Bridge Road, West Stevenage, Herts, SG1 2NU
01438 216565
Governors
The Governors are responsible for strategic decisions about how the school is run, in partnership with the Headteacher, staff and the Local Education Authority (Herts County Council). Governors are representatives of the community ranging from parents to local council representatives. The Governing Body meetings take place half termly.
Chairs Welcome
On behalf of all Governors, a warm welcome to Woolenwick Junior School.
As school Governors we have an important role in monitoring the safety, welfare and education of all of our children. We work collectively and strategically as a corporate body to drive forward the school’s vision.
Governors do not manage the school, this is the role of the Headteacher and the Senior Leadership team. Instead we oversee the development of the school by working closely with them to monitor and provide supportive challenge, ensuring our children receive the best.
These are some examples of some of our areas of responsibility:
- Monitoring pupil achievement and progress and pupil safety
- Ensuring statutory requirements are met and achieved
- Financial oversight
- Setting strategic priorities for the school’s continued development and improvement
- Safeguarding of children and staff
The members of the Governing Body are proud and privileged to be able to contribute to the leadership of Woolenwick Juniors for the benefit of all children, parents and staff. We hope you will take time to get to know your Governing Body and please feel free to get in touch at any time.
Find out more about becoming a school governor here
Governing Body Members
| Wayne Hanson-Prince
Chair of Governors Co-opted governor Maths Term of office from 23 Mar 2021 to 22 Mar 2025 First appointed on 11 Nov 2020 |
I’m a civil servant currently working at the environment department (Defra) and I’ve lived in the area since 2016.
Until recently, I was a tutor at the Open University business school and have some experience as a private tutor and supply teacher. I also have experience dealing with mental health and safeguarding issues as a former panel member for a local youth offending team. I enjoy travelling and spent a year in Japan as an English language tutor after university. I’m also interested in politics and current affairs, music (I play the piano, though I’m a bit rusty these days) and walking my Boston Terrier Bruno! As the first person in my immediate family to go to university I’m passionate about ensuring that every child has the opportunities and support they need to grow and thrive, so I’m really looking forward to working with my fellow governors to help the school in any way I can. |
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| Joanne O’Reilly
Vice Chair of Governors Co-Opted Governor English and Science Term of office from 29 Jun 2021 to 28 Jun 2025 First appointed on 30 Jun 2020 |
Hello, my name is Jo O’Reilly and I am one of the Governors at Woolenwick Junior School. I am pleased to have the opportunity to support your school, and the inspirational young people who go there, become the best they can be. My passion for supporting young people goes back to when I was a manager at John Lewis in Welwyn Garden City, where I got the opportunity to volunteer to run primary school workshops with the educational charity Young Enterprise at a local primary school. I loved this so much I later did a career change to work for Young Enterprise, running programmes to help young people develop key life and business skills. A few years later and a different role, this time at Herts for Learning, supporting schools and school governors, led me to my position as Governor at Woolenwick. I find the role both interesting and rewarding. I currently work for STEMPOINT East, an educational charity working with businesses and schools to highlight careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, quite different from my degree in Music and media studies, but so fascinating and great to be supporting young people develop and learn. I was born and went to school in Stevenage and returned here a few years ago. It’s home to me and my daft rescue dog Stevie and my two grown up daughters, who come and go! Please do come and say hello if you see me at the school. I would love to hear what your young people would like to be when they grow up! |
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| Sarah Millard
Co-opted Governor Pupil Premium Term of office from 17 Apr 2023 to 17 Apr 2027 |
I am a Co-opted member of the governing board after starting at the school in September 2021 as a class teacher and being a staff governor until I left the school in April 2023 to take up a new role as an education officer for the MS charity. I was born and raised in Letchworth and attended primary and secondary schools in the town. I have worked in this school for nearly two years and was teaching year 3 as well as being the phase leader for lower key stage two. In the past, I have taught a range of year groups from year 1 to 6 and have now been teaching in schools for 10 years. Prior to this, I have taught and coached children to swim for 20 years as well as worked in several support roles in schools.
