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Meet the Governors

Victoria Sullivan - Chair of Governors

As well as being the Chair of Governors I am currently the Local Authority Governor for the school. I joined the Governing Body as a parent governor in March 2019 after being the Secretary of the Friends fundraising committee since 2015. My daughter is in Oak class (year 6) and my son in Year 10 at JFAN. As the Chair of Governors I am responsible for making sure the whole governing body is effective and we have great relationships with the school and all our stakeholders. I am also the lead governor for safeguarding and attendance. I run my own HR consultancy business and am passionate about the impact strategy and leadership can have on organisations, including schools. In my spare time I love baking and dancing to a good disco tune. I'm known to like a glass of wine or cider too!

 

Amy Cockerill - Co-opted Governor 

I have been a governor at Newport Primary School since 2020 when lockdown led me to search for a new challenge. As a secondary school teacher, I was keen to learn more about primary education and to use some of the transferable skills I have gained through my career. I have held a number of roles in education, including Head of Department, Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator and Director of Studies. I am now Assistant Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead at a large independent school. As well as sitting on the Standards Committee I was pleased to take on the role of Wellbeing Governor as the health and happiness of children and staff is the first step in enabling everyone to achieve their best. 

 

Hannah Parker - Parent Governor

Hannah joined the Governing Body after relocating with her husband and two children from London to the village of Widdington in April 2021. Hannah is currently the Head of Human Resources for a Private Equity company where she oversees people strategy and operations for the European business. She has developed particular passion and expertise in talent management, performance management and organisation culture topics and hopes to be able to bring some of her expertise to support the team at Newport Primary School. Hannah holds a BA hons in History and a MSC in Human Resources Management. When not working, Hannah enjoys spending precious time with family exploring the delights of the North Essex countryside (still a novelty and joy after 20 years in London!).

 

Hilary Waite- Staff Governor

My name is Hilary Waite and I am a single mum with twin boys who have just left school after passing their A levels. One plans a career in the forces, after a year out and the other is off to Uni in Leeds after his year out. I have been on the teaching staff at Newport since September 2020 and am now enjoying the role of Staff Governor. I have a Masters in Education and qualified as a teacher in July 2018 after working part-time in a school whilst bringing up my boys. Previously, I had a 20 year career in the city as a commodity broker. I am passionate about language and how the way we structure language can have such a strong impact. In my spare time I enjoy going to the gym and walking my English Pointer- Norman and I love walking in the Lake District going north whenever the opportunity arises.

 

Rob Graves - Co-opted Governor

Rob joined our Governing Body in October 2023 as a co-opted governor. He is a qualified accountant who enjoyed a long international career with 3M, a US based multinational manufacturing company. For the last 16 years Rob served as a non-executive director on the boards of a number of NHS Trusts in Gloucestershire where he lived until recently. He was also a member of the governing body of his local primary school for 12 years.

Rob believes very strongly in the importance of contributing to community and having now moved to this area, is keen to take on this role where his knowledge and experience can be useful in helping this school thrive.

 

Layla Price - Parent Governor

Layla joined the Governing Body in summer 2023 where she recognised the opportunity to become more involved in the exciting developments of the school. Layla has seen the school change over a number of years, having had two older children go through the school some years ago and a daughter presently in year 4. What remains consistent is the unique nature of Newport Primary School as a safe, inclusive and exciting place to learn. 

As a Deputy Headteacher in a local secondary school, Layla has had experience of a number of school priorities, including teaching and learning, curriculum and assessment, special educational needs and student wellbeing. Layla is currently the Designated Safeguarding Lead in her own setting, leading the pastoral provision for all students. 

 

Hirsch Sharma - Co-opted Governor

I am Hirsch Sharma BA DMS ACMA AICPA.  I'm a Strategic CFO with 33+ years of experience delivering financial leadership and growth across diverse industries. I have a proven track record of optimising profitability, mitigating risk, and building high-performing teams.

As a board member overseeing the CFO of the London branch of the International organisation active in 130 countries, I implemented a training program in internal audit, forecasting, treasury management and HR best practices, demonstrating a focus on team development and efficiency. On the finance and HR committee.

I work as a school Governor at Newport Primary School, Parbold Douglas Primary School and Ormskirk Grammar Secondary School. I have also chaired a Jury at Preston court. I have provided all aspects of school governance, as a trusted advisor and part of the School Board. This included contributing to strategic discussions and governing body meetings to determine the vision and ethos of the school, priorities and targets, and school policies. We established clear and ambitious strategic priorities, plans and targets for the school and monitored and advised on the school budget, planning and forecasts. I am also a writer of 4 books including Easy Business Success and in my spare time I love playing golf, writing books and singing.

 

George Barber - Co-opted Governor

George joined the Governing Body as a co-opted governor in October 2024, bringing extensive experience in corporate governance, emergency planning and resilience. Currently working with NHS England’s national EPRR team, George is a chartered manager and has previously supported the Board and executive team of the local ambulance service. With a strong background in governance, compliance, and regulatory relationships, George is passionate about contributing to the strategic development of Newport Primary School.

Alongside professional commitments, George is currently pursuing an MSc in Emergency Management and Resilience. Outside of work, he volunteers as a community first responder and occasionally works ambulance shifts with the NHS ambulance service. In his free time, George enjoys photography and exploring the outdoors through walking.

George is excited to join the Board and looks forward to using his skills and expertise to support the school and give back to the local community.

 

Rosie Clarke - Parent Governor

Rosie joined the governing body in autumn 2024, having recently moved to the village. Her background is community engagement, stakeholder management and strategic communications, working in Parliament, Government and the private sector. Rosie moved to Newport in 2024 following ten years in Australia, where she worked in the State Government Education Department leading communications on all school and early childhood building projects across Victoria. She brings expertise in school infrastructure and communications. She has one child at the school, and another two due to join Reception next year. 

Welcome to our Governors’ section. 

Here you will find information about the role of the governing body, details of how our Governing body is structured, including the names, categories, responsibilities and terms of appointment for each Governor.

 

The Role and Responsibilities of the Governing Body

Governing bodies are the key strategic decision makers and vision setters in every school. They are also a key part of the overall system for school accountability. Governing bodies have a vital role to play in driving up school and pupil performance and ensuring that resources are used well to give every child the best possible education.

 

In all schools, governing bodies have three core strategic functions:
a. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;
b. Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and
c. Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

 

These functions are reflected in regulations for maintained schools that came into force in September 2013 and in the criteria Ofsted inspectors use to judge the effectiveness of governance in both maintained schools and academies.

In practice, governors are a group of volunteers who include parents, staff and members of the local community who act collectively to make decisions that matter to the school and are motivated to do the best for the children of the school.

 

Governing bodies help set the school’s aims and values. They also make decisions on matters such as performance targets, school policies, and the school’s single plan.  They oversee the use of the school’s budget and have responsibility to obtain value for money for that budget. They are responsible for the appointment of the headteacher.  In addition, governors monitor, support and challenge the headteacher and staff on how well those policies and targets are followed through. They do this by visiting the school, getting to know its strengths and weaknesses, and asking useful questions that foster an ethos of continuous improvement.

 

When to contact the Governors?

Should there ever be things you’d like to raise, please feel free to contact us. We’re happy to receive your comments and feedback. Many of us are regularly in and around the school, and several of us are often in the playground at drop-off and pick-up times. Alternatively, please feel free to leave a message with the office.

 

If you have any concerns that you have raised with the school and you do not feel they have been dealt with accordingly then please contact Victoria Sullivan at chair@newport.essex.sch.uk

Declaration of Pecuniary and Personal Interests

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