Avening Primary School

Governors

Avening Primary School is a small village school in the heart of Gloucestershire.  Whilst the school is part of The Athelstan Trust, it retains a Local Governing Body which has a duty to support, guide, advise and monitor the strategic direction the school takes in accordance with Trust and national policy.  It does this via regular meetings supported by two sub-committees:  Standards, looking at policy and performance, together with Resources which looks at funding, staffing and health & safety.

 

Our Governing Body is made up of a committed and dedicated group of volunteers who play a key role in the leadership of the school, providing a balance of support and challenge to the school leaders. The role of the Governing Body is well understood and involves:

  • Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction;

  • Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff; and

  • Working with the CEO and CFO of the Athelstan Trust, support the  financial performance of the organisation and make sure its money is well spent.

The governors make regular visits to the school covering a variety of activities. Formal monitoring activities include learning walks, GDPR walks, Health and Safety visits, and pupil conferencing. In addition, regularly governors (and other parents) accompany children on school trips and sporting activities around the local area. Governors may sit in on School Council meetings. SATs tests are covered from an invigilation point of view, and governors may represent the school at the Village AGM. Governors also have a presence at Parent Consultation meetings. 

The impact of the Governing Body is apparent throughout the school and we are very grateful to our Governor team for the important role that they play in all aspects of school life. 

 

I joined as a parent governor in November 2016, I am a member of the Standards committee and the current Chair of Governors.  Having moved to the area in 2012, I have two children currently at the school.   With a degree in engineering, I work with organisations reducing their carbon footprint and in my spare time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, walking, yoga and generally being outdoors as much as possible!

Mrs Catherine Wheatley

I was very lucky to be invited to participate as a governor for the school in 2017.  Since then I have been active on the Standards Committee. 

 

I am a parent with 1 child at the school.  I am a Microbiologist and I work from home in the village as a consultant in medical products manufacturing.  I am a bit of a techie and enjoy walking in the local area, cooking and watching rugby.

 Mr Richard Young

I was appointed as County Council governor for the school in September 1995.  I became Vice Chair of Governors in 1996 and then Chair of Governors the following year - a position I held until 2014.  During this time I was fortunate to work with three excellent headteachers, who guided the school through four very creditable Ofsted inspections.

 I am currently Chair of the Resources Committee with a special interest in maintaining and improving the fabric of our old but very special school, which I first attended in 1946!

 In my professional career I worked for 48 years in environmental health before retiring as an Environmental Protection Manager for Stroud District Council in 2007.

 

 Mr Derrick Ind

I joined as a co-opted governor in 2016 and sit across both the Standards and Resources committees, responsible for safeguarding.

 

I moved to Avening in 2015 and have one child currently attending Avening Primary School with another due to start this coming year.

 

With a degree in Criminology and a post graduate qualification in Law, my background is in Youth Work and Policing where I specialised in Safeguarding and Complex Abuse.

 

I have a soft furnishings business and in my free time love to bake and am a crafting enthusiast.

Mrs Jade Withington-Hunt

I joined as a co-opted governor in 2016 and I am a member of the Resources committee.  I have two children; one of which is currently at Avening Primary School.

 

I am AAT qualified (Association of Accounting Technicians) and in 2009 I set up my own business providing bookkeeping, payroll and accountancy services.

 

In the past, I have stood as Treasurer and Chair for FOAS (Friends of Avening School) and have also help the position of Treasurer for Avening Playgroup, Nailsworth Primary and Marling School's PTAs - I find it very hard to say no!

Mrs Mel Pegler

I have been a parent governor for 2 years, with two children attending Avening School.

 

My family live locally in Tetbury, I work in Malmesbury and my wife works in Stroud.

Mr Ben Hovell

I joined the governors in 2022.  I grew up in the local area, and moved back to Tetbury from London in 2021.  I have two boys at the school, and another due to start in a couple of years.

 

I am an audiologist, and run my own private practice helping people with their hearing the performing microsuction earwax removal.

 

I am a keen car and motorsports enthusiast.  I also enjoy playing and watching football.

 

Mr Andrew Haine 

 

After moving to Avening 3 years ago, we have loved becoming involved in village life.

 

I have been involved in teaching for over 15 years and joined the governing body for Avening Primary School just over a year ago.  I have a son who attends the school and also serve as secretary to the amazing FOAS (Friends of Avening School).

 

Mrs Kat Donovan

I feel very fortunate to have been the Headteacher of Avening Primary School since 2012.  I started teaching in 1994 in Kent, moving to Gloucestershire in 1997 where I have taught ever since.  Before my career, I read Social and Political Sciences at Cambridge University before completing a PGCE, and later I completed my National Professional Qualification for Headship. 

 

I am passionate about primary education and the role that schools play in supporting and promoting the aspirations of young people in the communities in which they serve.  It is my privilege to carry out this duty at Avening Primary School, working alongside the rest of our dedicated Governing Body to provide the strategic direction required to ensure that the teaching and learning that goes on within our school is the very best it can be.

Mrs Jane Rushton

 

I am a co-opted governor and a member of the Standards Committee.  I have been connected with Avening Primary School for over 30 years.  Initially, as a parent of three children who attended the school, then as a Teaching Assistant from 1998 - March 2023. 

 

I am pleased to be able to support the school through my role as a governor, working alongside other dedicated staff and governors, with the aim of ensuring Avening School continues to offers its children the best possible teaching and learning opportunities.

 

In my free time I spend as much time as possible catching up with my family.  I am a fanatical bird watcher and also enjoy doing cross stitch.

 

 

Mrs Shan Amos

I have been Clerk to the governors since 2015.  In addition to this role, I am honoured to call myself the School Librarian and also work in the school office every Friday morning.  I also write monthly articles for the Villager and the Tetbury Advertiser on behalf of the school.

In 2013 my family moved from Switzerland to Avening.  Our two daughters joined the school and gradually my voluntary roles developed including creating and developing our newly refurbished library space.

My background is rooted in theatre, writing and bookselling.  My bookselling background compliments my continued involvement with the school library.  My role as Clerk has enabled me to develop my organisational skills and, crucially, provided me with an insight into the education system and the internal structure of how a school is run, which I find invaluable.

 

 

Miss Alex Adcock

 I joined the Governing Board at Avening School in May 2022 as a parent governor, having moved to the area in 2020.  I sit on the Resources Committee where I also draw on my experience as Director of External Affairs for a national charity.  I'm delighted to contribute to Avening School which plays such a vital role in our local community.  I am the current Chair of Governors.

 

Ms Sarah Campion

I am a co-opted governor.  My family and I moved to Avening in 1990. my four children attended Avening Primary School and I taught at the school for 20 years until I retired in 2014.  Having a long association with the school, I was delighted to be asked to join the governing body in 2023 to help and support this wonderful school in any way I can.

Mrs Gill Redpath

I am the staff governor of Avening School.  I am the School Business Manager and have worked here for 24 years.

 

 

Mrs Alison Sollis