GovernorsThe School Governors
The School Governors meet every half term (now called a term). They are guardians of our school and play an important part in our liaison with the Local Authority. They are free to visit the school regularly and talk to the staff and children. In addition there are a number of sub committees, which focus on specific areas. They are: Curriculum (Chair, Ann Suter) Staffing, Performance and Pay (Chair, David English) Buildings, Health and Safety (Chair, Sarah Revans) Finance (Chair, David English) Details of Governor's Term of Office and Committee responsibilities can be found below. 
Charlotte Harrison, Chair and Parent Governor
Pecuniary Interests: None I've spent my career working in commercial roles in marine and aerospace companies, most recently as Head of Commercial for an airline, so when the school was looking for someone with commercial experience to join the governing body in January 2018 I volunteered to be a parent governor (I have a son at the school and another one hopefully following soon). I studied physics at university and then spent ten years working for Rolls-Royce where I had the opportunity to participate in STEM education programmes with local schools, sparking my interest in education. Once I had children of my own I was keen to find a way to make a positive contribution to their school. It's therefore a privilege for me to be able to serve on the governing body of Lea & Garsdon school and contribute to the development of its strategy, particularly at this exciting time with the potential expansion of the school. 
David English, Parent Governor
Serves on the Finance (Chair) and Staffing (Chair) Committees Elected by the parents of the school (2nd 4 year term, from May 2016) Pecuniary Interests: None 
Greville Earle, Parent Governor Elected by the Parents (4 year term from September 2016) Pecuniary Interests: None A professional aerospace design engineer by trade, I have two children currently at the school and so represent one of the parent governor roles, having done so since autumn 2016. It is an eye opener to appreciate how much activity goes on behind the scenes in both the running of a school, and in its oversight, and hopefully I will be able to bring some analytical skills to the latter. There are plenty of challenges to address but it is a pleasure to be able to help contribute to the development, integrity and success of the school, as part of a very able, willing and hard working team. Home is Malmesbury and, when I am not being occupied by the other members of the family, I can often be found up the top of a hill, or above it in a glider. 
Sarah Revans, Parent Governor
Serves on the Buildings, Health and Safety Committee Elected by the Parents (4 year term from January 2017) Pecuniary Interests: None I am a professional archaeologist and cultural heritage manager by training. I have two boys, Oscar is at Malmesbury Secondary School the other Henry is in Year 4 at Lea and Garsdon Primary School. We recently moved to Lea from Dubai and have family nearby in Chipping Sodbury and Brimscombe. I also have an educational qualification as a teaching assistant which, from a parental perspective has given me a much greater appreciation of the complexity of school life, the commitment of teaching staff and the contribution volunteers can make to a school. My children have been schooled in the UK and abroad in several different countries so I am familiar with our own education system and its application in some other countries. Wherever my children have been at school I have always tried to make a positive contribution to their school. I have a range of project management skills from working in consultancy that might be useful and the school find helpful. I am used to working as part of large diverse teams, working together to achieve agreed common goals and objectives. I care about improving our children’s educational attainment and environment and supporting the school and its staff to do so. By supporting the school I hope I can also make a positive contribution to the local community. 
Peter Bown, Foundation Governor
Serves on the Buildings, Health and Safety Committee I am a retired veterinary surgeon. I came to Malmesbury in 1968 and I bought my first house in Lea in 1974. As a former employer of a significant number of people varying from graduate status to basic GCSE I am aware of the importance of a good education. I am fully supportive of the stated school ethos and I look forward to supporting the Head and all her staff as they manage the proposed expansion of the school. 
Clive Nicholls, Co-opted Governor
Pecuniary Interests: None I moved to Cleverton in 2010 since when all 3 of my grandchildren have attended the school. They have now left but I am still committed to helping the school provide an excellent education. I am a Chemical Engineer by training graduating from the University of Bath and have worked in the petrochemical and food industries. For the last 20 years I have worked for a major IT Consultancy during which time I had a diverse range of clients from Aerospace to Logistics companies, the Law Society to various Government departments. I retired in 2016. 
Amanda Fisk, Foundation Governor
Serves on the Curriculum and Buildings, Health and Safety Committees Elected by the Diocese (ex Officio) Pecuniary Interests: None I live in Charlton and have a background in finance, currently employed as the Finance Manager of a local engineering consultancy. I have been appointed by the Diocese to oversee the school’s Christian character, however wanted to become a Governor in order to better understand how my children are being educated and the standards they are expected to achieve. My children attend one of the other local primary schools within the cluster, known as The Hobbes Alliance, so I also bring valuable experience of sharing practices from another neighbouring school. 
Jean Jones, Minor Local Authority Governor
Serves on the Staffing and Finance Committees Elected by the Governors (4 year term, from October 2013) Pecuniary Interests: None I moved to Lea in May 2007 and after a year volunteering at the school, I became a school governor in September 2013. I have grown up children and grandchildren and in my previous life as a police officer in Bristol, I had spent some time working as school liaison officer in a number of inner city schools. I enjoy being a small part of the hard working enthusiastic team at the school and have learnt a huge amount about our evolving education system. 
Ann Suter, Community Governor
Serves on the Curriculum (Chair) and Finance Committees, SEN Governor Elected by the Governors (2nd 4 year term, from September 2015) Pecuniary Interests: None I have lived with my husband in Rose Cottage in Lea for more than 30 years and brought up our 2 boys here. I became a governor at Lea & Garsdon in September 2011, after retiring from my job as SEN teacher in a primary school in Gloucestershire. I love being a part of the team and coming into school to help with reading and maths. My particular role on the governors is chairing the Curriculum Committee and I am link governor for Special Needs and Pupil Premium. 
Kay Vousden, Headteacher
Serves on all Committees Elected by the Governors (from September 2011) Pecuniary Interested: None I started off my teaching career in Leicester in a large urban primary school. I then moved to a two class village school and then a one form entry primary school in Nottinghamshire, before moving to Wiltshire to take up a Deputy Headteacher position in Trowbridge. I became a Headteacher of a two class primary school in 2003 where I spent 5 happy years. Following the birth of my son I took a few years out of school to be a full time mum – the best unpaid job in the world. I was pleased to take up my headship at Lea and Garsdon CE Primary School in September 2011. I feel privileged to have worked in some amazing schools, with some fantastic children and adults; Headship is without doubt the best paid job in the world. I have worked closely with various governing bodies since my time as a Deputy Headteacher and I can honestly say that education in England wouldn’t be of the high quality it is without the dedication, knowledge and wisdom a Governing Body can bring to a school. I appreciate the opportunity to work with people who have the best interests of the school at heart and have a wealth of experience outside of education to bring. 
Mel Phillips, Staff Governor
Elected by the staff (4 year term, from September 2016) Pecuniary Interests: None I am the Year 1/2 teacher at Lea & Garsdon School. This is my fifth year at this lovely school. I qualified as a teacher in 1995 and have done the bulk of my teaching in pretty challenging inner city London schools. Lea is certainly different and I am really enjoying being able to focus on teaching and learning rather than behaviour! Both my nieces and my youngest daughter are currently at the school, which is definitely a vote of confidence in our fantastic, hardworking and dedicated school team! Governor Committee Structure
This is currently being updated (25/2/16). Please click here to open the latest edition of the Governance Handbook 2015.
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