FORT Federation
"Living, loving and learning forever:
becoming the best as we journey together"
I’m a Co-opted Governor. I originally started as a parent Governor at Awliscombe and became a Co-opted Governor when we federated with Payhembury. I currently have 2 children at Awliscombe primary. I became a Governor when my eldest had started school and a vacancy on the board had arisen. I applied as I hoped to be involved with the school in a productive way and felt I had skills that would be useful. I enjoy it and have learnt a lot so far, with still more to learn! At home I enjoy cooking, running and many kind of craft activities.
I was invited to become a Foundation Governor in September 2013 initially for Awliscombe Primary School where my two children attend school, and since September 2015 for the Fort Federation. I am very proud to have been voted in as Chair of Governors in September 2016 by my fellow Governors. I have previously served as the Designated Governor for Special Educational Needs and Chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee.
I have worked as a School Nurse in the wider local area since 2010 and have a Post-Graduate Diploma in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing. My main remit within work is to improve the overall health outcomes of all children from 5-19 years of age. I am very passionate in my role as a School Nurse and I have a special interest in the emotional health and wellbeing of all children. I have a good working knowledge of Safeguarding processes and procedures, this is a skill I have utilised within my role as Designated Safeguarding Governor for the Fort Federation
I became a governor when our twin daughters were in Year one at Awliscombe Primary. They’ve now moved on, but I continue to enjoy the importance and variety of governor work, and working with an able and committed team of fellow governors and staff. I spent three years as chair of governors, but have now happily returned to being a ‘back-bencher’ on the T&L committee, where I have lead responsibility for Curriculum matters.
I spent many years working as a solicitor but now design and make furniture to commission. We live in Awliscombe.
Ex officio .Executive Headteacher
II have been teaching for 17 years. I spent 10 years teaching in the Midlands and was an assistant head of a large primary, before moving to Devon in 2011. I have taught a range of year groups in that time, though I have spent the last 6 years at Payhembury as a year 5/6 teacher. I have been the nominated staff governor for the past four years and in that time it has helped me to prepare for senior leadership, specifically my new role of Head of school; it has helped me to understand the strategic direction of the school/federation. I am now the representative for both schools on the governing body.
I came to Payhembury in 1991 from Pembrokeshire. All three of my daughters passed through Payhembury Primary, and I now have two grandchildren there, with a third starting later this year. I was Community Governor for Payhembury from 2013, and have been a Foundation Governor since Federation. I serve on the Resources and Pay Committee, and am lead Governor for Health and Safety.
My professional career has been in tropical and sub-tropical agricultural pest management. As such, my whole working life has been spent overseas on long-term development aid projects in a range of countries in Southern and East Africa, South East Asia, and the Middle East. These projects were funded by different donor governments, either directly or through consulting companies. Work has included pest management research, and extension and training of farmers and public and private sector staff. More recently, work involved advising governments on pest management and extension policy and strategy, and on pesticide legislation. These activities have involved working with people from a range of cultural backgrounds, at different levels from small-scale farmers to government ministers, and with national and international pesticide industry associations. I retired back to the UK in 2012 after completing two years in Afghanistan
Paul is a foundation governor for the FORT Federation having joined the governors of Payhembury School as a parent governor in 2012. Paul also sits on the finance and resources committee where he is able to use some of his professional expertise gained through his career in the investment management industry. Paul was attracted to join the governors from discussions with other parent governors at the time as he was keen to contribute to the running of the school as it has such an important part in the local community. Paul’s 2 younger children Freddie and Isobel are pupils at Payhembury and although a busy working life limits his regular involvement in the day to day activities of the schools, he is always keen to try and attend or help at school events.
I was invited to become a Foundation Governor in September 2013 initially for Awliscombe Primary School where my two children attend school, and since September 2015 for the Fort Federation. I am very proud to have been voted in as Chair of Governors in September 2016 by my fellow Governors. I have previously served as the Designated Governor for Special Educational Needs and Chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee.
I have worked as a School Nurse in the wider local area since 2010 and have a Post-Graduate Diploma in Specialist Community Public Health Nursing. My main remit within work is to improve the overall health outcomes of all children from 5-19 years of age. I am very passionate in my role as a School Nurse and I have a special interest in the emotional health and wellbeing of all children. I have a good working knowledge of Safeguarding processes and procedures, this is a skill I have utilised within my role as Designated Safeguarding Governor for the Fort Federation