Latest Governance Structure & Attendance

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SGB Governor Profiles

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Chair:
​Aileen Bates - Co-opted Governor​

• I have been on the Governing Board of St Nicholas School since 2008 and took over as the Chair in September 2010.  I currently serve on both the Resource and LAW Committees.  I am a Trustee of the School Fund.  During my time as a governor I have worked with three head teachers, having been involved in the appointment of two of them.  I have also supported the school through two OFSTED inspections.
• I have an MA in philosophy and politics and a CQSW postgraduate qualification in social work.  Two years ago I completed an Open University BSc degree with the focus on psychology and world politics.  I have worked as a practitioner, manager and trainer in social work, industry and personal finance.  Before my recent retirement I was the founder and a director of a community based project to integrate people with learning disabilities, behavioural and mental health problems into normal living by providing supported living and day occupation.  This has involved skills in leading teams and all aspects of people management.​
• I enjoy my family, golf and bridge as well as supporting Swindon Town football club.

Joint Vice Chair:
​Sarah Gunner - Co-opted Governor

• I have been involved in teaching and education for the last 24 years, starting as a Science teacher and more recently specialising in supporting vulnerable pupils. My daughter has just started at Rowdeford in Year 7 and her enthusiasm for the school has encouraged me to join the Governing body! 
• I currently lead the Bath and North East Somerset Virtual School ensuring successful education outcomes for all children who are looked after or previously looked after within the county. 
•  In my spare time, I enjoy music, singing, spending time with my family and walking with our golden retriever.

Joint Vice Chair:
​Jan Winfield - Co-opted Governor

• I am mother to Max, 24, who attended Larkrise Special School and Fairfield Farm College.
• I am a retired Advanced Skills Teacher of English, working in both primary and secondary schools across Somerset.  I became first a parent governor, then a co-opted governor at Larkrise School, becoming Vice Chair in 2018. 
• My work as an AST gave me a wide experience of school management, from curriculum planning and implementation to delivery of whole school INSET, teacher training, mentoring and performance management.  As an assessor for the Basic Skills Agency, I helped schools to deliver excellence in basic literacy skills. I also wrote and published educational resource materials.
• I became involved in the discussions around SEND education in Wiltshire at an early stage and have gained enormous satisfaction from helping to shape its future over the past six years.  Teaching and Education have given me a rich and rewarding life and seeing children grow, learn and develop into young adults, knowing that you have played a part in securing their futures is a special privilege.  
• I am a keen gardener and I continue to read every day (old habits die hard…)  I love the excitement of art and theatre and enjoy café culture.  I am a member of the National Trust, so coffee and cake at a gallery or historic house and garden makes a perfect day.

Parent Governor:
​Duncan Carter

• I am a parent at St Nicholas School of a child with PMLD, with a second younger daughter in mainstream education.  As a parent I wish to obtain the best for our children.  I have a BENG in electronic engineering and have worked in IT networking for my current employer, a global medical equipment manufacturer, for approximately 14 years.
• I previously occupied a variety of positions on the Springboard Chippenham opportunity group’s management committee over a tenure spanning over five years, from which I have gained a wide array of knowledge and experience.
• I enjoy family life & also enjoy reading, swimming, photography, travel and theatre.

Parent Governor:
​Emily Wadds

• I am a Parent Governor at Larkrise School and Chair of the Staff and Curriculum Committee.  I am Mum to two daughters, Annie 12, and Lydia 10. Lydia has profound and multiple learning and physical disabilities (PMLD) and epilepsy. She has no diagnosis and is a SWAN (Syndrome without a name).  I studied Business and Finance at University and was a Civil Servant with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for nearly 20 years until I took a carers break 7 years ago.
• I have had various volunteer roles including Governor and member of the PTA at Annie’s primary school. I am Chair of the Friends of Larkrise School and have taken the lead in organising fundraising events and campaigning to keep special schools local. I spent some time with the local Citizens Advice Bureau and the mental health charity Rethink. I am on the management committee at Stepping Stones District Specialist Centre.
• I am a keen runner and have completed lots of 10k and half marathons. I did my first full marathon during lockdown, running it in my house, raising money for Children’s Hospice Southwest (CHSW). I am a member of Avon Valley Runners and lead two group runs each week. I love walking especially in the mountains and have climbed all the major peaks of England and Wales and several in Scotland including Ben Nevis. I have walked The Cotswold Way, The Ridgeway and The Mendip Way with my Dad in recent years. I have been a Bath Rugby season ticket holder for around 25 years. I also love eating and drinking champagne, that is probably why I run!

Parent Governor:
​Rebecca Windridge

• I became a governor at Rowdeford School about two and a half years ago. I have been SEN governor and attended quite a lot of training to support my role, during my service to date.
• I have been a teacher for over 30 years both in the UK and overseas. I have always been involved in working with children with additional needs. I have an MA in Special Education, a Postgraduate Diploma in Dyslexia and other qualifications in ASD. I also hold the National SENCo qualification.  Special Education is my passion. I currently work in schools teaching and assessing children.
• My youngest son is about to start year 10 at Rowdeford. My older son is a graduate and lives in Bristol.
• I breed guineas pigs and enjoy a variety of crafts. My interest in travelling is currently curtailed!

