Governors

Welcome from our Co-Chair of Governors

Welcome to Walberton & Binsted CE Primary School, our beautiful, well-equipped village school set in wonderful grounds. We have two Co-Chairs-  myself, the Reverend Tim Ward (elected in summer term 2022) and Mrs Sue Cox (elected in summer term 2023).

As Vicar I have been a Foundation Governor since 2002. Until 2019, I was Vice Chair of a multi academy trust. Before being ordained, I was a secondary school teacher of history. I still enjoy helping with school trips and history lessons with Year 6. I also lead fortnightly whole-school assemblies on Wednesday mornings. 

Our Christian ethos encourages kind, thoughtful, responsible behaviour and provides a supportive community where everyone’s contribution is valued. The atmosphere is positive and I find talking and engaging with the children for example in our collective worship times, is always encouraging. I know that the entire team at our school understand the importance of every day in each child’s life, and we want to set our sights as high as possible for our pupils with the help of our parents.

 

Rev. Tim Ward
Co-Chair of Governors

What do our governors do?

Our governing body is responsible for working with the school to ensure that it delivers a high quality education for every one of our pupils. Together with the headteacher, who is responsible for day-to-day management, we set the school’s aims and policies.

Key roles of governors:

• To ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• To hold the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
• To oversee the financial performance of the school and make sure its money is well spent

Find out more about becoming a governor

If you are interested in becoming a school governor you can find more information from these websites:

Inspiring Governors – Working together to improve school and college governance
SGOSS – Governors for Schools

 

Please meet our Governors:

 

• Rev Tim Ward
  Co-Chair of Governors
  Rev Tim Ward

  I am a vicar of Walberton at St Mary's Church. I was a parent at the school for nine years. Before being a vicar I taught History at secondary level and now I like to teach about the local History of the Battle of Britain to year 6. I have been a governor of 5 schools and involved in schools' ministry continuously for 27 years including assemblies and after school clubs. Until recently I was vice chair of an Academy Trust. I am also a sixth form chaplain at Bishop Luffa school.

• Mrs Sue Cox
  Co-Chair of Governors
  Mrs Sue Cox

  After a career in varied business settings, I took a break to look after my children. Three of them attended the "old" Walberton and Binsted school, and for a time I worked here as a TA and helped with literacy work. I went on to take a degree in English and Education Studies at Chichester/Bognor, followed by a PGCE in secondary English - which was quite a challenge with teenagers living at home! Probably my most relevant and enjoyable experience was my time spent teaching across the whole curriculum at a small special school in Portsmouth for young people aged 10 to 16 (mostly boys) with behaviour issues who were excluded from mainstream education. Later I worked for a company which ran children's homes with schooling and a foster care service. Pre Covid I have been a volunteer at Walberton Pre-School and a trustee for the village hall, but the world of education is where my interest really lies and I am very happy to be a foundation governor here. St Mary's Church in Walberton has been part of my life for many years. I have 6 grand children aged 10 to 14 which is great fun, and I enjoy gardening, reading and spending time with friends and family.

• Mrs Lorna Earle
  Co-opted Governor
  Mrs Lorna Earle

  I have two children at Walberton and Binsted CE Primary school, both are really happy and settled at the school. I joined the governing team as a parent governor in October, 2019.

  I am a qualified teacher for both primary and secondary age ranges. I chose to begin my teaching career in primary school and loved it! Now I tutor on teacher training programmes at the University of Chichester where I am a senior lecturer in primary education. As such, I keep an up to date and working knowledge of the curriculum expectations, legislations and inspection frameworks relevant to primary schools.

  I have a real passion and enthusiasm for education and believe my personal experiences as a parent, combined with my professional role, gives me a valuable and varied perspective.

• Mrs Sonya York
  Staff Governor
  Mrs Sonya York

  ,

• Ms Amy Wilkins
  Parent Governor
  Ms Amy Wilkins

  I currently have one child attending the school and hope my second will attend in a few years. Since starting I have been consistently impressed by the school and its staff. The sense of community the school fosters has made my son feel very welcome and by extension the rest of the family too.

