Governors
Welcome to the Woodborough School Governing Body page. Here you can meet the governors and find out more about the role they play within the structure and process at Woodborough School.
The Governing Body is made up of volunteers from the parent body, the staff and the Church community. The over-arching aim is to create the best possible education for our pupils and working environment for our staff. We help in developing the strategic direction of the school, whilst also monitoring and evaluating the work of the school itself.
Follow the link for more details of Governor Roles Responsibilities 2022-23
Woodborough C of E Primary School Constitution, Declarations and Attendance 2324
You are very welcome to contact the governing body via the school office: clerk@woodborough.wilts.sch.uk
Woodborough CE Primary School is proud to be part of Equa Multi Academy Trust
Equa Multi Academy Trust is a group of good and outstanding schools, initially five primary and one secondary, providing excellence in education for children in rural Wiltshire, aged 2-19. Initially, like-minded schools came together in 2016, with a common goal of providing the best possible learning opportunities for children in Wiltshire market towns, and surrounding villages. Equa Multi Academy formally formed on 1 April 2019.
Agreement to form EQUA Multi Academy Trust – letter to stakeholders, 1st March 2019
Follow this link to the EQUA website.
Foundation Governors
Foundation Governors have the same duty to the School as parent and staff governors but they are chosen by the local Churches and act as a ‘bridge’ between the Church and the School Community; they are guardians and guides, encouraging the distinctively Christian ethos which makes a C of E School different from others.
Mr Mark Banham
I have been a Foundation Governor since 2013 and I live in Beechingstoke having retired from the Army and a follow-on role running a Non Departmental Government organisation working to the MOD. I am responsible for Finance, Health and Safety and Premises. I worked as the Woodborough lead Governor in the formation of the EQUA MAT and now represent all of the Primary Schools on the EQUA Resources Committee. I am committed to supporting Woodborough School in its continued improvement, preserving the identities of primary schools within the MAT, and using my experience of running large organisations to introduce efficient processes and ease the burden of the staff in making Woodborough a special place for children.
Mrs Sally Banham
My name is Sally Banham and I have been a Foundation Governor since 2015. I have lived in Beechingstoke since 2001. I am also a member of the PCC. Although my two children are grown up I am happy to support Woodborough School at this important time and as a lawyer for NHS England I can offer a legal perspective to the Governors discussion. My specialisations are healthcare law and property.
Mrs Nicola Sutherland
Vice Chair of Local Governing Body
I joined the Governing Body in June 2018 as I felt the time was right to give something back. Woodborough School is at the heart of our community and one of its many strengths is the strong partnership between parents, staff, governors, children and wider community. Like many people I feel that Woodborough School is a special place and I have a real desire to see it thrive and achieve the highest standards in all respects. I hold a genuine belief that every child should leave Woodborough School having grown to reach their full potential. Although work and family keep me busy I do try to find the time to pursue some of the other interests I enjoy, including amateur photography, gardening (not as often as I’d like but the wildlife thanks us for it), reading and travel (mostly arm chair these days). My husband, two children and I moved to Bottlesford in 2011 and my association with Woodborough School started as a parent in 2012.
Mrs Mary Partis
I am a Foundation Governor with a long history of involvement with Woodborough School, which began in 1998 when my first daughter began her education pathway at the school, my second daughter joined in 2001, by which time I had become a governor. Firstly as a Parent Governor and then a Foundation Governor. In my previous life I was a midwife, working in Gloucester, Swindon and Devizes and a teaching assistant at Woodborough School. Having taken a break from governorship and recently retired from Woodborough School due to ill health, I returned in June 2022 to join the now Local Governing Body of EQUA Mat. I am relearning the role of a governor, and will be involved in supporting Religious Education, Collective Worship and the impending SIAMS inspection, as well as supporting Woodborough School in whatever else comes their way.
Mrs Christine Dowling
I am a Foundation Governor and also volunteer at the school hearing children read which I enjoy very much. I live in Beechingstoke having moved from Bath almost 3 years ago where I was Deputy Matron at a Prep school. I have found Woodborough School to be such a happy environment and I am looking forward to being part of its community.
Governor
Mrs Clara Hickman
Having seen the fantastic education that my 3 children had at Woodborough School I was so pleased to become a Foundation Governor at the start of 2023. It is a great privilege to join such a talented governing body and I am really looking forward to supporting the school in any way I can. I spent 15 years working as a TV producer in London before moving back to Wiltshire and working at Devizes based charity Community First. Since then, I have set up a small environmental charity monitoring weather data in the southern African mountains.
Parent Governors
Parent Governors are selected by election and drawn from parents and carers of children at the school.
Mrs Hettie Hodgkinson
I became a parent governor in 2021 after witnessing first-hand Woodborough's positive and proactive response to the many challenges presented by Covid-19. I was impressed by the commitment of the staff to provide the very best education and opportunities to every pupil, even under the most difficult circumstances, and wanted to be able to give something back and to contribute to the school’s ongoing success. I have been a parent at Woodborough since 2018, with two sons now at the school and my daughter due to join in 2023. My professional background is in features journalism, working as deputy editor of the London Evening Standard magazine for many years, and latterly at the Sunday Telegraph. I live locally with my husband and children.
Staff Governors
Mrs Katie Scaplehorn
I meet with governors regularly to report on curriculum, budget, resources and progress relating to the school improvement plan. Governors hold me to account by asking challenging questions during meetings and monitoring visits. As a leader, I am committed to our school’s vision and Christian values. I lead with love by building and nurturing high-quality and meaningful relationships between all members of our school community to enable all to flourish. Our values can be seen in the quality of our relationships which are based on respect for all and an understanding that we are all valued.