Co-opted Governor:
​Charles Burgess

• I am a Chartered Building Surveyor who has worked in both the Public and Private sector for over 35 years.
• I set up a successful surveying practice in Bath 15 years ago and am involved in the Building Regulations Industry.
• Outside work, I enjoy Golf, Rugby and dog walking and I live in Rowde.

Co-opted Governor:
​Nicola Grove

• I trained as a teacher then as a speech and language therapist, working in special schools and in adult day services. My doctoral research explored the use of Makaton in this population. I lectured at the Institute of Education, London University, training special needs teachers, then at City University training speech therapists. I left this post to run an exploratory company of storytellers with learning disabilities, and founded the charity Openstorytellers, based in Frome. I continue to do research, consultancy, and to write both academic papers and practical resources for professionals and families in the field of SEND.
• I have extensive experience of curriculum development, working in the government group which developed P Scale assessment tools and actively promoting access to literature and language across the curriculum.  I have “hands on” expertise in a range of Augmentative and Alternative Communication methods, self advocacy, multisensory storytelling and inclusive education. I am an experienced trainer and have delivered whole school INSET, both nationally and internationally. My work  with Openstorytellers has developed my skills in securing grant funding, promotion and public presentation.. Our founding principle is co-production, and I am experienced in working with individuals and groups to participate in decision making. I was a school governor at my local primary for three years. It is a huge privilege to be chosen as a co-opted governor for the new school and I am honoured to be able to contribute to its development.
• I enjoy theatre, walking, creative writing, sewing, spinning, knitting and weaving. Travel has been a real interest, particularly in Spain and in Japan where I have worked on special needs projects over the last 10 years.

Co-opted Governor:
​Jeff Parker

• I became a Community Governor at St Nicholas School in November 2013 and am currently Vice Chair of Governors and Chair the Resource Committee.
• I spent 24 years in the RAF as a Communications Engineer serving in various parts of the world.  On leaving the RAF in 1993 I spent 2 years as a Business Consultant and then 18 years with Nortel Networks and then Airbus, a large Aerospace and Defence company, in Business Development.
• I retired from Airbus in 2012 and am now an independent consultant specialising in Cyber Security and Business Innovation.
• My interests include keeping fit, walking and reading.

LA Governor:
​Lisa Fryer

• ​I am a qualified secondary school teacher (Humanities specialism) and have held several middle and senior leadership positions within schools in Gloucestershire since the 1990s. Prior to this I had a successful career in the Banking and Insurance Sector. Since 2016, I have been a voluntary LA Governor at Ann Edwards Church of England Primary School in South Cerney, Gloucestershire. For the last 4 years I have been employed as the Locality Education Officer (East) within Wiltshire’s 0-25 SEND Service. This role has enabled me to work across the SEND System (Specialist and Mainstream), to ensure appropriate provision for all children and young people with EHCPs. As SEND Link Officer for Rowdeford School, Downland School and two Primary Resource Bases, I gained a deep understanding of both the excellent opportunities and the operational challenges found within county specialist provision.  Since May 2020, I have moved into a new role working across the entire SEND System.
• My last school-based position was as an Assistant Head Teacher within an inner-city Secondary School with high levels of deprivation. As a senior leader, the considerable experience I gained at an operational and strategic level informs my work as Governor. As an Education Officer within the Wiltshire SEND Service, I have wide knowledge and understanding of the Wiltshire ‘Local Offer’ and work closely with many different stakeholder groups. I have a deep understanding of statutory SEND processes and the regional as well as national SEND landscape.  I am supportive of SEND System innovation where this brings both improvements in standards and improved self-efficacy on the part of learners. As the historic Link Officer for Rowdeford School, I became involved in the discussions around the creation of a new North Special School in Wiltshire at an early stage. Working with the preShadow Governing Body gave me a deeper understanding of the unique character of each school’s setting. I therefore welcome the opportunity to participate further as LA Governor on the newly formed Shadow Governing Body for the North Wiltshire Special School and keep a clear connection with all the associated Specialist Schools.
• I am a keen walker and I am currently part way through completing both the Cotswold Way and South West Coastal Path. Quality time spent with family and friends at home or in North Devon is also a passion of mine. Currently, I am deriving great pleasure from re-organising my garden into a space my husband and I can enjoy more for larger amounts of the year. This could take some time!

Associate Governor:
Terri Chard

• I am currently deputy headteacher and DSL for Rowdeford School. I have responsibility for pastoral areas such as behaviour, safety and welfare. I line manage the 60 teaching assistants and the wider leadership team including our SENCO. I also write the timetables and lead CPD and teaching and learning.  I have been at the school for three years and love the ethos of the school, the students and the staff. 
• I have been a member of the senior leadership team for 14 years and during that time have been a deputy for three different headteachers. My degree is in secondary education and I am a trained PE and Outdoor Ed specialist. I have worked in mainstream secondary schools for most of my career, only making the change to Special Ed three years ago when I came to Rowdeford. I have always had a passion for the pastoral care of children and have been a DSL for over 20 years in three different schools. I also have my NPQH qualification and enjoy deputising for the headteacher.  
• I enjoy playing and watching all sports! I played hockey for England in my youth but have now moved more into golf in later life, although I am still very competitive! Myself and my partner enjoy being outside, be it gardening, enjoying nature, fishing or walking our two dogs ( who are incredibly important to us). I also find pleasure in arts and crafts and take part in glass sculpture and model making during quieter moments! 

Clerk to the Governors:
​Jennie Noble-Nesbitt
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