  I'm passionate about ensuring all children achieve their full potential and receive the very best opportunities we can provide.

  I have worked within the publishing industry for 15 years, starting my career at a children's publisher. I've always had a special interest in books for children and the importance they play in children's development and wellbeing.

  Children's mental health and well-being is one of the genres we publish. I am incredibly proud to contribute to such an important area. I believe that mental well-being and academic achievement is vital to young people's progress.

  I hope to contribute as a Governor for the continued success of the school.

• Mrs Diane Rogers
  Foundation Governor
  Mrs Diane Rogers

  My name is Dianne Rogers and my husband Bob and myself have been married 42 years. We have lived in Walberton for nearly 30 years and our 3 sons all attended Walberton and Binsted Primary School (last century)!! I am a retired secondary School Science Teacher of 40 years' experience and now sit as a Magistrate in the Family Court. I am a Foundation Governor for the school, and have attended St. Mary's Church ever since we moved here, singing in the choir pre-Covid. I sing in Arun Choral Society, and am spending my retirement taking Pilates and FitSteps classes to try and keep fit , sitting in Family Courts , taking holidays and looking after grandchildren of which there are 4!

• Mr Mike Mansergh
  Co-opted Governor
  Mr Mike Mansergh

  My wife and I have lived in Walberton for 22 years. Having retired after 37 years in the Royal Navy and eight years working in business, including six years as a further education college governor, I am keen to provide my experience and advice to support the headteacher both in delivering high quality education today, whilst also developing strategy and vision for the future of Walberton and Binsted Church of England Primary School.

• Mr Joe Neale
  Local Authority Governor
  Mr Joe Neale

  I am delighted to have been appointed as the school’s Local Authority governor and am really looking forward to becoming a part of the school community at Walberton and Binsted.

  I am a qualified teacher and am currently the Deputy Headteacher at a primary school in Worthing. As well as this role, I also work across a local multi-academy Trust, supporting and coaching teachers to improve their practice in the teaching of English. Prior to this, I was an Assistant Headteacher at a large primary school in Littlehampton for a number of years.

  I am very passionate about learning and education and am committed to ensuring the best possible outcomes for children. I have a particular interest and expertise in curriculum development and developing excellent teaching and learning.

  I live in Rustington with my wife Amy and our two young children.

  I feel very privileged to become a governor at Walberton and Binsted CE School and I look forward to working alongside my fellow governors and the incredible school staff to continue to make this fantastic school the best it can be.

• Mrs Jenny Challis
  Clerk to the Governors
  Mrs Jenny Challis

  I joined as Clerk for the Governing Body in March 2019. This is my first role as a Clerk so I am learning as I go, but really enjoying working as part of the team. I have 3 children (2 currently attend Primary School in Felpham, and the other attends Secondary School in Barnham). In my spare time I enjoy walking our dogs along the beach, and playing netball.

• Mrs Laura Brockhurst
  Head Teacher
  Mrs Laura Brockhurst

  As Headteacher, I feel very privileged to be an active member of the Governing Body. I have been a Governor here at Walberton and Binsted for 8 years now, and in my many years of teaching and leadership, I have not yet met a team that work so hard to ensure the well-being of everyone who works and attends the school! They have lots of energy and a wide variety of experience and backgrounds to support the many discussions and meetings we have around school improvement. It is a real pleasure working with members of our Governing Body to continually 'drive' the school forwards.

  I consider everyone in the school to be my extended family. There is a real warmth and caring ethos where everyone gives the time to get to know our children in the school, including their families, so that we can best support their learning and individual journeys through the school.

  My aim is to provide a varied and inspiring curriculum for our young citizens so that they feel equipped and prepared for the wide world ahead of them. I wish for every child to ask big questions, to try new things and learn from their mistakes, to explore and extend their learning and knowledge, doing this with others both willingly and co-operatively.

  Nothing pleases me more than a happy child who has come to me to share something new - it makes my role even more rewarding!

 

Please click here for more detailed information about Governors, their term of office, attendance at Governor meetings during 2022-23.

Governors' Newsletters

• Governors newsletter Spring 2024 docx
• Walberton Governors Newsletter July 2023