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| Keith Westcott
Co-opted Governor Health & Safety
Term of office from 12 Feb 2020 to 11 Feb 2024 First appointed on 12 Feb 2020
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My name is Keith Westcott. I am a retired Electrician. I have worked in Building Maintenance for the last 30 years. I have worked for Marks & Spencers department store in Marble Arch London and many other store’s in my working life. For past 18 years I have worked at the Spirella Building in Letchworth Garden City. I have lived in Stevenage since 1966 and close to Woolenwick Junior School for the last 45 years. Both my children went to Woolenwick and are both now married. I have 2 grandchildren aged 16 and 13 from my Sons marriage. My interests include Sport (mainly football); History/Genealogy. I hope to be able to support the school with my knowledge of buildings maintenance and Health & Safety. |
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Clair Friedrich Co-opted Governor SEND/Inclusion/CLA Term of office from 12 Feb 2020 to 11 Feb 2024 First appointed on 12 Feb 2020
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I have lived in Stevenage most of my life, I lived in London for eleven years when I turned 19 and promptly returned to be close to my parents when I fell pregnant with twin girls (now 9). I started my career in hotels in London and spent nine years of my working life in the Metropolitan Police Service as an Event Manager. I then worked as the National Sales Director for a hotel chain across the UK. This took me to many Cities and many Countries and I loved my job however I loved my husband and children more and missed them terribly so when my children reached the age of seven, and one of my daughters was diagnosed with Dyslexia, I decided to change my life and career entirely and took a leap into the world of education. My first role was at a local SEMH school and then I was lucky enough to move on to a local senior school as the Support & Inclusions Manager, which I absolutely LOVE. I now spend so much quality time with my family and have no regrets. In order to support my daughter to the best of my ability I aimed to work within the SEN departments in order to gain as much knowledge as possible. I have a real passion to help children with learning difficulties, hence my link role as Governor. I am also in my third year of Counselling at college and hope to explore this more when I qualify. In my spare time I am a horse rider, dog lover and holiday lover! |
| Karen Jones
Staff Governor Curriculum Term of office from 17 Apr 2023 to 17 Apr 2027 First appointed on 5 Sep 2018 |
I am a staff member of the governing board after serving for 4 years as a staff governor and an associate member. I was born and raised in London. I attended primary and secondary schools in Barnet, North London. I have been working in the school for 4 years. I have taught years 3,5 and 6 in our school. In the past, however, I have taught all year groups from Nursery upwards having been a teacher for 26 years. Becoming a teacher is something I have always wanted to do and would ‘practice being a teacher’ in my bedroom as a child! As a result, I am an experienced communicator, who teaches with warmth, care for my pupils as individuals and enthusiasm. It is important to me that I maintain positive relationships with my pupils and their families and often have pupils come back to let me know how they are getting on. |
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| Sandra Alloo
Associate Governor Finance Term of office from 30 Jun 2020 to 29 Jun 2024 First appointed on 30 Jun 2020 |
I am an associate governor on the finance committee. I was born in Manchester and subsequently support Manchester United Football club. I have lived in Stevenage since 2001. Through the years I have been lucky enough to have travelled and lived in various parts of the world. I have in this time learnt a few different languages and experienced many different cultures. I feel I have a lot to contribute to the Governing Body. I studied Computer Science programming at North London University, while working in Hotel Management. I worked in several 5 star hotels in Central London before working in Schools. I have worked as a SEN teaching assistant then a Pupil Premium teacher. I am very good with numbers and I am proud to now be Woolenwick Schools Finance Manager. I am a friendly and jolly person, please do not hesitate to stop me for a chat if you need to. I will always aim to help to the best of my ability |
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| Kelly Harris
Associate Governor Finance Committee Chair Term of office from 28 Jun 2021 to 27 Jun 2025 First appointed on 28 Jun 2021 |
I am a charted accountant and have worked in many different sectors throughout my career from House builders, Chemical manufacturing to Essential Infrastructure. I have lived in Stevenage for over 16 years.
My niece currently attends Woolenwick Juniors and I intend to support the development of the school by providing my financial knowledge. |
| Melanie Wearn
Co-opted Governor Safeguarding Term of office from 28 Jun 2021 to 27 Jun 2025 First appointed on 28 Jun 2021 |
I joined the governing body as an associate governor in July 2021. My background is in Social work having worked with children, young people, and families for the last 21 years. I currently work with children who have experienced early childhood trauma and support/ train carers, professionals and families to understand how best to support them, helping the children to begin the healing process with positive support around them, to nurture their understanding and help them to feel safe.
I have lived in Stevenage for the past 32 years and lived close to the school for the last 15 years. All four of my children aged 21- 8 years have attended both the infant and Junior school, and I now want to give something back. I have a passion for education and want to support the school in helping each and every child to thrive and achieve all that they can for their future, in a safe and nurturing environment. For me every day is a school day, even for adults and I believe that we all learn from everything we do. In my down time I enjoy walking and spending time with the family as well as reading. |
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Joe O'Dea Associate Governor PE and Sports Premium |
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Laura Burt Associate Governor
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Maxine Gorvett Parent Governor Term of Office 23 March 2023 to 22 March 2027 First appointed 21 March 2023
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I am a working mum of two daughters in school. I have a strong belief in equal opportunities and have volunteered time to several initiatives over the years to this end. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity to succeed in life and that good schools are key to making this happen. I am excited to be on the governing board to help in any way I can and to enable the teaching staff to focus on nurturing and growing the next generation. |
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Nicola Griffiths Parent Governor |
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Kayleigh Kingsland Clerk to Governors |
To find out more about the members of our Governing Body please see documents listed below. If you need any further clarification regarding our Governing Body and the work that they do please contact either the Chair of Governors or Clerk via the school office.
Governing Body Meetings 2021-2022 Attendance
Governing Body Meetings 2022-2023 Attendance
Terms of Reference for committees 2022-2023
Governors Declaration of Interest – 2021-2022
