout the business.

Both of his children enjoyed attending the school and he is keen to use his experience to support the Governing Body and help maintain the school’s reputation – putting the children’s’ learning and development at the centre of all decisions made.

David Small

David Small joined the Governing Body in March 2017 as a Foundation Governor and his term as a Governor will end in 2024. He serves on the Resources Committee with responsibility for premises. David is currently the Vice Chair of Governors.

David has worked as a Solicitor in his own Practice in Chichester for 26 years and hopes to bring some of the experience that he has gained over that career to good use in serving the Governing Body and its committees.

Living locally for 15 years, David is aware if the School’s proud reputation and Christian ethos and is keen to be a part of the future of the School and its community.
 

Rev'd Richard Hutchins

Rev'd Richard joined the Governing Body in April 2020 when he was licensed as vicar of Catherington and Clanfield with responsibility also to support the vicar of Rowland's Castle with work in the Blendworth parish.

Richard is our Ex-officio Foundation Governor and he serves on the Pupil Outcomes Committee, with responsibility for RE, of which he is the Chair. Richard also serves on our Christian Values Team.

Katherine Peett
 

Mark Angell joined the Governing Body in November 2018 as a Local Authority representative and his term as governor ends in 2026. He serves on the Resources Committee as Chair with responsibility for computing and Health & Safety.

Mark’s term started while he had a child at our school.  He ran his own consultancy company for 20 years before joining a major defence company in the local area. Mark brings a wealth of experience in the computing and technology fields to the Governing Body.

He is keen to use his experience to support the Governing Body and maintain the school's excellent standards and reputation.

Amy Marks

Amy joined the Governing Body in March 2020 as a Co-opted Governor and her term as governor will end in 2024. She serves on the Pupil Outcomes Committee with responsibility for Inclusion as well as PE and Sport Premium.

Amy is an Assistant Headteacher at Horndean Technology College with whom the school enjoys strong professional links.

Jen Le Breton-Edis

Jen Le Breton-Edis joined the Governing Body in January 2022 as a Parent Governor and became a Co-opted Governor in June 2023.  Her term as a governor ends in 2027.   Jen has two children, one in Year 6 and one in Year 4.

Jen currently works for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) as a Group Leader of approximately 85 people which includes scientists, analysts and engineers covering a range of disciplines including scientists, psychologists, mathematicians, analysts, data scientists and engineers looking at both current and future problems for both Defence and Security.  She is keen to support the Junior School work in collaboration with others to ensure the school continues to grow and thrive.  She plays a key role in the engagement of people at Dstl, to ensure that Diversity and Inclusion is at the forefront and that everyone has access to opportunities.

James Rolfe

James joined the Governing Body in December 2022 as a Parent Governor, his term as a governor ends in 2026. James has two children, a son who started at the Junior School in 2022, and a daughter at Horndean Infants who will be joining in 2025. James is serving on the Resources Committee.

James is a chartered accountant with over 15 years’ experience. He currently heads a finance team of 10 in a local recruitment company. James forms part of the company’s senior leadership team and has a depth of experience in forecasting, budgeting, cash management, along with project management, restructures and software implementation.

James is keen to use his knowledge and experience to support the Governing Body in maintaining the school’s high standards. 

Hayley Bird

Hayley joined the Governing Body in October 2023 as a Parent Governor, serving on the Pupil Outcomes Committee with responsibility for Safeguarding and English. Hayley has two children in the school, one in Year 3 and one in Year 6.

Hayley is head of Domestic Abuse analysis and research for the Crown Prosecution Service. She has over 20 years of experience working with data in the criminal justice system, bringing her expertise (and love!) of statistics to the Governing Body.

Hayley feels fortunate to be chosen to help support the school in this role, in an area she feels particularly passionate about. 

Wesley Bover

Wesley joined the Governing Body in October 2023 as a Parent Governor, serving on the Resources Committee with responsibility for premises. He has a daughter in Year 3 who moved up from Horndean Infant school in September 2023. During an open evening, the role as governor was presented. After recently retiring from a local football club as a manager/coach for over ten years this was the perfect new opportunity to get involved with the school and enjoy some new challenges.

Wesley is a Contracts Manager for a local fencing company who provide domestic and commercial fencing around the south coast. He has over 15 years experience in the trade and looks forward to bring his skills and knowledge to the school.

Jo Smith

Jo joined the Governing Body in April 2024 as Staff Governor.